Reducing Golf Injury
Over the years, golf has become an increasingly popular sport, attracting new players of almost all ages and socioeconomic groups. Golf is practiced by up to 10 to 20% of the overall adult population in many countries. Beyond the enjoyment of the sport itself, the health-related benefits of the exercise involved in walking up to 10km and of relaxing in a pleasant natural environment are often reported to be the main motives for adhering to this activity by recreational golfers. Golf Injuries: An Overview Sports Medicine, Volume 26, Number 1, July 1998 , pp. 43-57(15).
Although golf is becoming more popular, there is a lack of reliable epidemiological data on golf injuries and overuse syndromes, especially regarding their severity. Now a new study attempts to determine how to reduce injury from Golf.
Although golf has not been recognized as a sport associated with injuries, epidemiological studies document that back and elbow injuries are most common in male amateur golfers. Lower back and wrist injuries occur in the male golf professional while female professional golfers are more likely to suffer injuries to the wrist and lower back, respectively. See, The frequency of golf injuries, McCarrol.
In an effort to reduce golf injuries, many of which are treated by orthopedic surgeons, the AAOS American Association of Orthopedic Surgeons, recommends the following golf injury-prevention tips:.jpg)
- Dress for comfort and make sure to wear the appropriate golf shoes; short cleats are best on the course.
- Do not hunch your neck or shoulders over the ball; it may predispose you to neck strain and rotator cuff tendinitis.
- To avoid golfer's elbow, caused by a strain of the muscles in the inside of the forearm -- perform wrist and forearm stretching exercises and try not to overemphasize your wrists when swinging.
- To avoid lower back pain caused by a poor swing -- try rowing and/or pull down exercises to improve flexibility and muscle strength.
To return to golf after hip or knee replacement, the AAOS suggests the following safety guidelines below:
- Always warm up and stretch well before playing, but avoid undue strain on your replaced joint.
- Get back into the game slowly. Begin with chipping and putting before hitting irons and then woods. Also, it is best to play just nine holes initially; once this can be done comfortably you can try a full 18.
- Use a riding cart initially. Those who like to walk while playing should wait until they can play comfortably with a cart and then try walking. It's best to use a pull cart rather than carrying your bag.
- Be aware of weather conditions; wet weather can predispose you to falls, especially when the legs are still weak.
- Use "soft spikes" (required by most courses now) or even tennis shoes (if ground is not wet). This will reduce torque on the hip and knee.
- Don't get frustrated when you resume playing. You may not hit the ball as far as you did prior to surgery because the leg will be weak; this will get better as strength returns.
- Be careful about squatting down to line up a putt. This can put too much pressure on the knee and could possibly cause a dislocation of a hip prosthesis.
- Continue a regular exercise program to maintain as much strength in the leg as possible.
According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), more than 115,000 Americans were treated for golf-related injuries in 2009. Be careful and enjoy the sport longer.
