African American orthopedic spine surgeon, Dr. Lytton Williams, co-director of the Los Angeles Spine Surgery Institute at St. Vincent Medical Center, often treats avid golfers for back injuries cause by their violent swings and overall positioning of the spine. Incorporating aerobic conditioning and trunk stabilization exercises to improve balance, flexibility and strength, golfers can alleviate the pressure placed on their backs during their swing and distribute the power evenly from the shoulders to their hips and legs.

Spinal injuries lead the list of injuries on both the senior and regular PGA tours, according to Dr. Williams, as well as amateurs. Repetitive extremes in rotation and compression during a normal back swing have caused now senior PGA tour members such as Jack Niklaus, Lee Trevino, Tom Kite and Fuzzy Zoeller to have been sidelined at one time or another with career-threatening back injuries. Today, younger players such as Tiger Woods have curtailed that traditional backbreaking motion in favor of lighter clubs and a more balanced, upright, back-friendly swing.

Past studies conducted by Dr. Williams, his colleague Dr. Robert Watkins (PGA Spine Consultant) and a team of biomechanical engineers, have shown that both professional and amateur golfers generate "peak spinal compression loads" of 6,000 newtons (gravitational force). That's the equivalent of eight times an individual's standing body weight.

The two main trouble spots are the shock absorbing discs between the vertebrae and the facet joints, at the back of each vertebrae, that act as brakes to rotation. If the disc ruptures in the spinal canal it can injure the sciatic nerves that run down the legs. Patients would compare it to a grenade going off in their backs.

To prevent some injuries, Dr. Williams and his colleagues have employed a program of "trunk stabilization" exercises for professional and amateur athletes. The premise of trunk stabilization is to put the spine in a safe neutral position; run it through a series of rotational exercises designed to increase overall range of motion and strengthen the supporting muscles around the spine.

The result, today's swings are back-friendly and more upright, with the hips and shoulders more level throughout the swing.

For more information, contact Dr. Lytton Williams at St Vincent Medical Center at (213) 207-5635.