Back pain is the most common physical complaint among professional and recreational golfers, albeit for different reasons. Normally, each vertebra in the spine moves independently a certain number of degrees when our whole body is involved in an activity. During her 19 years of practice, Dr. Stevko has treated many women golfers, both amateurs and professionals, including Karrie Webb, who has won five LPGA tournaments this year. She says that women players are now more aware of the benefits of being stronger and more flexible, though certain inherent differences will always be factors. Some of the older women players who have played a long time have more arthritic, degenerative changes in their lumbar spine, and they have more low-back problems.
Younger players seem to have more upper-back problems.
Chiropractic care helps players play better and feel better and experience increased motion and flexibility. Chiropractors also express concern that the number of knowledgeable teachers has not kept pace with golf's growing popularity. Many people are taking lessons from assistant pros and even their assistants. Most lessons are not tied in with any sports medicine specialist and most people are not receiving instruction based on their individual capabilities or limitations. Dr. La Fountain is also working to improve the relationship between the sports healthcare specialist and the teaching pro.