Most of us have not golfed since the end of last season. Many of us missed out on being able to travel to play golf this past winter. Regardless of the last time you played a round, it is likely that you’ve been more inactive than you would have preferred over these last six or seven months.
We attribute this inactivity to things like not being able to go to the gym and playing our favourite sport. This lack of movement during the winter months is one of many contributing factors that can increase our chances of injury during the golf season. If you become injured, you can’t golf at your best. So, why not prepare beforehand? Here is some advice on what to do …
First, get moving. In the weeks to months before the golf season opens, walking, cycling or any form of exercise can be beneficial to your body. By being active, you are preparing the muscles and tissues in your body for some of the motions you will perform on the course.
Second, warm up. Head to the driving range a couple of days before and hit a bucket of balls – but don’t overdo it! Before you swing the club for the first time, perform a warmup routine consisting of upper and lower body movements, as well as trunk rotations from side to side to mimic a golf swing. An example of this could be high knees with arm circles, and high knees with a trunk twist. Perform this same routine each time before you play a round.
Third, cool down. Before sitting down after your round, perform a similar drill as your warmup. Go for a light walk, incorporating arm and leg movements.
Injury is the last thing you want at the beginning of your golf season. Take a proactive approach and prevent an injury before it happens!
Looking for more guidance on how to help prevent an injury or enhance your golf season? Follow us at @profunctionlondon on Instagram and Facebook for tips on how to prevent golf-related injuries – or book an appointment to see Dr. Josh Macedo. Bring your clubs, and we’ll take a look at your swing at our indoor training facility at Centrefield Sports.
Submitted by Pro Function Sports Injury Clinic
