C.S.I. Reference Articles

Oh My Achin’ Back

While working the NCAA tournament at Sherwood I over heard a player say “Golf is for when I get to old to play singles Tennis”. When your lower back is injured you walk and feel like your ready for the rest home. Tennis can be hard on your lower back, but as in anything, knowing how the injuries can occur can keep you on the tennis courts and out of the golf carts.

Overhead and service strokes depend on good planning of placement on the court so that the ball remains in front of you. Otherwise, you may find the need to reach back for the ball causing a hyperextension and overrotation of the lower back. If your shoulders are tight they may not be flexible enough to reach back for the ball, once again, the lower back will overcompensate to make contact with the ball. Such movements place an excessive amount of stress to the joints of the lumbar spine (lower back). Excessive stress to the Facet joints can lead to premature arthritis and disc injuries.

Most positions in Tennis require the players to assume a hip flexed squatting posture. This commonly leads to loss of flexibility of the key hip flexor (psoas muscle). The iliopsoas muscle, attaches to the hip and inserts on the front portion of the lumbar spine. Injury to this area will usually begin with local pain in the small of your back and may wrap around your waist.

Early detection and early treatment is the key to early return and longevity. If the pain does not change or disappear within two days seek the care of a Sport Chiropractor or Physician as soon as possible. This could mean the difference between playing the game and watching it from the side lines.