Health Zone

By Charlie Carr, M.D.

There are approximately 25 million golfers active in the U.S. today, with more than half of them over the age of 40. Yet very little medical literature has been published about sports medicine and golf (unlike swimming and tennis). The injuries and illnesses that can occur as a result of golf participation typically tend to be chronic overuse problems of muscles and tendons. The physical hazard of swinging of the club places a significant strain on the musculoskeletal system and leads, among other things, to a high incidence of lower back problems. On very rare occasions golf can be life threatening, usually for those of retirement age, who have a high incidence of cardiac and pulmonary conditions. Older women with a susceptibility to osteoporosis can be at risk for fracture from a fall during a round of golf.

These inherent risks of the game demonstrate the importance of training and conditioning for golf. Training and conditioning not only lessens the risk of injury while playing the sport, but it also improves performance. The primary principles to be followed in any golf conditioning program are aerobic exercise to decrease fatigue, flexibility conditioning to decrease the incidence of chronic strains and improve body turn, and strength training to increase distance. Specific low back conditioning programs for golfers have also been developed. A conditioning program to improve individual weaknesses and maintain fitness, combined with a good dietary intake, will benefit golfers at all levels, helping to prevent injury and illness while improving your overall enjoyment of the game.

Dr. Charlie Carr, a 6 handicap, is the Director of the Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center Sports Medicine Clinic and the Head Team Physician for Dartmouth College athletics.