Low Back Pain in Golfers Hampers Performance

A cross-sectional study of golfers was conducted to determine if chronic low back pain contributed to problems with the knee extensors. The study by University of Calgary researchers assessed the association between functional capacity of the back extensors and the quadriceps muscles. 25 male golfers with chronic low back pain and 16 healthy golfers of similar age were studied. It was determined that golfers with chronic low back pain had significant inhibition of the knee extensors, indicating that this muscle group cannot be activated to a full extent. These findings suggest a possible association between back extensor fatigability and knee extensor dysfunction in male golfers with chronic low back pain.