Whether you’re a professional, amateur, seasoned veteran or new golfer, this sport doesn’t come without injury.
We primarily see injuries in the back, shoulders, hips and wrist due to overuse or repetitive stress and strain. Most overuse injuries are usually due to dysfunctional movement patterns that lead to poor technique. These injuries are preventable, through early detection and by addressing any physical limitations in the golfer’s body.
There may be more than one pathological process contributing to the golfer’s symptoms and there may also be a combination of factors causing the problem.
Ideally, effective treatment has two components:
An accurate diagnosis leads to effective treatment.
1. Treatment of the presenting injury / problem
2. Treatment to address the cause
Many overuse injuries are managed conservatively.
Some examples of treatments with a long history of clinical use which have been investigated and established are:
Relative Rest - Avoidance of aggravating activities while maintaining fitness.e
Whenever possible following injury, the golfer should cease activity to decrease any further damage to the site. Rest Ice Elevation Compression (RICE) should be performed. Please see Heat / Ice article for more detail on when to use ice.
However, depending on the type of overuse injury (diagnosed by an experienced practitioner), early movement can be beneficial as it can decrease pain, swelling, joint stiffness and encourage blood supply and nutrients to the injured site to help regenerate the muscles fibres into a more parallel orientation.
Consult your health care practitioner for advice on which movements are suitable for you
Various Electrotherapeutic Modalities
The use of electrotherapeutic modalities varies between practitioners and is based on clinical experience rather than scientific evidence. This modality should not be relied on as the sole form of treatment because though it is claimed to decrease inflammation and promote healing, there is only limited evidence as yet to support many of these claims.
Electrotherapeutic modalities include:
● Ultrasound,
● TENS
● Point Stimulators
● Laser – Cold Laser or Low Level Laser Therapy
● Shock Wave Therapy
Manual Therapy
Manual therapy can be applied to joints, muscles (including tendons and fascia) and neural structures. Different types of manual therapy are used for the treatment of the following:
● Joints – Mobilisation, Manipulation, Traction
● Muscles – Soft tissue Therapy, Muscle Energy Techniques
● Neural Structures – Neural stretching (stretches that restore neural tension and mechanics of the nervous system)
The above manual therapy techniques should ONLY be performed by fully qualified practitioners who have had formal training.
Therapeutic Medications
These include:
● Analgesics administered orally or topically
● Non-steroidal Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) administered orally or topically
● Corticosteroids administered through local injection, orally or by iontophoresis
Before receiving any form of medication, talk to your general practitioner or pharmacist to see if it is a suitable option as part of your treatment plan.
It is important to understand that no single form of treatment will correct all or even the majority of overuse injuries. Evidence for treatment effectiveness is continually changing.
It is usually a combination of the different forms of treatment by a clinician who is aware of the variety of treatments and appreciative of when their use may be appropriate that yields the best results for the patient.
Next article, we’ll go through a few predisposing factors that lead to golf injuries.
Disclaimer: The information on this site is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. All content, including text, graphics, images and information, contained on or available through this website is for general information purposes only.
For professional medical advice on injuries, please call Aurum Golf on 02 9899 1416 for an appointment or if it is an emergency call 000.
For professional medical advice on injuries, please call Aurum Golf on 02 9899 1416 for an appointment or if it is an emergency call 000.