Squash · General information
Lower back pain after squash: what helps, and when it is urgent
Squash has you bending, reaching, and rotating. Sports Medicine Australia includes the lower back among the usual sites for strains and sprains in the sport.[1] Most of that pain is a muscle or joint irritation rather than a dangerous injury, and the NHS advises against staying in bed for long periods.[2]
Why a match can stir it up
- A long match, a tournament weekend, or a sudden jump in court time.
- Low balls reached by bending from the back instead of the legs.
- Going from a desk or a car straight into hard rallies.
Those are common stories. They are not a diagnosis.
What usually helps
Keep moving. The NHS says not to stay in bed for long periods, and that ice or heat and simple movement can ease stiffness.[2] NICE includes exercise, matched to the person, in the care offered for low back pain.[3][4] Easing off the longest matches for a few days is reasonable. A list of stretches with set counts is not, until someone has assessed you.
NICE says not to offer belts or corsets for managing low back pain.[3]
- Pain, tingling, weakness, or numbness in both legs.
- Loss of feeling around the genitals or anus.
- A change in bladder or bowel control, including trouble peeing or leaking.
- A change in sexual sensation, or trouble getting or keeping an erection.
Frequently asked questions
Should I rest in bed after squash back pain?
The NHS says not to stay in bed for long periods. Gentle activity is the usual advice for ordinary low back pain.[2]
Should I wear a back brace to play?
NICE says not to offer belts or corsets for managing low back pain.[3] A brace is not the long-term answer in that guidance.
Back keeps flaring after squash?
A virtual visit can look at how you move and what to change on court. This article is not that visit.
Book a visitSources
- Sports Medicine Australia. Squash fact sheet. Revised 2008.
- NHS. Back pain.
- National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. Low back pain and sciatica in over 16s. NICE guideline NG59.
- NICE. Low back pain and sciatica: the care you should expect. Information for the public.
Keep reading
This article is general education. It is not a diagnosis, a clinical review, or a treatment plan for you. A clinician who can assess you is the right person to decide what is safe. In an emergency, call 911.