Are You Golfing Through Pain? Here’s Why That’s a Bad Idea
Playing through pain isn’t a sign of toughness. It’s a fast track to injury.
Golfers, listen up! That nagging ache in your elbow, twinge in your lower back, or discomfort during your swing may seem minor now, but ignoring it could affect more than just your current round; it could impact your long-term game and mobility.
In this blog, we’ll explore why playing through pain is risky, how imbalances, not just overuse, lead to injury, and how a movement assessment can help you address issues before they become serious setbacks.
The Risks of Playing Through Pain
Golf is often perceived as a low-impact sport, but the repeated rotation, bending, and gripping required in every round can take a toll, especially if you're pushing through discomfort.
Research shows that musculoskeletal injuries in golf are common, particularly in the lower back, elbow, shoulder, and wrist areas. Ignoring pain often leads to chronic issues such as:
Golfer’s Elbow (medial epicondylitis)
Chronic lower back pain
Shoulder impingements and rotator cuff injuries
Wrist tendonitis
Pain is your body’s warning system. Playing through it doesn’t make you stronger. Instead, it causes the body to compensate, which can lead to larger and more long-term problems.
It’s Not Just Overuse—It’s Imbalance
While overuse injuries are common, underlying movement dysfunctions or muscular imbalances often drive them.
For example:
Limited thoracic spine rotation may cause you to overuse your lower back.
Weak glutes can lead to overcompensation in the hamstrings and lower spine.
Poor shoulder mobility can strain the elbows and wrists.
A study published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine showed that swing mechanics and improper body movement are major contributors to injury in golfers, more so than the volume of play itself. This highlights the importance of addressing how you move, not just how much.
The Role of a Movement Assessment
Before you reach for another round of ibuprofen or assume pain is just part of playing golf, consider this: a movement assessment can detect the root cause of your discomfort before it becomes a bigger issue.
At PerformanceAbove, we use specific assessments to evaluate:
Your movement mechanics
Joint mobility
Muscle imbalances
Core strength and balance
From there, we design a personalized plan to correct the dysfunctions, improve performance, and prevent injury. As one study put it: “Identifying biomechanical deficiencies and addressing them through corrective exercise is crucial to long-term injury prevention.”
Don’t Push Through Pain. Play Smarter!
If you're feeling discomfort during or after a round, don’t ignore it. Pain is feedback, and responding to it the right way can extend your time on the course, not limit it.
Whether you’re an avid golfer or a weekend warrior, taking time to assess and address your movement can make a big difference in your long-term health and performance.
Ready to Move Better, Play Stronger, and Stay Pain-Free?
Book a movement assessment today and discover how you can play smarter—not harder.
Blog References:
McHardy, A., Pollard, H. (2005). Golf and upper limb injuries: A summary and review of the literature. Chiropractic & Osteopathy, 13(1).
McCarroll, J. R., & Gioe, T. J. (1982). Professional golfers and the price they pay. The Physician and Sportsmedicine, 10(4), 64-70.
Hosea, T. M., & Gatt, C. J. (1996). Back pain in golf. Clinics in Sports Medicine, 15(1), 37–53.
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