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Health & Fitness

Swinging into Golf Season

There are a few common injuries associated with golf. Use these exercises to prevent injuries before you hit the golf course.

Golf combines two favorite American pastimes: taking long walks and hitting things with a stick.  ~P.J. O'Rourke

Many people consider golf to be a low-level physical activity; something they can do without risk of injury.  Take a minute to visualize a golf swing. Think about what parts of your body are involved. That's right, pretty much everything from your neck, shoulders, elbows, wrist, back, hips and knees are involved in a golf swing, not to mention the walking that is done during 18 holes.

One of the best ways to stretch your muscles and avoid injury before going out on the golf course is as simple as taking some practice swings at the driving range before starting a round of golf.

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There are a few common injuries that are associated with golf, the most common usually being Golfer's Elbow, which presents as pain on the inside part of the elbow.  The best way to avoid this problem is to strengthen the forearm muscles and slow your swing so there is less shock in the arm when the ball is struck.

The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (www.aaos.org) suggests these simple exercises to help build the strength of your forearm muscles:

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  • Squeeze a tennis ball. This can be done for up to five minutes at a time.
  • Wrist curls. Use a lightweight dumbbell (1 to 3 pounds).  With your arm supported and palm facing up, lower the weight to the end of your fingers, then curl the weight back to your palm, followed by curling the wrist to lift the weight an inch or two higher. Perform 1-2 sets of 10 reps.
  • Reverse wrist curls.  Use a lightweight dumbbell.  With your forearm supported and palm down, lift the weight up and down. Perform 1-2 sets of 10 reps.

If you have any questions regarding these exercises, or any other golf related injuries, please contact MSI Physical Therapy at (973) 635-2800 or (908) 245-5566 to schedule an appointment with one of our therapists.

Happy Golfing!

—Christine M. Polidoro, PT, DPT

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