Shoulder injuries in golfers

The shoulder is made up of four separate joints that can differ up to 16,000 times. How do you avoid shoulder injuries when playing? How do you achieve maximum mobility and quick response in the leverage position?

The secret lies in low congruence, which is largely a function of how well the soft tissues function. Damage to the tendons, the so-called rotator cuff of the shoulder, can lead to movement pattern errors and thus inaccuracy during golf at impact and even cause pain. Damage and cracks in the tendons also contribute to erroneous movements. Proper use of the legs, spine, torso, and arms is the foundation for proper hitting. It requires precise coordination as well as synchronization of the various muscle groups.

Yes, golfers often have shoulder injuries after severe lumbar spine problems due to high swing speeds of up to 190 km/h, when soft tissue structures are heavily loaded. A prerequisite for acceleration is good mobility. Limited spinal rotation and pooling forces the shoulder to compensate for loads, which occasionally leads to insidious ligament and tendon injuries.

Injuries to the tendons, shoulder bursa or joint capsule are largely responsible. This is facilitated by a blow into the ground with an abrupt stop of movement. Here, tremendous forces are exerted on the shoulder, leading to tendon ruptures and injuries.

A tendon cannot heal on its own, so such injuries often end up with tendon stapling surgery according to the different variations of the injury. Interventions nowadays are small in most cases. Optics allows us to work in the joint, reconstructing and repairing abnormalities in millimeters.

Either way, the goal is to restore and maintain athletic ability and reduce pain in daily life.

Osteoarthritis of the shoulder joint refers to the loss of articular cartilage, which is when the joint does not work properly. It is the most common joint disease, joint mobility. In order to recover, the replacement of the so-called surface or endoprosthesis of the shoulder joint is performed.

What is important is primarily a careful approach and proper properal technique, in which the first shoulder joint must be fully restored again, replacing the sliding surfaces, and not just to take away the pain. In this case, range of motion is usually almost completely restored.

Yes! After careful evaluation, the causes that lead to the impairment are addressed. A focused, specialized medical evaluation and overall goal setting, such as pain reduction, improved range of motion or strength, are the foundation for a successful outcome.

t is not uncommon for rehabilitation after reconstructive intervention to last several months, during which time athletic ability to play fully is lost, but in many cases patience and professional treatment result in restoration of previous shoulder function.

Publication by Dr. Philipp Frey of the Privatklinik Bethanien in Switzerland. Source: Golf Leader magazine. Golf Leader.