Upper Extremity Injuries in Golf

Abstract

Golf is an asymmetric sport with unique patterns of injury depending upon the skill level. Higher handicap players typically experience injuries that result from swing mechanics, whereas lower handicap and professional players have overuse as the major cause of their injuries. The majority of shoulder injuries affecting golfers occur in the nondominant shoulder. Common shoulder injuries include subacromial impingement, rotator cuff pathology, glenohumeral instability, and arthritis involving the acromioclavicular and/or glenohumeral joints. Lead arm elbow pain resulting from lateral epicondylosis (tennis elbow) is the leading upper extremity injury in amateur golfers. Tendon injury is the most common problem seen in the wrist and forearm of the golfer. Rehabilitation emphasizing improvement in core muscle streng is important in the treatment of golf injury. Emerging treatments for tendinopathy include topical nitrates, ultrasound-guided injection of therapeutic substances, and eccentric rehabilitation. There is evidence supporting physiotherapy, and swing modification directed by a teaching professional, for treatment of upper extremity golf injuries. This article focuses on upper extremity injuries in golf, including a discussion of the epidemiology, causes, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of injuries occurring in the shoulder, elbow, wrist, and hand.

Clinics in diagnostic imaging (156)

“…He is likely to play much less frequently, has a poorer swing technique, and is more likely to exacerbate pre-existing conditions or suffer random acute injuries. (6,(8)(9)(10) Wrist injuries in golf may be classified as a low-impact sports injury. This category of injury typically results in nondisplaced or occult fracture, contusion, stress reaction, ligamentous sprain, tendinopathy and tenosynovitis.…”

Tennis Elbow in Athletes: More Than Just Tennis?

“…Interestingly, arm pain from lateral epicondylitis is the most common upper extremity injury in amateur golfers [14]. Again, these injuries have been noted as more common in amateur and female players [15,16].…”

The Relationship Between the Golf-Specific Movement Screen and Golf Performance

“…68 Poor swing mechanics have been related to an increased injury risk due to the repetitive, forceful, asymmetrical nature of the sport with over 45% of golf-related lower back injuries due to poor swing mechanics. [11][12][13]56,62,69 Therefore, potential improvement in swing mechanics could lead to reduced injury risk 56,70 especially in amateurs who often suffer injuries due to poor swing mechanics with these occurring more in mid to high handicap players (above 9 handicap). 56,59,70 Swing sequence depends on the effective engagement and sequencing of muscles to transfer power and appropriate range of motion to perform the desired movement.…”

“…[5][6][7] The golf swing is a complex, dynamic, asymmetrical whole-body movement which requires a coordinated sequence of muscle activation to produce and efficiently transfer high amounts of explosive power with clubhead speeds often exceeding 160 km/hr. [8][9][10][11][12] Muscular strength, mobility, coordination, flexibility and stability are required 7,13 for efficient performance and to minimise injury risk. 5,7,[14][15][16] The use of musculoskeletal screening has been advocated to investigate injury and performance factors with one commonly used screen the Functional Movement Screen 17,18 which consists of seven movements namely the deep squat, in-line lunge, hurdle step, active straight leg raise, shoulder mobility, trunk stability push up and rotary stability scored from 0 to 3 producing a composite score of 21.…”