Many golfers find as they get older, that injuries become more common and that the regular 18 holes become a real challenge.
What causes these injuries and what are the options for getting rid of those aches and pains and returning to perfect golfing form? Between 60% and 80% of recreational golfers sustain injuries while playing due to the enormous stresses that a swing produces on muscles, tendons, ligaments, and bones.
The most common injuries include muscle strains, tendonitis, back pain, sprains and stress fractures.
The most common cause of injury is failure to warm up before play.
Golf is viewed as a sedentary sport and most people fail to understand the importance of stretching both before and after a game.
Faulty swing mechanics further aggravate the problem and some time spent with the course professional can help in this regard.
If you have sustained an injury it is important that you take at least a couple of days rest from golf and other strenuous activities.
Pain management can be dealt with in several different ways.
Analgesics and anti-inflammatories can be used in the short term to relieve discomfort.
If the pain persists, other treatments such as chiropractic, acupuncture or physical therapy should be considered.
Heat and cold packs can reduce swelling as well as reducing pain.
The best long term solution is a regular routine of stretching and low-impact exercise that lengthens muscles and takes the pressure off the injured area.
With chronic pain, this may take weeks or months to achieve and you need to be patient while you gradually improve your range of motion.
Remember to also work on muscles, ligaments and tendons not directly related to the injured area so that you are less likely to sustain any further injuries when you eventually get back on the golf course.
With the onset of your golden years you may find that you play golf less and less frequently due to the aches and pains.
This should not stop you as there are several non-invasive ways to address the pain and rebuild some flexibility in your body.
One particularly good therapy which I would recommend is rolfing.
Rolfing is a therapy which focuses on structural integration and restoring your body to its natural posture using deep-tissue massage techniques.
It restores suppleness and flexibility to your muscles, tendons and ligaments.
After a series of treatments, you will find that you will move more freely and that your aches and pains are significantly reduced.
I would also recommend that you get a portable electro-acupuncture device that you can use to stimulate the production of endorphins in your body, which act as natural pain killers.
This is far better than ingesting analgesics and anti-inflammatory medications which can cause stomach problems, including internal bleeding.
Ensure you keep up a regular exercise regime and do your warm up and warm down before and after each golf game.
With a more flexible body and the eradication of pain, you will be able to play excellent golf well into your eighties.
What causes these injuries and what are the options for getting rid of those aches and pains and returning to perfect golfing form? Between 60% and 80% of recreational golfers sustain injuries while playing due to the enormous stresses that a swing produces on muscles, tendons, ligaments, and bones.
The most common injuries include muscle strains, tendonitis, back pain, sprains and stress fractures.
The most common cause of injury is failure to warm up before play.
Golf is viewed as a sedentary sport and most people fail to understand the importance of stretching both before and after a game.
Faulty swing mechanics further aggravate the problem and some time spent with the course professional can help in this regard.
If you have sustained an injury it is important that you take at least a couple of days rest from golf and other strenuous activities.
Pain management can be dealt with in several different ways.
Analgesics and anti-inflammatories can be used in the short term to relieve discomfort.
If the pain persists, other treatments such as chiropractic, acupuncture or physical therapy should be considered.
Heat and cold packs can reduce swelling as well as reducing pain.
The best long term solution is a regular routine of stretching and low-impact exercise that lengthens muscles and takes the pressure off the injured area.
With chronic pain, this may take weeks or months to achieve and you need to be patient while you gradually improve your range of motion.
Remember to also work on muscles, ligaments and tendons not directly related to the injured area so that you are less likely to sustain any further injuries when you eventually get back on the golf course.
With the onset of your golden years you may find that you play golf less and less frequently due to the aches and pains.
This should not stop you as there are several non-invasive ways to address the pain and rebuild some flexibility in your body.
One particularly good therapy which I would recommend is rolfing.
Rolfing is a therapy which focuses on structural integration and restoring your body to its natural posture using deep-tissue massage techniques.
It restores suppleness and flexibility to your muscles, tendons and ligaments.
After a series of treatments, you will find that you will move more freely and that your aches and pains are significantly reduced.
I would also recommend that you get a portable electro-acupuncture device that you can use to stimulate the production of endorphins in your body, which act as natural pain killers.
This is far better than ingesting analgesics and anti-inflammatory medications which can cause stomach problems, including internal bleeding.
Ensure you keep up a regular exercise regime and do your warm up and warm down before and after each golf game.
With a more flexible body and the eradication of pain, you will be able to play excellent golf well into your eighties.
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