Common Golf Injuries

The most common golf injuries occur in the lower back, elbows, shoulders, hands and wrists, and are generally defined as either cumulative (overuse) or acute (traumatic) injuries. The impact and stress of the repetitive motion of the swing is sometimes hard on the muscles and joints, especially if you ignore the early warning signs of an injury.

The best way to avoid an injury is to prevent them with proper conditioning and swing mechanics. For more information see Injury Prevention for Golfers.

Common Golf Injuries:

Back

• Muscle Strains of the Back
• Low Back Pain
• Herniated Disks
• Backaches and Stress

Shoulder

• Shoulder Tendinitis, Bursitis, and Impingement Syndrome
  These conditions are similar and often occur together.
• Torn Rotator Cuff
  A common symptom of a rotator cuff injury is aching, and weakness in the shoulder when the arm is lifted overhead.
• Frozen Shoulder (Adhesive Capsulitis)
• Shoulder Separation
• Rotator Cuff Tendonitis
• Shoulder Instability
• Glenohumeral Arthritis

Elbow

• Golfer’s Elbow (Medial Epicondylitis)
  The most common elbow pain in golfers, it occurs over time from repeated use of the muscles of the arm and forearm.
• Bursitis of the Elbow
  The most common elbow pain in golfers, it occurs over time from repeated use of the muscles of the arm and forearm.
• Tennis Elbow (Lateral Epicondylitis)
  Related to Golfer’s Elbow, it also occurs over time from repeated use of the muscles of the arm and forearm.

Wrist and Hand

• Wrist Sprains
• Finger Fractures
• Wrist tendinitis
• Trigger finger
• Tenosynovitis

Miscellaneous Pain and Injuries

Blisters
Blisters are fluid-filled sacks on the surface of the skin that commonly occurs on the hands, or the feet.

Delayed-Onset Muscle Soreness
Also called "DOMS," this muscle pain, stiffness or soreness occurs 24-48 hours after particularly intense exercise or a new program.

Knee Pain
Golfers can experience a variety of knee pain. In order to treat the cause of the pain, it is important to have an evaluation and proper diagnosis.

Plantar Fasciitis
Plantar fasciitis is the most common cause of pain on the bottom of the heel, and usually defined by pain during the first steps of the morning.

Sprains and Strains
These are acute injuries that vary in severity but usually result in pain, swelling, bruising, and loss of the ability to move the joint.

Stress Fractures
Stress fractures in the leg are often the result of overuse or repeated impacts on a hard surface.