Chiropractor Chandler AZ
Golf Injuries - Prevention and Treatment
Golf is not a sport people normally associate with injury. However, for a game enjoyed by nearly 25 million people in the United States, injuries are more prevalent than you would think. According to some analysis, 15-20 percent of golfers report some sort of injury annually. Despite being a low impact sport, the repetitive nature and force required in golf swings can leave golfers prone to a myriad of overuse injuries. Bad posture or form, coupled with the older demographic skew of the golfing population, exacerbate the susceptibility of golf enthusiasts to suffer injury while enjoying their favorite sport.
Soft tissue injuries that one typically sees in high impact sports are surprisingly common in golf as well. Golfers frequently suffer from rotator cuff pain due to the stress placed on their bodies from swinging a golf club repetitively. Similarly, patellar tendonitis (knee pain) and medial epicondylitis (golfer's elbow) are common as well, due largely to the whip-like motion a seasoned golfer's body undertakes when driving a ball across the fairway. Golfer's' wrists and neck often experience pain like this as well for the same reason. Fortunately, recurring pain does not have to keep you off of your favorite course forever. There are new and innovative techniques to treat these soft tissue injuries and get golfers playing their favorite sport again sooner rather than later.
The Graston Technique for Golfers
One of the newer treatments to help golfers recover from a painful soft tissue injury is the Graston Technique (GT). GT is a form of soft tissue mobilization, and involves a trained practitioner using a specially designed set of stainless steel instruments to manipulate afflicted soft tissue. The GT instruments allow clinicians to identify injured tissue, and then are used to break down scar tissue and other restrictors. The technique facilitates increased blood flow to problem areas, alleviates pain, and can speed up the recovery process. While still a relatively new medical innovation, several clinical trials have affirmed the Graston Technique's effectiveness at addressing soft tissue injuries.
GT therapy is great news for golfers suffering from wrist or elbow pain. Typical soft tissue injuries like this, often called adhesions, can keep muscles painfully tight and limit range of motion. GT is particularly effective at addressing these conditions. Additionally, GT can immediately address the buildup of scar tissue, alleviate lingering pain, and promote soft tissue healing for other golf injuries as well. The Graston technique can be especially effective at addressing injuries before they become serious and debilitating, so it is worth checking with your physical therapist to get treatment as soon as your aches and pains start adding up.
Active Release Therapy (ART) for Golfers
Active Release Therapy, or ART, is another relatively new non-invasive technique to treat injuries commonly seen in golfers. ART is a patented technique that involves hand manipulation of soft tissue by a trained practitioner. ART's 500-move treatment protocol is exceptionally effective at identifying damaged soft tissue, and then treating it. These carefully designed, precision movements, like GT, can help increase blood flow, alleviate pain, and restore range of motion. All of this, again, is great news for golfers who have aches and pains keeping them from a round of golf.
Specially trained ART practitioners are adept at identifying the source of soft tissue injury or pain, then breaking down the scar tissue causing it. Active Release Therapy is also used as a preventative measure to keep muscles and tendons primed for workouts, thus avoiding injury altogether. ART can be great for dedicated golfers, especially those who are experiencing routine or growing soft tissue pain. So if injuries are holding you back from giving it all you've got at the tee, ART may be the right choice for you.
Get Back up to Par
Golf is a great sport, and one that continues to grow in popularity. However, as seemingly low impact as golf is, the repetitive motion of swinging a golf club leaves players susceptible to a host of soft tissue injuries. The Graston Technique and Active Release Therapy offer innovative ways to keep golfers'' muscles and tendons in good shape, and prevent injury altogether. They are also extremely effective at treating soft tissue injuries and rapidly getting you back in action. So don't wait until it's too late. Do your homework, find a clinician who offers GT or ART and get back on the course before anyone notices you were missing.
Our Chandler Chiropractic and Physical Therapy clinic treats patients with a variety of muscle, tendon, joint, and ligament injuries. The clinic provides treatment for runners, tri-athletes, and weekend warriors in addition to common headache, neck, and back patients traditionally seen in Chiropractic, Physical Therapy, Massage Therapy clinics. We work with all ages and abilities of the residents in Phoenix, Tempe, Gilbert, Mesa, and Chandler AZ.