I overdid it at the golf practice range the other day. Usually I can hit a large bucket of balls without any problem. I take my time and work my way through all my clubs from the sand wedge up to the driver and then back down again. It takes me about 45 minutes to whack my way through the entire bucket. Then I head off to the putting green and practice chipping and putting and sometimes working in the sand. It’s fun most of the time and I try to think I am improving.
But this time I could feel I was right on the edge of a muscle spasm. You know that feeling when the muscles in your lower back begin to twitch and you know you’re pushing some outer limit? It was time to stop. Of course I didn’t. I mean, after all, the bucket of balls was only half finished when the first twinge showed itself. I figured I could get through the bucket without a big hassle. And I did. Until this morning.
I was sitting at my desk going through emails and checking my website. Just sitting there, not even stretching for the coffee mug that sits in the corner of my workspace. And suddenly this wave of spasms hit me. My back went into some state of trauma. I gripped the edge of the desk, my knuckles white with pain. Yikes! What had I done?
My back was telling me I had pushed things a little too far and I had to take it easy—immediately. I hobbled my way to the kitchen freezer to grab the one remedy I know always works for me: a bag of frozen peas, wrapped in a towel, that I pressed against my back. It gave me some relief. I also took a couple of ibuprofen to relax those over used muscles.
Stuck at my desk for the morning I continued to work and that’s when I found the following video. It was, to say the least, fortuitous. The speaker discusses the importance of stretching before and after golf and how, while practicing a new swing technique, he discovered he was putting extra stress on his back. What he decided to do to remedy the situation seems a little eccentric, but it really does make sense.
I share it with you because it’s possible you may very well wind up in the same state in which I found myself this morning.
By the way, Kathy Ekdahl, the golfgurls fitness guru, has some great videos on the importance of stretching before and after golf. Click here to view them at the GolfGurls.com YouTube channel.
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If you’ve ever had a back spasm from too much golf, what do you do?
May every hole be a birdie!
Pat Mullaly, Editor, GolfGurls.com
{ 5 comments… read them below or add one }
Pat- this is a great aha moment for me! His advice makes so much sense from an exercise perspective. We would never do just one side of the body during exercise- we always do both, so as to balance the workload on the muscles. The golf swing, like many rotational sports, is very unilateral- in other words, certain muscles work one certain way throughout the swing. I am going to try this next time I head to the range! One other tip- using medicine balls to work on rotation and enhance the golf swing is one way to prevent the issues he is talking about. Whne we use the medicine ball, we throw to both the right and the left, thus unwinding tight muscles and balancing the body well.
Is it essential to limber up before any type of exercise. Even a brisk walk can stress those ankle muscles. Be safe, always warm up.
I’ve never had a golf injury before, but I’ve definitely heard that they can be devastating especially if they are serious. This some great info here and I’m sure will help many beginner as well as veteran golfers.
I’ve changed my mind, I won’t let my son play golf until he knows how to unwind!
I’ll share this to a coach in one of the fitness gyms near me who plays golf from time to time. I know people who plays golf knew the risk if they do not maintain posture and unwind properly but they sometimes take it for granted. Thanks for sharing this and take care always.