Golf Injuries for the Elderly

At First Choice Health, we want to see people participating in their chosen leisure activities, and we have some good advice for our older patients hoping to remain out there on the golf course.

One of the major problems as we age is that we become weaker and generally we lose flexibility – both important requirements to play golf well.  As a result of growing weaker and losing trunk rotation, we lose distance with our golf shots.

If you have lost distance off the tee you may benefit with seeing your club golf professional for some technical advice in conjunction with your local physiotherapist for injury prevention advice, flexibility exercises and strengthening exercises.

At First Choice Health we are able to advise golfers regarding flexibility exercises and core strengthening exercises. Our clinical Pilates sessions can incorporate golf specific exercises to maintain good core stability, which is so important to keep the golf club on the correct plane through the golf swing.

In addition to assisting with maintaining flexibility and strength, our physios are able to treat the common injuries which either prevent people playing golf or impede their ability to play well. The more common injuries which impede golfers are lower back pain, thoracic back pain, neck pain, knee and hip pain, as well as shoulder, elbow and wrist injuries.

Universally, all injuries are much better managed if treated early. Once an injury has become chronic it becomes more resistant to treatment, and is likely to cause compensatory changes to the golf swing mechanics which will further impact on the golf swing and ability to play well.  Early treatment for injuries will certainly result in getting back on the course sooner and enjoying the great game of golf.

As a general rule all golfers are going to benefit from warming up before playing, but certainly as we age the benefit of a good warm up before playing will help prevent injury but also help you to play a better round of golf.

For those of you who are feeling you’ve lost some flexibility and strength in your swing, you may well benefit from seeing one of the highly trained physiotherapists at First Choice Health in Vermont South. Call us now on 03 9001 1301 for more information.