Play Better, Hurt Less: Mid-Summer Golf Injuries and How to Prevent Them

By Dr. John Mishock, PT, DPT, DC 

 

As summer rounds heat up, so do the aches and pains that come with repetitive swings, long days on the course, and limited recovery time. For many golfers, mid-season becomes the tipping point where minor tightness turns into nagging pain – or worse, sidelining injury.

While golf may not be considered a high-impact sport, the demands on the body are far from minimal. The golf swing is one of the most complex, high-speed, and asymmetrical movements in all of sports, putting tremendous strain on the spine, shoulders, elbows, wrists, and lower body.

At Mishock Physical Therapy & Associates, we see a consistent pattern of injuries each summer, many of which are preventable with the right approach to movement, mechanics, and training.

Common Mid-Summer Golf Injuries

The most frequently reported golf injuries include:

• Low Back Pain: Often caused by limited hip mobility, poor swing posture, or excessive repetition. Research shows that nearly 30% of all golf injuries affect the lower back (American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, 2021).
• Golfer’s Elbow: Medial epicondylitis results from repetitive strain, especially when grip strength and forearm flexibility are lacking.
• Rotator Cuff Strains: Weak shoulder stabilizers and poor sequencing can overload the rotator cuff during the backswing and follow-through phases of the swing.
• Wrist Tendinopathy: Mishits, tight grips, and poor impact mechanics can all aggravate wrist tendons.
• Knee and Achilles Irritations: Rotational torque and uneven terrain stress the lower extremity, particularly in fatigued or deconditioned players.

The Perfect Storm: Why Injuries Peak in Summer

Injury risk spikes mid-season for several reasons:

• Increased volume of play without enough rest or recovery.
• Swing fatigue, which causes loss of form and faulty mechanics.
• Dehydration and heat stress, which reduce focus and muscle performance.
• Lack of warm-up, which has been shown to significantly increase injury risk (Van Mechelen et al., 2022, BMC Sports Science, Medicine and Rehabilitation).

Performance and Prevention Go Hand-in-Hand

Injury prevention isn’t just about avoiding pain—it’s also about playing your best. Research has consistently demonstrated that strength training programs enhance both performance and safety. One study published in the Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research found that a seven-week golf-specific warm-up program increased clubhead speed by 24% while reducing complaints of soreness and injury.

A Smarter Approach: TPI-Based Evaluation

That’s why we’ve built our golf performance program around the Titleist Performance Institute (TPI) model. As certified TPI providers, we utilize a system that evaluates how your body influences your swing, identifying mobility, strength, and coordination issues that can contribute to injury and limit your performance.

The TPI screen has been shown to reduce injury risk by nearly 30% when integrated into a golf-specific rehab and training plan.

Here’s what we offer at Mishock Physical Therapy:

• Comprehensive TPI movement screening
• Manual therapy and chiropractic care for mobility
• Personalized exercise programs for strength and control
• Collaboration with your golf coach to optimize mechanics

It’s Not Too Late to Finish the Season Strong

If you’re dealing with nagging pain, don’t wait for it to become a bigger problem. Our team can help you recover quickly, correct faulty mechanics, and return to the course feeling stronger and more confident.

And if you’re playing well but want to take your performance to the next level, a TPI golf screen may be the most valuable investment you make all year. To schedule your evaluation or learn more about our golf performance program, visit www.mishockpt.com or call our office today.

We can help!

If pain is limiting you from doing the activities you enjoy, give Mishock Physical Therapy a call: locations in Gilbertsville (610-327-2600), Skippack (610-584-1400) , Phoenixville (610-933-3371), Boyertown (610- 845-5000), Limerick (484-948-2800)  at www.mishockpt.com or request your appointment by clicking here.

Dr. Mishock is one of only a few clinicians with doctorate-level degrees in both physical therapy and chiropractic in the state of Pennsylvania. He has also authored two books; “Fundamental Training Principles: Essential Knowledge for Building the Elite Athlete”, “The Rubber Arm; Using Science to Increase Pitch Control, Improve Velocity, and Prevent Elbow and Shoulder Injury” both can be bought on Amazon or train2playsports.com.