Golfing Injuries
Cure & Prevention for Golf Elbow
Pain and discomfort from golf elbow can be enough to make a golfer want to put his clubs away. Also known as medial epicondylitis, golfer's elbow is similar to tennis elbow, according to the Mayo Clinic. Golfers, tennis players and others who repeatedly hinge their wrists or clench their fingers can develop golfer’s elbow.
Pain Relief for Golfers
While not as violent as sports such as football, rugby and basketball, golfers do experience their share of injuries. These are often brought on by the golf swing and include injuries to the back and elbow. However, injuries to the feet and knees are common as well. There are numerous methods available to alleviate pain in golfers, some of which can be done at home, others that require professional care. The success rate depends on the severity of the injury in question.
How to Reduce Repetitive Strain Injuries
Repetitive strain injuries occur when a muscle, joint, nerve, ligament or tendon is harmed because of repeated, continual movement. A golf swing is an example of a sports activity that can result in a repetitive strain injury. As you swing a club, a host of muscles in the shoulders, wrist and arm come into play. Continual motion can harm already weakened muscles, resulting in more severe injury that prevents golfing entirely.
What Are the Dangers of Sun Exposure?
Exposure to the sun can be a real danger for golfers, who spend an abundant amount of time outside. Given that a round of golf can take four hours or more–and that most golfers also use the putting green or driving range before they tee off–there is ample opportunity for golfers to get sunburn or other harmful effects that result from the sun.
More Golfing Injuries Picks
How to Treat a Torn Tendon in a Shoulder
Muscle tendons in the shoulder can be torn from the stress of repeated motions, such as your golf swing. There are other causes, too, including over-exertion and physical injuries such as falls and collisions. If you do tear a tendon, you should consult a physician to create a plan of care. That said, it's also simple to treat it yourself both before and after your doctor visit.
Signs & Symptoms of Rotator Cuff Injury
The rotator cuff is the reinforcing structure which surrounds the shoulder joint. It is composed of four muscle tendons which merge together to form a fibrous capsule which helps to keep the ball of your upper arm in the socket of the shoulder. Injury to the rotator cuff is common as the shoulder is one of the most unstable joints in the body. Damage can be caused by falling, lifting or through repetitive actions such as stocking shelves higher than the shoulder or using a high-powered movement to swing a driver.
Facts About Sun Exposure
Since most golf courses are not inside and do not have sufficient tree cover to completely block out rays from the sun, sun exposure is a fact of life for many golfers, who can spend as many as 5 or 6 hours in the sun during the course of a typical day of golf. As a result, they should take action to reduce their exposure to the sun by wearing sunscreen, caps and sunglasses.
Exercises to Relieve Lower Back Pain & Fatigue
Back pain or fatigue can put a real crimp in your golf game. Whether it's a twinge that ruins your follow-through, or a sharp pain that weakens your stroke, exercise can help strengthen your back and restore your game. Fitness experts, including those with the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS), recommend the following exercises to help you overcome back pain or fatigue.
Exercise to Help Lower Back Pain
Back pain stops your golf game in its tracks. Every swing and every movement causes intense pain in your lower back. After an initial period of rest, doctors often recommend increasing physical activity to combat lower back pain. According to the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons, your doctor may ask you to perform a series of exercises to help restore the range of motion in your back before you attack the links again. These light exercises should be performed only as recommended by your therapist or surgeon.
Exercises for Shoulder Injuries
Shoulder injuries are fairly common in golfing. The swing asks the muscles to move very quickly, which can cause tearing of the muscles, tendons or joint tissues. In most cases, physical therapy and time can heal shoulder injuries but only if the exercises for the shoulder injury are done with proper form. With some expert advice and the right technique, you can be driving the ball off the tee in as little as a few days.
Effective Exercises for Lower Back Pain
Lower back pain is an unfortunately common experience for golfers. The disc spaces and soft tissues are prone to injury through strain caused by poor swing mechanics or overuse of back muscles by players in need of physical conditioning. The game itself requires repeated twists and bends, which place a great deal of stress on the spinal column, causing inflammation and discomfort in the lower back. In response to these injuries, many people rest, staying off their feet, and wait for the pain to subside. While this response is understandable, after 48 hours, resting may do more harm than good.
