Are Orthopedic Injuries Impacting Your Golf Game?

Golf is a great activity for people of all ages - it promotes physical activity and socialization while being a fun way to spend time outdoors. If you're one of the millions of Americans who play golf, you might also know that the sport can lead to the occasional ache or pain.

Sometimes, these go away on their own with a little RICE: rest, ice, compression, and elevation. Other times, they could be an orthopedic injury best addressed by a doctor. Read on as Dr. Mario Lee at Reid Health shares information on common golf-related injuries and when you should consider seeing a doctor.

What are the most common orthopedic golf injuries?

An orthopedic injury or orthopedic pain is one that affects your bones, joints, or the musculoskeletal system. This could range from a sprain, to osteoarthritis, or even a broken bone. When you play golf, you put your musculoskeletal system under strain - and occasionally this can lead to soreness or even an injury. The most common golf-related pains and injuries are related to:

1. The hands, wrists, and elbows. Golfing is a good workout for your arm muscles - as you stabilize and direct your swing, your biceps, triceps, forearm muscles are all working in tandem to execute that perfect follow-through. As a result, you might experience some mild muscle pain - this is normal and should go away with rest and ice.

Other pains might come from overuse or an inefficient technique like "casting" (releasing the club too early in the downswing) or "chicken wing" (too much bend in the lead elbow). While these often go away on their own, they might signal an injury or a condition like carpal tunnel, osteoarthritis, or tendonitis. If you experience severe pain in a joint, muscle, or tendon, reach out to an orthopedic doctor for advice. They can help you to understand what's causing your pain and get you back to golfing sooner.

2. The shoulders and upper back. Your shoulders go through dynamic movements when you swing your club. They also absorb the force of impact from the ball or ground. All of this can add up to a painful golf swing. Rotator cuff tears, impingement, and strains are all fairly common golf-related shoulder injuries.

If you experience a painful swing, you should work with an orthopedic doctor or surgeon to address the underlying issue.

3. The lower back. Standing, walking, swinging, sitting in the golf cart: there are many potential contributors to golf-related lower back pain. These lower back pains can even create a snowball effect - low mobility could cause you to have a reverse spine angle (RSA) swing (too much spine extension in the backswing), which in turn could cause further lower back pain.

Disc injuries, muscle strains, and even bone fractures are all possible causes of your back pain - and in any of these cases, it's a good idea to work with a doctor who can help you regain mobility and relieve pain.

When should I see a doctor for my golf-related pain or injury?

If you find that pain is affecting your daily life, your ability to golf, or even your passion for golfing, it might be a good time to make an appointment with Reid Health Orthopedics and Spine. Together, you and your doctor can identify what is causing your pain and develop a treatment plan (which might include a combination of physical therapy, bracing, surgery, or medication) that can help you get back to loving the game.