How Golf Rehab Can Take Your Golf Game to the Next Level
It is a beautiful and warm day to go out on your favorite courses with a bunch of your good friends. You intend to enjoy some fun competition and escape all the world’s stressors for a few hours. However, your tight lower back can’t let you catch a break. Despite your efforts to tough it out, it keeps getting worse as you limp through the holes.
If pain and injury have been bothering you, it’s time to consider physical therapy for golf performance. Turning to physical therapy will prevent and reduce golf-related injuries and pain. Also, physical therapy will improve your golf swing and agility. So, read on to discover why you should turn to golf rehab to improve your game.
What are the Most Common Golf Injuries?
Whether you are a professional or casual golfer, poor body mechanics, joint restrictions, and arm muscle tightness might make it hard to execute your golf swings correctly. When a golf swing is performed incorrectly, it can lead to injury to different parts of the body. The most common golf-related injuries include:
1. Golf Wrist Injuries
Wrist injuries are common among golfers due to the repetitive motions of golf and the speed of a typical swing. Common golf wrist injuries include tendonitis, fractures, and sprains.
2. Elbow Tendonitis
Elbow tendonitis refers to the inflammation of the tendon tissue in the elbow. Many golfers suffer from elbow tendonitis at one point or another. Unfortunately, the risk of suffering from elbow tendonitis increases with age and improper swing motions.
3. Rotator Cuff Injury
Rotator cuff injuries usually happen due to a traumatic force resulting from an improper golf swing. It can also be sustained when you hit a hard object, such as a root or rock. Golfers can also sustain a rotator cuff injury after taking a deep divot. Repetitive golf swing motions also increase the risk of tears in the rotator cuff.
4. Lower Back Pain
Golfers are at a higher risk of sustaining lower back pain at some point. This is because the repetitive motions of the swing place massive pressure on the muscles and spine. Moreover, golfers spend approximately four to five hours in a bent-over stance.
Related: 7 Best Home Exercises for Lower Back Pain
5. Knee Pain
Knee pain is also common among golfers since too much strain is placed on the knee to generate enough force for the swing. This extreme pressure usually results in torn ligaments.
6. Sunburn
Since golfers spend a considerable part of their lives on the courses, they are exposed to the sun. Continued sun exposure can cause skin damage and skin cancer.
7. Hip Injuries
Although the hip joint is strong enough to withstand high loading stresses, it is still susceptible to injury during golf due to the swing.
8. Neck Injuries
Neck injuries are common among new golfers since they might not be used to twisting their bodies.
9. Hand and Finger Injuries
Due to the repetitive motions of the golf swing, golfers are at high risk for hand and finger injuries. Severe finger and hand trauma can also lead to fractures or deformed bones.
10. Foot and Ankle Injuries
The foot and ankle push against the ground during a swing. Unfortunately, golfers can develop a foot or ankle injury when they lose balance during the swing. Also, improper swing mechanics and uneven surfaces increase the risk of foot and ankle injuries.
Treatment Options For Golf Injuries
There are various treatment methods for golf injuries. Some of these methods might be more effective depending on the severity and type of injury. The most common treatment methods for golf injuries include:
- The RICE method
- Taping and strapping
- Physical therapy
- Surgery
- Anti-inflammatory medications
- EPAT therapy
The RICE method is ideal for managing less severe injuries at home. RICE means rest, ice, compression, and elevation. The taping and strapping method provides additional support to injured muscles and tissue. Some golfers also use nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications such as ibuprofen to minimize the pain and reduce inflammation.
EPAT therapy can speed up healing by increasing blood flow and reducing inflammation. Surgery can also be used as a last resort. Physical therapy has proven to be a reliable and effective way of treating and preventing almost all golf injuries.
How Physical Therapy Can Improve Your Golf Performance
Physical therapy has been an effective way of treating and preventing golf injuries for decades. Regardless of your experience level, turning to golf rehab will improve your golf swing and keep you safe from injuries. Moreover, physical therapy can help golfers who have undergone surgery overcome restrictions and return to the golf course in no time.
When you start golf rehab, a certified golf specialist will work with you to get you back in shape as soon as possible. The expert will take you through 16 movements to assess your balance, mobility, and stability. After that, your golf-certified rehab specialist will develop a customized treatment plan to help you overcome your physical abilities and limitations. The goal is to improve your stability, power, performance, strength, and specific golf mobility.
Let’s discuss the strategies and goals of golf rehab in detail below:
Eliminating Pain
Our rehab specialist will create a targeted treatment plan to help you overcome pain as quickly as possible. Various modalities, such as soft tissue treatment, stretches, and exercises, can be used to address the pain.
Enhancing Mobility
Once you overcome the pain, the focus now turns to your mobility. Our doctors who do physical therapy will assess critical areas and conduct various tests to identify limitations.
Improving Flexibility
After addressing your mobility limitation, our certified rehab specialist will focus on your flexibility. They will start by assessing key muscle groups to identify all the limitations. From there, they will recommend exercises and mobility to improve your flexibility.
Improving Balance
Balance is integral to the power and accuracy of your golf swing. Our doctors who do physical therapy will assess and address limitations hindering balance. They will also check your swing to identify and manage all the faults.
Increasing Strength
Finally, our golf-certified rehab specialist will evaluate your muscle groups to identify weak areas. From there, they will recommend modalities and exercises to increase strength.
Get Started with Golf Injury Rehab Today
La Clínica is proud to offer the most advanced and effective golf injury rehab in Illinois. Since 2005, our talented team has helped the golf community to overcome and prevent injuries. To learn more about our golf injury rehab services, call us today at (773) 739-4401, or you can choose one of our physical therapy locations.