Fall means great golfing weather, and an increased chance of shoulder injuries

By: Sami Khan, M.D., Resurgens Orthopaedics

Fall has finally arrived, which means getting outside and enjoying the cool, crisp weather and beautiful scenery as the leaves begin to change, especially on a golf course. As more and more golfers hit the links, here are a few pointers to get you through the season and keep you injury free.

The most common complaint of an avid golfer is shoulder pain. Shoulder injuries in golfers are generally due to repetitive overuse of the rotator cuff muscles. It is usually the lead shoulder, or the left shoulder in a right-handed player, that is more commonly injured.

The rotator cuff muscles and their tendons are very active throughout the golf swing. Inflammation of the rotator cuff tendons, or tendinitis, and even tears of the rotator cuff, can occur with overuse or poor swing mechanics. Studies show that compared to amateurs, professional golfers do not rely as heavily on their rotator cuff muscles during the swing.

Proper swing technique is the first step in preventing injury. Here are a few tips to keep your shoulders healthy.

1. Shorten your back swing; this keeps the stress off the shoulders that occurs from over-extending the arms through the shoulder joint to attempt a full back swing. Try to let your club head stop at the one o'clock position as opposed to the 3 o'clock position.

2. Strengthen and stretch the rotator cuff and scapular muscles in an effort to prevent injury.

3. Strengthen the chest (pectoralis major) and back (latissimus dorsi) muscles as these generate the power in the swing.

4. Take a lesson with a pro and refine your swing so that it is more fluid and less prone to injury.

Using these tips will help you maximize your time on the fairways and greens so you can enjoy the picturesque weather, cooler temps, and the beautiful scenery that comes with golfing in the fall.

Sami Khan, M.D. is a board certified orthopaedic surgeon and is fellowship trained in sports medicine. His area of expertise is arthroscopic and reconstructive surgery of the shoulder, elbow, and knee. He is a former associate team physician for the New York Mets and also has written several textbook chapters on the management of shoulder, elbow, and knee injuries. Dr. Khan is in orthopaedic practice with Resurgens Orthopaedics - Johns Creek: 6335 Hospital Parkway, Suite 302. Johns Creek, GA 30097. Phone Number 404-575-4500. Additional information about Dr. Khan can be found at www.resurgens.com.