Sports injuries are typically associated with team sports, especially football and other contact sports where a high level of contact is expected. But it’s not hard to get hurt while engaging in any physically demanding activity, like golf. How can a golfer sustain an injury?
How Do Injuries Happen to Golfers?
There are quite a few common golf injuries that many players suffer from as golf requires frequent repetitive motions. New golfers will often experience neck pain and back pain from not being used to how one moves their body while golfing. Sunburns are also common for people not used to properly covering themselves and applying and reapplying sunscreen when necessary, during a long day of golf.
Golfers’ knees, wrists, fingers, hands, and shoulders are all impacted by the repetitive motions involved in the game. To reduce the risk of injury from golfing, or any other physically demanding activity, it’s crucial to warm up beforehand.
Which Muscles Are Affected by Golf?
It is common for rotator cuffs to hurt after a round of golf. Tears in the muscle can result from overuse or even from a few too many bad swings. The need for anti-inflammatories may depend on how bad the pain is. It might be necessary to explore surgical options in certain more severe situations.
In addition, playing golf puts a lot of strain on the spine and surrounding back muscles. In addition to your swing, you frequently stoop over the ball while playing. Moreover, you spend hours upon hours during a golf game on your feet—even when using a golf cart. If you’re not careful, small pulls and strains may get worse with time, and mild back pain or stiffness may become more severe and frequent.
How Can I Play Golf While Protecting My Back?
There are lots of resources available for back protection when playing golf.
Maintain a Straight Back
It is crucial that you maintain a straight spine. Your spine will remain straighter if you swing with your shoulders in line with your hips.
Exercises for the Core
Planks and other core exercises will benefit your back as well. Your muscles will function better and your spine will be under less stress if you strengthen the muscles surrounding your pelvis and lower back.
Keep Your Distance From The Ball
To hit the ball, you will need to extend your spine and rotate your body more if you end up standing farther away from it. It gets harder to maintain a straight spine when playing golf the farther you have to stretch to hit the ball.
