Despite the popularity of the sport, golf is notorious for different kinds of musculoskeletal injuries it can cause. In part one of this blog series, we took a look at a few common types of injuries golf players are likely to sustain. Here are a few more golf injuries you should know about.

Wrist Injuries

Golf involves a lot of repetitive movements. Just how repetitive swinging motions can cause overuse injuries of the elbow such as golfer’s elbow or tennis elbow, they can also affect the tendons in the wrist, causing wrist tendinitis. This involves swelling of the wrist tendons, causing pain and stiffness at the wrist when making simple or specific movements. In particular, it hinders the rotating motion of the wrists.

As is the case with most tendon injuries, those pertaining to the wrist may also be alleviated and healed with the aid of a supportive brace.

Rotator Cuff Injuries

Another common golf injury athletes sustain is the rotator cuff injury. This occurs when the tendons or the muscles in the shoulder joint get worn out and sustain tears, causing a jabbing pain in the region. Rotator cuff injuries are associated with a number of sports that involve repetitive motions, and the same applies to golf as well. You may injure your shoulder as you swing your arm over and over to take a hit. The overuse of the shoulder tendons can cause the rotator cuff to tear and become inflamed, resulting in shoulder pain and discomfort.

If you feel like your swing is impacting your shoulder health, it’s best to switch up your technique and try a swinging motion that’s more shoulder-friendly.  You can also take a few days to rest and use shoulder support during this time to help alleviate the pain.

Knee Injuries

Injuries to the knees may occur when strain is exerted on the knee joint. This causes the ligaments to get sprained or torn and can lead to the kneecap becoming weaker. Consequently, the instability of the kneecaps (as well as of the ligaments and tendons surrounding the knee joint) makes them unable to carry the weight being exerted on them, causing them to collapse in more severe cases. Knee injuries like these can eventually lead to degenerative conditions such as osteoarthritis, in which the knee cartilage degenerates and disintegrates because of the repeated stress exerted.

Avoid applying extreme force on your knees when twisting and swinging your hips to take the hit instead. Use the correct posture for your swings, making sure the knees aren’t being made to carry excessive weight being exerted from your body. If you’ve previously sustained a knee injury, wear knee support or sleeve while playing golf to prevent future injuries.

At RegenerVate Medical Injection Therapy, we use platelet rich plasma injections to treat musculoskeletal injuries athletes sustain while playing golf. Call us at 1 855 847-3975 to make an appointment at our clinics in the greater Toronto area!