Golf Chiropractor

A good golf chiropractor has one job: keeping you on the course and out of pain. Maybe your back tightens up by the back nine, or your elbow aches every time you grip the club. Maybe you're skipping rounds because bending down to tee up the ball hurts. Edmond has a lot of golfers, from weekend rounds at Kickingbird to league play at Oak Tree, and at Hanson Chiropractic Center we see many of them.

Why golf is hard on your body

A golf swing looks smooth, but it's one of the hardest twists you'll ever put your body through. Your hips and upper back are supposed to do most of the turning. When they're stiff, your lower back picks up the extra twist, over and over, for 18 holes. That's why lower back pain is the most common golf injury.

When it hurts can tell us a lot. Pain at the top of the backswing often points to a stiff upper back or hips. Pain on the follow-through, when you finish with your back arched, usually means your lower back is taking too much of the load.

Gripping and swinging also load the tendons in your elbows and wrists. Your lead shoulder and hip take a beating on the follow-through. And walking the course, bending to read putts, and hauling a bag add up too.

Common aches a golf chiropractor sees

Lower back pain. Stiffness or a sharp catch in your back during or after a round. Read about lower back pain and sciatica.

Golfer's elbow. Pain on the inside of the elbow when you grip. We treat it all the time. See tennis elbow and golfer's elbow.

Shoulder pain. Aching at the top of your backswing or on the follow-through. Read about shoulder pain.

Hip and knee pain. Soreness in your lead hip or knee as you turn through the ball. See knee and hip pain.

Neck stiffness. Trouble keeping your head steady or turning to watch the shot. See neck pain and stiffness.

What a golf chiropractor does

We start by finding out what hurts and when. Is it the backswing, the follow-through, or the morning after? Then we check how well you turn through your hips and upper back, how your shoulders move, and how your back handles a twist. That usually shows us why one spot is doing more work than it should.

From there, we use gentle adjustments to get stiff joints in your back, hips, and shoulders moving again, and hands-on work to loosen tight muscles. Our massage therapist can help with the muscles that tighten up after a round. We'll also give you a few stretches and strength exercises that help your hips and upper back do their share of the turning, so your lower back doesn't have to.

For back pain that won't let up or a sore elbow that's hung on for months, we also offer decompression, laser, and shockwave therapy.

Two stretches to loosen your mid-back and hips

The more your upper back and hips can turn, the less your lower back has to. These two are worth doing most days.

Open book. Lie on your side with your knees bent and your arms straight out in front of you, palms together. Keep your knees down and slowly open your top arm up and over, turning your chest toward the ceiling. Follow your hand with your eyes. Hold for a breath, then close. Do 8 to 10 on each side.

90/90 hip switch. Sit on the floor with both knees bent at right angles, one leg in front of you and one out to the side. Keep your feet on the floor and slowly rock both knees over to the other side, then back. Go only as far as feels comfortable. Do 8 to 10 switches.

Stop if either one causes sharp pain, and ask us at your visit if you're not sure you're doing them right.

A quick warm-up before you tee off

Most golfers walk from the car to the first tee and start swinging. Give yourself five minutes first. Walk briskly for a minute or two. Hold a club across your shoulders and turn slowly side to side. Swing each leg forward and back a few times while you hold onto the cart. Then take some half swings before you work up to full ones. It's the one piece of golf chiropractor care you can do on your own.

On the course, bend your knees to tee up and pick up your ball, or use a ball retriever. Use both straps on your bag, or use a push cart. And on cold Oklahoma mornings, give yourself a little extra warm-up time, because stiff muscles strain more easily.

When to stop and get help

Call 911 for chest pain, pressure, or shortness of breath on the course. Oklahoma summers are hot, so watch for dizziness, nausea, heavy sweating, headache, and muscle cramps, which the CDC lists as signs your body is overheating. Get into the shade, drink water, and get help if they don't ease quickly. Back pain with numbness in your groin or trouble controlling your bladder needs the ER right away.

Questions golfers ask a golf chiropractor

Can a chiropractor help my golf swing?

We help your back, hips, and shoulders move the way the swing needs them to, and ease the aches that make you hold back. Your golf pro handles the swing itself. A lot of golfers find that moving better and hurting less lets them play more comfortably.

Should I play through the pain?

Not if it's sharp or getting worse each round. Playing through a sore back or elbow usually turns a short problem into a long one. A few weeks off the course, or a lighter schedule, often gets you back sooner.

How soon can I play after my back flares up?

It depends on what's going on. Many people can start with putting and short chips within a few days, then work back to full swings as the pain settles. We'll give you a plan after your exam.

Is golfer's elbow the same as tennis elbow?

They're cousins. Golfer's elbow hurts on the inside of the elbow, and tennis elbow on the outside. Both come from gripping and wrist strain, and we treat them in similar ways.

Do you see older golfers?

All the time. Stiff joints and a little arthritis are common as we get older, and gentle care plus a good warm-up can help you keep playing the courses you love.

How often should a golfer come in?

That depends on what you're dealing with. Some people come in for a few weeks to get past a flare-up. Others like a check-up before the season or a big tournament. We'll talk it through with you, and there's no long-term contract.

Should I use ice or heat after a round?

If you tweaked something and it's sore and puffy, ice for 10 to 15 minutes in the first day or two. For general stiffness, heat usually feels better, especially before you stretch. Never put ice right on your skin.

This page is general information and doesn't replace advice from your doctor. Results vary from person to person. Play other sports too? See our sports chiropractor page. Fill out your new patient paperwork before your first visit, or see everything else we help with on our Conditions We Treat page.