Hand & Wrist Injuries
Golf causes a significant number of injuries to the wrist and hand, including fractures, tendonitis, and nerve injuries. And it’s interesting that the frequency of wrist and hand injuries differs among various groups of golfers. Female professional golfers are particularly prone to wrist and hand injuries (which amount to about one-third of injuries to women). Male professionals suffer wrist and hand injuries at about half the rate of their female counterparts. Amateur golfers (both male and female) also encounter a significant number of hand and wrist problems.
While hand golf injuries are relatively rare, the wrist is one of the most commonly injured anatomic locations in the sport. Wrist injuries can occur not only in the average golfer but also in the high-level professional. They are usually the result of overuse due to excessive practice, or excessive play or poor mechanics that place the wrist at risk. A study of 225 professional golfers showed a 34% incidence of wrist and hand injuries. These injuries involved the soft tissue, cartilage, bone, nerve, and vascular structures. Becuase the golf swing culminates in an impact with the golf club and the ball, a shock is generated.
This is akin to the shock produced when a baseball bat contacts the speeding baseball. If a swing is properly executed, the force of impact is minimal and does not hurt. However, a “mis-hit” can hurt the hands and wrists. Although contact of the club face with the ground occurs during the swing, a controlled swing removes just a bit of the turf. When a swing is less controlled, a club may dig deeper into the ground, and the club speed can be slowed quickly and dramatically. This can also happen when a shot is taken out of the deeper grass lining the fairways (the “rough”). The sudden loss of club head speed from a “fat shot” puts a great strain on the wrists. Although uncommon, even wrist fractures can occur.
Wrist injuries can also result from excessive hand motion during the back swing and down swing. Some golfers believe that flexing the wrists during both phases of the swing will produce a more powerful stroke. Instead, the stroke becomes less powerful and inflammation can develop in over-used wrist ligaments and tendons.
Tendon injuries in the wrist and hand such as inflammation (tendinitis) and De Quervain’s disease can result if the golf club is gripped too tightly during the swing. (De Quervain’s Disease is a tenosynovitis of the abductor pollicis longus and extensor pollicis brevis -deep muscles of the forearm). This overuse injury is caused by a tight grip of the club and repeated ulnar deviation during the golf swing. Clinical findings include swelling and tenderness at the radial styloid). Frequently, golfers will grip the club very tightly, assuming that this will produce a more powerful swing. In fact, the opposite is true. Moreover, a gentle grip is less debilitating. The swelling and pain of a tendon injury can make golf impossible. Use of a wrist support and anti-inflammatory medication such as the recently discovered CM8 can provide relief of milder injuries, but more serious injuries often require surgery.
Attention to proper hand action during the swing can help prevent tendonitis and fractures of the wrist. Additionally, proper club fitting can help prevent hamate fractures. Clubs should be of the appropriate length, with the “butt” or end of the club extending just beyond the palm of the hand. Additionally, a daily regimen of anti-inflammatory such as Flexcin will keep your joints limber and well tuned for years of pain free birdie attempts.
