How to avoid injury while playing golf

Franklin Sease, MD

Family Medicine, Sports Medicine

Golf can be a great way to get outdoors and be active. However, playing golf can sometimes lead to injuries. Primary care sports medicine physician Franklin Sease, MD, outlined some common golf injuries and how to treat them.

“Common Injuries in golf are the same for elite golfers as they are for average golfers. Most injuries are experienced in the soft tissue of the lower back, elbow and wrist. Although the most common environmental injuries are from sun exposure,” said Dr. Sease.

For a more experienced or elite golfer, most injuries are primarily due to muscle imbalances and overuse. For a recreational golfer the main cause of an injury is typically due to poor technique.

Dr. Sease shared these tips for avoiding injury while golfing.

• Be flexible with practice routines.
• Practice strength training and conditioning.
• Take time to recover.
• Address your technique.
• Practice adequate nutrition.
• Make sure you stay hydrated.
• Protect yourself from the sun with sunscreen and proper clothing.

“It is also important to communicate with those in your golfing group and other groups to avoid being struck by a club or ball,” said Dr. Sease.

If you experience an injury but have full range of motion and strength, you will rarely need immediate evaluation. If the pain starts to affect your daily activities, your performance or has not gone away within a couple of weeks, then seeing a doctor would be advised.

Dr. Sease shared a few ways to treat an acute injury at home.

• Rest
• Ice
• Compression
• Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen

“If your acute injury results in sudden loss of motion, strength or deformity, it is important to seek immediate medical care. You should also seek care if you are experiencing frequent injury,” said Dr. Sease.