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There’s no doubt that participating in outdoor sports is good for health, as it is also a form of exercise and physical activity. However, it’s also known that sports can be strenuous for the muscles, joints, and tissues, leading to pain and soreness. Golf and tennis are both two such intensive sports, and it’s not uncommon for players to often develop lower back pain.
If you’re a regular golf or tennis player experiencing pain in the lower back area, whether mild or severe, you must treat it as quickly as possible. You can consider various options for low back pain relief, but chiropractic treatment is often considered one of the most ideal, non-invasive options.
Find out more about how chiropractic care can help relieve low back pain in golf and tennis players, and what makes it an effective treatment method.
Why are golf and tennis players prone to low back pain?
Both these sports involve swinging motions and muscular movement, putting significant pressure on the lower back area. A recent study also found that low back pain was extremely prevalent among athletes from various sports, including tennis. Similar research regarding golf players stated that lower back pain alone accounts for between 18% and 54% of all golf-related ailments.
These numbers and studies are not meant to discourage people from practicing these sports, as their health benefits are undeniable. But one also needs to be aware that certain factors can cause serious back pain among tennis players and golfers, such as:
Overexertion
If you play intensively for long hours or on a regular basis without giving your body enough rest and time to recover, you’re likely to develop back pain.
Incorrect motion and technique
Strokes in golf, as well as serves and swings in tennis, require proper posture, stance, and movement. Incorrectly performing such motions can hurt the muscles, ligaments, and tissues, leading to lower back pain.
Lack of proper warm-ups
Warm-up and stretching are crucial to loosen stiff muscles and make your body flexible before golf or tennis matches. If you’re heading into games without warming up properly, it can strain your muscles in the low back region.
Repeated motion
Many times, even with proper technique, simply performing swinging motions over and over for a long time can cause wear and tear of the muscles and tissues in the lower back.
When should golf and tennis players see a chiropractor for lower back pain?
If the pain doesn’t go away within 1 or 2 days, it’s best to consult a chiropractor immediately. Even if it may not be a serious condition, there is no harm in seeking professional advice through chiropractic care as early as possible. And if the pain persists for more than 4-5 days, or if it goes away but keeps recurring, you should see a chiropractor without delay.
How can chiropractic care relieve lower back pain in golf and tennis players?
Chiropractic care has proven to be effective in all kinds of pain management. Here’s how golfers and tennis players can benefit from chiropractic treatment for low back pain relief:
Spinal manipulation
Lower back pain is often caused due to problems in the lumbar spine, such as stiffness and tension. Spinal manipulation techniques can treat such issues through controlled pressure in targeted areas of the lower back region. The chiropractor usually does this using their hands or some special equipment to apply thrust to the spinal joints. In doing so, it improves the mobility of joints and releases built-up tension, which can relieve pain.
Myofascial release
Myofascial release is a chiropractic technique that involves the application of gentle but constant pressure on affected areas or trigger points. It’s a special massaging technique that can loosen stiff muscles and increase blood circulation in the targeted area, reducing inflammation as well. By stretching the muscles and myofascial tissues, this technique frees pinched nerves, if any. So there are multiple ways in which it can address and treat different underlying causes of lower back pain, be it stiffness, inflammation, or pressure on the spinal nerves.
Spinal Decompression
Herniated discs are also common causes of lower back pain in golf and tennis players, given the range of twisting and turning movements involved in the sport. It can be treated with spinal decompression therapy, such as manual or mechanical traction, which restores the position of the affected disks between the spine.
Corrective Exercises
Chiropractors may also prescribe a wide range of stretching and strengthening exercises to correct certain defects which might be causing low back pain, such as muscular imbalance or postural defects. These exercises are meant to be performed regularly, improving mobility, flexibility, and strength of targeted muscles. So, specific corrective exercises targeting the muscles in the lower back will effectively alleviate pain and tension.
These are just some of the chiropractic techniques and treatment methods that can relieve lower back pain in athletes. In addition, chiropractors also offer diet and lifestyle advice for athletes to prevent back pain and injuries in the future.
What should I expect in chiropractic treatment for lower back pain?
When you visit a chiropractor, they will conduct a thorough diagnosis and observe your condition. You will also be asked where you feel the pain, how long it has persisted, and how sharp or intense it feels. After an initial inquiry of your condition, they might suggest various physical tests, imaging techniques, or any other diagnosis techniques as they see fit better to understand the underlying cause of the back pain.
Based on the complete diagnosis, they will determine the right course of treatment that addresses the exact underlying cause. For example, spinal decompression will be necessary if herniated disks are causing back pain. But if it’s a mild pain caused by muscular stiffness, only performing corrective stretching exercises at home may be enough to treat the condition. In some cases, different techniques may be required to treat your low back pain completely. Based on the severity of the pain, the treatment may require one or multiple sessions.
Get the Best Chiropractic Care in Austin for Low Back Pain Relief
If you’re a golfer or tennis player experiencing low back pain and seeking a reliable chiropractor in Austin, reach out to us at Dynamic Sports Medicine. We are one of the leading service providers for sports medicine in Austin, offering a wide range of the latest and advanced treatment methods for sports-related injuries and conditions.
With state-of-the-art healthcare and rehabilitation technology, and some of the best chiropractors for sports medicine, we can effectively treat a wide variety of ailments in athletes, including low back pain. Contact us for a personal consultation or book an appointment so that our professional chiropractors can help you get relief from lower back pain and fully enjoy your sporting activities.
