Whether you’re a weekend golfer or an avid enthusiast, golf can be an enjoyable and exciting way to spend your time. Unfortunately, it can also be dangerous if you’re not careful. Golf-related back injuries, as well as golf sprains and strains, are one of the most common injuries reported among golfers. Golfer’s Elbow is another common condition where golfers overwork and strain the muscles in their forearms. Many of these injuries are caused by poor posture while swinging a golf club, improper technique, and failure to warm up before playing. Here is a guide on how to protect yourself from back injuries while golfing.
Stretching Before Playing
Before heading out for a game of golf, it’s important to loosen up your muscles with some stretching exercises. This will help you improve your flexibility and range of motion, which in turn helps prevent muscle strains and other types of injuries. Focus on stretching your hamstrings, glutes, lower back, shoulders and arms, as these areas are most susceptible to injury when playing golf.
Strength Training
Strength training is another great way to reduce the risk of back pain or injury while playing golf. By strengthening the muscles in your core (abdominal and lower back) you’ll have better control over your swing and reduce the risk of straining those muscles during the movement. Exercises like planks, squats, lunges and crunches are all great ways to build core strength without spending too much time in the gym.
Maintaining Proper Form
Golfers should always maintain proper form while swinging their club so as to avoid any unnecessary strain on their body. Make sure that your feet are firmly planted on the ground, stay loose but don’t slouch at any point during the swing, keep your head up at all times and use both hands evenly throughout the entire motion. These simple tips will help ensure that you’re maintaining proper form throughout each game in order to avoid any potential injury or discomfort caused by poor posture or technique.
Post-Game Care
Even if you take all precautions mentioned above, it’s still possible for small sprains or strains to occur due to overexertion or incorrect form while playing golf. If this happens, make sure you take steps right away in order to aid recovery, including rest and ice therapy along with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). You may also want to consider visiting a physical therapist who specialises in sports medicine if symptoms persist for more than two weeks.
Happy Golfing!
Protecting yourself from back injuries when playing golf is essential for avoiding discomfort or pain later on down the line – but it doesn’t have to be difficult! Following this guide will help you stay safe while enjoying your favourite hobby.
