 |
Don't Let Golf Injuries "Tee" You Off
Long thought of as a "cushy" pastime, golf actually causes an alarmingly high number of injuries.
In fact, the injury rate for recreational golfers is an astounding 60 percent — and it's even higher
for golfers older than 50.
Common Injuries... and How to Prevent Them
According to Christopher Doumas,
M.D., an orthopedic surgeon at
Jersey Shore University Medical
Center, injuries to the hand, arm,
or wrist or shoulder joints account
for more than 50 percent of
injuries for amateur golfers. He
notes that common golf injuries
can include:
- Arthritis of the shoulder joint, which may become more painful due to increased use and subtle instability of the shoulder
- Problems with the rotator cuff
- Injuries to the elbow
Hand and wrist arthritis are also
common reasons for golfer pain.
"Increased grip force can increase
the pain to these arthritic joints,"
points out Dr. Doumas, who specializes in
hand and upper extremity surgery. "Also,
tendonitis is common in the wrist and
the elbow, and carpal tunnel may affect
patients due to the increased grip of the
club as well as the vibrations from the
club's impact with the ball or ground."
Golf injuries among amateurs are
caused by a combination of factors,
including excessive or repetitive play, poor
conditioning, faulty swing technique, and
improper warm-up. Dr. Doumas provides
the following tips to help prevent injuries:
- Warm up for at least 10 minutes before
playing golf. Do a general cardiovascular warm-up with jogging or jumping,
combined with a stretching routine of
the various muscular groups.
- Don't play through the pain. Visit your
doctor for a diagnosis and start treatment
to minimize downtime.
- If you're new to the sport, take a few
lessons first to ensure you use proper
swing techniques.
- Limit golf to fewer than four rounds or
200 hit balls per week.
- Take the cart when possible. Walk on
alternate days without carrying a golf bag.
- Talk with your doctor before starting
any exercise program to ensure it's safe
for you.
Jersey Shore Can Get You Back inthe Swing
If you do need treatment for a golf injury,
the orthopedic surgeons, physical therapists,
and occupational therapists at Jersey Shore
have you covered. They can evaluate the
problem areas, diagnose any injuries, and
help to minimize the pain and swelling.
Orthopedic surgeons can prescribe physical
or occupational therapy, share instructions for
rehabilitation at home, prescribe anti-inflammatory
medications or splints, and give select
injections to relieve pain. Therapists can
oversee supervised stretching and strengthening
programs that ensure the therapy is being
done properly and in the amount necessary
to have a successful outcome.
"Occasionally, surgery may be needed
for sports-induced conditions or injuries,"
says Dr. Doumas. "Newer arthroscopic
techniques can assist in relieving pain with
less downtime, but more traditional procedures
still play an integral role in the management
of sports injuries.
"These procedures should be discussed
with your doctor in great detail and should
be performed only after ample nonoperative
treatment fails," concludes Dr. Doumas.
|
