Golf Injuries
Matt Serlo, M.P.T.
Jacksonville, FL.
The Typical Golfer
Competitive in nature
Active and fitness-minded
individuals
Swings too hard
Perceives golf as a passive
sport
Eager to improve
Causes of Injuries
Limited Flexibility
Decreased Strength
Poor Posture
Balance
Inappropriate Warm-up
Inconsistent Swing
Swings Too Hard!!
Anatomy of Golf – Shoulder
Gleno-humeral Joint
 Primary movers (pec, delt, lats)
 Stabilizers / RTC mm’s
 Motions include;

Flexion – Extension
ABDuction – ADDuction
Horizontal ABD – ADD
External – Internal Rotation
Circumduction
Most Common Golfing Injuries
Shoulder
 Rotator
Cuff Tendinitis irritation/ inflammation of
the rotator cuff tendons in
shoulder
 Rotator
Cuff Strain/Tear muscle or tendon in
shoulder
Shoulder Injuries:Factors
Lack of ROM/flexibility
- External rotation, horizontal adduction
Thoracic posture
Strength of Rotator Cuff
Arthritic conditions
Joint integrity hypo/hypermobility
Shoulder Motion
Hor Add: 130 degrees
(lead)
ER: 100 degrees (back)
Causes if limited
-Steep swing
-Elbow breakdown
-Lateral slide
-Improper grip
Anatomy of Golf – Forearm
Ulna & Radius
 Flexor mm group
 Extensor mm group
 Deviators
 Motions include;

Wrist-Finger Flexion – Extension
Forearm Pronation – Supination
Radial – Ulnar Deviation
Most Common Golfing Injuries
Hand / Wrist
 DeQuervain’s Syndrome tendinitis of the thumb extensors
 Hook of Hamate Fractures - small
wrist bone on palmer side
 Ligament sprains
 Muscle/Tendon strains
Wrist and Hand Injuries
Lack of Range of Motion
- Thumb extension or radial deviation
Inappropriate grip
- too much or too little
Trauma
- hitting the ground
Wrist Motion
Back wrist extension: 70 degrees
Front wrist radial deviation: 20 degrees
Front thumb extension: 50 degrees
If restricted:
-unable to hold angle-club speed
-square clubface
Most Common Golfing Injuries
Elbow
 Lateral Elbow - tendinitis strain to
lead arm at wrist extensor muscles
 Medial
Elbow - stretch/sprain of
back arm inside ligaments
Elbow injuries
Improper grip
- unnatural grip not allowing hands
to move properly will cause stress
at both wrist and elbow
Valgus Stress-trauma/repetition
Supination/Pronation
Anatomy of Golf – Thigh
Femur and Patella
 Quads, HS, ADD, ABD
 Motions include;

 Flexion – Extension
 ABD – ADD
 Patellar Alignment
Most Common Golfing Injuries
Knee
 Ligament damage - lead knee
twist on follow-through with poor
balance
 Cartilage damage - rotation &
extension during follow-through
 Tendonitis: I.T. band
Knee Injuries:Causes
Lack of range of motion
Lack of stability in the
knee
-ACL (lead)
-LCL (back)
Quad strengthstatic/dynamic
Proprioception
Improper swing
mechanics
Anatomy of Golf – Lower Leg
Tibia, Fibula, Talus, Calcaneus, etc.
 Posterior mm’s (gastroc-soleus)
 Ant/Lateral mm’s (Ant Tib/Peroneal)
 Motions include;

 Flexion – Extension
 Inversion – Eversion
 Supination - Pronation
Ankle
Ligament damage - Lead
ankle twist on follow through
Inflammation: Plantar
Fascitis, Achilles Tendonitis
Ankle Injuries:Causes
Lack of ROM/flexibility
Improper swing mechanics
Pronated or supinated feet
Improper shoe wear
Proprioception
Anatomy of Golf – Cervical Spine
Seven Cervical Vertebrea
 Spinal muscles
 Motions Include;

Flexion
Extension
Side Bend (L&R)
Rotation (L&R)
Cervical Injuries:Causes
Lack of sufficient ROM
Trauma caused by improper
swing mechanics
Eye Dominance
Cervical Motion
Optimal: 90 degrees
If restricted:
-Drop left shoulder
-lateral tilt of head-lose of spinal angle
-lateral shift of hips
Anatomy of Golf – Hip
SI, Ilium, Femur
 Anterior mm’s
 Posterior mm’s
 Lateral mm’s & connective tissue
 Motions include;

Flexion – Extension
ABDuction – ADDuction
External – Internal Rotation
Circumduction
Most Common Golfing Injuries
Hip
Inflammation: Bursitis,
Tendonitis-Lead leg.
DJD.
Hip Injuries: Factors
Lack of ROM/Flexibility
Decreased Strength
-rotators, abductors
Poor Balance
Poor Posture
Anatomy of Golf – Trunk
Thoracic & Lumbar Spine, Ribs
 Anterior – Abdominals (3)
 Posterior – Paraspinals – Rotatory
 Motions include;

Flexion – Extension
Side Bending (L&R)
Rotation (L&R)
Most Common Golfing Injuries
Back



Muscular strains/spasms - erector
spinae muscle group
Ligament sprains
Vertebral disc
damage/displacement
-Herniated disc - disc protrudes
out from back
-Ruptured disc - disc nucleus
ruptures
Back Injuries
Improper Address position
(not in neutral spine)
Lack of ROM or flexibility
Abdominal Integrity
Proprioception
Medical history
Spine Angles
Primary: 40-45 degrees
Secondary: 8-12 degrees
Benefits of maintaining angles during swing:
-minimize lateral movement
-maintain correct swing path
-maintain balance: COG within BOS
-decreased stress on the body
Thank You