Though it may not be a contact sport, golf, like most any other sport, sees its fair share of on and off-field injuries. And while injuries such as Greg Norman’s chainsaw incident or Bobby Cruikshank’s famous 1934 self-induced concussion aren’t overwhelmingly common for most golfers, pulled muscles, strains, and inflammation run rampant at both the amateur and professional level.
The best way, of course, to treat an injury is by preventing it from happening in the first place. Some of the most common golf-related injuries have simple and straightforward preventative measures that, if understood, can prevent injuries from occurring at all and keep you teeing off at a regular rate.
Torn Rotator Cuff
An injury that is certainly not limited only to golf, the rotator cuff is actually a collection of four muscles in the shoulder responsible for, among other, less obvious tasks, the rotation of your shoulders.
A common baseball injury due to the stress put on a pitcher’s shoulder, rotator cuff tears can also affect longtime golfers by putting wear and tear on the shoulder muscles during repeated swings.
A torn rotator cuff can lead to moderate pain in the shoulder and difficulty completing a swing. Preventing such an injury boils primarily down to ensuring that your form is in peak shape and you’re not causing unnecessary strain on the shoulder. Proper care of your shoulder via stretching, icing, and resting can both help prevent future rotator cuff injuries and treat existing ones.
Back Strains
Likely the most common golf injury, back strains or muscle pulls can happen to not only those with preexisting or previous back issues but also strike otherwise healthy golfers out of seemingly nowhere. Repetition and the stress put on your back when the body torques as you wind up and follow through your tee shots.
A simple solution for back strains and stiffness is a basic back brace. Even cheaper and more cost-efficient braces can help prevent unnecessary strain on the back and keep you from spending too much time on the mend.
Tennis/Golf Elbow
The sports-themed more common names for various types of elbow tendonitis, tennis and golf elbow refer to inflamed or irritated tendons in the outer and inner elbow, respectively. While “inflamed” and “irritated” might not seem as daunting as “torn” or “strained,” tennis/golf elbow can be debilitating to athletes who rely on fully functioning and pain-free elbow motion.
Avoiding tendonitis is as simple as resting your arms every once in a while – most tendonitis is a result of overuse of the elbow, so ensure that your routine isn’t too frequent or too demanding of your arms and always factor in a few rest days.