[Spine stabilizing muscles in golfers].

Although golf is perceived as a sport with low risk for injury, majority of golf players complain about problems along the spine. One possible reason could be poor physical condition. To see if golf players in general show deficits in spine-stabilizing muscles, twenty-three male golfers without back pain were examined with regard to their maximal isometric strength of trunk muscles. They were compared with persons of same age and constitution that do no sports. The Golf players have highly significant stronger lumbar extensors and show muscular dysbalance in lateral flexors and rotators of the spine. Specific training for well-balanced strengthening of spine-stabilizing muscles seem to be advisable, because muscular dysbalance can contribute to the development of back pain.