Let’s face it, golf accidents are the worst.
Sadly, they’re part of golf (or actually any sport that you just play) and life. Whereas some accidents are a lot worse than others and cannot solely have an effect on your efficiency on the golf course, but additionally your high quality of life.
Whereas we’re not medical consultants by any means, there are specific accidents that golfers are liable to. Since we’re swinging at excessive charges of velocity with a heavy membership again and again, it’s not excellent for the physique.
On this put up, we’ll offer you some tips about avoiding golf accidents, enhancing your well being for higher golf, and some basic therapy concepts too.
Earlier than diving into it, I simply need to give a disclaimer that we’re NOT medical professionals, don’t work within the sports activities medication subject, and all the time advocate seeing a health care provider or bodily therapist for accidents.
Now that the medical stuff is out of the best way, let’s get into some finest practices.
Most Frequent Golf Accidents
As I discussed within the intro, golfers are liable to sure accidents as a result of swinging a membership isn’t excellent for the physique.
Give it some thought, you’re twisting, turning, and rotating with a heavy membership at 100+ mph for 4-5 hours each single spherical. If you happen to play plenty of golf every week, it takes a toll in your physique. Plus, once you add in the truth that most individuals have loads of imbalances from sitting an excessive amount of and different unhealthy habits, golf is icing on the cake.
In fact, we’re not recommending you to surrender the sport. Fairly the alternative, we need to offer you some methods to keep away from these accidents by getting forward of them.
Golf is tough sufficient once you’re wholesome, however with an damage, it makes the toughest sport ever 10X more durable. Simply ask Tiger Woods, arguably the best participant ever, who has handled damage after damage (and we’re hoping he can come again from his newest ankle damage too).
Listed here are among the most typical golf accidents that may intrude together with your golf swing. Some simply want time to heal and be handled non surgically, whereas others would possibly want orthopaedic surgeons or different specialists to get again to 100%.
Decrease Again Ache (Again Accidents)
The primary on our checklist is right here intentional, as a result of most golfers have struggled with a decrease again concern on a couple of event. However as you already know, it’s not enjoyable to deal with and may wreak havoc in your recreation.
Simply ask Jason Day or Tiger Woods, who’ve each had loads of decrease again points. Decrease again ache isn’t simply with golfers, both, it’s a worldwide downside.
In accordance with this Georgetown examine, “Practically 65 million Individuals report a latest episode of again ache. Some 16 million adults — 8 p.c of all adults — expertise persistent or persistent again ache, and because of this are restricted in sure on a regular basis actions. Again ache is the sixth most expensive situation in the USA. Well being care prices and oblique prices attributable to again ache are over $12 billion per 12 months.”
Rotator Cuff Accidents
One other widespread golf damage occurs within the rotator cuff, which performs a giant function in your swing. Rotator cuff tendons get plenty of put on and tear in your backswing, plus your downswing. As you continuously take the membership again over your head, your outer tendon has appreciable stress on it and performs a serious function in your swing.
An excessive amount of use or lack of flexibility can result in torn ligaments, shoulder ache, and different rotational stresses. Keep away from these accidents as a lot as attainable, as surgical restore is perhaps wanted and won’t ever get again to its authentic flexibility.
Wrist Points
Golf isn’t nice for the wrists both, as you hit down on the turf rather a lot, which ends up in a ton of stress in your wrists. Plus, you may need a questionable lie typically and may need a root or exhausting pan below your golf ball. The repetitive blunt trauma of taking divots, plus not so nice swing mechanics, can result in wrist accidents which could require steroid injections to heal correctly.
Foot and Ankle Accidents
Energy begins from the bottom up and golfers spend a ton of time on their ft. This may result in sprains, tendonitis, and different points. Plus, in case you have a pair of golf footwear that don’t match proper, it may result in blisters in your entrance foot or again foot as nicely.
