If you play golf, whether recreationally or professionally, you are probably always searching for ways to improve your game. Golf, as with many sports, can be hard on the body, and injuries are common. Whether you want to get better, recover from an injury, or prevent injuries from occurring, physical therapy can be beneficial.
Common Issues for Golfers
People who do not play golf may think that it is a low impact sport and that injuries are rare. However, injuries do occur due to various reasons. One cause is trauma, such as being hit by a ball or club. More common causes of injury are repetitive motion and improper swing technique. The most common parts of the body that receive injuries include:
- Wrists
- Elbows
- Shoulders
- Spine
- Lower back
Lower back and spine injuries are usually muscle sprains and disc herniations. Shoulder injuries include subacromial impingement, acromioclavicular joint separation, tendonitis, bursitis, frozen shoulder, and rotator cuff tears.
An elbow injury is usually medial epicondylitis, which is better known as golfer’s elbow. Wrist injuries include sprains, tendonitis, ulnar tunnel syndrome, and stenosing tenosynovitis.
Any of these injuries should have you searching for physical therapy near me.
What Physical Therapy for Golfers Looks Like
When you reach out for the best physical therapists near me, there are certain things you can expect from your treatment.
Injury Recovery
A main reason golfers start physical therapy is because of one of the injuries listed previously. Depending on the specific injury and its severity, the physical therapist may use a variety of methods to treat the injury. Common strategies to reduce pain and inflammation are cold and hot therapies, trigger point therapy, dry needling, manual therapy, and electrostimulation.
Once symptoms have reduced, the physical therapist focuses on regaining function and strengthening the area. This may include targeted exercises the golfer may do during the session or at home.
Optimize Performance
Another reason golfers go to physical therapy is to improve their athletic abilities so they can play the game better. If this is the main reason for seeking treatment, and there are no current injuries, the therapist does an initial assessment. This includes getting a current and past health history, and then analyzing the golfer’s physical fitness, swing biomechanics, and movement quality. Based on the results, the physical therapist puts together a comprehensive and individualized plan.
Injury Prevention
Injury prevention is a focus for those recovering from a current injury as well as those seeking to improve performance. Pre- and post-game stretching is emphasized, as is proper swing technique. The therapist focuses on maintaining proper form and improving agility and flexibility. Physical fitness is also an important component, and the physical therapist may recommend a structured exercise program aimed to increase overall and golf-specific fitness.
Physical therapy plays many roles when it comes to helping golfers. Many people who play golf have a passion for it. Any therapist who understands this love of the sport and has experience working with golfers has very little trouble finding physical therapy jobs near me.
