Why Your Lower Back Hurts When You Golf (Or Play Pickleball)
And Why It’s Usually Not Just “A Back Problem”
Every spring, it happens.
Someone gets back on the golf course.
Or jumps into pickleball league.
Or starts playing tennis again.
And within a few rounds, the lower back starts barking.
Sometimes it’s stiffness.
Sometimes it’s sharp pain.
Sometimes it feels like “something slipped.”
Most people assume:
“I must have a bad back.”
But in rotational sports, the lower back is usually the victim — not the cause.
Golf and Pickleball Are Rotational Stress Machines
Golf, pickleball, and tennis all demand:
Repeated spinal rotation
Explosive weight transfer
Deceleration control
Sudden pivoting
Repetitive asymmetrical loading
The lumbar spine (lower back) is not designed to create large amounts of rotation.
It’s designed primarily for stability and load transfer.
When rotation is limited somewhere else — the lower back picks up the slack.
And that’s when pain starts.
The Real Reasons Lower Back Pain Shows Up in Rotational Athletes
1. Limited Hip Mobility
If the hips don’t rotate well:
The lower back rotates more than it should
Shear forces increase
Muscles tighten defensively
This is one of the most common patterns we see.
2. Poor Core Timing (Not Weakness — Timing)
It’s not just about having strong abs.
It’s about how well your nervous system coordinates:
Abdominals
Obliques
Glutes
Spinal stabilizers
If timing is off, the back absorbs stress instead of transferring it.
3. Restricted Thoracic Spine (Mid-Back)
If your mid-back is stiff:
Rotation shifts downward
The lumbar spine compensates
Repetitive irritation develops
Most “back pain” patients actually have a mid-back problem.
4. Repetitive Spring Ramp-Up
Winter = less rotation
Spring = full rotational force
The tissues simply aren’t conditioned yet.
The lower back is often the first place that protests.
Why Rest, Ice, and Stretching Often Don’t Fix It
If the real issue is:
Hip restriction
Movement timing
Load distribution
Joint stiffness
Then stretching the lower back won’t solve it.
In fact, aggressive stretching can sometimes make it worse.
Because you’re stretching the area that’s already overworking.
How JointWave and Chiropractic Help Lower Back Stress
At JointWave Des Moines, we approach lower back pain differently.
Instead of asking:
“What’s wrong with the back?”
We ask:
“Why is the back being overloaded?”
That evaluation often includes:
Hip motion assessment
Thoracic spine mobility
Foot mechanics
Core coordination
Load distribution during rotation
Chiropractic Adjustment
If a specific segment of the spine is restricted and creating abnormal pressure, a precise adjustment can:
Reduce local joint stress
Restore motion
Improve nervous system input
This reduces the mechanical burden on the lumbar spine.
JointWave Therapy
JointWave supports tissues that have been chronically overloaded.
For lower back-related stress patterns, it can help:
Improve tissue response
Reduce chronic irritation
Support recovery in stressed ligaments and tendons
Improve circulation to overloaded areas
Especially for athletes who:
Feel fine at rest
But flare up during play
What Happens If You Ignore It?
Pushing through lower back pain during golf or pickleball can lead to:
Chronic stiffness
Recurrent flare-ups
Reduced swing power
Compensation into hips or knees
Long-term irritation patterns
Addressing it early is much easier than chasing it mid-season.
Before You Blame Your Disc…
Lower back pain in rotational sports is rarely just about the spine itself.
It’s usually about:
Movement efficiency
Load sharing
Joint coordination
Adaptation to stress
When the body moves better, the back doesn’t have to absorb everything.
Ready to Get Back on the Course Without Guarding Your Back?
If lower back stiffness or pain is creeping in during golf, pickleball, or tennis season, it’s worth identifying the real cause before it becomes a recurring issue.
JointWave Des Moines evaluates how your body handles rotation — not just where it hurts.
Let’s get you moving freely again.