Golf isn’t a particularly high-impact sport. Unlike basketball, football, soccer, and many others, it doesn’t involve conflict of any kind, or much physical exertion.
But to say that golf is an entirely unphysical sport would be a lie. Golfers exert enormous amounts of energy and effort practicing their swings, and playing your average 18-holer involves a lot of walking. These are the most common types of pain and injuries that can develop from playing golf, and what to do about them.
Wrist Pain
What it is: Wrist injuries develop for two main reasons: lack of wrist strength and poor form. If you aren’t holding your club firmly enough your wrists will absorb the shock that should radiate through and be diffused by your arms. The sensation is akin to smashing a rock with a metal bat when you do it wrong.
What to do: Several questions come up when deciding how to prevent and treat wrist injuries. Can a golf glove help?What hand do you wear a golf glove on? Are there exercises I can learn to decrease the pain? Watch videos to help improve your grip and decrease your swing power until you figure out a better form.
Back Pain
What it is: Back pain caused by golf can develop in your lower back, around your pelvis, and in your upper back nearing the shoulder blades. Golf-induced back pain is often the result of botched swing follow-through. Too much follow-through can cause injury just as easily as an incomplete swing.
What to do: Recent clinical research has shown that back pain is not only one of the leading reasons that individuals seek medical attention, but it can be one of the hardest sources of pain to diagnose. Back pain is serious, so don’t try to fix this yourself. Visit a chiropractor at your soonest convenience.
Shoulder Pain
What it is: Golf consists of two basic activities: walking and shooting. The repetitive movements of shooting and putting can do serious damage to your shoulders.
What to do: The University of Pittsburgh Medical Center lists rotator cuff injuries as the most common type of injuries associated with golf. There are a lot of stretches, movements, and poses you can do to alleviate shoulder pain. Making sure to get stretches in before and after you play a round of golf will go a long way to keeping shoulder pain away.
Foot and Ankle Pain
What it is: You spend a lot of time on your feet as a golfer – between standing, walking, and tilting back and forth when you’re swinging and putting. It can put a strain on your feet and ankles.
What to do: You can’t work out your feet or ankles to make them stronger and more resistant to strain. But you can focus exercise on your lower back, core, and thighs. Strengthening those areas will take the pressure off your feet and ankles.
Staying Fit and Competitive
Golf isn’t a particularly athletic sport, but it’s a lot easier to play if you stay fit. Build strength, stay limber, and you’ll get the best scores of your life.
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