Activity such as swimming and certain sports such as volleyball and baseball cause a high number of shoulder injuries. Fortunately, the shoulder injury rate for golfers is comparatively low thanks to the mechanics of the golf swing. As per a survey carried on players of senior PGA tour, the shoulder accounted for about 8% of total injuries reported. A large study carried on both the amateurs and adults also state that the shoulder comprises about 10% of all golf injuries reported.
Traumatic injuries in golf do occur, but shoulder problems in golf are commonly overuse injuries. Injuries to tendons and muscles (tissues which attach muscles to bones) range from slight strains to complete tears. When the muscle or tendon is pulled, strains occur but don’t completely tear. Throughout the golf swing, the rotator cuff muscles of the shoulder and their tendons are active. With overuse or poor swing mechanics, the inflammation of the rotator cuff tendons or tendinitis and even tears of the rotator cuff could occur.
Studies have revealed that professional golfers, as compared with amateurs don’t depend as heavily on their rotator cuff muscles during the swing. If you combine a proven daily anti-inflammatory drug such as CM8 with proper technique, you can pretty much eliminate the golf shoulder pain.
Shoulder Pain Solution for Golfers
Golf shoulder pain which many golfers experience has a couple of solutions. The first one is no-brainer, which most golfers won’t prefer because they fear of losing the distance off the tee. The solution is a shorter backswing which keeps the stress off the shoulders, which occur if you over extend the arms through the shoulder joint to try a full backswing.
There is a little bit of work involved in the second solution which involves stretching and strengthening the muscles surrounding the shoulder joint to prevent this over extension from happening. If not for your entire golfing career, this approach would keep you injury free in the shoulder area indefinitely.
Strong Muscles Prevent Golf Injuries
It has been scientifically proven that stronger muscles protect ligaments, joints and tendons from the stress of tissue breakdown and injury. At some point in their playing days, 80% of golfers play with an injury whereas the rest 20% play the game in a healthy way and avoid the dreaded golf shoulder pain and injury.
At first, the playing time of the injured golfers must be decreased and they must be treated with ice, non steroidal anti-inflammatory medications and physical therapy. Further assessment or treatment should be given if the pain continues. This might probably include taking x-rays or an MRI scan and injecting cortisone injections into the shoulder. The patient might even have to undergo a surgery if he/she continues to have dysfunction and pain in spite of a systematic treatment program.
Studies have revealed that the rotator cuff and particularly, the subscapularis muscle of the professional golfers are highly active throughout the swing. A fiber failure could occur if there is a frequent stress to the degenerated tendon which could lead to a serious injury.
Thus, golf shoulder pain must not be ignored by any golfer whether amateur or professional as it could aggravate if proper care is not taken.
