It’s nearly that time of year again, when golf fans limber up for the Australian Open. Whether you enjoy regular golfing action yourself, or you’re simply an occasional player, there’s no denying that a few hours on the green can not only be great exercise and a sociable thing to do. It can also be a relaxing activity to help take away the stresses and strains of everyday life.

Now, if you are an avid golfer, and you use golf as a relaxation, then you certainly don’t want to be ending up with an injury which could cause you to either limit your time on the golf course, or stop it altogether.

Our hobbies can be our piece of fun in life, and if we can’t do them, well, life gets a little bleak.

Golf may seem relaxing at the time of playing, but your body is actually going through a rigorous amount of strain, often from the explosive nature of the swing. From this, countless injuries can occur, and we’ll talk about some of the most common shortly, and hopefully help you to avoid them or minimise their effects.

Prevention is always better than cure, especially if golf is your sport of choice, so being clued up is certainly the way forward. Here at NeuroBalance Chiropractic, we see and treat countless golfers with various injuries. Sydney chiropractor, Dr Rachael Veronesi, is highly experienced in treating problems resultant from golf, helping you get back on your feet and ready to hit the green once more.

One of the services offered at NeuroBalance Chiropractic is a thing called Core Laser. This is a visual feedback where a series of exercises is prescribed using the laser and visual feedback to improve low back muscle co-ordination.

Here are a few common injuries golfers may experience.

Back pain

When you think about it, golfers spend a lot of time in a bent over posture, which can put strain on the lower back. On top of this, the stress of a golf swing can put pressure on the spine. Always warm up adequately and make sure you carry out stretching exercises to strengthen the back and keep your posture correct.

Golfer’s elbow

This is injury to the inner tendon of the elbow. This is again caused by a repetitive movement and can be worsened by an improper swing. Prevention is again down to making sure your swing is correct, and treatment will be through rest, and decreasing inflammation.

Knee pain

The pressure placed on the knees when stabilising the hips during golf swings can be great, and can result in sprained ligaments. Again, always warm up and stretch, and make sure your stance is correct and in-line with your body.

Rotator cuff injuries

That pesky golf swing is the cause again, and if you don’t do it right then you could be at risk of a tear in the rotator cuff. This can also be down to your club hitting something, such as a rock. Prevention is again down to making sure you are moving in the right way (and avoiding rocks of course!)

Hip injury

Whilst the hip is designed to undergo a lot of stress and movement, the swing used in golf can twist and tear if not done correctly. Warm up to add flexibility to movement, and to strengthen the muscles that protect the joint.

We have mentioned the swing a lot, so it’s always a good idea to get a golf swing evaluation, to check that you are doing it right in the first place. If this sounds like a good idea to you, or you’re concerned about an injury you have sustained, don’t hesitate to call the practice now on 02 9938 5456 to arrange an appointment.