Common Golf Injuries

The Western Slope is home to many beautiful golf courses. Whether you live here in Meeker, nearby in Grand Junction, or somewhere else in the region, there are plenty of options for avid golfers to enjoy an incredible course experience. While golf is commonly viewed as a leisurely activity in comparison to many other sports, it can still take a toll on your body. It’s common for avid golfers to experience a wide range of injuries, regardless of whether you’re a casual player or a professional.

Swinging a golf club requires a complex series of repetitive motions that engage many different regions of your body. Anytime you engage in repetitive actions, it creates a risk of an orthopedic injury. This is especially true if you don’t take the time to warm up or stretch before playing a round, or if you use poor form when holding or swinging a golf club. The good news is that most golf injuries can be treated using minimally invasive, nonsurgical methods.

The following overview will help you understand the most common injuries you may be susceptible to while playing golf.

Back Injuries

Back pain is one of the most common issues impacting golfers since the rotational forces and repetitive bending motions of a golf swing place significant strain on your lower back. Common golf injuries that may result in lower back pain include:

• Muscle strain or ligament sprain that can cause inflammation, muscle spasms and pain
• Disc injuries that get exacerbated by the repetitive motion of a golf swing
• Stress fractures in your spine from repeated rotational movements
• Arthritis caused by the repetitive actions in your swinging motion

Shoulder Injuries

Your shoulders are responsible for a large portion of the rotational movement associated with a golf swing. This can result in a variety of injuries that can lead to significant shoulder pain, including:

• Rotator cuff tears – This is the most common shoulder-related golf injury. The rotator cuff consists of a group of tendons and muscles surrounding the shoulder joint that can easily become stretched or torn from the repetitive motions of your golf swing.
• Tendinitis – Shoulder tendinitis is another very common golf injury caused by overuse of your shoulder tendons when you regularly swing a golf club.
• Shoulder impingement – If you have poor form on your golf swing, it can lead to impingement, a condition that occurs when your shoulder tendons become pinched between the bones within the joint.
• Arthritis – Overuse of your shoulder joint from the repetitive motions of your golf swing can wear away the cartilage in the region, causing arthritis to develop.

Elbow Injuries

The repetitive nature of a golf swing can also impact your elbow, making tendinitis a common issue for golfers. This injury, which affects the tendons on the inside of the elbow, has become so common that it is typically referred to as golfer’s elbow. Tennis elbow, which typically impacts the tendons on the outside of your elbow, is also common among golfers.

Knee Injuries

While a golf swing engages more of your upper body than your lower body, it places significant rotational stress on the knee in your lead leg as well. This can result in several different knee injuries. The most common golf-related knee injury is a torn meniscus, which occurs when the cartilage between your thighbone and shinbone tears. Many golfers also develop arthritis in the knee since the force of your swing can cause your knee cartilage to wear out over time.

Hand and Wrist Injuries

The speed of a golf swing can also place significant train on your hands and wrists, making them susceptible to injury. Some of the most common golf-related hand and wrist injuries include:

• Sprained or fractured wrists that can occur when the golf club hits a hard object such as a tree root or a rock
• Wrist tendinitis due to overuse or poor form
• Hand pain from gripping the golf club too tightly

CAO Can Help You Restore a Pain-Free Life After a Golf Injury

Golf injuries can be quite painful, making it difficult to enjoy many of your favorite activities. Fortunately, you don’t have to experience long-term pain from a golf injury. At Colorado Advanced Orthopedics, our team of board-certified, fellowship trained orthopedic surgeons and sports medicine physicians regularly treat individuals along the Western Slope who have developed golf injuries, and we can help you restore a pain-free life.

Our team has been consistently raising the bar for orthopedic care along the Western Slope since our clinic opened in 2020. Our team utilizes the latest treatments and most advanced technology to deliver exceptional patient outcomes. Our staff includes orthopedic and sports medicine doctors possessing a wide range of specializations, allowing us to treat just about any golf injury you may have. We prioritize minimally invasive, nonsurgical treatments whenever possible; however, our team is also equipped to perform any surgical procedure you may need based on your specific condition.

When you receive treatment from Colorado Advanced Orthopedics, you can count on a team of healthcare professionals who are truly committed to delivering the exceptional patient care you deserve. We’re proud to be providing individuals in our rural community with access to the same high-quality care that is typically found in metropolitan areas, and we’ll work hard to help you get back to enjoying your favorite activities as soon as possible.

Contact us today to schedule an appointment. Colorado Advanced Orthopedics serves patients in Meeker, the White River Valley, Grand Junction and throughout the Western Slope.