Warm Up With A Back Exercise For Golf

Let's face it, if you are a passionate golfer who likes to hit the links whenever you have the opportunity, at some point in time you are likely to be faced with lower back pain. Fortunately, there are some great exercises that will help you work through lower back pain, and also prevent it from occurring in the first place.

The reason that lower back pain is common in golf is that your spine receives significant stress from the rotational movement of the golf swing. You will want to be sure that you are swinging properly and not placing undue strain on your back. Have an instructor or professional take a look at your swing and let you know where you can improve it. In addition to the rotation involved in your swing, you also use your back just picking up the ball and your golf bag.

The first exercises you'll want to do are stretching exercises, especially before you hit the course. You don't want to begin playing without properly warming up your back muscles. There are a couple of back exercises you can do that will prepare your back by warming up those muscles ahead of time. Think of your pre-round stretches as progressive warm ups. Before taking your first swings of the game, take a few slow, stretching practice swings to ease your back into the motion of swinging. With each successive swing, you should attempt to slowly increase your range of motion.

Tips to reduce back pain due to lifting you bag include investing in a good bag stand, and also considering bags that have a dual strap so you avoid placing all of the bag's weight on one shoulder.

Think about your back's health even when not playing golf. Good back health tips include maintaining good posture, staying at a health body weight, and avoiding stress (which can cause strain in your lower back). Overall fitness is important to feeling good on the course. If you maintain a proper fitness routine, you'll find that aches and pains disappear as your body becomes conditioned to the workout golf provides.

Susan Hill is a nationally recognized fitness trainer, CHEK golf biomechanic and sports nutrition specialist. For more information on golf specific nutrition, exercises or stretches, visit http://www.fitnessforgolf.com.