Golf injuries are unfortunately all too common regardless of your skill level. And there are some, like wrist tendonitis, that occur more frequently than others. In this blog post, we’ll take a look at the five most common golf injuries and what you can do to help prevent them.
Here are the 5 most common golf injuries:
- Wrist Tendonitis (sprains and strains)
- Elbow tendonitis
- Shoulder Impingement Syndrome
- Low Back Pain
- Hip Pain
Wrist Tendonitis
Wrist sprains and strains are common injuries among golfers. They occur when the wrist is extended beyond its normal range of motion, causing the ligaments or tendons to stretch or tear. This abnormal amount of wear and tead in the wrist ligaments and tendons, leads to wrist tendonitis, even carpal tunnel syndrome. Symptoms include pain, swelling, and tenderness in the affected area. This can cause difficulties in holding your clubs the right way.
To help prevent wrist tendonitis, it’s important to warm up the wrist properly before playing. Wrist stretches and exercises that improve flexibility and range of motion can also help. If you are a golfer suffering from wrist pain, be sure to play with clubs that fit your height and strength, and use these exercises to help you get back in the game.
Elbow Tendinitis (Tennis elbow, or golfers elbow)
Elbow tendinitis is another common injury among golfers, particularly those who play frequently and are trying to improve their swing. The common name for them is tennis elbow if the site of injury is on the outside of the elbow, and golfers’ elbow if the injury is on the inside. Elbow tendonitis is inflammation of the tendons that attach the elbow to the upper arm, and symptoms include pain, tenderness, and stiffness in the affected area.
To help prevent elbow tendinitis, warm up properly before playing and stretch your forearm muscles regularly. If you are suffering from elbow pain, massage and manual therapy of the forearm muscles can greatly improve the symptoms. You may also want to consider using a lighter golf club or switching to a different grip.
Shoulder Impingement Syndrome
Shoulder impingement syndrome is a condition that occurs when the tendons or bursa in the shoulder are irritated or inflamed. Their job is to hold the shoulder together and reduce the friction between bones and other structures. Shoulder impingement syndrome is common among golfers, particularly those who have not quite got their swing down and try to muscle through it. From our experience, it is caused by muscle imbalances in the shoulder girdle that are created over time and cause overuse. Symptoms include pain and tenderness in the shoulder, as well as weakness in the arm. If the symptoms are bad enough, you might have difficulty moving the shoulder around especially with overhead movements.
To help prevent shoulder impingement syndrome, it’s important to warm up properly before playing and to stretch the muscles and tendons around the shoulder regularly. You may also want to consider strength training of the shoulder and back muscles. If you are currently suffering from shoulder impingement syndrome, consider rest and icing to help decrease the inflammation. Taping your shoulder can also help support the shoulder and take the stress off these structures. You should also get a proper evaluation from a chiropractor that will help you improve joint mobility and muscle imbalances so that this issue does not worsen or repeat itself.
Lower Back Pain
Lower back pain is one of the most common injuries among golfers, especially those who lean over the ball. It can be caused by a number of factors, including incorrect posture, muscle imbalances, and overuse. Symptoms include pain, stiffness, and tenderness in the lower back.
To help prevent lower back pain, it’s important to maintain good posture on and off the course and to stretch the muscles in the lower back regularly. You may also want to consider using a golf club that’s the appropriate length for your height and focus on maintaining a neutral spine position when swinging. If you are already suffering from low back pain, make sure to tell your chiropractor that it’s affecting your golf swing. Aligning the spine and allowing all joints to move as they are designed to do is vital for a smooth and powerful swing.
Hip pain
Hip pain is common among golfers for several reasons. First, the golf swing requires a lot of rotation and twisting movements, which put stress on the hip joint. Although these joints are designed to withstand a tremendous amount of pressure, the repeated adduction and flexion/extension forces require great control of the pelvic muscles. Additionally, many golfers have muscle imbalances in their hips, which can lead to losing the necessary control and lead to discomfort. Finally, overuse of the hip joint with poor biomechanics can also lead to pain and stiffness, even arthritis and degeneration. Don’t wait till its bad enough for a hip replacement.
Conclusion
To prevent injuries from happening one should work on staying healthy. That includes strengthening exercises, frequent stretches, and improving their game. While there’s no guaranteed way to prevent all golf injuries, following these tips can help reduce your risk. And if you do experience an injury, be sure to see a chiropractor for proper diagnosis and treatment. Find out more about the benefits of sports chiropractic for athletes.
Contact us today to help you improve your game!