Golfing is a relaxing pastime for people of all ages but as we get older, there are a few common golf injuries that many players deal with. The golf swing is a biomechanically complex and challenging movement. The body will always do what’s easiest, not necessarily what’s best, to hit that little white ball. If you experience pain or soreness in your joints or muscles after a long day on the golf course, you might be worried that the injury could prevent you from getting back out there.
As experts in sports medicine, Upstate Spine & Sport is the chiropractor in Greenville, SC people and pros turn to help treat common golf injuries and share injury prevention tips to stay safe the next time you’re out on the golf course.
Golf Shoulder Pain and Shoulder Blade Pain
Your golf swing can put rotational stresses on your shoulder muscles and the shoulder joint. This can result in tearing or inflammation of the tendons and muscles around the shoulder that form the rotator cuff. If the muscles or tendons swell, they might rub against a bone in the shoulder, a condition called shoulder impingement. A thorough mechanical assessment and some chiropractic treatments can relieve the swelling and pain caused by shoulder impingement and injury to the rotator cuff.
You can prevent shoulder injuries with exercises and training that strengthen your shoulder muscles. Trail shoulder external rotation is an important metric we check due to the importance of that motion in a proper turn during the golf swing. We thoroughly evaluate shoulders to problem solve not just the “what”, but the “why”!
Golf Hip Pain
The golf swing causes the trunk to swivel relative to the legs and hips, putting stress on the hip joint. Elite golfers typically have the gift of mobile and strong hips. Chiropractic therapy, evaluation, and exercises can help stabilize your hip to reduce pain and the likelihood of future injury.
A highly functioning kinematic chain is vital in the sport of golf – we can suggest changes that can reduce stress on your hips and spine. In particular, the lead hip internal rotation is very important, as we need about 40 degrees in that hip. Leg and knee pain are also common for golfers, and these can be treated with many of the tools and services we provide at the clinic.
Golf Elbow Pain
The repetitive motion of the golf swing can cause pain and tendonitis similar to tennis elbow. Golfers elbow, also known as medial epicondylitis, causes stiffness, loss of sensation, muscle weakness, and tingling in the affected elbow. Wrist injuries can also occur as a result of golfing. Chiropractic medicine can relieve some symptoms of golfer’s elbow without the long recovery times of surgical procedures.
Golf Back Pain
The number one issue that amateur and professional golfers deal with is lower back pain. The twisting motion during your swing can put stress on the spine if you do not have proper biomechanics. The full range of motion of the spine is crucial, as well as proper stability principles through the trunk and abdominal wall.
Chiropractic treatment and our full golf assessment can help quickly relieve spine pain caused by a golf-related sports injury. Massage therapy can loosen back muscles and increase blood flow, while stretching and exercise can develop strong muscles to support the spine.
Greenville’s Golf Chiropractor | Upstate Spine & Sport
Seeing a golf chiropractor for performance improvement and treatment for common golf injuries is one way to have a safe and enjoyable golfing experience as you get older. Upstate Spine & Sport is a leading provider of chiropractic medicine, massage therapy, acupuncture, and other services in Greenville, SC. Don’t let age or injury keep you from enjoying a game you love.
Dr. Jolson works on the PGA Tour and is the only chiropractor in South Carolina with advanced TPI (Titleist Performance Institute) Medical level 2 golf-specific training. He takes pride in working not only on the PGA Tour but with golfers of all ages and abilities. Dr. Garey played golf collegiately and understands what it takes to perform at a high level from a body/swing connection standpoint. Work with our experts to improve your golf swing, learn the basics of swing mechanics, and reduce the likelihood of golf-related injuries. Contact our office at (864) 635-4063 to schedule an appointment today.
