Golf season is in full swing and if you’ve been teeing off regularly, you might be feeling a little bit more soreness than normal in your back, your neck, your elbows and/or your knees.
The constant twisting, swinging, and bending during a golf game means a lot of golfers have sore backs. If you already suffer from back pain, the repetitive movements in a golf game can exacerbate that soreness. Luckily, increasing your core strength and stretching can help prevent back pain. Incorporating core and stability exercises as well as hip, legs and low back stretches into your current workout routine will go a long way in keeping you ache free.
Sore knees are a common complaint for golfers, and many golfers have pre-existing knee injuries that walking and repetitive motions of golf can further aggravate. For these golfers, knee braces can help provide extra support, but it’s also important to build up quad, hamstring, hip and core muscles as these form a stable base from which the legs work. When these leg muscles are strong, they do a better job of supporting the knee which can reduce pain.
If you’re experiencing elbow soreness that worsens when you grip your club, or when you straighten your arm to pick something up – you’ve probably got golfer’s or tennis elbow (which is oddly common in golfers). More technically, the tendons that connect your forearm to just above your elbow are inflamed. Proper arm stretches, strengthening exercises, ice/heat and a golf/tennis elbow band can help prevent pain from increasing.
Determining whether your aches and pains are a one off due to that extra round you played this weekend, or if you’ve sustained a more serious injury, can be difficult. A good guideline is that if the pain doesn’t completely subside after a few days, or if the pain recurs frequently – it’s time to visit your physiotherapist.
The Summit team has taken golf specific physiotherapy courses that focus on golf injuries, causes and proper treatments. We can help manage your pain and inflammation and assess you to determine what stretches and exercises will get you better more quickly, and help prevent further injuries from happening. We offer a variety of treatments that are extremely effective for golf injuries: myofascial release, intramuscular stimulation (IMS), acupuncture, and kinesiotaping.
For most other minor aches and pains associated with golf, the same principles of rest and ice/heat therapy apply. You can also speak with your physician or pharmacist to determine if an over-the-counter anti-inflammatory like Aspirin or Ibuprofen will help you manage soreness.
You may also want to check with your local course’s pro shop to see if they offer lessons or assessments from golf professionals. A slight adjustment in your grip, your swing or your stance can make a big difference on how you feel after a round of golf. It’s also wise to make sure your equipment is fitted properly and in good condition. Again, the folks at the pro shop should be able to match you with the perfect set of clubs for your size and skill level.
See you on the green.