As in all sports also in golf the injury component should not be underestimated. Every year many athletes suffer from traumas and injuries that do not allow them to train with continuity, in this case prevention becomes a fundamental and essential element for the career of the golfer.
Golf is one of the most loved and practiced sports in the world thanks to the fact that anyone, from the youngest to the oldest, can play and enjoy this sport. Moreover, it is a real panacea for the health of athletes, an activity that is carried out mainly outdoors and completely in contact with nature. According to recent data, in the world, there are about 60 million people who play golf. The number of sportsmen interested in practicing this sport is continuously increasing thanks to a growing interest, especially from Eastern countries. Unfortunately, however, as in all sports, golf has a second side of the coin and in addition to the benefits there may be disadvantages. Every year there are about 11,000 accidents, a very significant number if compared to the number of those that occur in judo or boxing, sports that in the common ideology are considered “dangerous contact sports”. Furthermore, it has been estimated that in the course of a single season a golfer on average will have at least two injuries and will have to stay in the box for at least 1 month. Elbows, wrists and shoulders are the areas of the body most affected by golfing injuries, according to a study by McCarrol however, these areas are subject to injury more or less frequently depending on the skill level of the golfer, the causes of these differences in percentages are explained below.
- Elbow: 26% of amateurs suffer injuries to this area, for professionals the percentage is about 7%.
- Wrist: 16% of amateurs suffer injuries to this area, for professionals the percentage is almost double at about 27%.
- Shoulder: the percentage is the same for both amateurs and professionals and is about 9%.
As far as the shoulder is concerned, it is a very delicate area and subject to different types of injuries, more or less serious, which can lead the player to have to stop for several weeks.
What are the most common shoulder injuries for a golfer?
There are various injuries that a golfer can suffer on the shoulder but the most common are the following:
- Subacromial Conflict Syndrome: This is one of the most common shoulder pains. The main risk factor for the worsening of this situation is the continuous repetition of the same technical or athletic gesture as often happens in sports such as golf or swimming. With advancing age comes an increased susceptibility to this type of injury.
- Wear and tear injuries: wear and tear injuries are a very common injury and can often be traced back to two main factors: a lack of or insufficient pre-training or pre-race warm-up, or they can be related to trauma generated by the impact of the golf club against the so-called “chunk balls” or “dirty balls”, this phenomenon occurs when the club first hits a hard part of the ground (for example: stones or roots) of the ball.
- Problems with the acromioclavicular joint: this is also one of the most common injuries on a golf course. Symptoms related to this type of injury are mostly described as a localized pain in the upper part of the shoulder that becomes more pronounced when trying to bring the arm into lateral elevation.
- Shoulder instability: this is one of the most common injuries. Young golfers are the ones most prone to this type of problem.
Who are those most at risk?
All golfers can be targeted by these injuries, but the causes vary depending on the level and age of the individual golfer:
- Professional golfers: professional golfers are most at risk for wear and tear on the parts of the body involved in technical movements. They train and play with higher continuity compared to an amateur athlete and they continuously repeat the same technical movements that can lead to greater wear and tear and consequently to various types of injuries. Moreover, very often professional golfers tend to underestimate or ignore the pain because they are afraid of having to remain inactive for several weeks, this choice only worsens the injury.
- Amateur golfers: injuries in this category are caused by two main factors: inadequate athletic preparation and suboptimal technique that leads to postural injuries or trauma from the game.
- Young golfers: this category is more prone to muscular injuries or traumas such as strains or sprains.
“I smile at obstacles”
(Tiger Woods)
How can shoulder injuries be prevented?
Prevention is key in order to limit and reduce various types of injuries, here is a list of some useful tips to follow before and after training:
- Always warm up before starting to train trying to stretch all the muscles stressed during the various technical gestures, especially for the most used hits.
- Avoid sudden shots or sudden accelerations, trying to limit as much as possible the “chunk balls” in order to escape from possible injuries due to trauma.
- Choose the golf club with which you are most comfortable. To do this, it is advisable to go to specialized centers and, if necessary, ask for advice from experts in the field.
- Doing physical activity even outside of golf and following a healthy diet, these two extra-golf components are essential to stay in shape and be able to train more consistently.
As far as nutrition is concerned, it is a fundamental and unavoidable element for any kind of athlete. A healthy diet must be combined with nutritional supplements that offer the possibility to preserve one’s body from injuries and to be able to reach 100% of one’s shape.
Acten is certainly one of the most suitable products for golfers and athletes of all levels and ages. Its Hydroidan Pro Formula is designed so that it can eliminate inflammation from the affected area and then go on to offer all the benefits that can be obtained from the natural ingredients within the supplement. Moreover, the product is of the gelatinous type and this choice was made because, besides the fact that it ensures a greater absorption of the active ingredients than the normal capsule, it does not even need injections as can happen with hyaluronic acid infiltrations. To benefit from all the advantages of Acten, it is recommended to take the product as soon as you wake up, on an empty stomach, before having breakfast.
Prevention is one of the most important moments in the life of an athlete and must be done in the best possible way in order to try to reduce as much as possible the number of injuries during the season and to be able to have continuity both in training and in competitions.
Acten won’t guarantee a 10m longer shot but it will certainly allow you to train harder and reach the top of your form!
