Golf is not exactly known for being a sport that causes a lot of injuries. As exciting as a high-impact variation of golf might be, it doesn’t exist. Well at least it doesn’t exist yet, maybe one day some bloodthirsty putter will get it approved, but for now, golf is a pretty game.
And in many ways, that’s actually the appeal of it. It’s relaxing to watch, can be played very casually and it’s also something that can be taken up by pretty much anyone. Your age and level of fitness won’t inhibit you from golf.
Now that’s not to say that it’s a sport which it’s extremely easy to get good at, because it’s not, in fact, they’re probably isn’t any sports in existence which don’t take hours and hours of practice to become competent in and golf is not an exception to that.
And because of that, beginners are susceptible to a certain amount of injuries due to a lack of experience. Especially if it’s something that you are genuinely just taking it up in your old age, your body is worn down and the risk of injury is a little higher.
It’s common for beginners to this sport to be older and that’s great because it’s the perfect sport for seniors, but that doesn’t mean they don’t need to be careful, and some people may not acknowledge that fact when they’re starting.
So let’s have a look at some of these potential injuries which you should try to avoid:
1. Tendinitis
Tendinitis is not one specific affliction. As the name suggests, it basically refers to inflammation of the tendons which are the thick cords that join muscle to bone. It’s probably the most common injury that a golfer could experience and it can affect a number of body parts.
When it is a golf-related injury, you are most likely to experience it in your wrists. You are always swinging and the aim is to have a high speed, high impact golf swing which involves a lot of wrist movement.
The constant twisting is likely to cause strain and inflammation. You can also experience tendonitis in your knees as a golfer. They’re consistently necessary as you play for stabilization purposes and being and this can lead to a lot of strain.
Especially because it’s such a difficult area to actually build substantial muscle, which leaves your tendons pretty exposed to wear and tear. There is also the strong possibility of tendinitis in your shoulders and it’s so common in the elbow joint that it’s earned the name Golfer’s Elbow.
Just keep an eye on these things, if you feel too much pain in these areas while practicing give yourself a break and be sure to do some of the course exercises for each of these body parts.
2. Lower Back Strain
This shouldn’t come as too much of a surprise to you. While playing golf you spend a lot of time leaning over. You are basically standing with terrible posture but deliberately so and that’s notorious for resulting in pain.
But it’s not just the fact that your back will be in a compromised position for the majority of the round, it’s also that a forceful swing while standing crouched over is going to put a lot of pressure on your lower back tissues.
At first, it can just lead to a lot of pain but if you put such a heavy load on these muscles and discs on a consistent basis then it can result in more serious conditions such as spinal stenosis or arthritis.
To prevent this, the best course of action is to work on strengthening your upper back and shoulders so that the load won’t entirely be subjected to your lumbar spine, and also stretching regularly to increase your mobility.
3. Rotator Cuff Golf Injury
If you are unfamiliar with your rotator cuffs, they are the groups of muscles that keep the shoulder joint in place. Because your shoulders are such an important muscle for golf, your rotator cuffs are constantly in use.
In all likelihood, a rotator cuff concern from playing golf will just be some pain and tenderness while swinging. If these muscles aren’t strengthened the movement will be putting the tendons and ligaments to work and this will wear them down.
In extreme cases, you could suffer a torn rotator cuff. This is quite serious and if it happens you won’t be able to swing until it’s either healed or surgically repaired. This is why it’s especially important to do a lot of strength training for your shoulders outside of playing.
Rotator cuff injuries can range from relatively mild pain to a permanent halt to your ability to play and that’s just not worth the risk.
So while it’s very important for you to work on your strength and your mobility to avoid these injuries, golf is still an extremely accessible sport. Don’t let these potential issues scare you away if you want to give them a try.
HP Thoughts: You might want to have your back and joints checked if any pain felt is severe that it affects your gameplay. Sometimes a minor inflammation or swelling of the muscles could lead to serious ailments. Read our post discussing one that involves the muscles — Fibromyalgia.
