Golfing can be a great form of exercise, especially if you’re walking the course. However, repetitive movements such as swinging a golf club and bending over for long periods of time can eventually lead to injury. Improper body mechanics or pushing your body too far can also cause injuries on the golf course.
If you’ve gotten injured while golfing, it’s important to address the injury immediately to prevent further damage. Techniques such as stretching before you golf or going to physical therapy can help treat your symptoms.
6 common golf injuries
While golf might sound like a leisurely activity, swinging a golf club engages muscles in many different areas of your body. While this makes it a good workout, it also means there are a number of different muscle groups you can injure. Here’s a list of some of the most common injuries that can occur while golfing:
Lower back strain — Golfers spend a lot of time bending over and swinging. If they don’t have good posture and engage their muscles correctly, this can put stress on the back and spine. Over time, the repetitive movements can cause lower back issues such as muscle strain, disc injuries and even arthritis. Common symptoms of lower back problems include pain, numbness and tingling in the lower back that can radiate downward.
Rotator cuff injuries — Overuse of the shoulder joint while golfing can lead to inflammation and injuries in the rotator cuff and surrounding tissue. Rotator cuff injuries are a common cause of shoulder pain for golfers. They occur when the tendons in the shoulder joint get torn or strained due to overuse. Shoulder impingement can also occur in the rotator cuff area. If the tendons in the rotator cuff get inflamed, they can swell. This restricts movement and may cause significant shoulder pain.
Hip injuries — Proper movement and rotation of the hips are key for a good golf swing. However, if your hips are stiff or if you don’t move them properly on the swing, you may put strain on your hips and lower back. This can cause bursitis in the hip area, which is inflammation of the bursae (fluid-filled sacs that cushion joints and tissue). Repetitive strain on the hips can also pinch, strain or even tear the cartilage of the hip joint itself.
Meniscus tear — One of the most common types of knee injuries is a meniscus tear in the knee. The meniscus is a C-shaped piece of cartilage that works as a shock absorber between the shinbone and the thighbone. Due to its placement, it can tear easily if too much stress is put on it. Golf swings put a lot of rotational stress on the knee. This kind of high-stress, repetitive strain on the knee can strain or tear the meniscus. Symptoms of a torn meniscus include continual sharp pain, pain when twisting the knee, stiffness, swelling and limited range of motion.
Elbow tendinitis — Due to the repetitive nature of swinging a golf club, elbow tendinitis isn’t uncommon among golfers. In fact, one form of it is even called golfer’s elbow. This occurs when the tendon on the inside of the elbow gets inflamed, causing pain and limited range of motion. Golfers can also get tennis elbow, which is when the tendon on the outside of the elbow gets inflamed. Both of these kinds of tendinitis are usually caused by overuse and repetition and take time and rest to heal.
Degenerative arthritis — Repetitive movements can cause long-term inflammation in your joints, which may lead to degenerative arthritis. Arthritis due to overuse can occur in any number of joints in the body over time. However, the knees, lower back, wrists and elbows may be especially vulnerable to degenerative arthritis.
How to prevent golf injuries
When it comes to golf injuries, it’s important to make sure you’re using your body properly. Most common golf injuries occur due to overuse and repetitive movements in specific joints. Here are a few things you can do to prevent straining those areas:
Warm up before golfing to get your muscles stretched and ready for activity.
Learn proper body mechanics from a trained golf professional.
Switch up your exercise routine to keep your muscles limber.
Golfing is a great way to stay active, but it’s important to know your limits. If golfing is causing pain in a certain area of your body, give yourself a break. Try a new sport or exercise that doesn’t strain your injury so you have time to heal before going back out on the links. If the injury persists or worsens, you may need physical therapy.
At KC Rehab, we offer a variety of physical therapy treatments and resources to help you get back in the game. If you need to address a golf injury, contact our team today for more information or to schedule an initial appointment.
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