Playing Golf After Spinal Fusion Surgery

While most doctors will recommend that you don’t start playing golf after spinal fusion surgery for quite some time, it is best to consult with your doctor before trying to play the sport. That is because your doctor may have different instructions depending on your case.

Also, there are factors when playing golf that could affect your health after such a surgery. Indeed, every surgeon and surgeon team has different criteria for being able to return to golf after surgery, as well as different recommendations for recovery time in the form of physical therapy.

Golf Injuries That Require Spinal Fusion Surgery 

There are a variety of reasons why a doctor would recommend spinal fusion surgery. For instance, the main reason is that the patient has disc degeneration or bulging discs. The discs could be damaged due to things like excessive weight, the chronic wearing of shoes, and even inflammation in the spine.

All of this can contribute to a misalignment of the spine which can lead to back pain and other problems like scoliosis. Thusly, in order to reduce these risks, a doctor might suggest spinal fusion surgery.

Some other surgeries may be recommended for reasons such as trauma from an accident or injury that causes nerve impingement and pressure on nerves located within the spinal column or vertebrae region.

How Golf Can Hurt During Recovery 

A golfer can re-injure their back injury if they do not follow safety guidelines before getting to play again

As you may know, golf takes a lot of concentration. You need to be able to focus on the road ahead and stay mentally strong; otherwise, you could end up not being able to make it through some holes and end up with a terrible score.

It’s even worse if you have a bad habit of getting discouraged or frustrated. This can affect your game and ultimately ruin your mental health. 

That goes for both before and after spinal fusion surgery since both of those tasks are important to your recovery process. The main issue is that the stress and pressure from playing golf can put quite a bit of pain on your back.

For example, it might be more difficult to bend over to pick up your ball or even take a swing at the ball. That doesn’t even count the amount of bending you would have to do if you were to do much walking around the course.

Add in how difficult putting can be after spine surgery with having to bend over for steady putts or even get up from a sitting position when it is your turn.

In addition, the stress of competition could be somewhat of a factor since it is stressful, to begin with. Taking all of this into consideration, you have a recipe for disaster in the form of increased risks for re-injury or even further complications from your spinal surgery.

Golf After Surgery – Some Considerations 

Your doctor has to take into consideration many things before they can truly offer you sound advice on if it is safe to play golf after spinal fusion surgery.

This includes both your health as well as your personal situation, such as age, lifestyle, and exercise restrictions. As you can see, there are plenty of things that your doctor has to take into consideration before they make any recommendations. 

This is why you need to have a consultation with your doctor to get the necessary information needed so that you can make a decision about playing golf after spinal fusion surgery.

While many doctors will recommend that you refrain from playing golf or even lifting weights, some will allow it at different stages of the recovery process as long as there are no complications involved. 

The first step is for your surgeon to make a diagnosis and decide on the recommended treatment option. The next step is for it to heal sufficiently for the treatment option chosen to begin.

This includes any type of physical therapy or other treatment that might be recommended. Once the body is ready, the doctor will then allow you to play certain types of activities along with lifting weights and so on. 

Here’s something to keep in mind to get you through the recovery process:

1) Be patient with your recovery process. 

2) Get regular exercise. 

3) Consistency is very important.

Here is a story of a golfer who had a successful return to the course following a spinal fusion surgery:

Ready To Go Back To The Golf Course?

Only time and your doctor can tell whether or not playing golf after spinal fusion surgery is right for you. 

Now, if you think you’re ready to get your golf game back on track, then start by following these tips:

1. Schedule Your Surgery Far Ahead of Time.

Most surgeons will recommend that you wait until at least six months after any kind of spinal surgery to start playing golf. For example, if you have thoracic spine surgery, then you would need to wait for six months later before attempting to play golf. 

2. Start Slow and Keep Records of How Your Body Responds Both Physically and Mentally.

Again, this is important so that you can know what new limitations exist and how recovery is going in general. Before trying to hit any balls, you should use your trainer or coach to get your swing right and learn how to adapt your technique so that it does not put undue stress on your back.

3. Keep Track of Any Pain or Other Indicators that Your Body is Experiencing.

Forget about aggressive golf swings and long sessions on the course. When you play golf after spinal fusion surgery, you have to play with a lot of care and caution.  You also need to learn how to position yourself properly so that you can avoid putting extra pressure on your spine during the swing.

4. Take Breaks and Take Days Off Every So Often.

Also, think about alternating between golf and lighter sports activities such as tennis or bowling on different days. After playing a few rounds of golf with less stress, then only is time for you to start hitting the balls harder and lifting more weights.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Can You Play Golf After Spinal Fusion Surgery?

The best way to find out if you can play golf is to consult with your doctor. They will be able to tell you what your limitations are so that you can then make an informed decision. 

2. What is the recommended recovery time before you can play golf after spinal fusion surgery? 

Recovery time may vary depending on a number of factors.

3. How Much Flexibility Is Required Before I Can Play Golf After Surgery?

There are many factors regarding whether or not it is safe or not safe for you to play golf after spinal fusion surgery. For instance, the physical activity required might be more than what your body is able to take at this point in the recovery process.

In addition to this, there could be other complications that are not related to spine surgery. These things have to be taken into consideration before you decide if it is safe for you or not.

To get the best answers, your doctor might recommend that you start off with activities like walking and other low-impact exercises.

Then, as your body gets stronger, you can move up to more highly recommended exercises such as swimming and biking before getting into more intense forms of physical activity such as golf. However, this all depends on the surgeries themselves and how much time is needed for them to heal sufficiently.

If you want to learn more about Physical Therapy For Best Golf Performance, click the article.