Golf is assumed to be a relaxing game meant for retired persons. But one glance at golf injuries would put a doubt in your mind. May it be an amateur or a professional, more in latter, no golf player is exempted from golf specific pain and injuries. Golf injuries are attributed to mostly the golf swing action, though there are several other reasons. Golfers need to maintain their fitness and pay attention to their posture and swing techniques to avoid the risk of common golf injuries.
Though every sport has some common physical injuries related to them, few injuries specific to golfers are as follows.
- Back Pain in Golfers –
Since a game of golf involves a lot of swinging and walking, golf players recreational or professional are tend to become prone to back pain and injuries. Lower back pain in golfers is caused due to tight coiling of upper body against stable lower body, which after some tolerance level of spine can lead to injury. Poor swing mechanics and bad postures are most common reasons for recreational golfers to develop back pain. Back muscles need to be conditioned and stretched before playing the game, so as to provide better flexibility and less strain on core muscles.
- Golfers Elbow –
Elbow pain can be of three types – tennis elbow, golfers elbow and throwers elbow. Talking about golf, players tend to develop pain in their inner forearm muscles due to repetitive stress on elbow during swing. Coupled with the inadequate rest and improper use of equipments, strain in tendons and ligaments will prolong, leading to more serious injuries. Further, poor techniques and low level of fitness will further contribute to golfers elbow. One shouldn’t put oneself under tenacious game before warming up.
- Shoulder Pain in Golfers –
Shoulder pain in golf players is also mostly attributed to golf swing action. Unconventional twisting of shoulder and stretching it over and over again leads to pain, weakness and eventually tearing of rotator cuff muscles and tendons. Shoulder plays a pivotal role in producing a strong downswing and a controlled follow through, often requiring its frequent gain and quick loss of momentum in shoulder muscles. Amateurs and professionals need to tend to shoulder pain in initial days with proper warm-up exercise and stabilizing the shoulder movements during backswing, downswing and follow through.
- Knee Pain in Golfers –
The continuous forward pivoting on knee joint during follow through causes knee ligaments to stretch unnaturally. During follow through, the entire body weight is on the knee and while you try your best to maintain your posture, the angle in which your lower leg bone twist is not medically sound. The knee joint is tender with only few ligaments holding it. Thus unnatural shifting of upper leg bone over lower one can happen despite your utmost care. Yet, it is advised to control your body action during follow through and treat your pain in initial stages.
- Wrist Pain in Golfers –
Wrist pain in golfers is increasingly becoming the most concerned issue since players with severe wrist pain find it impossible to play golf. The reason for wrist-related injuries in golfers is due to putting your wrist under direct trauma of hitting action such as on impact of your club to ball. Professionals are affected by wrist pain because of repetitive practicing of swing and late release of club during downswing.
Most common golf injuries are centered on upper body of a golf player. Prevention techniques, golfing exercises and general fitness regime are the best solution to avoid these injuries.
