shoulder and a 45 degree turn of the hips whilst trying to keep the head straight and eyes on the ball. This has an effect firstly on the discs. These are flexible pads between the vertebrae, which act as shock absorbers.Although these resist compressive type forces very well they are ill equipped to deal with rotational stresses. This type of strain often results in weakening of the outer part of the disc allowing its more fluid inner part to bulge and press on a spinal nerve (cf Seve Ballasteros).
Also the golf swing, because of the alignment of the two joints between the vertebrae, impacts on one joint during the swing and opens the other, causing a repetitive strain on these joints. This can also cause a sudden strain on these joints if, for example, the club is grounded or a shot is played out of the thick rough, effecting the surrounding ligaments and muscles. When, as a result, the lower back seizes up, it means no golf for some weeks.
The pelvis can also be injured twisting one way or the other repetitively during a round, season or lifetime of golf. There is one Chiropractor who can declare his golfing patients to be either slicing or hooking depending on which way their pelvis is ‘misaligned’ on that particular visit – and he is always right!
Golfer’s Elbow
Golfers, as the name suggests are susceptible to this but can suffer from tennis elbow, as these are similar types of injury. It involves a repetitive strain on the muscles and tendons around the elbow joint (‘golfers elbow’ is on the inside, ‘tennis’ on the outside). This results in a severe inflammatory reaction in these and a lot of pain. Associated with either (or both) is a bent wrist at the point of contact with the ball grounding the club or excessive twisting of the forearms on the follow through. So if you suffer then I’m afraid it’s probably your technique and a visit to the club professional for a swing analysis. You rarely hear of ‘pros’ with this condition because they have great technique.
Other Common Golf Injuries
The other two joints of the arm, the wrist and shoulder, can be affected by a sudden or repetitive injury. The most common of these to be injured is the wrist. Indeed there would seem to be as many wrist injuries as low back ones on the professional tour. This is often due to grounding the club or trying to hit the ball out of the rough and in doing so spraining the wrist joint.
In general the repetitive nature of the golf swing tends to cause, most importantly, imbalance in the muscles of the trunk, which can lead to spinal problems.
Lastly, an often overlooked problem with golfers is the injuries that can arise to the back, shoulder and neck from carrying the golf bag over the shoulder or pulling the buggy around.
Can Chiropractic Help?
Most people expect that chiropractors can deal effectively with problems in the spine. What many people may not realize is that Chiropractors are experts in treating all the muscles and joints in the body and so will also treat problems such as tennis elbow or a sprained wrist. More often than not these injuries also have associated spinal problems and by seeing a Chiropractor these can be dealt with also.
How can I avoid Injury?
Like any sport, golf requires a good pre- and post- event stretching regime. This is especially true if you have spinal or any other joint and muscle problems. The best person to ask is your Chiropractor, who can design a short regime to suit your particular problem. One particular characteristic with golf is that there is a short burst of activity followed by a possibly long break before the next. Thus the body can cool down between shots, so doing some stretching between shots, or at least between holes, is of benefit. Your Chiropractor can also design a strengthening regime for the spine, to help it resist the rigours of the swing. Some gym work to balance the trunk muscles, if you are a regular player, will also be useful. If the swing is causing problems then do consult a golf ‘pro’ to try and iron out any bad habits.
The golfer’s elbow is best resolved by a combination of treatment and that visit to the ‘golf pro’ rather than the elbow braces that people wear. These can help you play in pain and may stop a return of the injury but are not eliminating the cause.
To help avoid problems associated with the golf bag try bags with the double shoulder strap. If pulling a buggy try to alternate sides, or you can always get a caddy!
Even if you do not suffer from any of these problems then regular check-ups on your body are essential for the regular player. Any problems in mobility may affect your swing, so you never know; it may lower your handicap!
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