If you suffer from arthritis, you don’t have to give up your golf game. In fact, playing golf can add strength and mobility to your body overall and improve your range of motion.
Research shows that one of the best treatments for osteoarthritis (the most common form of arthritis) is exercise. It can improve mood and outlook, decrease pain, increase flexibility, improve the heart and blood flow, maintain weight, and promote general physical fitness.
Osteoarthritis can occur in any joint and usually comes on slowly. Early in the disease, joints may ache after physical work or exercise. It most often occurs at the hands, hips, knees, or spine — all those areas used in playing the game of golf. But rather than this being a reason to give up the game, golf will actually help to increase your range of motion and your balance as well. And the walking, if you can do it, will benefit your health in numerous ways. In short, golf is one of the perfect exercises for someone with osteoarthritis.
You might need some special products to make golf a little easier on your joints and there are numerous resources on the internet, including www.arthritis.org, the Arthritis Foundation shares some tips for golfers to help you keep enjoying this wonderful sport and suggests some products that might help you. For instance, it’s a good idea to wear wrist braces and gloves when you play. This will help stabilise the joints in your wrists and hands. Both these items are inexpensive.
Tips for easing the pressure:
- You can also try using a lower compression ball
- Golf shoes without spikes will likely be more comfortable for you
- Ask your local golf store specialist about the latest helps for making golfing easier on your joints as new products are coming out all the time
- Always warm up before you play. Do some basic stretches, take some practice swings. Start out swinging about half strength. Never try to hit the ball too hard. This one goes for everyone – not just folks with arthritis. It’s accuracy that counts. Using tees will help.
- Drink water while you’re playing. (again, a tip for everyone)
- If you feel tired, listen to your body and rest a bit. It’s not a mortal sin to play less than 18 holes. The key is to enjoy the game
- If you’re feeling sore after play, here are some things to try:
Take a warm shower; do some gentle stretching exercises or some of the yoga stretches and exercises introduced in elsewhere on this site; use an ice pack on the sore area; rest the sore joint; try magnetic therapy, massage and psychiotherapy; - Try to keep your weight down — too much weight can make your knees and hips hurt
- If playing golf causes pain that lasts for more than 1 hour, it’s probably too much
- Work with your physical therapist or doctor to adjust your game when you notice any of the following signs of too much exercise: unusual or persistent fatigue; increased weakness; decreased range of motion; increased joint swelling; continuing pain (pain that lasts more than 1 hour after exercising).
Recommended reading:
If you’d like to research more on how to deal with arthritis in sports this book may be of interest from arthritis specialist, Dr David Silver who has a unique focus on those arthritis sufferers who are physically active:
Dr Silver is the clinical chief of rheumatology at Cedars Sinai Medical Center and consultant to a roster of celebrities and athletes. He has developed a pain reduction program specifically designed for active people. In “Playing Through Arthritis,” he shares his plan for maintaining an athletic lifestyle by combining exercise, nutrition, the latest medications, and the best alternative therapies. Key features include targeted exercises to dramatically lessen pain and stiffness in specific joints, and expert medical advice on nutrition, medications and alternative therapies.
Dsiclaimer: please remember this is not medical or any form of advice and is completely general in nature, so if you’re experiencing pain or feel any discomfort that’s unusual seek qualified advice.
