Golfing After Spinal Fusion Back Surgery

Posted on: August 15th, 2023 by Our Team

How long should you stay off the greens after back surgery?

Between 30 and 50 percent of all golfers will struggle with back and neck pain. Many avoid surgery, fearing it will negatively affect their game. However, two golfers – Mike Rude, who underwent spinal fusion surgery, and Michael Mares, who had a minimally invasive microdiscectomy – share their success stories of returning to the sport they love, pain-free. Watch minimally invasive spine surgeon Dr. Kern Singh‘s interview with ABC 7 Chicago.

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Mike Rude’s Patient Story

Returning to Golf After Spinal Fusion

This is the first time Mike Rude has swung a golf club in two years! Never-ending low back pain kept him from the sport he loves. “Living with constant pain, you know, it wears on you, and it tires you out,” Mike said. But last year, Mike had spinal fusion surgery to relieve the pain … and now he’s back! “I wasn’t even thinking about my lower back at all,” he said. Like Mike, many golfers wonder when – or if – they can safely return to the sport after surgery.

“We see so many patients that have back problems and neck problems and there’s no consensus as far as when they can return back to play,” said Kern Singh, M.D., an orthopedic surgeon at Midwest Orthopaedics at Rush. A recent study at Midwest Orthopaedics at Rush found 65 percent of golfers were able to play within a year of having lower back spine fusion. Seventy-five percent were playing the same amount of golf as before surgery. “The fact that they can do it without pain and how far they can hit the ball, it’s really incredible,” said Joe Estes, a physical therapist at Athletico Physical Therapy.

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Michael Mares’ Patient Story

Back to the Greens After a Microdiscectomy

Dr. Singh has also treated professional golfers like Michael Mares, a PGA Professional at Butler National Golf Club. “Michael – he’s a great guy. When I met him, he was miserable. He had a very large disc herniation and weakness in his leg,” Dr. Singh recalled. Michael, like many golfers, was hesitant about undergoing surgery. However, after extensive discussion, he decided to proceed with a minimally invasive discectomy.

“He woke up, and his pain was significantly improved,” Dr. Singh said, adding that Michael returned to teaching at the golf club within months, feeling better than ever. Michael, too, shared his story: “It actually started about four years prior, but it was really gradual and just kept getting worse.” After trying various non-surgical treatments like physical therapy and chiropractic care, Michael reached a point where the pain was unbearable.

“I was losing sleep. I couldn’t perform my job as I wanted. So, I was ready to try anything, and that’s when I went to see Dr. Singh,” Michael recalled. Michael admitted he was initially skeptical, but once he woke up from the procedure, the pain was gone. “I woke up, and the pain was instantly gone,” Michael said. “It was pretty incredible.”

Dr. Singh explained, “For surgeries like a discectomy, I tell people to start easing into [swing sports] at about four to six weeks after the procedure.” Michael had the surgery in December, and by March, he was back on the course swinging the club again. “Dr. Singh really stressed that if you rush it, you can be right back where you were, so I took my time,” Michael explained.

“The beauty of it was, having it in December… the nice thing about Chicago winter is not a whole lot of golf being played, even though you want to be out there, but it was the perfect time for me to recover.” Today, Michael feels completely rejuvenated. “I’m very excited. I feel fantastic. The pain is completely gone and it’s just nice to be able to know that I’m not going to have those bad weeks anymore where I have to worry about saying no, you know, sorry I can’t go out there and play with you.”

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Golf Swing Mechanics and the Spine

Dr. Singh shared his insights into the impact of golf on the spine. “The golf swing, when done correctly, has no impact on the spine,” he explained. However, many golfers, whether recreational or professional, do not have a perfect swing, which can put significant stress on the lower back, especially when hip movement is limited. This can lead to flare-ups, particularly in people with degenerative disc disease—a condition Dr. Singh often encounters in golfers.

Researchers at Midwest Orthopaedics at Rush are using 3D motion analysis to evaluate golfers before and after surgery, looking at how back pain affects their swing mechanics. “We’re not looking for a perfect swing, but we’re looking for a return to a normal swing,” Dr. Singh said. “It’s amazing how much a reduction in pain can improve someone’s performance.”

Now researchers are conducting another study to determine exactly when golfers can return to play. They’re using 3D motion analysis to evaluate a golfer’s game before and after surgery.

“So how their golf club moves, how fast it moves, how strong their trunk is, how long their torso and leg strength are, and then we compare and see how long it takes for them to get back to baseline if not better,” Singh said. Dr. Singh left with a few tips for golfers experiencing back pain – “five minutes of light cardio beforehand, some stretching, in particular your hamstrings, hip flexors, and your lower back – can make a tremendous difference.”