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· Body Wellness ·
Did you know that therapeutic sports massage is a great way to improve your golf game? It's true! Golf massage concentrates on relaxing the back, hamstrings, hip flexors, shoulders, and wrists to create a bigger shoulder turn, better hip and back flexibility, and a more powerful torque and higher finish.
You’re keen to improve your swing, but hours spent hunched over your club, along with the rotational stresses you put onto your back as you swing, can add up to serious back pain. Lower back pain is the most common, but don’t discount the discomfort of that shooting, stabbing pain between your shoulder blades, either.
To prevent back issues, practice correct form and regularly exercise the muscles of your back (focusing specifically on trapezius and pectoral muscles). Flexibility exercises such as yoga can also help to prevent back injuries.
The treatments option vary depending on severity. Most common options include:
Avid golfers can end up messing up their rotator cuffs, which are the four stabilising muscles located in each of your shoulders. Rotator cuff impingements are when the muscles swell and pinch the space between the arm and shoulder bones. Another type of injury occurs when one of the tendons or muscles tear. Both common types of rotator cuff injuries cause pain and inhibit your game.
To prevent rotator cuff injury, practice correct form as well as engage in regular strength training and stretching the muscles of the shoulders, back, and abs.
If you have suffered a rotator cuff injury, we recommend the POLICE method: protection, optimal loading, ice, compression, and elevation.
Follow up with exercises designed to strengthen shoulder and back muscles.
Tendonitis in the elbow is commonly referred to in sports terms. “Tennis elbow” refers to irritation and inflammation of the outer tendon, while “golf elbow” refers to irritation and inflammation of the inner tendon. Strangely, more golfers suffer from tennis elbow than golf elbow, but the result can still be very painful.
To prevent tendonitis of either sort, make sure you are using proper swing techniques when you practice. Tendonitis shows up after overuse of the tendons involved, so be sure to rotate your practice regimen to allow your elbows and arms to get adequate rest.
Treating tendonitis is usually fairly simple, although you might have to grit your teeth and put the clubs away while you allow your body to heal. The goals are to reduce inflammation, gently strengthen the muscles and tendons, and correct your swing technique so you don’t do this to yourself again.
As you stabilise the rotation of the hip axis at the beginning of a swing, you can end up putting a lot of stress and strain on a weak knee. Knee injuries vary in type and severity, and it’s no secret that knees suffer more as you age. If you are noticing knee pain during your game, visit your Sports Therapist sooner rather than later!
To prevent knee pain, gently stretch your calves, hamstrings, thighs, and core muscles before heading out for a round. Wear quality shoes with good arch support, and use a brace if you feel weakness or twinges.
If you already suffer from knee pain, you’ll need a Sports Therapist to diagnose the exact problem and help you decide on a course of treatment. If you ignore knee pain, you can end up doing incredible damage, which has the potential of greatly affecting your ability to play.
Like the tendons in the elbows, wrist tendons can become overly fatigued and inflamed, which can affect your ability to hold your club correctly (or at all, in serious cases).
To help prevent future golfing-related wrist injuries, take time to stretch your arms, elbows and wrists before you play. Also, warm up with some easy practice swings before you begin a round of golf or start hitting at the driving range. Work on improving your swing, too.
Usual treatments include activity modification, anti-inflammatory medications, bracing, and therapy.