Healing a Shoulder Injury
Shoulder injuries present a tricky situation for golfers and doctors. Some shoulder injuries result from falls directly onto the joint while others simply result from repetitive motion injury such as swinging a club or a bat, or throwing a ball. Overexertion can easily strain a shoulder, causing intense pain and loss of range of motion. Healing a shoulder injury takes time as well as careful attention to protecting the muscles, tendons, joints and ligaments. Traditional nonsurgical remedies work best to manage pain and treat the injury to restore full use to minor shoulder injuries as soon as possible.
How to Diagnose Rotator Cuff Injuries
Technically, you should never diagnose your own injuries. Only a doctor can properly diagnose a rotator cuff injury. That said, rotator cuff injuries are very common among golfers, so it is important that every golfer have some understanding of what a rotator cuff injury is and how to spot one. Rotator cuff injuries occur most frequently when a golfer is teeing off or making a long drive; however, injuries can occur at almost any time, even when you are not particularly exerting yourself. Be aware of any "pops" or cracking sounds in your shoulder area and any sharp pains in your shoulder or down your arm as you are playing.
Pilates Exercises for Lower Back Pain
Like any sport involving repetitive motions, golf can take a toll on muscles and joints. The lower back often takes the most abuse, both from repeated swings and from standing for long stretches of time, sometimes carrying a golf bag along the way. These low-impact Pilates exercises can help you loosen your lower back muscles before each game, as well as soothe them afterward when they hurt the most.
Physical Therapy Stretches
After a golf-related injury, it is common to undergo physical therapy as well. Physical therapy is important to return your mobility and strength, especially after surgery where the average reaction of the body is to stiffen up and reduce mobility. With some simple stretches, careful guidance by your physician, and active participation in physical therapy, you can get back onto the golf course in short order.
Exercise for Hip & Lower Back Pain
Lower back and hip pain can plague any golfer. A day on the course offers more dangers than you may realize. Careless swings, lifting golf bags and constantly bending over to retrieve golf balls puts strain on the body, especially the lower back and hips. The good news is that there are exercises that can relieve, and even prevent, pain to these areas of the body. Properly strengthening and stretching these muscles prepares the body to deal with the stress put on it while playing golf.
Golf Shoulder Injury
The shoulder is the fourth most commonly injured site for golfers, according to Hughston Sports Medicine Foundation, a non-profit medical campus in Columbus, Georgia. Golf relies heavily on the muscles, tendons and joints in this part of the body just to get the ball off of the tee. With an injured shoulder, the game becomes much more difficult to play, so golfers need to learn how to spot and treat shoulder injuries.
Prevention of Repetitive Stress Injury
Repetitive stress injuries, ranging from torn muscles to damaged joints, can sideline any golfer. Rather than have to go through the pain and time necessary to heal a repetitive stress injury, it is usually better to avoid the damage in the first place. With a little foresight, patience and friendly advice, you can continue to enjoy golf while minimizing the risk of this type of injury.
Symptoms of a Rotator Cuff Injury
Your golf game would be pretty bad without help from your rotator cuff. The rotator cuff comprises a group of muscles and tendons that not only connect the arm bone to the shoulder but also helps hold the upper arm bone ball in the shoulder socket. The power in your golf swing doesn't come from the outer deltoid muscles but instead from the muscles that make up your rotator cuff. So if golf is your game it's important that you are aware of any unusual symptoms affecting this vital part of the shoulder.
Symptoms of a Torn Rotator Cuff
The rotator cuff is the soft tissue in your shoulder that holds your upper arm, the humerus bone, inside the shoulder socket. When you injure or tear the rotator cuff in your shoulder, it can cause debilitating pain and keep you from doing the things you want to do for weeks or months.
Symptoms of Shoulder Injuries
After a day of golfing, how can you tell if you are merely tired and sore or have injured your shoulder while playing? Though it may seem easy to diagnose, shoulder injuries can take a variety of forms, each with different treatment options. Knowing whether you've damaged your shoulder or not is an important step on the road to recovery and will hasten the time before you are able to get back on the links.
How to Care for a Torn Rotator Cuff
The rotator cuff is a collection of muscles in the shoulder. The tendons of these muscles can become torn as a result of injury, stress or repetitive motion. It is a relatively common stress-related golf injury and it can easily be made worse if it is not cared for properly. Although there is a lot that can be done on your own to care for these injuries, you should always see a doctor first and establish a plan of care.
