With Tiger Woods' recent announcement that he will not compete in the US Open in 2011, many golfers, professional or amateurs, can relate to his physical woes. Woods is currently dealing with left knee and Achilles' tendon injuries, having undergone surgery on both injuries in April. Are you feeling his pain too?
As the popularity of golf has exploded in recent years, so has the incidences of knee injury, causing, among injuries to the body, severe and chronic knee joint pain. For the recreational golfer, the most common knee injuries are caused by overuse and repetitive trauma stemming from too much play or practice, improper swing mechanics and stress on the knees, and generally poor physical conditioning. Over 50% of golf injuries occur during mid-season play, after putting continuous, unrelenting pressure on the same areas of the knees for days and weeks on end. An amateur golfer loses many weeks per year of playing time when dealing with a chronic golf injury.
Preventing Injuries While Golfing
It would be best to be aware of the following tips for how to avoid injury while golfing:
First, warming up for ten minutes or more, and stretching before beginning your golf game, will significantly reduce your chances of injury.
Next, try to work on your technical errors. Working with the local pro at the golf course to identify and address technical errors in your game can help you eliminate the errors in your stance, your swing, etc., which may cause undue stress on your body.
Last, make sure your clubs fit you properly so that you can play at your best. How are your clubs being maintained? Perhaps you need a different grip, or perhaps your clubs need to be made of a lighter, or heavier, material. Believe it or not, these small details can mean a lot when it comes to frequent use and play.
The Meniscus Tear
Although by no means exclusive to golf, a meniscus tear can be one of the injuries you will encounter from playing a lot of golf. The meniscus is a "C" shaped cartilage cushion, something like a wedge within the knee. Each knee has two of them; they cushion, support, and aid movement. Injury to the meniscus is very common and can occur from wear and tear over time or from a sudden twist or turn, hence it is a common area of complaint for many golfers.
Signs and symptoms of a meniscus tear may include: knee joint pain, swelling and stiffness, or fluid build-up inside on the top part of the knee. you may also experience the sensation that the knee is getting stuck or locking, preventing smooth motion.
As always, it is wise to seek professional or medical advice before starting treatment for knee joint pain or any other kind of physical issue. A doctor may recommend resting, icing, elevating, and putting compression on the injured knee, prescription or over the counter anti-inflammatory medication. Physical therapy might be suggested as well to strengthen and add flexibility to the knee area. Arthroscopic surgery might be a last resort to trim or remove any damaged cartilage from the meniscus.
If your symptoms are not overly severe and you feel that medical attention is not immediately necessary, then check my website for the countless effective and practical solutions you can find to alleviate your knee joint pain issues. There are a multitude of products available online, such as knee braces, crutches, or other technologically advanced support products that can immediately help the cartilage in the knee begin to heal. It would be a great idea to have some of these on hand, even before you need them, so that you will be ready in the event of a meniscus tear, or any other golfing injury to the knee.
"Always ready" is a great motto for all athletes, especially for golf enthusiasts who just can't bring themselves to put away the golf clubs even if they have to hobble a bit on the golf course.
Is it tee time yet? You betcha!
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