Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 17, 2026
06:42
Providing Visual Biofeedback Using Brightness Mode Ultrasound During a Golf Swing
Published on: August 25, 2022
Upper extremity injuries in golf
Matthew C Bayes1, L Tyler Wadsworth
1Saint Louis University School of Medicine, Belleville, IL 62220, USA. mbayes@slu.edu
The Physician and Sportsmedicine
|January 6, 2010
Summary
Golf injuries vary by skill level, with amateurs often experiencing swing-related issues and professionals facing overuse injuries. This review covers shoulder, elbow, wrist, and hand injuries in golfers, focusing on causes, diagnosis, and treatment.
Area of Science:
- Sports Medicine
- Orthopedics
- Biomechanics
Background:
- Golf is an asymmetric sport with distinct injury patterns related to player skill level.
- Higher handicap golfers often sustain injuries from swing mechanics, while lower handicap and professional players are more prone to overuse injuries.
- The non-dominant shoulder is the most frequently injured area in golfers.
Purpose of the Study:
- To provide a comprehensive overview of upper extremity injuries in golf.
- To discuss the epidemiology, causes, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of golf-related injuries affecting the shoulder, elbow, wrist, and hand.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature on golf-related upper extremity injuries.
- Analysis of injury patterns based on skill level (handicap).
- Discussion of common diagnoses and emerging treatment modalities.
Main Results:
- Common shoulder injuries include subacromial impingement, rotator cuff pathology, glenohumeral instability, and arthritis.
- Lateral epicondylosis (tennis elbow) is the leading elbow injury in amateur golfers.
- Tendon injuries are prevalent in the wrist and forearm of golfers.
Conclusions:
- Rehabilitation focusing on core strength is crucial for treating golf injuries.
- Emerging treatments like topical nitrates and eccentric rehabilitation show promise for tendinopathy.
- Physiotherapy and professional swing modification are supported for treating upper extremity golf injuries.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
01:19Bones of the Upper Limb: Humerus
The upper limb consists of the arm, forearm, wrist, and hand bones. The humerus is the single bone of the upper arm region. Proximally, it has a large, spherical, smooth head that articulates with the glenoid cavity of the scapula to form the glenohumeral or shoulder joint. The margin of the head is the anatomical neck, a residual epiphyseal plate. Laterally it extends to form bony projections called the greater tubercle and the lesser tubercle. Next to the tubercles is the surgical neck, a...
01:15Bones of the Upper Limb: Ulna
The ulna and radius are parallel bones of the antebrachium or the forearm. The ulna lies medially and consists of a bony tip called the olecranon process at its proximal end. This hook-like projection articulates with the olecranon fossa of the humerus and forms the "hinged" ulnohumeral part of the elbow joint. This joint facilitates forearm extension and flexion while preventing its hyperextension. Similarly, the coronoid process, another bony projection on the proximal/anterior side of the...
01:09Bones of the Upper Limb: Radius
The radius is longer of the two bones that make up the human antebrachium or forearm. At the proximal end, the radius articulates with the capitulum of the humerus and the radial notch of the ulna to form the elbow joint. At the distal end, the radius articulates with the ulna via the ulnar notch, forming the distal radioulnar joint. Distally, the radius also attaches to the carpal wrist bones (scaphoid and lunate) to form the radiocarpal joint.
The radius has a nail-shaped head, and a short...
The radius has a nail-shaped head, and a short...
01:22Spinal Nerves: Plexus I
Nerve plexuses are networks of interlacing nerves that serve as communication hubs to distribute and organize nerve action across various body regions. The nerve plexuses are organized into the cervical plexus located in the neck region, brachial plexus in the shoulder area, lumbar plexus found in the lower back, sacral plexus situated in the pelvis, and coccygeal plexus located in the coccygeal region.
The Cervical Plexus
The cervical plexus, formed by the anterior rami of the first four...
The Cervical Plexus
The cervical plexus, formed by the anterior rami of the first four...
01:12Arteries of the Upper Limbs
The subclavian artery transitions into the axillary artery as it exits the chest and enters the axillary region. This artery is critical for supplying blood to the shoulder area, including the head of the humerus, through the humeral circumflex arteries. As the vessel continues into the upper arm or brachium, it becomes the brachial artery. This artery plays a key role in vascularizing the brachial region and bifurcates at the elbow into several branches. These branches include the deep...
01:27Assessment of the Cardiovascular System III: Palpation
Palpation involves feeling the body to evaluate texture, size, consistency, and tenderness for assessing cardiovascular health. The following steps are organized in a head-to-toe order:
Jugular Venous Pressure (JVP) Measurement
Position the patient at a thirty- to forty-five-degree angle or in a semi-fowler's position. Look for the highest point of pulsation in the internal jugular vein and measure the vertical distance to the angle of Loius or sternal angle. A normal JVP is 3-4 cm above the...
Jugular Venous Pressure (JVP) Measurement
Position the patient at a thirty- to forty-five-degree angle or in a semi-fowler's position. Look for the highest point of pulsation in the internal jugular vein and measure the vertical distance to the angle of Loius or sternal angle. A normal JVP is 3-4 cm above the...