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Phone 59 77 04 66 | FAX 59 75 6752.  938 Nepean Hwy, Mornington
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Phone 59 77 04 66 | FAX 59 75 6752.  938 Nepean Hwy, Mornington
M 8am-6:30pm | T 9am-7pm | W 9am-8pm | T 9am-6pm | F 8am-6.30pm

Osteopathy and golf

Let’s talk about golf, a very popular past time on the Mornington Peninsula!

Golf is a great form of physical activity which has many health benefits, both physical and mental, and can be played across all ages. However, golf related injuries are something that can be seen in approximately 30% of participants, both amateur and professionals. The two main causes of golf related injuries are swing related issues, and general overuse.

Common golf related injuries can include:

  • Low back pain
  • Rotator cuff injuries (shoulder muscles)
  • Elbow injuries (golfers and tennis elbow)
  • Wrist sprains
  • Knee and ankle pain

The golf swing is a complex movement that requires mobility and transmission of strong forces through many joints in the body, including the feet, ankle, knee, hip, back, shoulder, elbow, and wrist joints. As this movement requires so many different moving parts, if one area isn’t working how it should, it can lead to injury and compensation in surrounding joints and muscles. When performing a golf swing, the force transmitted through the low back is up to 8x your body weight, which is extremely powerful (especially considering only 3x the force of your bodyweight is transferred while jogging!).

Some tips to help you minimize your risk of experiencing a golf related injury include:

  • Making sure you adequately warm up: this includes going for a short walk, stretching, and doing mobility exercises particularly focusing on the shoulders, back, and hips.
  • Having properly fitted shoes and clubs: poor footwear and/ or golf clubs can impact how you move and increase your risk of developing injuries in areas such as the wrists, elbows, and low back.
  • Consulting a golf pro: if you are experiencing pain or issues associated with your swing, it could be worthwhile consulting a golf pro to analyse and adjust your technique to avoid injury.
  • Stay hydrated: remember to drink water before, during, and after your game.
  • Ease into movements: start off with smaller swings and work your way up to your full range of motion as you warm up.

In addition to the above tips, seeing an osteopath may help reduce your risk your risk of injury by performing a thorough biomechanical assessment, looking for any areas of restriction that may be impacting your swing and over time could lead to an injury. At Bayside Osteopathic Clinic our osteopaths use a combination of hands-on treatment techniques to improve posture, mobility and biomechanics in conjunction with mobility, strength and core exercises to target the problem areas and keep you out on the course playing the game you love!