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Golf is a game loved by millions of people around the world. But, if you’re playing this sport without having taken into account several precautions that can help prevent injuries, you could be putting your health at risk.
If you are a golfer, no doubt you’ve suffered through at least one injury. Whether it’s from over-use, improper technique or simply the wrong equipment for your style of play, injuries can be frustrating and painful.
You’ll have to put down your golf clubs if you want to avoid injuring yourself. Swinging those golf clubs can cause a lot of stress on the body, which is why so many professional golfers end up with injuries.
However, you don’t need to be a pro to sustain injuries from golfing. The following are some tips to avoid being injured on the golf course and enjoy this wonderful activity more safely:
Back Pain
Golfers have been shown to suffer more back injuries than other groups of people and chiropractors who specialize in treating patients with chronic back pain recommend physical activity for their patients on a regular basis. It has been proven that when certain areas of the body become weak, it puts additional strain on surrounding muscles and ligaments; leading to sprains, strains and even spinal disc injuries.
Back pain is one of the most common issues that golfers face. A lot of people resort to taking frequent breaks or even quitting playing altogether when the pain becomes too much to bear.
Most golf players spend hours hunched over their clubs—and when you add that with the rotational stresses you place onto your back per swing can lead to severe back pain. You can prevent this from happening by practicing flexibility exercises like yoga.
Back pain is a common problem in the US. Although its causes are frequently referred to as “invisible” or “unknown,” there are many activities that can be done to prevent it from occurring.
Rotator Cuff Injury
Rotator cuff injuries are common in both athletes and non-athletes alike. They can result from repetitive motion, as well as trauma of the shoulder joint. While professional athletes may be more likely to experience such an injury from overuse or sports related activities, golfers who play on a regular basis have also had their rotator cuffs damaged.
This is because the golf swing is a unique motion that causes stress to the body. The golfer’s shoulder takes the majority of this force. Seasoned golf players may end up damaging their rotator cuffs in the long run, damaging the stabilizing muscles located in your shoulders, rendering you useless on the field.
Understanding how this injury occurs and what can be done about it will help you prevent future damage from occurring.
To prevent this, participate in regular strength training and stretch your core, back, and shoulder muscles.
Golf Elbow
The golf elbow, also known as lateral epicondylitis or extensor carpi radialis brevis tendinopathy is a condition in which the soft tissues around the elbow joint become inflamed and cause pain. The classic sign of this problem is pain on the outer side of the elbow when gripping something with that hand for an extended period.
Tendonitis in the elbow is also called “golf elbow,” referring to the irritation and inflammation of your inner tendon. But, unlike what the name implies, “golf elbow” is not limited to golfers. It can develop from overuse of any activity that involves repeated gripping or motion with the forearm.
Golfers develop this condition because they grip their club and swing repeatedly for hours at a time, but people who garden using tools such as shovels and rakes, painters, auto mechanics (especially those who work on jacks), assembly line workers (who use levers), musicians (particularly string players) and computer users can also get tendonitis in their elbows.
You can prevent this by using proper swinging techniques when practicing and rotating your practice regimen.
Knee Pain and Damage
Knee pain is very common among golfers. This can be due to several factors, including poor posture and improper warmup techniques, but the most frequent cause is overuse of the knees.
Many people who play golf do so every day or many times a week for extended periods of time; this will result in knee damage if not properly handled. There are different ways to handle knee issues as well as prevent them from occurring in the first place.
Golfing greats such as Jack Nicklaus often practiced proper warm up techniques before hitting the course because they knew it would keep their bodies limber and flexible.
When stabilizing the rotation of the hip axis at the start of a swing, you can end up placing a lot of stress and strain on a weak knee, an injury that significantly varies.
However, you can easily avoid this by stretching your calves, thighs, hamstrings, and core gently before playing. If you’re noticing intolerable knee pain during your golfing sessions, consult with your chiropractor immediately.
Wrist Tendonitis
The repetitive motion of holding a club and swinging it hundreds of times each round can put stress on the tendons in the golfer’s wrist. Golfers who are already dealing with or have had issues with this condition should take steps to prevent further injury.
Like in your tendons in the elbows, wrist tendons can also become stressed and inflamed, affecting your capability of holding a golf club correctly. You can prevent this by doing a couple of wrist exercises, such as:
- Flexion – Bring your wrist and bend it forward and hold it for 5 seconds.
- Extension – Bring your wrist and bend it backward and hold it for 5 seconds.
- Side to Side – Mimic a handshake motion and do it for 5 seconds.
Conclusion
Golf is a sport that requires constant use of your hands, wrists, and arms. This can lead to repetitive strain injuries. Golfers need to know how to deal with these common ailments in order for their game to improve without being held back by injury.
In the United States, more people play golf than tennis or any other sport which is why there are more injuries. This is because golfers often practice on their own and without supervision from a coach or instructor. Golf injuries can result in severe pain that requires medical attention and rehabilitation exercises to ensure full recovery from the trauma.
If you love golf, you’re likely more than aware of the consequences that come with the game.
You’ll eventually suffer from one or more of these common golf injuries, so it’s best to become aware of them and prevent them from ever happening in the first place. Going to a chiropractor for adjustments can help ease the tension of golfing on your muscles and joints.
Your trusted doctor will guide you and help you stay in top form.