Michelle Wie Injuries: Her Neck, Back, Wrist and Golf Injury History

Michelle Wie West has spent much of her life at the highest level of professional golf.

She became a professional in 2005, won five times on the LPGA Tour and captured the 2014 U.S. Women’s Open. But alongside those achievements, her career has also included a long history of musculoskeletal injuries involving areas such as the neck, back, hips, legs, ankles and wrist. The LPGA lists five career victories and notes that her 2018 season ended early because of a wrist injury requiring surgery.

Her injury history became relevant again in 2026 when Wie West returned to LPGA competition after approximately three years away. Before her return at the Mizuho Americas Open, she described the physical side of returning to competitive golf as difficult and said she felt that “everything hurts.”

That makes Michelle Wie’s story more than a list of injuries.

It provides an opportunity to understand how repetitive golf movements can place demands on the wrist, neck, back, hips and lower body—and why managing symptoms early can matter for athletes.

Importantly, this article does not suggest that every injury Wie experienced was caused by golf or that one injury caused another. Her medical history involved different problems at different times, and the available evidence does not establish one single cause for all of them.

What Injuries Has Michelle Wie Had?

Michelle Wie West has experienced a number of documented injuries and health problems throughout her professional career.

The USGA described her competitive journey as involving problems with her neck, back, hip, wrists and ankles, among other health issues.

Her documented injury history includes:

• Neck pain and neck spasms
• Back problems
• Left hip problems
• Knee and ankle problems
• Left-leg symptoms
• Right wrist and hand problems
• An avulsion fracture
• Bone spurs
• Nerve entrapment in the right hand
• Wrist surgery in 2018

The exact diagnosis and severity varied between episodes.

That distinction is important because “Michelle Wie injuries” is not one medical diagnosis. It refers to a history of different musculoskeletal problems occurring across different periods of her career.

Michelle Wie’s Wrist Injury and Surgery

One of the most significant injuries in Wie’s later professional career involved her right hand and wrist.

In 2018, she struggled with persistent right wrist problems and withdrew from tournaments while receiving treatment and rehabilitation. Golf Digest reported that the problem was eventually diagnosed as an avulsion fracture, bone spurs and nerve entrapment in her right hand. She underwent surgery in October 2018 and missed the remainder of the season.

The problem did not disappear immediately.

In 2019, Wie continued to experience wrist-related issues and took additional time away from golf to allow her body to recover and become stronger.

The wrist is particularly important for a golfer because the hands and wrists help control the club throughout the swing.

Pain in this area can therefore affect grip, club control and the ability to repeatedly swing without aggravating symptoms.

Why Are Wrist Injuries Important in Golf?

Golf involves repeated high-speed movement of the upper limb.

Although the golf swing is a whole-body movement, the hands and wrists ultimately control the club.

This means that wrist symptoms can affect:

• Grip
• Clubface control
• Impact position
• Swing speed
• Practice volume
• Ability to complete a full swing
• Confidence during movement

Research supports the importance of the wrist and hand as injury sites among golfers. A systematic review and meta-analysis published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine found that professional golfers have a significantly higher lifetime prevalence of hand and wrist injuries compared with amateur golfers.

That does not mean that professional golfers will necessarily develop wrist problems.

It does, however, show why wrist health is an important consideration for people who repeatedly perform golf swings.

Michelle Wie’s Neck Injury

Wie also experienced significant neck problems during her career.

At the 2017 U.S. Women’s Open, she played while dealing with neck and shoulder pain. Golf Digest reported that she described the problem as a neck sprain and experienced sharp pain when hitting the ball. Her movement was visibly restricted, and she required treatment during the round.

This episode demonstrates something particularly relevant to golfers: the neck does not operate independently from the rest of the golf swing.

The upper body needs to rotate while the head, shoulders and trunk coordinate movement.

If someone develops persistent neck pain, especially when it interferes with normal movement, the symptoms deserve appropriate assessment.

Can Golf Cause Neck Pain?

Golf does not automatically cause neck pain.

However, the repeated rotation and positioning required during a golf swing can place mechanical demands on the cervical and upper thoracic regions.

