Avoid Golf Injuries

The game of golf provides multiple layers of appeal for the people who attempt their first round, and decide that this activity is something worth continuing.

Playing golf can lead to frustration if your ball isn’t landing in the location that you prefer. But getting out onto the golf course, walking, and hitting for 18 holes provides you with an opportunity to forget about any of the challenges in your life and simply focus on your next shot. This can provide significant stress relief.

Golf is also an activity that you can be involved with regardless of your age, and it also presents you with an opportunity to exercise. The average golf course is comprised of over 6,000 yards, and if you include the additional steps between the tees and greens, it is very possible that you will walk approximately four miles. You can also play with friends and family which enables you the chance to enhance your experience on the golf course.

Common Injuries From Frequent Golfing

Amid the mental and physical benefits that can be derived from golfing, there is also the potential for health issues. These are most often the result of repetitive movement that eventually develops into discomfort. Some of the most common areas of the body that can be impacted are listed below.

Back – discomfort in the lower back can emerge whenever synergy between your muscles, joints, discs, and nerves has been disrupted. This can certainly occur as the byproduct of time that is spent in recurrent efforts to shoot the ball, or if your swing is not being executed properly

Knee – the strain that takes place for the shinbone and the thigh bone during the golf swing can force a rotation that is not natural. This can create a strain on the ligaments. Problems can also develop in the kneecap, as can a tear in the meniscus – which is the cartilage that serves as a cushion where the bones meet the joint

Hip – the extensive degree of pivoting that is entailed when swinging a golf club can become problematic for the joint and muscles if the twisting motion of the swing is repeated frequently. This can eventually result in pain

Shoulder – the rotator cuff is a collection of muscles and tendons that encompass your shoulder keep the ball of your upper-arm bone inside your shoulder socket. The rotator cuff can tear as the result of repetitive motion that becomes excessive to the point of overuse  

Neck – your neck muscles might eventually become painful due to the continual twisting motion that is involved with swinging – particularly if there was no form of warmup before you began  

Wrist – continually repeating the same movement can also cause a problem in the tendonitis wrist, in a similar manner to the issues that have been discussed in other areas of your body   

Elbow –  you don’t have to be a golfer to develop the condition that is referred to as golfer’s elbow, but golfers can definitely experience it. The discomfort from this condition occurs in the inner side of your elbow and can progress to the forearm or wrist. Other symptoms for this issue include stiffness, along with weakness, numbness, and tingling. Usually, the problem becomes worse as time progresses unless steps are taken to treat the condition.  

Reducing The Risk Of Injury

Fortunately, there are steps that you can take to diminish the chance that you will contend with these conditions. An important initial step in avoiding pain is to make sure that you warm up before you begin your round of golf. You can accomplish this by stretching and walking for 10 minutes before you swing a club.

Since a large percentage of gold-related injuries are related to poor mechanics in the golf swing, it will behoove any golfers to spend time with a knowledgeable professional toward making sure that the proper mechanics are being used during the process of swinging the ball.

Utilizing the correct mechanics throughout your swing and maintaining a posture that minimizes strain on your joints and muscles will significantly reduce the possibility of encountering eventual discomfort and nagging health issues.     

It is best to stand with your feet shoulder width apart and to also bend your knees. Your back should remain reasonably straight, and you should absolutely avoid hunching over the ball during your swing. Otherwise, you will increase the risk of suffering a strain in your back and your neck.

It is also beneficial to retain a smooth swing because the power actually emerges when each of your muscle groups is operating in unison. Also, if you attempt to swing the club too emphatically you will increase the chances of stressing your joints, muscles, and tendons. Instead, it is best to remain relaxed and focus on maintaining an easy swing.

Your footwear can also make a difference, as improper shoes and cleats that are too long can place a strain on your ankles and knees.

At Orthopedic Associates We Can Help

At Orthopedic Associates, we want you to enjoy your any sports or recreational activities that you have been cleared to participate in. If you encounter discomfort that is related to your golfing, or if you have pain that might have ensued for any other involvement in physical activity, we are here to assist you. Our objective is for you to return to pain-free participation in the activities and lifestyle that you prefer.  

That is why Orthopedic Associates offers a full spectrum of musculoskeletal care, along with in-house physical sports therapy, and state-of-the-art-technology including our digital imaging and open MRI, and an on-site surgical center for more patient convenience.

Our board-certified doctors have been practicing medicine for a combined total of 183 years of experience. This includes expertise in sports medicine, through which our physicians provide personalized care for a broad range of sports-related injuries – big or small.

In addition to the services that we provide that are related to Sports Medicine and In-House Imaging, our physicians are always available to utilize their knowledge to help you should you require joint replacement, or arthroscopic surgery, while our specialists are also here to assist with physical therapy, rehabilitation, and orthopedic trauma.

While the severity of injuries can vary, we treat a full range of sports-related health issues that include conditions that can be minor, serious, or anything in between. The types of injuries that we can assist you with include:

• ACL tears
• Fractures
• Weight lifter’s shoulders
• Rotator cuff tears
• Meniscal injuries and tears
• Sprains and strains
• Tendinitis
• Dislocations
• Labral Tears
• Minor injuries like bruises, muscle cramps, pain, and shin splints

Some of the more common symptoms from a sports injury include: 

• Sudden, severe pain
• Swelling
• Tender joints and bones
• Loss of ability to place weight on the injured joint
• Loss of ability to move the injured joint
• A joint or bone that is visibly out of place

Sometimes injuries will slowly emerge over a period of time, and these issues are referred to as chronic injuries. They often occur due to activities that involve repetitive motion such as running, swimming, or throwing. The symptoms of chronic injuries include:

• Pain during exercise
• Dull aches during resting
• Swelling

IF you are experiencing any of these symptoms, or have any questions are sports related injuries, we encourage you to visit one of Orthopedic Associates two locations or request an appointment today to be on your way to feeling better.