What golfers should know about protecting their spine
Why does golf cause so many back problems?
I take care of so many golfers in my practice, because the modern golf swing produces 8X the body weight on their lower backs as they push off the ground and hit the ball. That swing for power is very demanding on the lumbar discs.
That’s why I recommend an exercise for golfers designed not only to improve strength but also the coordination of all the muscles that surround the spine so that they act like the world’s greatest back brace. Ask your physical therapist or doctor to help customize one just for you.
What is the biggest mistake golfers make when their back starts hurting?
One of the biggest mistakes is not WARMING UP. Golf is still a sport, so arriving early and loosening up before a round can help protect your back.
Can you still play golf after spine surgery?
Absolutely! The whole goal of surgery is getting you back to the activities you love. Many patients are able to return to golf after recovery, even following procedures like a two-level spinal fusion done well, like my mama had!
Inside Our March 13th Cadaver Lab
How did the lab go?
We had a bit of a revelation. One of the simplest and most important parts of the endoscopic learning curve is the grip, how the endoscope, cannula, and instruments are actually held and manipulated. It’s like golf. If the grip isn’t right, you’re not going to get past a certain level. Once that changes, everything starts to improve.
Before going into the cadaver lab, we had surgeons do a new exercise we call the “Endo Clock Game,” where they try to move a red mark on a ring over a number on a small clock image. It’s a coordination exercise, moving to specific positions while maintaining control, and it’s harder than it looks. This accelerated the process of getting familiar with how to rotate, advance, and control the scope all at the same time.
The idea is to get better out there FIRST, not in the cadaver room, and most certainly not in the operating room. Practice, repetition, and building that control early makes everything more effective when it matters most.
Why are you so passionate about teaching?
It’s not that I’m passionate about endoscopy specifically, I’m passionate about WHY it is that there’s something so AWESOME, but it’s so hard to get other people to do it. I think anybody in my shoes would be passionate about that because the world is a crazy place. And we can’t help but try to fix it.
Spine Summit 2026
Pushing the Limits of Spine Surgery
Spine Summit brings together the top surgeons in spine care, and we are constantly learning from each other to achieve better outcomes for patients. The level of camaraderie among spine and neurosurgeons pushes innovation to a pace faster than most fields, leading to ongoing improvements in patient care.
My talk was on overcoming the persistent challenges we need to tackle in the endoscopic field, but the real interesting talks were on the last morning, Sunday. We heard from leaders across spine surgery, including Dr. Theresa Williamson on when to go big versus minimally invasive in lumbar deformity, Bill Taylor on advancements in multistage and single-position lateral surgery, and it’s great to see how far it’s evolved since we started SMISS, Dr. Wade Jensen on incorporating endoscopic techniques to treat focal problems without destabilizing the spine, and Dr. Osama Kashlan and Dr. Jang Yoon on the evolution of uniportal versus biportal endoscopic approaches. All of this continues to move spine care forward, improving outcomes for patients and expanding the role of less invasive techniques like endoscopic spine surgery.
We also had the opportunity to hear from the Korean masters, Dr. Harrison Kim and Dr. Il Choi. Korean spine surgeons have been at the forefront of endoscopic spine surgery longer than almost anyone else, and that experience shows. Their level of precision, creativity, and technical mastery is truly remarkable.