The risk can also be influenced by:

• Training volume
• Swing mechanics
• Previous injury
• Mobility
• Strength
• Recovery
• Practice frequency
• Technique
• Individual anatomy

A golfer who experiences neck and shoulder pain should not assume that the pain is simply part of playing golf.

Understanding the timing and behaviour of symptoms can help determine whether the issue needs further assessment.

What Can Cause Neck Pain During Golf?

There are many possible contributors to neck discomfort.

A golfer may experience symptoms because of muscle irritation, joint-related problems, previous injury, training load or other musculoskeletal factors.

For that reason, causes of neck pain are broader than simply “bad posture” or an incorrect golf swing.

The 2017 episode involving Wie illustrates this point. She had significant symptoms that affected her swing, but the available reporting identified the problem as a neck sprain rather than establishing a general golf-related diagnosis.

Can Neck Stiffness Affect a Golf Swing?

Potentially.

Rotation is an important component of golf, and restricted neck movement can change how a golfer positions the head and upper body.

Wie’s 2017 U.S. Women’s Open experience demonstrated how painful neck movement could interfere with her normal swing. She described difficulty hitting full shots and had to modify her movement.

Golfers who regularly experience neck stiffness may benefit from understanding what is contributing to their symptoms rather than repeatedly playing through them.

Michelle Wie’s Back Problems

Back problems are another documented part of Wie’s injury history.

The USGA noted that she had dealt with injuries affecting her back as well as her neck, hip, wrists and ankles during her career.

Her back history is particularly relevant because lower-back injuries are among the most frequently reported musculoskeletal problems in professional golfers.

A systematic review found that lumbar spine injuries were the most commonly affected region in several studies of professional golfers, with reported ranges of 22% to 34%.

More recent research involving more than 9,000 golfers found that professional golfers had a significantly higher lifetime prevalence of lower-back injury compared with amateur golfers.

This does not prove that golf caused Wie’s individual back problems.

Instead, it shows why the lower back is an important area to consider when discussing the physical demands of professional golf.

Why Is the Lower Back Important in Golf?

A golf swing involves coordinated movement between the hips, pelvis, trunk and upper body.

During the swing, the golfer must generate and transfer force through the lower body and trunk before that movement reaches the arms and club.

The lumbar spine therefore operates as part of a kinetic chain rather than functioning independently.

Problems affecting the hips, pelvis, thoracic spine or lower limbs can potentially alter movement patterns.

Likewise, changes in spinal mobility or pain can influence how someone performs a swing.

This is one reason golfers should not treat recurring lower back pain as something that simply has to be accepted as part of the sport.

Can Golf Swing Mechanics Affect the Back?

The golf swing involves repeated rotation and loading of the spine.

Research into golf injuries consistently identifies the lumbar region as an important injury location among golfers.

However, it would be incorrect to say that one particular swing technique automatically causes a back injury.

Injury risk is multifactorial.

Training load, previous injuries, physical conditioning, technique, recovery and individual biomechanics can all influence how a golfer responds to repetitive activity.

If symptoms appear specifically during or after sitting, golfers may also want to consider other daily activities. For example, information about lower back pain when I sit may be relevant to someone spending long periods at a desk between training sessions.

Michelle Wie’s Hip and Leg Injuries

Wie’s lower-body injury history is also well documented.

In 2015, she competed at the U.S. Women’s Open while dealing with a problem involving her entire left leg. She was wearing an ankle brace and said that she was also dealing with left hip symptoms.

Earlier that year, a left-hip injury had forced her to withdraw from the Kingsmill Championship.

She also changed her stance to reduce stress on the hip and discussed how the change affected her golf swing.

This is an excellent example of how an injury can influence movement without necessarily creating another diagnosis.

A golfer may change their stance, weight distribution or swing mechanics simply because a particular movement is uncomfortable.

Can a Hip Injury Affect the Back?

The hip and lower back work together during many movements, including walking, standing and athletic rotation.

When hip movement is restricted, people can sometimes modify how they move.

However, this does not mean every hip injury causes a back injury.