Knee Ache
Knee ache is one other concern from taking part in plenty of golf. One bent over stance after one other isn’t straightforward in your knees, and simple to see why it’s one of many widespread {golfing} accidents.
Tendonitis
Whilst you may need heard of “tennis elbow” an identical damage can occur for golfers (aka golfers elbow).
Some widespread places for tendonitis embody:
- Elbow tendonitis
- Wrist tendinitis
- Again and shoulder tendonitis
I not too long ago had this in my shoulder and may say it’s no joke. It’s not that painful as a lot as it’s a nagging kind of ache that simply gained’t go away. Sadly, relaxation isn’t the answer for this damage if it’s previous a sure level and also you normally want some skilled assist to get again to 100%.
Neck Accidents
Have you ever ever taken a deep divot and really feel like your neck is immediately tweaked? Don’t fear, you’re not alone, however it’s nonetheless a painful situation that makes issues much more troublesome.
Treating Golf Accidents
If you’re experiencing signs, don’t simply keep away from the damage and hope that point will do the trick! Whereas time and relaxation would possibly assist, it’s not all the time the reply.
Listed here are some methods to deal with them rapidly.
Ice and Warmth
One of many oldest and finest methods to get better from any damage is cold and warm remedy. An ice pack and a warmth pad can do wonders to rushing up an damage with out having to go to a health care provider both.
Whether or not you could have knee ache, wrist accidents, tennis elbow, or different elbow accidents, each day ice and warmth classes may help scale back irritation and ache.
However be sure to use ice or warmth on the correct time. Ice is finest for newer accidents, in response to the Cleveland Clinic. Right here’s what they stated, “When coping with accidents, it’s finest to predominantly select ice if the damage is acute (lower than 6 weeks outdated). The coolness constricts blood vessels, which numbs ache, relieves irritation and limits bruising.”
The identical article additionally stated this about utilizing warmth, “If you happen to’re coping with lingering accidents (older than 6 weeks) then it’s okay to make use of warmth. The elevated blood movement relaxes tight muscle mass and relieves aching joints. That is particularly useful to enhance vary of movement on a joint that perhaps isn’t shifting as nicely.”
Get Massages
Massages are a good way to assist loosen up your forearm muscle mass and different components of your physique that get the wear and tear and tear from golf.
If you happen to don’t all the time have the time or cash for knowledgeable therapeutic massage, put money into a therapeutic massage gun. These handheld units are a good way to alleviate muscle rigidity at any time when you could have free time. Whether or not you get up sore, after a killer exercise or a protracted day of golf, these are nice methods to keep away from accidents.
Bodily Remedy
If issues don’t get higher by yourself, ensure to go to your physician or bodily therapist. I not too long ago had some nasty again ache that I couldn’t shake alone. After a go to to a PT, they recognized me with tendonitis and gave a transparent restoration plan.
Inside a couple of weeks, I used to be nearly 100% and again to understanding and {golfing} ache free. Generally it’s exhausting to place our delight apart and admit we’ve an damage, however the sooner you get it recognized, the earlier you’ll be able to heal from it.
Life is simply too quick to stay in ache!
Tips on how to Keep away from Accidents in Your Golf Swing
So, how do you keep away from accidents as a lot as attainable?
As they are saying in soccer, “The perfect offense is protection.”
That saying applies in regard to avoiding accidents from chasing the white ball.
Listed here are some finest practices to keep away from the widespread checklist of accidents from above to remain wholesome and play this recreation for a very long time.
Heat Up Correctly
Presumably the most effective methods to keep away from accidents on the golf course is a strong heat up session. So many gamers get to the course on the final minute, verify in, and run to the primary tee. This may result in a myriad of points and the professional store gained’t be pleased both.
To maintain the employees and your physique pleased, be sure to arrive not less than half-hour earlier than your tee time. If you may get there even earlier, it won’t solely make it easier to loosen up however you would possibly play higher too.
Even should you don’t hit balls, you’ll be able to nonetheless do some fundamental stretches, swing the membership, chip and putt. Or, you should utilize one thing just like the Orange Whip swing coach to assist your muscle mass get free too.
