Physical therapists are trained extensively in injury rehabilitation. Like all athletes, golfers are at risk for experiencing injuries that can interfere with their ability to play. These injuries can occur during practice, during tournaments, in the training room or while doing other activities. Some common injuries that physical therapists treat in golfers are as follows:

• Back pain and strain
• Tendonitis at the wrist and elbow
• Golfer’s elbow
• Shoulder pain and injuries
• Knee pain and injuries

It is easy to ignore discomfort or irritation when it first arises and you may decide to continue playing and practicing like you always have. This behavior, however, can set you up for developing an injury as a mild issue becomes a more severe one. Pain or discomfort is your body’s signal that something is not working and tissues are being injured. A smart player will use this cue to analyze what they are doing and what is causing this symptom. This allows them to identify potential problems right away and make adjustments that can eliminate those symptoms quickly. While you may be able to pinpoint the culprit on your own, leveraging the expertise of a physical therapist can help you resolve the issue more quickly.

If you are experiencing any of the following symptoms of an injury or impending injury, a golf physical therapist can help:

• Tenderness over an injured body part
• Pain with movement possibly progressing to pain with rest
• Weakness around the area of injury
• Inflammation, warmth or swelling over an injured area
• Numbness or tingling in the arms, hands, legs or feet

Physical therapy for golf injuries will be tailored to your specific needs and injury but this list outlines some of the common treatment approaches for injuries in golfers:

• Build strength in the muscles and tendons used to power a golf swing and control the hips, shoulders, elbows, wrists, spine and knees
• Improve flexibility where needed to allow for full range of motion during golfing. If one area is restricted then another area may undergo more stress
• Address motor control and coordination impairments to improve optimal technique
• Reduce inflammation, pain or irritation and determine if modifications or adjustments need to be made to your technique to reduce future injury risk

If you decide to work with a physical therapist to help correct your golf related issues or injuries, your entire treatment plan could consist of around 8-20+ different physical therapy sessions that will each last 60-90 minutes. Once you complete your customized physical therapy treatment plan, you will be able to continue to do the prescribed stretches and exercises utilized during your PT sessions yet in the comfort of your own home.

PREHABILITATION FOR GOLFERS

Why wait for an injury before taking steps to make your body more injury-resistant? Since a knowledgeable physical therapist understands the physical demands required to be a successful golfer and has expertise in medical and orthopedic conditions and common golfing injuries, they are the perfect professional to take on this challenge. A prehabilitation program is intended to screen for and identify existing impairments or errors in form that may predispose you to future injury or simply hurt your performance. After identifying these concerns your therapist will design a customized training program that will make your body more resistant to injury while optimizing your form and movement patterns needed to be a successful golfer.

So, if you are a golfer who has never had an opportunity to work with a physical therapist we hope you can now see the many benefits of doing so. We want to work alongside you to make golf more safe and enjoyable for years to come. If you are a golfer dealing with an injury or looking for ways to reduce your risk, give us a call today to learn more about how we can help you take your athletic endeavors to the next level.