Golf Stretching Can Prevent These 5 Common Injuries

Golf Exercises — Thu, 14 May 2009 07:19:36 +0000

Golf is a deceptively gentle game. The casual observer will simply see the singular swing and the leisurely walk towards the ball’s landing spot. The golfer knows the repetitive and strenuous routines that will maximize power output and ball control.

The muscles used in golf range from the thighs which provide the stability and power to the forearm which delivers all that energy into one decisive shot. However, the sudden explosion of force and power can and will cause some serious damage to the careless golfer.
photo credit: mauspray

In order to counter this, specialized stretching techniques were developed specifically to target the ‘golf’ muscles, or the muscles most used in that golf swing. These golf stretching techniques then help to prevent:

Knee Injuries

The knees are the foundation of the body as it swings the club. Energy is pulled directly upward, and the huge amount of energy being pulled can tear ligaments, rip muscles and dislocate the knee. The knee is particularly vulnerable to injury, as the twisted angle puts immense stress on the ligaments supporting the kneecap.

Back and Butt Injuries

The energy then travels from the knees up the legs, and is amplified by the muscle groups located in the back and butt muscles. These muscles directly add to the energy pulled up from the legs, as evidenced by the sharp muscle contractions felt when delivering a solid golf swing. This also makes these muscle groups susceptible to injury, as the process of amplifying the energy for a swing is a sudden and explosive one.

Shoulder Injuries

The energy from the legs and amplified by the muscles in the back and butt now has to be redirected to the arms. This is the job of the shoulders, and the task of redirecting that energy puts a lot of stress unto the muscle group known as the rotator cuffs. Channeling that raw energy requires the cuffs to rotate in an awkward angle, and this angle is what causes the damage to a shoulder that has not been warmed up.

Elbow Injuries

Once the energy has been directed to the arm, it would then be the job of the elbow to both steer energy to the hands and enhance the power output by ‘slinging’ the entire arm. Like the shoulders and the knees, a ‘cold’ elbow’s tendons and ligaments can and will get torn when subjected to the explosive energy of a golf swing. Throw in a badly angled swing, and you can prepare yourself to wear an arm-sling for quite some time to come.

Wrist Injuries

The wrist is the most delicate part of the process, and the most susceptible to injury among the five common golfing injuries. The limited rotation capabilities, the delicate bone groups and a large amount of tendons and ligaments turn a ‘cold’ wrist into a ticking time bomb that could incapacitate a golfer for life.

These five common injuries can ruin a golfer’s future in the sport, but are also easily avoided by using the right measures. Just remember to do the right golf stretches before swinging the club, and you will be safe from the crippling effects of these injuries.

This Post is Courtesy of: Effective Golf Exercises, where you can get the latest news and resources on golf exercises.

Golf Stretching Can Prevent These 5 Common Injuries

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Golf Stretching Can Prevent These 5 Common Injuries