Prevent Golf Injuries with Fitness

Many golf injuries can occur due to an improper grip or swing mechanics, but a lack of fitness and flexibility also contributes to the most common golf injuries. These golf injuries usually occur in the soft tissues (muscles, ligaments, tendons) and joints (back, elbow, wrist and shoulder).

Let’s look at what can cause golf injuries?

  • Overuse
  • Mis-hits or duffs (hitting the ground during the swing)
  • Poor swing mechanics
  • Over-swinging
  • Skipping the Warm-up
  • Twisting the Spine During the Swing
  • Incorrect Golf Club Grip

What can help prevent golf injuries?

  • Proper swing mechanics and club grip
  • Proper conditioning
  • Proper equipment

You can reduce this stress and prevent back injuries by:

  1. Rotating the shoulder and hip about the same amount during the backswing
  2. Keeping the spine vertical (perpendicular to the ground) during the follow-through (and avoiding hyperextension of the spine).

To reduce shoulder pain and injuries by:

  1. Shorten the backswing slightly (end with the club head at a 1 o’clock rather than 3 o’clock).
  2. Strengthen the rotator cuff and scapular muscles.
  3. Strengthen the chest and back muscles.

To reduce hand, wrist and elbow pain and injuries by:

  1. Selecting larger club grips
  2. Using softer grips
  3. Using a neutral grip
  4. Selecting irons with large heads and “sweet spots” to lessen vibration
  5. Selecting graphite shafts are to lessen vibration
  6. Selecting the correct club length (the end of the club should extend slightly beyond the palm of the leading hand)
  7. strengthening the forearm muscles

If you are looking for a good fitness program I have a couple of recommendations for you.

You can check out Perform Better Golf or Turbulence Training.

Common Golf Injuries You Should Know

I wanted to let you guys know about the common injuries that can happen to golfers.  By being aware of these injuries you can take the necessary measures to minimize your risk for these golf injuries.

The most common golf injuries occur in the lower back, elbows, shoulders, hands and wrists, and are generally defined as either cumulative (overuse) or acute (traumatic) injuries. The impact and stress of the repetitive motion of the swing is sometimes hard on the muscles and joints, especially if you ignore the early warning signs of an injury.

Below are a list of the common golf injuries and some links for more explanations.

Elbow

Back

Shoulder

Wrist and Hand

Miscellaneous Golf Pains and Golf Injuries

Blisters

Knee Pain

Plantar Fasciitis
I hope this give you an idea of the common injuries from playing golf.  If you already have one of the injuries about, I hope the links will lead you an answer of how to heal your injury.

Let me know how this helps.