Injured on the Green
If you’re a devoted golfer, there’s nothing quite like stepping out onto the green and settling in for a day with a few friends, your clubs, and your thoughts. Whether you play to relax or to satisfy your competitive spirit, golfing in Central Florida can make a good day even better. Still, as with all sports, you should be aware that there is a risk of injury, particularly in your hand and wrist.
Alan W. Christensen, M.D.
Not renowned for career-ending or serious injuries, they can and, occasionally do, happen, according to avid golfer, Alan W. Christensen, M.D., a board-certified orthopaedic surgeon specializing in hand surgery for Orlando Orthopaedic Center and a medical staff member for the Arnold Palmer Invitational. “More often, however, the injuries are far less severe, but both amateur and serious golfers should be aware of what’s out there and the potential dangers involved with the game they enjoy,” he says.
Play time will often have a direct effect on the type of injury most golfers’ experience, with those who often play generally suffering from overuse injuries, while amateur players typically suffer from problems stemming back to poor technique, especially swing mechanics. The higher the frequency of play, the higher the risk for injury – as with most recreational activities or sports.
“A lot of the injuries related to repetitive stress include tendinitis, carpal tunnel/cubital tunnel syndrome and trigger finger,” says Christensen. “Others can include sprains, fractures, and even ligament tears.”
To help avoid injuries, he Christensen offers several tips: “Try using lighter grip pressure on your clubs. There’s no reason to hold them excessively hard unless you have a history of losing them,” he jokes. “Also try to slow the backswing down, this will cut excessive wrist motion and avoid a steeper downswing.”
Other tips from him include placing the top hand, so the hamate bone isn’t rubbing against the grip of your club and using golf clubs that are designed to absorb vibration.
When golfing, many players experience problems with their left, or leading, hand when swinging the club as the wrist experiences an increased amount of stress from the arc of the swing. Poor wrist control can often lead to injury, as well as poorly fitted equipment. “As the head of the club strikes the ball or the ground, the wrist and hand absorb most of that impact,” says Christensen. “If that happens enough, that’s where injuries can become a real possibility.”
Although more rare, but still possible, is a fracture of what’s called the hamate bone, mentioned above. In fact, the hamate bone fracture in golf accounts for more than a third of all reported hamate breaks. Patients with the fracture often complain of a deep pain or experience weak grip, according to Christensen. “These can sometimes be difficult to see on an X-ray and usually need to be corrected surgically,” he adds.
Far more common are the injuries relating to tendinitides, such as swelling, pain or stiffness in the wrist and fingers. If you experience any of those symptoms, Christensen suggests giving adequate rest to the painful area as well as using ice, compression, elevation and even over-the-counter medications such as Tylenol. “If you aren’t feeling any better or if there is significant pain, bruising or swelling after a week or two, it’s time to see a specialist about the injury so they can correct it before it gets any worse.”
Once the hand starts to feel better, he suggests squeezing a tennis ball occasionally throughout the day to strengthen hand, wrists, forearm and shoulder muscles. Once you’re back on your favorite course, there are a few tips to keep in mind that may make injuries less likely in the future, and may even improve your game on top of that.
“Remember that a proper warm-up can make a huge difference as well, just as with any physical activity,” he says. “Most of all, remember to have fun and enjoy the game.”
Article by Corey Gehrold
Originally published in the February 2011 issue of Insight Magazine.
