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Driving back to Range, Pain Free
Sep 07, 2020 · News

Pain will definitely interfere with your golfing performance; hence prevention is key to keeping you in form.

Prevention of injuries comes in many ways. Proper training with posture control and good swing technique will help prevent injuries of the neck and back. As movement of the golf swing is complex, involving multiple groups of muscles in the body working in agonist and antagonist, from the ankles, to the neck and wrists, it cannot be overemphasized the need to learn good swing technique.

Other advise on injury preventions also include general wellbeing and health. These include staying strong with good flexibility of joints, endurance and keeping hydrated on the golf course. Ergonomics of picking up your golf ball, carrying your golfing gear and proper attire / shoe wear will also help in preventing injuries.

However, if injuries do happen, the most common are related to the musculoskeletal system. These include back pain and neck pain. Back and neck pain can result to multiple disability and interfere with activities of daily living. Sleep may also be affected by pain, which later will have a cascade of ill events.

Elbow pain in golfers are also common; so common that the name “Golfer’s Elbow” was given to golfers with tendinitis of the elbow joint. Tendinitis is a condition where the tendons are inflamed as a result of increased elbow movement and stress from the repetitive swings.

The knee is also vulnerable to injury and arthritis. As the twisting and rotation of the body to accommodate the swing, a weak knee will be prone to further wear and tear, resulting to chronic osteoarthritis.

Other joints such as the shoulders, wrists, fingers, hips, ankles and feet are also not spared from injury and pain. Tearing of the rotator cuffs of the shoulder and muscles/tendons of the hips are again commonly seen with excessive swings and twisting movements of the body during golf.

If an acute injury has occurred, it is advisable for you to see your general practitioner for an examination. Acute injuries can heal with icing and rest of the injured muscles, tendons and joints. However, if the injury is severe, it may take longer to heal and require an expert team to address the pain and injury. Musculoskeletal rehabilitation can address these issues, with multiple physical modalities to treat pain and inflammation. A Rehabilitation Physician / Orthopaedic Surgeon / Pain Specialist may address the pain with interventions through medication such as anti-inflammatories, muscle relaxants etc and invasive interventions. Physical therapy can alleviate pain through joint manipulation, stretching and pain relief exercises. Occupational therapist can help with relaxation and behavioural therapy for pain management. Ultimate goal is to rectify and heal the injury. And most importantly, continue the strengthening exercises, stretching and correct posturing to prevent from repetitive injury.

 

Dr. Fazah Akhtar Bt Hanapiah
MB.BCh.BAO LRCP&SI (Ireland), MRehabMed (Malaya), CMIA

President & Consultant Rehabilitation Physician,
Daehan Rehabilitation Hospital Putrajaya
Associate Professor (Faculty of Medicine,
Universiti Teknologi MARA)
fazah.hanapiah@daehanrehab.com

 

She is passionate about rehabilitation and wishes to see it develop further in Malaysia. Her interests include rehabilitation development and research into changing practices and outcome for people with disabilities. Compassion and knowledge aided by Rehabilitation Technology is the way forward.

 

Dae Han Rehab - Driving back to Range, Pain Free

Source: Golf Malaysia, Magazine