Golf injuries
& limitations to playing; by David Gray - OsteopathOsteopathic manual work can accelerate healing. Regain joint stability and mobility using isometric strengthening and control exercises. Balancing muscle tone, length and strength using appropriate techniques, moving onto more functional dynamic strengthening exercises, as soon as appropriate.
Promoting good postural and movement patterns to reduce risk of recurring injury.
Lower back or lumbar spine:
Among professional and amateur golfers, low back pain has been cited as the most common golf-related injury. It is estimated that 10-33% of LPGA and PGA touring professionals are playing whilst injured at any given time, and that half the group will develop chronic problems.
In the modern swing, the golfer finishes in a lordotic 'reversed c' position. This 'reversed c' leads to hyper-extension of the lower back which adds increased stress on the joints and paraspinal muscles of the lumbar spine.
Increased loads to the lumbar spine during the golf swing, as well as the large forces generated by these muscles, predispose the golfer to muscular strains, spondylosis (degenerative spine condition) and associated risk of herniated discs.
The Mid Back or Thoracic Spine:
The middle of the upper back or thoracic spine can make or break the golf swing. A flexible and supple T-spine will allow for smooth swing mechanics while restrictions will inevitably lead to poor performance and/or injury.
The ribs need to be able to expand, contract and rotate. This allows the diaphragm to move freely. Rotation can be restricted if the muscles between the ribs (the intercostal muscles) are tight. You may have felt something similar to a sharp, stabbing pain in your ribs after a day of hitting balls. This could be your intercostal muscles telling you that they have worked too hard. This is particularly important when associated with general arthritic spinal conditions.
The Neck or Cervical Spine:
As well as having similar spinal restrictions, this area is one of the most important for golf. Good stable mechanics for the golfer's eye-to-ball connection is fundamental in allowing the whole body swing to work correctly.
Shoulder injuries:
Shoulder pain in golfers is a relatively common occurrence compared to other sites of the body, accounting for approximately 8–18% of all golf injuries.
The shoulder goes through a large range of movement during the golf swing. Consequently, excessive practice can produce problems of the shoulder due to overuse.
Injuries to the shoulder in golfers are mainly restricted to the lead shoulder, i.e. the left shoulder in right-handed golfers. Studies have found that shoulder pain may be localised to the acromioclavicular (AC) joint, with the potential for either osteoarthritis or distal clavicle osteolysis.
Wrist/Hand injuries:
The wrist is one of the most common sites of injury in golfers. The wrist accounts for 13–20% of all injuries in amateurs and 20–27% of all injuries in professionals in golf.
Elbow injuries:
Elbow injuries are common in golfers, especially in amateurs and particularly in females. This is thought to be due to the increased carrying angle seen in the female population. Elbow injuries account for 25–33% of all injuries in amateurs and 7–10% of all injuries in professionals.
The importance of proper warm-up and stretching routines prior and most importantly after play, cannot be overemphasized. David your Osteopath will devise specific exercise routines for your own golfing needs.
Spinal manipulation is effective for low back pain (BEAM trial, 2004)
Government guidelines recommend osteopathy for persistent low back pain (NICE, 2009)
Osteopathy is possibly effective for infantile colic (Hayden 2006)