As we enter into the Summer months with, hopefully, some sunny weather on the way and golf courses open to the public again, we thought we would review this well-loved UK sport and take a look at applying Kinesio Tape for anyone suffering with ‘golfers elbow’.
The origins of golf are unclear and much debated. However, it is generally accepted that modern golf developed in Scotland around the Middle Ages. The first written record of the game is during the reign of James II who banned the sports in 1457, citing it as an unwelcome distraction to learning archery. The world's oldest golf tournament is The Open Championship which first took place on 17 October 1860. In 2018, there were just short of 1 million golfers (945,700) in the UK playing golf every month – so it seems that its popularity is enduring.
Playing golf is great fun, but it also offers a wide range of mental and physical benefits:
• Weight: A 2006 study found that around 12,000 steps are taken per 18-hole round, exceeding the commonly recommended daily amount of steps for health – helping to prevent weight gain.
• Bones: Regular exercise helps to keep bones strong which prevents fractures
• Heart: Studies show that walking for 2.5 hours a week can reduce the risk of a heart attack by up to 30%
• Mental Wellbeing: Benefits are not only limited to physical health - regular exercise improves mood, decreases anxiety and depression. Joining a golf club can also help to boost social connections and self-esteem.
Golf is a game of minimal contact and players are not putting their bodies under high levels of stress like in squash, tennis, or basketball. Due to the low risk of injury provided by golf, players of all ages can take up the game. Compared with other sports the risk of injury is moderate, however there are a number of common injuries including: back pain, rotator cuff, knee pain and wrist strain.
One of the most frequent injuries seen in the sport – golfer’s elbow or medial epicondylitis. Causes of golfer’s elbow include overuse or gripping the club too tightly for long periods of time. Preventingthe condition can be difficult, but there are certain things you can do to reduce the risk of it occurring. Most cases can be self-managed by reducing activity, simple exercises and pain relief.
A Kinesio Taping application like the one below using 2 strips of tape is commonly applied by therapists to help to relieve pressure and relax the muscles. In addition, you can use ice, massage and muscle stretches to relax the forearm after activity.
Comments