Health Guide For Senior Golfers: How To Prevent Common Injuries In Golf

   Golf is a popular sport across the world. This sport is also beneficial for health. A person can increase his or her stamina by playing golf regularly.

However, this sport also poses the risks of getting injured. In this article, we are going to discuss about the injuries which can occur during the game and the ways of preventing those injuries.  Let us begin:

Common injuries which can occur during golf

The injuries which are commonly associated with golf are:

Lower back problems

Injuries in lower back are quite common among golfers. Lower back injuries generally occurs when the hips or mid-back do not have enough flexibility. When those do not move as they should during swing, then the strain falls on the lower back.

Common lower back injuries from golf

Some of the common lower back injuries which occur from golf are:

●Disk injury: This situation occurs when there is a tear or leak in the cushion of tissues between the vertebrae in the spine.

●Sprains or strains: Sprains and strains can either occur due to stretching of a ligament or due to an injury to a back muscle.

Elbow golf injuries

Elbows play a crucial role while playing golf. It helps in the process of swing, in which a golfer is required to bend their elbows on the backswing and straighten them for hitting the ball. Elbow injuries mainly occur during golf because of their overuse which puts pressure on the joints.

Common elbow injuries during golf

Elbow injuries which usually occur during golf are:

●Golfer’s elbow: Golfer’s elbow can be simply described as the condition when swelling of elbow tendons causes pain in the inner part of elbow.

●Tennis elbow: Tennis elbow, on the contrary is a situation when swelling of elbow tendons causes pain in the outer part of the elbow.

Shoulder golf injuries

Shoulders also play an important role during golf. These are complicated joints which is helpful for swing mechanics of golf.

Common shoulder golf injuries from golf

The common shoulder golf injuries from golf are:

●Bursitis: Bursitis is a condition when there is an inflammation in the sac, commonly known as Bursa. This sac protects the shoulder joint.

●Sprains or strains: Sprains and strains can either occur due to tearing of shoulder ligaments or due to an injury in the shoulder muscle.

●Rotator cuff tendinitis: Rotator cuff tendinitis, also known as pinched rotator cuff, occurs mainly due to swelling, pinching or rubbing of the tendons in the shoulders.

One should not ignore his or her shoulder pain after playing golf. According to experts, a pinched rotator cuff can tear. However, there is nothing to worry as this can be repaired by surgery.

Steps for preventing golf injuries

It is said that prevention is better than cure. If a golfer manages to prevent injuries during the game, there will be on requirement of treatment. Having proper exercises can help in preventing injuries during matches.

However, there is no fixed exercising routine for golfers since each golfer is unique. A golfer can follow some of these steps which will enable them to prevent injuries during golf:

Warm up and stretch

An individual should always warm up and stretch before beginning a game of golf. People usually think that golf is a relaxed sport and there is no requirement of warm up but this is wrong.

 Injuries usually occur when an individual tries play without warming up. Warming up before every round helps in reducing the chances of injuries as it prepares the body for the game.

Practice swings before original game

Practicing swings can also help in reducing the possibility of injuries. People should take out some time and try to hit the ball with their stick. It will make their joints and muscles ready for the game which will be helpful in preventing injuries. It will also enhance their skills before the original game

Try to stay active

An individual should try to remain active throughout the game. Staying active will make the muscles strong. It will also keep all the joints mobile and flexible.

An inactive lifestyle will make the muscles and joints tighter which will increase the chances of getting injured while playing. This is the importance of staying active while playing golf. One can stay active by exercising and doing other types of physical activities.

Try to strengthen your core

A strong core is essential for the game of golf as it enhances the skills and improves the quality of playing. It also helps avoid getting injured and suffering from pain. It provides power during swing. In order to strengthen their core, people can focus on strengthening their abdominal and gluteal muscles.

Try to maintain stability

Stability plays a significant role in preventing injuries during a game of golf. This is the reason why golfers should try to maintain their stability while playing. The shoulders produce a good amount of force during the rotation of hand while swinging. Strong muscles will help in maintaining stability to a great extent during such a time.

An individual can increase and maintain the stability of his or her body by stretching, strengthening and some flexibility exercises. People can also try some exercises for their elbows, hips, wrists and shoulders.

Select appropriate shoes for game

Golfers should wear appropriate shoes while playing golf. Any normal shoe will not be helpful during a match. They should wear those shoes which have been designed specifically for golf. These shoes will have short cleats which will not dig into soil and hold your feet during swing. This will help in preventing strains on your feet.

Treatment of golf injuries

A golfer can get injured even after taking all the necessary precautions, mainly because of any minor mistake. In such a situation, treatment is required. Treatment of golf injuries usually depends on the area of injury and the extent of that injury.

A majority of injuries heal with medications and ample amount of rest. An appointment with a physical therapist will be helpful in treating golf injuries in an efficient manner

Conclusion

Golf is an entertaining sport played by millions of people globally. However, people should take necessary precaution in order to avoid injuries while playing golf.