You need to have mental clarity because in "Golf! You swing left and the ball goes right. You hit down to make the ball go up.  The lowest score wins. And on top of that, the winner buys the drinks - Anon" :-)

"Golf is played by twenty million mature men whose wives think they are out having fun. - Jim Bishop"   :-)

If you are one of those people playing golf, I ask you--      Do  you stretch before you play?

 Are you flexible and fit ?    

If the answer to these two questions is no,  then you may be  prone to injury.   

A majority of golfers have experienced some sort of nagging injury at one time or another.

Why do injuries occur?

 Some golf injuries occur due to improper grip and swing mechanics, Changing technique and equipment can help relieve those injuries.

Many injuries occur  because golfing places  a tremendous amount of stress on the body. There is stress  on the muscles and joints due to the explosive nature of the swing. There is stress due to large trunk rotation and the movement of both shoulders through a wide range of motion at very high speeds. There is constant bending at the waist. And, there are  a lot of repetitive actions potentially causing repetitive use syndrome.

How can one heal from the injuries?

Most of these injuries are simply muscle or ligament strains that usually get better with massage, simple strengthening exercises. rest, and  nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDS), (such as Aspirin, Naproxen(= Aleve) and Ibuprofen,) .

When a person first becomes aware of muscle or ligament strains, that is the best time to get it massaged so that it doesn't become a problem. "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure."

For strengthening exercises see:(See  http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/topic.cfm?topic=A00137)  or ask Nikki at your next appt.

What are  some of the most  common injuries?

There are 6 areas of the body that  golfers commonly injure : lower backs, elbows, shoulders, wrists and knees. Massage Therapy can help relieve all of these conditions.

For details on each of these conditions and how massage can help heal them, please read the newsletters that feature each condition listed below .    Go to  http://metamorphicmassage.biz/?page_id=44

 1. Back

Back pain in golfers might be mechanical or disc-related,  

(Herniated Disc  April 09)  arthritis-related, or caused by a stress fracture*, among other possible causes.

2.  Golfer's Elbow/Tennis Elbow (Epicondylitis  March  '08)

Tennis elbow is an inflammation, soreness, or pain on the outside of the upper arm near the elbow. Golfer's elbow is an inflammation, soreness or pain on the inside of the upper arm near the elbow. Tennis elbow is actually more common among golfers than golfer's elbow.

3. Shoulder Pain  (Rotator Cuff   August 08)

Shoulder pain in a golfer might be caused by any of several different underlying conditions, including: rotator cuff tendinitis, or a tear or impingement in the rotator cuff; A-C joint arthritis; or instability in the joint*

4. Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (Summer '04)

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is a repetitive stress disorder that occurs in the nerves of the hands. At its worst, carpal tunnel is extremely painful and sometimes incapacitating.

6. Knee Pain    (June '08)

Knee pain in golfers can be caused by any of numerous underlying issues, among them: a torn meniscus*; knee arthritis (osteoarthritis), or kneecap pain (chondromalacia ) (AKA Patellofemoral Pain syndrome   June '08)  

(Massage therapy can't help with the  3 conditions listed with a *.) Much of the above information can be found at 

http://www.golffitness-magazine.com/public/contact.html  

It's advisable to do preventative care and to treat injuries so that you can enjoy your golf game for a long time.