Golf Injuries

QUESTION:  What are the most common golf injuries?

ANSWER: Golf is associated with a significant number of injuries. The touring professionals average two injuries a year. The rate of injury for amateurs is around 60%. The injury rate increases for those over 50. The most common areas of injury are the lower back and left elbow and shoulder for a right-handed player. These are usually overuse injuries, related to excessive practice in the professional and among the amateur population, secondary to poor swing mechanics and conditioning. In order to lessen the chance of injury, the golfer should work diligently on an overall conditioning program with special emphasis on the back and shoulder. Equally as important are learning and implementing good swing mechanics, which can be learned from your golf professional. 

WRITTEN BY: George D. Henning, M. D.