We have seen a higher incidence in golf-related injuries. The movements in golf is still poorly understood, especially the mechanics of the legs and feet. Before your next swing, think of your feet! Here’s why:
How are golf and your feet related?
A golf swing is a difficult to execute and a highly coordinated full body motion, with significant differences across individuals. Ideally, it is made up of a good stance, posture and grip. Any slight issue in your feet can easily affect your timing and balance when hitting the golf ball. The legs and feet play important roles in controlling the pivoting movements and stabilizing the trunk and upper body as a golfer takes his swing. If there is poor biomechanical alignment during the execution of the golf swing, the golfer can easily injure himself or herself..
What are the common foot injures from playing golf?
A typical round of golf lasts 3 – 4 hours and the golfer will clock around 8 – 10km of walking. As golf is a non-contact sport, most injuries reported are due to muscle overuse or repetitive strains. The most common foot injuries from playing golf are blisters, nerve irritation, ankle sprains and heel pain. Carrying the heavy golf bag can also lead to back, shoulder and ankle problems.
Do you need Customized Insoles when playing golf?
Body movement from head to toe is often asymmetrical during golf. Poor alignment on either side of your legs can cause injuries. If you get pains or aches when playing golf, it is important to be assessed by a skilled Podiatrist. The podiatrist will have to assess and consider the mechanics of each individual leg and foot before prescribing insoles for golfers.
Often, off-the-shelf insoles may not be sufficient in correcting foot posture in the golf swing due to the difference in motion between the right and the left foot. Incorrectly-prescribed insoles or wearing inappropriate footwear for golf can cause excessive loading on the outer foot towards the end of the golf swing. This may increase the risks of an injury. Well-prescribed customized insoles by a Podiatrist are often required to manage golf-related issues in the lower limbs.
Benefits of Customized Insoles
- Ability to address the biomechanical alignment issues in each individual foot.
- Highly effective in reducing fatigue in the legs and feet.
- Improves the stability of your posture, resulting in increased power of your drive,allowing the ball to travel further.
- Improves consistency and overall performance of a golfer.
What should one look out for when buying Golf shoes?
Wearing proper golf shoes is essential for the sport. Golf shoes are constructed using basic principles of athletic footwear and the specific biomechanical principles of golf. A well-designed golf shoe should have the following requirements:
- Fastening mechanism around the ankle (ideally laces).
- Stable outsole with good traction (grip) on a variety of golfing surfaces.
- Rigid shank for support: the shoe should only bend in the forefoot area where the foot bends for toe-off.
- Denser lateral (outer side) midsole to prevent excessive forces on the lateral foot.
- Adequate room (width, depth and length) in the toe box to avoid crowding of toes and accommodate structural abnormalities.
Do not wear uncomfortable shoes!
When should you consult a specialist for golf-related injuries?
The golf swing is a highly complex, yet poorly understood sporting motion. Feeling aches or pains in any of your joints reflects an anomaly in your swing mechanics and these needs to be addressed as soon as possible. At Physio and Sole Clinic, we have an experienced team of both Physiotherapists and Podiatrists who will be able to thoroughly assess your entire body movement during golf, correctly diagnose your condition and prescribe the optimum treatment plan. More often than not, golf-related injuries will require a combination of customized insoles from a Podiatrist and a designated exercise regime by a Physiotherapist to improve your overall golf stance and posture.