If someone develops both hip and back symptoms, the relationship should be assessed rather than assumed.

For example, golfers who experience both back and neck pain may need an assessment that considers the broader movement pattern rather than focusing on one isolated area.

Can an Injury Change Your Golf Swing?

Absolutely.

But that does not mean the altered swing itself is necessarily harmful.

In 2015, Wie specifically discussed changing her stance because of her hip problems. She used a narrower stance to reduce stress on the hip and gradually became more comfortable with the adjustment.

This highlights an important principle:

When pain changes movement, the movement change is information.

It may tell an athlete that something needs to be assessed.

Trying to force the body back into its normal movement pattern despite significant pain is not necessarily the right approach.

Does Michelle Wie’s Injury History Mean Golf Is Bad for the Body?

No.

Golf is a physically demanding sport, but the existence of golf injuries does not mean golf is inherently harmful.

The 2024 systematic review and meta-analysis found that more than half of golfers included across the available studies had experienced a musculoskeletal injury during their lifetime. It also found different injury patterns between professional and amateur golfers.

The better question is:

How can golfers manage physical demands while responding appropriately to symptoms?

Factors such as physical preparation, strength, mobility, recovery, technique and training load can all be relevant.

Can Golf Injuries Cause Sciatica?

A golf injury does not automatically cause sciatica.

Sciatica refers to symptoms associated with irritation or compression involving the sciatic nerve, often producing pain that travels from the lower back or buttock into the leg.

A golfer with leg pain should not assume that the symptoms represent sciatica without assessment.

If symptoms do suggest nerve involvement, understanding sciatica can help explain why radiating symptoms may feel different from ordinary muscular soreness.

What About a Herniated Disc?

A golfer with back pain does not automatically have a herniated disc.

Disc problems are only one possible explanation for back symptoms.

If a disc problem is suspected, the diagnosis should be based on the person’s symptoms and clinical assessment rather than simply assuming that repetitive golf swings have damaged a disc.

For general information, Wave’s guide to herniated disc treatment discusses the condition and possible approaches to management.

Can Golf Cause Burning Back Pain?

Different types of pain can feel different.

A golfer may describe muscular discomfort as aching, tightness or soreness, while nerve-related symptoms may sometimes be described as burning, tingling or electric.

That does not mean burning pain automatically indicates nerve compression.

Someone experiencing burning pain in the lower back should consider the overall pattern of symptoms and seek appropriate assessment if symptoms persist or are concerning.

Can Muscle Spasms Happen After Golf?

Muscle spasms can occur for different reasons and may be associated with changes in physical activity, muscle fatigue or other musculoskeletal factors.

A golfer who develops lower back spasms should not automatically assume that the golf swing is the sole cause.

The timing of symptoms, training volume, recovery and previous injuries can all provide useful context.

Does Golf Cause Degenerative Disc Problems?

There is no reason to conclude that every golfer will develop spinal degeneration.

Degenerative changes can occur as part of the normal ageing process and have multiple contributing factors.

If a golfer has already been diagnosed with degenerative disc changes in the lower back, however, understanding how activity affects their individual symptoms may be useful.

The goal should be to manage the person’s actual condition rather than assuming that every back symptom has the same cause.

What Happened to Michelle Wie’s Wrist After Surgery?

Wie underwent surgery in October 2018 after doctors identified an avulsion fracture, bone spurs and nerve entrapment in her right hand. She subsequently required additional time away from golf as symptoms continued to affect her ability to compete.

The LPGA’s official biography also records that her 2018 season was cut short by a wrist injury requiring surgery and that she experienced a recurrence of a previous wrist injury in 2019.

This illustrates how recovery from an injury can sometimes involve more than simply returning to activity once the initial treatment is complete.

Michelle Wie’s Return to Golf in 2026

Michelle Wie West returned to LPGA competition in May 2026 at the Mizuho Americas Open after approximately three years away from competitive LPGA golf.

Reuters reported that she had stepped away following the 2023 U.S. Women’s Open and returned to competition in 2026, while also preparing for another appearance at the U.S. Women’s Open.

