ABSTRACT
A one-year follow-up study on back pain was conducted among 196 men taking up golf. The self-reported lifetime cumulative incidence of back pain was 63%, 28% reported back pain in the month prior to answering the questionnaire, and 13% reported current back pain. One year later, a second survey was carried out. The incidence of first time back pain during the 12 months follow-up was 8%, and the recurrence rate of back pain was about 45%. Severe back pain in the past was a strong predictor for recurrence of back pain among the novice golfers. Sportsmen were also at risk for recurrence of back pain. Most likely, taking up golf may aggravate pre-existing back pain because in golf, as in many other sports, particular strenuous movements may induce spells of back pain.
