Physical therapy is more than just a way to speed up the healing process after an injury. It could help you improve your golf swing or help reduce some of those aches you have after walking the course. With the help of a physical therapist, you may even improve your golf score. That’s an excellent way to take a few swings off and beat your friends. Physical therapy tailored for golfers is preventative and game-enhancing!
There’s quite a bit that physical therapy can do for your golf game. From improved endurance and less pain to proper movement of your joints, you may see remarkable improvement by visiting a therapist.
Improve Your Golf Game With Physical Therapy
Physical therapy for golfers can tackle many of the aches and pains or limitations you have. It starts with an integrated physical therapy evaluation in which your therapist will develop a clear understanding of any limitations or dysfunctions you may have. Golf physical therapy can aid in numerous ways:
- Improve joint mobility.
- Improve overall flexibility in the shoulders and hips, reducing pain in the musculature and improving movement.
- Building better core strength.
- Enhancing balance to ensure better follow-through on every swing.
Physical Therapy Helps Avoid Injury
With the support of a physical therapist, you may also see improved function with less risk of injury. The most common reasons that golf injuries occur include:
- Stress placed on the spine
- Overuse and over-practice of repetitive motions
- Traumatic force due to a poorly executed swing
- Improper swing mechanics
- Not properly stretching before play leading to muscle damage
By working on improving core strength, proper movement of the joints, and proper muscle function, it’s possible to not just heal but to actually prevent further injuries from occurring. As a golfer, you may know that injuries mean more than just time off the green. They could limit your recovery and return to the course if not done well. Prevention is far easier. Golf and physical therapy go hand-in-hand.
Strategies/Techniques/Stretches
It’s always best to work with a physical therapist to create a custom treatment plan designed to address your areas of concern. However, there are a number of specific types of stretches and exercises you can do that will improve your mobility and prevent injury. Incorporate these into your routine:
- Planks: As hard as they are to do, planks help to build core strength, improve flexibility of joints, and ensure better arm and leg function. They can impact every muscle in your core, helping to improve function during every aspect of the golf game.
- Resistance band exercises: Building and maintaining the rotator cuff is critical. Rotator cuff injuries are very common with golfers because of the movement and demand of these muscles and ligaments. With resistance band exercises, you’re building strength in these muscles while minimizing inflammation and reducing injury risk.
- Lateral lunges: The lateral lunge movement, which is side-to-side, helps to increase hip flexibility. It improves range of motion. It does not require equipment and no more than a few minutes of your day. Yet, it will help minimize numerous injury risks on the course.
Start Off on Par, Request a Consultation Today!
The best strategy is to get in for a custom consultation today. Work to build a routine that fits your needs and reduces your limitations. Contact Rock Valley Physical Therapy now.
Most Common Areas of Pain for Golfers
You may know what type of care you need because that’s where it hurts the day after 18 holes on the course. Other times, you may be unsure why you’re hurting so badly. Work with your physical therapist to address the most common injuries for golfers.
Back Pain
Your aching lower back pain is likely one that other members on your golf team have as well. Back pain in general is very common because of the bent-over stance and the repetitive swing motion. These stress the spine and strain the muscles in the lower back. Joint related injuries and disc damage can cause pain and mobility concerns. In some situations, you may have a stress fracture that creates debilitating pain as well.
Knee Pain
The movement of the pelvis and hips can lead to damage to the knees. That rotational movement isn’t natural for the knees, and can lead to ligament springs and strains of the muscle.
Elbow Tendonitis
Painful irritation and inflammation in the elbow are very common for golfers. It comes from both the repetitiveness and the significant range of motion established with your swing.
Rotator Cuff Issues
The numerous muscles and soft tissues that make up the rotator cuff can suffer injury from strain, intense force, and traumatic injury (including from overuse). This can lead to debilitating pain in the shoulder, arm, and into your hand.
Wrist Pain
The flexibility of your wrists can be limited after repetitive use injury sets in from the game of golf. The high velocity of moving that club back and forth can cause that damage, leading to intense pain and limited movement.
How Golf Injuries Are Treated
Your physical therapist will recommend treatment based on the type and severity of injury you have. This may include stretches for back pain, improved strengthening exercises for your hips and legs, and movements to lessen joint inflammation. Treatment may include rest, specific exercise methods, and massage therapy, along with other steps.
Your physical therapist may incorporate numerous individualized therapies to improve function and reduce pain. They may even help you see pain relief, like knee pain reduction without surgery.
When to See a Physical Therapist
See a therapist today. There is no reason to wait to get the help you need. Whether you are starting to feel discomfort or the soreness of an intense round of golf doesn’t wear off as soon as it used to, getting in to see a therapist now can prevent injury. If you already have injuries, your therapist can help you heal.
Let Us Iron Out the Kinks so You Can get back on the Links
Contact Rock Valley Physical Therapy now to learn how we can help you. As a team dedicated to providing you with comprehensive care you can rely on, we are happy to help you. Request an appointment now for a customized golf-enhancing physical therapy appointment.