When you could have a very good heat up, you may get your physique free, hit loads of pictures on the vary, and determine the velocity of the greens. Decide to all the time getting there early in an effort to keep away from a pointless damage that’s induced from not planning forward.
Enhance Your Mechanics
Among the best methods to keep away from these most typical accidents is to enhance your golf swing mechanics. Poor mechanics make the explosive nature of the sport a lot more durable in your physique.
So be sure to’re engaged on posture, alignment, tempo, and ball putting on the vary. The extra you’ll be able to eradicate improper swing mechanics, the extra you’ll be able to assist your physique (and rating).
Train Recurrently to Enhance Muscle Energy
You don’t need to be an professional in sports activities medication to know that train is a key to avoiding golf associated accidents. Paired with correct swing mechanics, you’ll be able to keep away from traumatic accidents that golfers undergo from and hopefully lead a pain-free life.
Want some inspiration for golf exercises? Take a look at our full put up on exercises for golf right here.
Enhance Your Vitamin
Skilled athletes give attention to vitamin, sleep, and restoration as a lot as they do with apply or train. So just be sure you’re not simply hitting the fitness center, but additionally enhancing your vitamin too.
A correct food plan may help scale back irritation within the physique and make these twisting actions of golf rather a lot simpler. Plus, you’ll in all probability have extra power for each day activies as nicely. Deal with your physique proper, you solely get one on this lifetime!
Stretch Recurrently to Enhance Your Golf Swing
If you happen to ask most individuals, chances are high everybody would say they should stretch extra. It’s sort of like maintaining a healthy diet and exercising often. We all know the advantages, however typically we will’t make it a behavior.
Stretching isn’t any completely different however may help you keep away from accidents as a lot as something on this checklist. While you don’t stretch often, your muscle mass are tight, which might result in imbalances in your physique. These imbalances will be made worse with a golf swing.
Apart from stretching, don’t neglect about yoga and foam rolling, both. Each may help loosen your muscle mass and play your favourite sport ache free.
Go right here to learn our full article on golf stretches.
Attempt Out Acupuncture
When you’ve got overuse accidents from hitting too many golf balls, check out acupuncture. It’s nice to assist with repetitive motions like golf and scale back irritation within the physique.
CBD
CBD is one other useful gizmo for golfers. Whereas it doesn’t stop accidents like the opposite concepts earlier than this, it may assist handle ache in a shoulder joint, rotator cuff, golfer’s elbow, weak knee, or different ache level.
Prioritize Relaxation
Lastly, don’t neglect to relaxation as nicely. If you happen to play often, typically your thoughts and physique want a break to get better from the wear and tear and tear of golf. I’ve discovered that once I’m taking part in rather a lot, it’s additionally mentally draining as nicely.
Whereas it’s not all the time straightforward to take a break from this addictive recreation, typically it’s simply what the physician ordered. Put the golf membership down and skim a few of our favourite golf books or watch a few of our favourite golf motion pictures as a substitute.
Last Ideas on Frequent Accidents in Golf
Keep in mind, one of many causes that tens of millions of individuals love this recreation is that you would be able to play it at nearly any age. However should you’re continuously combating your physique, it’s going to be almost inconceivable to play the game all of us love so long as you would possibly should you had targeted in your well being.
Whereas nobody is proof against getting injured, you need to keep away from them as a lot as attainable. Not just for the sake of your golf recreation, however your total well-being. As I’m certain you already know, there may be nothing worse than attempting to work, play together with your children, or tee it up once you’re in ache.
Make it a degree to begin including some new habits into your life so you’ll be able to keep wholesome as a lot as attainable. Whether or not it’s understanding, stretching, or self-care appointments like a therapeutic massage or acupuncture, they will all make it easier to keep away from accidents. And if and when you end up with an damage, use the guidelines from above to bounce again rapidly.
