Have you an Injury from carrying???

[Losttheplot]

Listening to a certain sports commercial radio station today and an interesting discussion on back injuries...

Got me thinking about those who carry their bags. Do you suffer from any back strains or have had any back injuries from carrying your bag?? I'm just curious on any correlations between the two that's all.

I find I can carry for a round but the following day I'm struggling with back ache and need my trolley.

 

[Imurg]

Carrying exagerates an injury for me rather than causes one. 6 years ago I shattered mt right ankle and have an ounce or two of titanium holding it together. It gives me a bit of bother from time to time anyway but after carrying for a round I can barely walk for a day afterwards. Pushing my trolley or general walking leaves it a bit swollen and aching but I can play the next day.
So it hasn't caused an injury but severely increases the discomfort.

 

[Region3]

Same here. I've a slightly dodgy back. Nothing major and it doesn't stop me doing anything, I just get spasms sometimes.

It's not the carrying that sets it off for me, it's the picking it up and putting it down, where all the weight and effort is on one side only.

 

[Smiffy]

Up until about 18 months ago I carried. Refused to use a trolley and hated using buggies, even on holiday. For me, the walk was a great deal of "what it's all about".
But my ankles and knees suffered, not my back. 30 years of football had basically taken their toll.
I now use a trolley. I still suffer with my ankles, especially if the course is a little hilly. But my knees are much better so I guess the carrying was putting a strain on them more than I realised.

 

[drawboy]

I had last week off cos of a back and side strain but because I had to work it hasn't improved so this week looks off as well.

 

[medwayjon]

It will be interested to see how I get on carrying after my bad back problem.

I do know that I was always more fatigued after carrying than I was walking with a trolley.

 

[TonyN]

I have a bad back anyway not caused by carrying but it certainly doesn't help lugging the bag around

I also developed stress fractures in the shins last year from over training and carrying the bag just made it worse.

I got a cheap powerkaddy out of the paper which I use occasionally ( mostly comps) and it seems to help.

 

[fundy]

Have recently come back to playing from a serious knee injury and am under strict orders to use a trolley not carry to reduce the impact through the knee (i hate it still, much prefer to carry so I can walk exactly where I want!) Dad not too impressed I nicked his Motocaddy on "medical grounds" lol

 

[Oddsocks]

Through my old sport i have 2 hips that have been rebuilt, a knee with no acl/pcl and due to the damage in my hips my lower spin often twists meaning i have to see a chiropractor.

Ive managed to get my hands on a eleccy trolley and although it helps i still hate using it. as someone stated the walk is all part of the fun. buggies tent to ruin my golf as once you have hit a bad one you are already at it ready to hit again, atleast walking you have time to walk, look and forget about that dodgey shot.

 

[Losttheplot]

I think carrying can make your back and knees worse if you have a problem already.
In the spring this year I had a week off work so I played almost everyday and carried. By the 4th day I remember my back was aching and my right knee was feeling the extra weight (from the bag )
I've taken a bit of a precaution attitude now and only carry if necessary which is rare now.

Electric trolleys are definately the way forward! Need to fix mine!

 

[Robobum]

Christ, it's like a doctor's waiting room in here.

 

[freddielong]

About four years ago I started to get a bit of back pain during a round and used to take Ibuprofen to sort it.

So I decided to get fitter again bought a Road Bike and some power bands and a medicine ball lost about a stone and haven't needed any pain killers since.

 

[Oddsocks]

Alot of back pain (according to my chrio) is due to poor core muscle strength not supoorting the lower back enough. obvioulsy golf both swinging the club and also carrying would put pressure on the back but make it ache at the same time.

He has given me a load of excersises to help build core muscle in the lower back.

 

[bobmac]

I, like some others on here, prefer to carry my bag, just habit I suppose. However, twice in the last month or so I was fortunate enough to have use of a buggy at Balbirnie and Toft gc.
It was a nice change but after the game, it felt like I hadn't done anything.
Does anyone else like that nice feeling of sitting down in the clubhouse comfy chairs after a long day carrying?

 

[freddielong]

Yes Bob there is nothing like tired feet and warm hands after 36

 

[USER1999]

Yes Bob there is nothing like tired feet and warm hands after 36

Get a trolley, some gloves, and some ill fitting shoes. You'll be fine.

 

[clivea]

I prefer to carry but I now use a Gokart.

Three things made me switch:-
1. Stiff lower back after a round of golf which might have been a sign of an old hockey injury.
2. Pain in my right wrist (no jokes please) - which I put down to lifting and lowering the bag off my shoulders.
3. Tiredness - basically using a trolley meant that I was "fresher" when I had finished and has two pluses. first is that I must play better later in a round as I am not as tired and secondly it allows me to go home on a Saturday and take the better half drinking and dancing.