Senior Golfers: Physical Therapy Tips to Stay in the Game
Importance of Staying Active
Throughout all stages of life, being physically active is highly encouraged for its many health benefits. It provides positive contributions to improved quality of life, improved levels of independence, and often is very enjoyable. One activity that is both fun and beneficial to our health/wellness is the game of golf. As with any activity, one must be careful to participate wisely. Research shows that nearly 50% of golfers will experience an injury that becomes chronic and that the risk for injury increases with chronological age. Learn more about senior golfers; physical therapy tips to stay in the game.
Common Challenges for Senior Golfers
As with any sport or activity, there are common injuries associated with the game of golf. For amateur golfers, the top 4 contributors to injury include poor body mechanics, poor swing mechanics, excessive practice or overuse, and not having a proper exercise routine including lack of a proper warm-up before golfing.
Benefits of Physical Therapy for Your Golf Game
Although these may seem like significant hurdles to climb, physical therapy can be beneficial . PT can address these issues and mitigate, prevent, or rehab these injuries to allow you to continue to play the game you love and in many cases, even perform better. Physical therapists are trained professionals who are experts in the musculoskeletal system. These skills make physical therapists the ideal healthcare professionals to evaluate and treat golfers. PTs can help to improve their biomechanics, establish a proper warm-up routine and exercise program, and rehab or treat any existing musculoskeletal injuries.
Tips for Senior Golfers
The best way to specifically and thoroughly address these deficits is to get a formal evaluation with a physical therapist. However, here are some general tips to practice the following three exercises before the driving range or playing a round of golf. Three exercises I like patients to attempt include 1) Thread the Needle 2) Repeated Toe Touches and 3) Standing Pelvic Tilts. The combination of these three exercises can be very effective in priming the system to move more efficiently in the three primary directions that lead to injury or poor mechanics.
Preventative Measures (hydration, nutrition, proper equipment i.e. lightweight clubs)
Along with a thorough warm-up routine, there are some other preventative measures that may be beneficial. These include improving overall hydration and getting enough sleep (6-8 hours per night) which are both essential for healing and proper energy levels. Along with sleep and hydration, making sure that you have up-to-date, properly fit equipment including clubs, shoes, and gloves. This can be beneficial in your ability to perform well and avoid possible injury.
Staying physically active is incredibly important and golf is a very enjoyable way to stay active. One of the inherent risks of exercise or sport is the possibility of injury. For many golfers, talking to a professional regarding injury treatment or injury prevention can be incredibly valuable and effective. As musculoskeletal experts, physical therapists are the ideal healthcare professionals to seek out for any golf-related injury or injury prevention to help improve mechanics, reduce pain, and often improve performance.
If you or someone you know is having aches, pains, or limitations that are affecting their golf game or preventing them from playing altogether, please consider reaching out to a physical therapist.