Shoulder pain is one of the most common issues golfers face, and many of them continue to play through the pain. The shoulder plays a crucial role in the golf swing, meaning that discomfort in the area will almost certainly increase throughout the round if ignored. Although there are some cases where pain or soreness is expected after playing, golfers should be wary of persistent discomfort that refuses to fade away.
If ignored, shoulder pain can greatly reduce your enjoyment of golf, cause longer recovery periods, and lead to lost time on the course. It is important to understand why shoulder pain can occur when golfing to avoid it and treat it if it does arise.
The Shoulder Is Essential for Every Golf Swing
Many people do not realize how much the shoulder is used during the golf swing. As the backswing begins, the lead shoulder rotates, while the trail shoulder turns back and up, opening up the front of the body. As the downswing and follow-through begin, both shoulders begin to rotate forward, allowing for power while controlling the speed of the club’s movement.
Since the shoulder joint allows one of the largest ranges of motion in the body, several muscles, ligaments, and tendons in the area can be inflamed or damaged when pain occurs. Playing through shoulder pain only puts more pressure on these sensitive areas, causing further irritation and damage.
Minor Shoulder Pain Can Lead to Much Bigger Issues Down the Road
If a golfer feels shoulder pain after playing, they may think that the discomfort will go away if they take a break from the sport or take an over-the-counter pain reliever. While this may work for minor discomfort that only occurs occasionally, this is rarely the case with most shoulder pain associated with golfing.
The most common shoulder injuries seen in golfers are rotator cuff pain, tendon irritation, shoulder impingement, bursitis, and muscle strains. The longer these types of injuries are ignored, the more likely they are to require intensive treatment later on. In addition, golfers tend to continue to swing even when they have these injuries, since rest and recovery time is minimal. Since hundreds of swings are taken during each round of golf, existing inflammation only continues to be irritated, prolonging the recovery process even more. For many golfers, what began as light discomfort can turn into a much larger issue that causes widespread pain and restricts motion in the affected areas.
Pain Can Affect Swing Mechanics
Although golfers may notice the pain or discomfort from an injury, it is unlikely that they would recognize the changes their body makes to their swing to compensate for the injury and avoid further pain. These changes may seem small at first, but they almost always alter the golf swing in some way. Common issues that arise from compensating for shoulder pain include reduced power due to restricted rotational motion, swing flaws like slices or hooks that cause inconsistent ball contact, and added stress on the body from these physical changes.
Changes in the swing due to shoulder pain can also place new stresses on other areas of the body. Since the entire swing changes in an attempt to reduce the overall amount of motion the shoulder must perform, other major joints and muscles, like those in the neck, lower back, elbows, and wrists, must work harder than they normally would during a round of golf. This is why addressing these compensations through golf physiotherapy is so important. It is not uncommon for several different injuries to occur at the same time as the body compensates for the untreated shoulder pain.
Early Treatment Often Leads to Faster Recovery
Early treatment of shoulder pain allows the body time to properly recover before additional strain is placed on the injured area. Early treatment may also include recommendations for limiting the amount of time spent practicing or playing, increasing mobility in the affected area, or doing targeted exercises and stretches that allow the shoulder to build strength and reduce the likelihood of future injuries.
It may also be necessary to obtain professional treatment for the injury in order to identify the cause of the pain. Since most shoulder injuries cause very similar types of discomfort, a professional evaluation is needed to ensure that the correct type of therapy is administered. Early treatment allows golfers to return to the sport with the required modifications that limit further injuries as soon as possible.
Mobility and Strength Work Together
Maintaining good mobility and strength in the shoulder is an important step in preventing pain or injuries during golf. Without the proper range of motion, the shoulder can be forced into unnatural positions during the golf swing that can cause damage to the joint. In addition, muscle loss can reduce the joint’s ability to maintain its stability, putting the shoulder at further risk of injury.
The best way to prevent future injuries caused by previous shoulder pain is to participate in a balanced exercise regimen that increases shoulder mobility while building strength in the muscles that support the joint. Maintaining a good level of strength and range of motion in the shoulder not only reduces the likelihood of future injuries but also improves a golfer’s game by allowing them to make adjustments to their swing that were previously unavailable due to pain.
Conclusion
There is no doubt that shoulder pain can occur on the golf course, especially when engaging in particularly strenuous rounds of play. However, shoulder pain that persists should be addressed and treated immediately rather than waiting for it to disappear on its own. Delaying treatment of shoulder pain can cause the injury to require much more intensive treatment, cause modifications to the golfer’s swing, and lead to additional injuries due to the changes made to the swing. By treating shoulder discomfort as soon as it is noticed, golfers can ensure that they spend significantly less time out of the sport due to injuries and enjoy their game much more.
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Our Editorial Team are writers and experts in their field. Their views and opinions may not always be the views of Wellbeing Magazine. If you are under the direction of medical supervision please speak to your doctor or therapist before following the advice and recommendations in these articles.