Her return is significant from an injury perspective because elite athletes returning after a prolonged period away have to rebuild more than competitive rhythm.

They also have to manage physical conditioning, workload and tolerance to repetitive sporting movements.

Wie’s own comments before the 2026 event reflected that reality. She described the physical side of returning as difficult, although she identified the mental challenge of competition as the bigger issue for her at that point.

What Can Athletes Learn From Michelle Wie’s Injuries?

One of the clearest lessons from Michelle Wie’s career is that elite athletes can experience recurring problems across different areas of the body.

Her history included documented issues involving the:

• Neck
• Back
• Hip
• Knee
• Ankle
• Hand
• Wrist

The important lesson is not that one injury inevitably causes another.

Instead, athletes should recognize when pain is changing how they move.

If an athlete starts modifying a stance, shortening a swing, avoiding rotation or changing weight distribution because of pain, that may be a reason to investigate the underlying problem.

When Should a Golfer Have Pain Assessed?

Not every ache requires medical attention.

Temporary soreness after exercise can occur, particularly after an increase in activity.

However, professional assessment becomes more important when pain:

• Persists or repeatedly returns
• Progressively worsens
• Changes normal movement
• Limits sporting activity
• Causes weakness
• Causes numbness or tingling
• Radiates into an arm or leg
• Interferes with sleep
• Appears after a significant injury

Symptoms involving neurological changes or severe, unexplained pain should receive appropriate medical attention.

For example, someone experiencing persistent neck symptoms can review information about chronic neck pain, while symptoms that are severe or associated with warning signs may require medical evaluation rather than self-management. Information about serious neck pain can help explain some of those warning signs.

Can Chiropractic Care Help Golfers With Musculoskeletal Pain?

Chiropractic care is not a replacement for surgery, orthopedic treatment or rehabilitation when those services are medically required.

However, chiropractic care can form part of a broader approach to certain musculoskeletal complaints depending on the individual’s presentation and clinical assessment.

A chiropractor may assess areas such as spinal mobility, joint movement, muscle function and movement patterns.

To understand the potential role of chiropractic care, see what a chiropractor can do.

The goal should be appropriate management of the person’s actual condition—not assuming that every golf injury requires the same treatment.

What About Chiropractic Adjustment for Golfers?

A chiropractic adjustment is one treatment that may be considered in appropriate musculoskeletal cases.

It should not be presented as a treatment for a wrist fracture, nerve entrapment or other condition requiring specific medical management.

For a golfer with a separate spinal or musculoskeletal complaint, the suitability of any treatment depends on the clinical assessment.

What Does Michelle Wie’s Story Tell Us About Sports Injury Prevention?

Michelle Wie’s career demonstrates why injury prevention cannot be reduced to one exercise or one treatment.

Professional golfers are exposed to thousands of repetitive swings, practice sessions, tournaments and travel demands.

Research has found that lower-back and hand/wrist injuries are particularly relevant among professional golfers.

For athletes, a sensible approach can include:

1. Gradually increasing training load
2. Maintaining strength and mobility
3. Allowing adequate recovery
4. Addressing recurring pain
5. Reviewing technique when symptoms repeatedly occur
6. Maintaining general physical conditioning
7. Getting appropriate assessment after significant injuries

Golfers can also explore our information about chiropractic benefits for athletes to understand where musculoskeletal care may fit within a broader athletic-care strategy.

What If Pain Returns After It Improves?

Recurring pain deserves attention.

If symptoms disappear and then repeatedly return every time someone increases their golf workload, it may be useful to identify what is triggering the recurrence.

That could involve training volume, technique, recovery, physical conditioning or an underlying musculoskeletal problem.

The answer will vary from person to person.

Likewise, there is no universal answer to how often should you go to the chiropractor. Frequency should depend on the individual’s condition, goals and clinical assessment.

Michelle Wie Injuries: The Bigger Lesson

Michelle Wie West’s injury history is remarkable not because one specific injury defined her career, but because she repeatedly had to manage physical challenges while competing at an elite level.

