Introduction
Golf is a sport that requires a lot of technique. Golf being a low-risk sport does not rule out the common injuries that plague this sport.
Common Golf Injuries
The common injuries from playing Golf are:
- Back Pain
The combined effect of the rotational stress on the spine and muscles, the bent-over stance and the repetitive motions cause strain on the back leading to major injuries later.
- Elbow Tendinitis
The inner tendon of the elbow is injured due to repetitive motions of the tendons and improper swings.
- Knee Pain
The pressure on a weak knee to stabilize the hip’s rotation can lead to torn ligaments.
- Rotator Cuff
Pain is felt in the shoulders or the upper arms, due to injury of the rotator cuffs.
- Wrist, Hand and Finger Injuries
Typical swing’s high speed and repetitive motions cause injuries. Repeated trauma to the fingers can also lead to broken or deformed bones etc.
- Neck Injuries
Usually new golfers, not being used to twisting the neck much, tend to get their neck to spasm and freeze.
- Foot and Ankle Injuries
The feet start producing power for the swing and each foot has a specific purpose. A miscalculation on the player’s part can cause injuries like ankle sprains, Foot and ankle tendinitis etc.
- Hip Injuries
The pivoting and twisting movements of the hips lead to groin and lower back injuries.
- Sunburn
Since Golf is played outdoors, insufficient protection from the sun can lead to sunburn.
Causes of Golf injuries
The main factors for most of these injuries are:
- Inflexibility and Poor Warm-ups
- Excessive play or practice
- Poor Swinging Techniques
- Ground Impact
- Playing irregularly
Prevention of Golf Injuries
A proper Golf swing has the following four phases:
- Backswing
- Downswing
- Acceleration/Ball Strike and
- Follow-through
The player can avoid injuries at any age by having a good swing technique. Having a specific routine of stretching and flexibility exercises prior to starting a round can avoid injuries.
Before a game, the player must hit some golf balls starting with the Wedge (golf club) and slowly move up to the Driver (golf club). Hitting a ball with the Driver directly must be avoided.
Always seek the help of a Sports Physician if an injury occurs and to prevent recurrent issues. Strengthening the core muscles of the body is another way of preventing further injuries.
Treatment
Get the best treatment for golf injuries from the Best Orthopaedic Surgeon Dr Banarji B.H
