Most golf-related lower back pain is mechanical and often improves within a few weeks. A chiropractor registered under Malaysia’s Traditional and Complementary Medicine Act 2016 (Act 775) can help as part of a plan that includes exercise. See a doctor first for leg weakness, numbness around the genitals, bladder or bowel changes, fever, or pain after an accident.
Last reviewed: 10 November 2026
Why does golf make the lower back hurt?
The golf swing is a fast, repeated twist under compression, and the lower back absorbs a lot of it. Lindsay and Vandervoort’s 2014 review in the Asian Journal of Sports Medicine reports that low back conditions make up 18% to 54% of documented golf ailments, and roughly a quarter of golf injuries. It is a narrative review, so it summarises studies rather than pooling them.
One small biomechanical study cited in that review compared four professionals with four amateurs using a five-iron. Average compression at the L3-4 level was about 6,100 N in amateurs and 7,584 N in professionals, but amateurs had higher peak shear force (596 N against 329 N). Eight golfers is a very small sample, so treat the figures as illustrative, not as a rule.
What raises the risk of back pain for amateur golfers?
The same review names excessive play and practice, swing faults such as over-rotation, side-bending and a slouched address position, stiff hips and poor trunk endurance. Most of the supporting studies are small and many involve professionals, so they may not map neatly onto a weekend golfer.
- Hips: in 42 PGA Tour professionals, the 14 with a history of low back pain had less lead-hip rotation than the 28 without.
- Trunk endurance: in 16 trainee professionals followed for a year, a shorter side-bridge hold on the trail side was linked to more frequent moderate or severe back pain.
- Warm-up: golfers who warmed up for more than 10 minutes had fewer than half the injuries per player of those who warmed up for 10 minutes or less.
- Carrying the bag: regular bag carriers had significantly more lower-back injuries, and the review suggests a push trolley instead.
When is golf back pain an emergency?
Go to a hospital emergency department if back pain comes with pain, tingling, weakness or numbness in both legs, numbness around the genitals or anus, bladder or bowel changes, or began after a serious accident. These are the warning signs listed in the NHS back pain guidance (page last reviewed 5 March 2026), a UK source that applies equally to Malaysian patients. See our guide to slipped disc MRI reports for more on why these signs matter.
Do not wait for an appointment if you have a fever, feel generally unwell, or the pain is severe and getting worse quickly. These need a doctor the same day.
Chiropractor, physiotherapist or doctor: who should I see first?
For mechanical back pain with no warning signs, a registered chiropractor or physiotherapist is a reasonable first stop. If any warning sign is present, a doctor comes first. The table sets out the split.
| Situation | Sensible first step | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Pain, tingling, weakness or numbness in both legs; numbness around the genitals or anus; bladder or bowel changes; chest pain; pain after a serious accident | Hospital emergency department now | NHS: immediate action |
| Fever or feeling unwell with back pain; severe pain that starts suddenly or worsens quickly | Doctor the same day | NHS: urgent advice |
| Pain that has not improved after a few weeks, wakes you at night, or comes with unexplained weight loss | Doctor, before any manual therapy | NHS: see a GP |
| Stiff, achy lower back after a round, no leg symptoms, slowly improving | Stay active; chiropractor or physiotherapist if it keeps returning | NHS: stay active |
| Lower back pain with pain travelling down one leg | Assessment by a doctor, chiropractor or physiotherapist; imaging only if it will change management | NICE NG59 |
What does chiropractic add, and how strong is the evidence?
The NICE guideline NG59, first issued in 2016 with parts updated in 2020, says manual therapy such as spinal manipulation can be considered for low back pain, but only as part of a package that includes exercise. It is not recommended on its own. NICE is a UK body, so this is guidance from another country, not Malaysian policy. I did not find a trial in golfers showing that chiropractic cures golf-related back pain, and the golf-specific evidence above is mostly small studies.
Chiropractic is a recognised practice area under the Traditional and Complementary Medicine Act 2016 (Act 775), which the Ministry of Health T&CM Division notes was gazetted on 10 March 2016 and came into force on 1 August 2016. Practitioners must register with the T&CM Council, and here is how to check a chiropractor is registered. Physiotherapy falls under a different law, the Allied Health Professions Act 2016 (Act 774); this comparison explains the difference.
A sensible first visit usually includes questions about your swing history and symptoms, a physical examination and a clear discussion of red flags. It should also come with a plan that includes exercise, not adjustments alone. No practitioner should promise a cure.
How can golfers lower the risk of back pain?
The review’s prevention suggestions are modest and sensible: warm up for more than 10 minutes, build trunk strength with side bridges and rotation work, keep the hips mobile, and use a trolley rather than carrying your bag. A coach can also check for over-rotation and a slouched setup. Evidence for each step is limited, but the risks are low.
Chiropractic House is at Suria @ North Kiara, off Jalan Kuching, close to golfers in Segambut, Mont Kiara and Sri Hartamas. A first session costs RM250 to RM410, and follow-ups cost less. It is a cash-pay clinic that does not bill insurers directly.
Golf lower back pain: frequently asked questions
Is golf bad for your lower back?
Not inherently, but the swing loads the lumbar spine with repeated twisting. A 2014 review found low back problems account for 18% to 54% of documented golf ailments, and about a quarter of golf injuries. Many episodes settle within weeks.
Can I keep playing golf with a sore lower back?
The NHS advises staying active and avoiding long periods of bed rest. If swinging clearly makes the pain worse, or leg symptoms appear, stop and get assessed rather than playing through it.
Do I need an X-ray or MRI for golf back pain?
Usually not at first. NICE advises against routinely offering imaging for low back pain in non-specialist settings, and says specialists should consider it only when the result is likely to change management.
Is chiropractic regulated in Malaysia?
Yes. Chiropractic is a recognised practice area under the Traditional and Complementary Medicine Act 2016 (Act 775), in force since 1 August 2016, and practitioners must register with the T&CM Council to practise.
Should I see a chiropractor or a physiotherapist for golf back pain?
For mechanical pain without red flags, either is a reasonable first step. NICE supports manual therapy only as part of a package that includes exercise, so ask any practitioner what exercise plan comes with the treatment.
How much does a first chiropractic visit cost at Chiropractic House?
A first session costs RM250 to RM410, and follow-ups cost less. It is a cash-pay clinic that does not bill insurers directly, but it issues receipts and clinical documentation for patients who wish to claim themselves.
Written by Eugene Gan, Chiropractor, Bachelor of Science (Hons) Chiropractic, accredited by the Council on Chiropractic Education Australasia (CCEA).
