Golf Injuries

What are Golf Injuries?

Golf is a sport that places emphasis on skill rather than physical strength. Although it seems like a low-risk sport for injuries, repeatedly striking the golf ball with incorrect form over a long period of time can result in acute and chronic injuries to the musculoskeletal system, which are known as golf injuries. 

Common Golf Injuries

Some of the common golf injuries include:

• Low Back and Neck Pain: The bent-over stance and rotational forces on the spine from the golf swing can put significant stress on the spine, resulting in back and neck pain. Strengthening and stretching exercises for the back and neck can help prevent or mitigate these problems.
• Rotator Cuff Injury: Poor golf swing technique, overuse, or hitting a root or a deep divot can result in shoulder tendonitis, bursitis, or tearing of the rotator cuff.
• Knee Ligament Injury: The knee joint helps to stabilize the rotational motion of the hip at the beginning of the golf swing. Excessive or repeated force can result in tearing of the knee ligaments.
• Elbow Tendonitis: Repeated golf swings can cause inflammation and irritation of the tendon on the inside of the elbow, known as golfer’s elbow. Injury to the outer elbow tendon is known as tennis elbow.   
• Hip Injuries: The hip adductor muscles, which are present on the inner thigh, help to draw the hip and leg towards the midline of the body. Excessive force may be placed on this muscle during the golf swing, resulting in hip injuries. 
• Hand and Wrist Injuries:  The high speed of the golf swing and the repetitive motion can put the hand and wrist at risk of injuries such as tendonitis and deformed or broken bones.
• Foot and Ankle Injuries: The foot and ankle may be injured if the golfer loses their footing or balance while executing the golf swing. This can result in ankle sprains, tendon injuries, or blisters developing on the foot and ankle.

Preventing Golf Injuries

The risks of sustaining an injury while playing golf can be significantly reduced by taking the following precautions:

• Using proper golf swing technique, focusing on correct posture by holding the spine straight and generating most of the movement from the hips. This will help in the smooth transfer of power from the feet through all the major muscles to the wrists and hands.
• Wearing comfortable, snug-fitting golf shoes that adequately support your feet and ankles, and short cleats to reduce knee strain. 
• Muscle and joint injuries can be prevented by adequate warm-up and stretching of the joints before each game or training session.
• Exercising regularly, focusing on weight training to improve strength, flexibility exercises for the spine, and building up your endurance with aerobic exercise can give you staying power on the golf course.
• Making sure you wear adequate sunscreen, sunglasses, and a hat to protect your skin from harmful UV radiation.
• Drinking plenty of water before, during, and after the game to avoid dehydration.
• Using proper lifting technique when carrying your golf clubs to avoid injuring your back.