Lower back pain in golfers: a review of the literature.
OBJECTIVE
To review the epidemiological literature on low back pain in golfers and to review the golf swing and relate the literature on the mechanics of the swing to the lower back.


METHODS
A computer search was conducted of Index Medicus (1966 to 2004), MANTIS (1880 to present) and CINAHL (1982 to 2004) for literature on the following key words: low back, golf, injury. A manual search for relevant references in review papers on the subject was also conducted. The results were collated and literature fitting the criteria were collected and evaluated for suitability.


RESULTS
The lower back is a common site of golf-related injury and has resulted in much research being conducted on the forces produced by the 'modern' swing in the low back. An analysis of the 'modern' swing when compared to the 'classic' golf swing, demonstrates lower rotational forces on the low back in the 'classic' swing. However, no studies exist to compare the different types of swing.


CONCLUSIONS
The back is an area of the body that undergoes significant movement and muscular activity during the golf swing. It is likely that the significant activity and repetitive nature of the swing are associated with the high rate of injury in golfers. Modification of the golf swing has been hypothesized to reduce the incidence of low back injury in golf. Further research needs to be conducted on the various golf swings to evaluate if different swings change low back injury rates in golfers.
McHardy
Andrew
A
Macquarie Injury Management Group, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia. This paper was prepared in partial fulfillment of the degree PhD, from the Department of Health and Chiropractic, Macquarie University.
Pollard
Henry
H
J Clin Epidemiol. 2002 Dec;55(12):1196-200
12547449
J Manipulative Physiol Ther. 1999 Nov-Dec;22(9):576-81
10626700
Clin Sports Med. 1996 Jan;15(1):37-53
8903708
Phys Sportsmed. 1982 Jul;10(7):64-70
29267100
Int J Med Inform. 2003 Dec;72(1-3):29-34
14644304
Lancet. 2002 Jan 19;359(9302):248-52
11812579
Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2000 Oct;32(10):1667-73
11039635
Clin Orthop Relat Res. 2003 Aug;(413):33-42
12897594
Mayo Clin Proc. 1993 Jun;68(6):566-70
8497134
Dialogues Contracept. 1995 Winter;4(5):5-6, 8
12288680
Am J Sports Med. 1993 May-Jun;21(3):385-8
8346752
Ann Epidemiol. 2003 Feb;13(2):105-10
12559669
Fam Pract. 2002 Feb;19(1):105-11
11818359
Br J Sports Med. 2003 Dec;37(6):545-7
14665599
Br J Sports Med. 1992 Mar;26(1):63-5
1600459
Am J Sports Med. 1996 Sep-Oct;24(5):659-64
8883688
J Manipulative Physiol Ther. 2001 Nov-Dec;24(9):569-75
11753330
Aust J Sci Med Sport. 1996 Jun;28(2):43-5
8836474
Am J Phys Med Rehabil. 2002 Jul;81(7):498-501
12131175
J Sports Sci. 1998 Feb;16(2):165-76
9531005
Am J Sports Med. 1996 Jul-Aug;24(4):535-8
8827315
Sports Med. 2002;32(10):655-66
12141884
J Sports Sci. 2002 Aug;20(8):599-605
12190279
J Gerontol. 1988 Sep;43(5):P113-20
3418037
Clin Sports Med. 1996 Jan;15(1):9-26
8903706
Phys Sportsmed. 1990 Mar;18(3):122-6
27464054
Am J Sports Med. 2003 May-Jun;31(3):438-43
12750140
Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2001 Oct;33(10):1647-54
11581547
Am J Sports Med. 1993 Nov-Dec;21(6):854-60
8291639