Her documented history includes problems affecting the neck, back, hip, leg, ankle and wrist, including a significant right-hand and wrist condition that required surgery in 2018.

Her return to LPGA competition in 2026 provides another chapter in that story.

But the medical lesson should remain evidence-based.

An injury in one part of the body does not automatically create another injury. Instead, pain can influence movement, and changes in movement can sometimes alter how other parts of the body are loaded.

For golfers, recognizing those changes early may help them make better decisions about training, recovery and when to seek professional assessment.

Musculoskeletal Care for Golfers in Toowoomba

Golfers in Toowoomba who experience persistent neck, back or other musculoskeletal symptoms can seek an individualized assessment at Wave Chiropractic & Wellness.

The appropriate approach depends on the person’s symptoms, medical history, physical presentation and goals.

Wave’s chiropractic care is not a substitute for emergency medical care, surgery or specialist management when those services are required.

Instead, the focus is on assessing the individual’s musculoskeletal concerns and determining whether chiropractic care may be appropriate as part of their overall care plan.

Frequently Asked Questions

What injuries has Michelle Wie had?

Michelle Wie West has experienced documented problems involving her neck, back, hips, legs, knees, ankles, hand and wrist at different points in her career. Her 2018 right-hand injury involved an avulsion fracture, bone spurs and nerve entrapment and required surgery.

Did Michelle Wie have a wrist injury?

Yes. Her right wrist and hand problems were significant during 2018 and ultimately required surgery after an avulsion fracture, bone spurs and nerve entrapment were diagnosed.

Did Michelle Wie have a neck injury?

Yes. At the 2017 U.S. Women’s Open, Wie described her problem as a neck sprain and experienced sharp pain while hitting golf shots.

Did Michelle Wie have back problems?

Back problems are part of the injury history documented by the USGA and other reporting on Wie’s career. However, specific episodes should not be treated as one single chronic diagnosis.

Can golf cause lower back pain?

Golf does not automatically cause lower back pain, but research identifies the lumbar spine as an important site of musculoskeletal injury among professional golfers.

Can golf cause wrist injuries?

Wrist and hand injuries are recognized among golfers, and research has found a higher lifetime prevalence of hand and wrist injuries among professional golfers compared with amateur golfers.

Did Michelle Wie return to golf in 2026?

Yes. Reuters reported that Wie West returned to LPGA competition in May 2026 after approximately three years away from the tour.

Can a golf injury cause sciatica?

Not automatically. Sciatica has specific neurological characteristics, and a golfer should not assume that leg pain is sciatica simply because it developed after playing golf.

Can chiropractic care help golfers?

Depending on the individual’s condition, chiropractic care may form part of a broader approach to certain musculoskeletal complaints. It should not replace medical or specialist treatment when that is required.

Should golfers play through pain?

Persistent, worsening or movement-limiting pain should not simply be ignored. Athletes should consider appropriate assessment when symptoms repeatedly interfere with training or competition

References

1. LPGA — Michelle Wie West official biography and career record. LPGA: Michelle Wie West
2. Reuters — Michelle Wie West returns to LPGA competition in 2026. Reuters: Michelle Wie West’s 2026 return
3. USGA — Michelle Wie West’s career and injury history. USGA: Michelle Wie West’s journey
4. USGA — Michelle Wie’s 2015 U.S. Women’s Open injury. USGA: Wie’s Title Defense Hampered by Injury
5. Golf Digest — Michelle Wie’s 2017 neck and shoulder injury. Golf Digest: Michelle Wie neck pain
6. Golf Digest — Michelle Wie’s 2018 wrist surgery. Golf Digest: Michelle Wie wrist surgery
7. Golf Digest — Michelle Wie’s continuing wrist problems in 2019. Golf Digest: Michelle Wie injury struggles
8. PubMed — Systematic review of musculoskeletal injuries in professional golfers. PubMed: Professional golfer injury review
9. PubMed — 2024 systematic review and meta-analysis of golf injuries. PubMed: Golf injury epidemiology meta-analysis
10. USGA — Michelle Wie 2015 interview transcript. USGA: Michelle Wie 2015 U.S. Women’s Open transcript