How Osteopathy can improve your golf

Are you suffering with a golfing injury or are you are looking to prevent injury? Would like advice on how to optimise biomechanical movement and functional control in order to improve your game. If so, come and visit Sam, he is our expert in treating golfing injuries.

Golf is a sport that demands precision, focus, and a high level of physical coordination. However, despite its seemingly low-impact nature, golf can lead to a range of injuries, particularly due to the repetitive motions and the physical demands of the golf swing. Whether you’re a weekend golfer or a seasoned pro, injuries can severely impact your game and overall enjoyment. Osteopathy offers a highly effective solution for both treating and preventing golfing injuries, helping you maintain peak performance on the course.

At Osteobath, we adhere to the fundamental principle of osteopathy: viewing the body as a unified whole. This means we don't merely address isolated areas of discomfort. For instance, if a patient comes in with lower back pain, we recognize that it could stem from various interconnected factors, such as tight hip flexors or limited mobility in the mid spine. When assessing a golfer, we examine the entirety of the kinetic chain involved during the golf swing, understanding that optimal function requires attention to the entire system, not just individual parts.

Common golfing injuries

There are general two type of injuries: acute injuries typically stem from a single, sudden event, such as striking a submerged tree root in a sand trap. On the other hand, overuse injuries develop gradually over time, often as a result of the repetitive stress placed on your back and shoulders during the swinging motion. Understanding these distinctions is crucial for proper injury prevention and management in golf.

  • Lower Back Pain

    The lumbar spine or lower back is one of the most common injury sites among golfers. The golf swing often culminates in the extension of the lower back. Effective control and strength of the abdominal muscles play a crucial role in averting excessive strain on the lower back, which could otherwise lead to disc and facet (spinal) joint injuries.

  • Upper-Mid Back Pain

    Achieving good trunk rotation is crucial during the golf swing. Specifically, the thoracic spine—the region of the spine connected to the ribs—plays a pivotal role in driving the overall movement of the trunk. Constraints in this area can result in undue strain on the lower back and neck, leading to a shortened swing length and reduced swing efficiency. In compensating for restricted thoracic movement, other joints may overcompensate by becoming overly mobile.

  • Golfer's Elbow (Medial Epicondylitis)

    This condition involves inflammation of the tendons on the inside of the elbow. It can be caused by the repetitive motion of swinging a golf club. It is most common in the right elbow of a novice right-handed golfer. Those who develop the condition often have an incorrect weight shift and tend to “throw the club down” at the ball. This is sometimes referred to as "hitting from the top." Golfer's elbow can also develop in the left arm of a right-handed golfer if their follow-through is generated by turning over the wrist.

  • Shoulder Pain

    Among golfers rotator cuff injuries are more frequently the result of gradual degeneration from stressful overuse from swinging the club. The intense shoulder motions which power a golf swing place a great deal of stress on the muscles, tendons, and connective tissues that enable shoulder rotation, of which the rotator cuff is the most important. The pain might spread into your forearm and wrist.

 
 

Benefits of Osteopathy for Golf Injuries:

  • Pain Relief: Osteopathy helps alleviate pain caused by common golf injuries, such as lower back pain, shoulder strains, and wrist issues. Gentle manipulation and soft tissue techniques reduce muscle tension, improve joint mobility, and ease discomfort.

  • Improved Range of Motion: A key factor in a powerful, consistent golf swing is flexibility and mobility. Osteopathic treatment restores movement to restricted joints and muscles, helping you regain full range of motion and swing more freely.

  • Faster Recovery: Whether you’ve experienced an acute injury or a long-term issue, osteopathy supports the body’s natural healing processes by increasing blood flow, reducing inflammation, and encouraging optimal function.

  • Injury Prevention: Osteopathy focuses on correcting imbalances, postural issues, and muscular tension that may predispose you to injury. Regular treatment can help prevent common golf injuries and ensure that your body is performing at its best.

  • Holistic Approach: Golf is a full-body sport, and osteopathy considers the entire body during treatment. This means that any imbalances or restrictions in one area are addressed to prevent compensatory injuries elsewhere.