golf-related injuries Archives - Relieve Foot Pain & Leg Pain

Want a better golf game but your feet hurt? Consider Orthotics

BioPed Footcare — Tue, 16 Jul 2024 20:27:40 +0000

Golf is a fantastic way to stay active, enjoy the outdoors, and challenge yourself. However, it’s not without physical demands, especially on your feet. Repetitive motions, overuse, and incorrect biomechanics can lead to various foot conditions that make it hard to enjoy the game.

Golf may seem like a low-impact sport, but the repetitive motions involved can lead to significant foot stress. Walking long distances, swinging, and standing for extended periods all contribute to potential foot pain. Here are some common conditions golfers face:

Morton’s Neuroma
Heel Pain
Tendonitis
Subungual Hematoma

So, what are the above injuries and how can you prevent or alleviate the pain associated with these conditions?

Morton’s Neuroma

This is a painful condition in the ball of the foot, usually between the third and fourth toes (metatarsal bones). It is a pinched nerve, and it can feel like walking on rocks, burning, numbness and tingling, or sometimes can cause a sharp pain. It is caused by repetitive stress from walking and is exacerbated by improper shoes (too tight).

Heel Pain

Several different conditions can cause heel pain, but the most common one is plantar fasciitis. Plantar fasciitis is inflammation of the soft tissue of the foot (the thick band of fascia that runs across the bottom of your foot near your arch). It can cause stabbing pain, and the pain is usually worse in the morning, but gradually “warms” up. It can turn into a dull, achy pain and can make walking difficult. The cause is usually overuse from the long walking on the golf course, poor biomechanics of the foot during gait, and can be worsened by improper footwear.

Tendonitis

Tendonitis is inflammation of the tendons, for golfers, the common location is the Achilles Tendon (large tendon on the back of the ankle). It can cause stiffness and pain in the back of the leg and ankle. Overuse of the lower limbs from too much walking, improper footwear, and improper swing mechanics can all contribute to the onset of tendonitis in one or both legs.

Subungual Hematoma

This condition involves bleeding and bruising under the toenail(s). It will make the toenail(s) appear dark in colour and can be the tip of the toenail or toe, or the entire toenail. It can be painful, and there is a potential for the nail to fall off depending on severity. It is caused by poorly fitting footwear that causes repetitive trauma of the toes hitting the front of the shoe.

Tips for prevention

Proper fitting footwear: Having properly fitting footwear is key to healthy feet. Having adequate room in the toe box (front of the shoe) will prevent squeezing of the nerves in the midfoot and toes. Having the correct size of shoe, especially length will also prevent the foot from rubbing, or hitting the front of the shoe. A BioPed clinician can measure your foot, and help you pick out the correct size of footwear so you can walk all 18 holes!

Stretching and Strengthening

Proper stretching and strengthening of the entire body will improve your mobility. Stretching before and after the game will help with muscle and tendon pain. It will help to ease tension in the legs and feet. Strengthening will help to improve your endurance and will help with joint pain.

Nail Care

Keeping your toenails trimmed will help prevent injuries and reduce pressure on the nail bed. A foot care nurse or Chiropodist can help ensure your feet are in tip-top shape to play many rounds of golf this season. They will not only make sure that your nails are trimmed; they will also reduce calluses and corns that can cause pain when walking and can help with other conditions, such as ingrown toenails or fungal infections (including athlete’s foot).

Orthotics

Orthotics can help to improve the biomechanics of the foot and reduce the strain on muscles and tendons of the lower limbs. Whether it is a custom orthotic or an over-the-counter orthotic, a BioPed clinician can help you reduce your pain significantly. They will work with you to come up with a custom solution for your unique feet.

Foot pain shouldn’t hold you back from enjoying your favourite game. By understanding common overuse injuries and taking proactive steps, you can manage and prevent foot problems effectively. Remember, if you are experiencing persistent pain, consulting a BioPed clinician for personalized advice and custom orthotics can make a world of difference. Keep your feet happy and stay on the green, ready to Do More and enjoy every round of golf to the fullest!

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Golf Injuries to the Feet, Knees and Legs

BioPed Footcare — Wed, 20 Jul 2022 11:01:02 +0000

Did you know that your golf swing can strain the muscles in your feet, legs, abdomen and back? Playing the game on a hilly terrain doesn’t help either, as it increases these forces, leading to a higher probability of injury. If biomechanical issues exist, these stresses will overload structures, predisposing you to overuse muscles and strain ligaments and tendons. Therefore, completing a proper warm-up with stretching exercises specific to golf can help injury prevention.

Other problems, such as tendonitis, capsulitis, and ligament sprains and pulls, can also keep a golf enthusiast back at the clubhouse. Improper shoes can also present issues as they cause blisters, neuromas (inflamed nerve endings) and other pains in the feet.

Injuries caused directly or indirectly by foot function?

Research indicates that recreational golfers tend to sustain more injuries than professional golfers.

The risk of injury also increases as you get older. Generally, overuse injuries tend to occur because the joint and tendon tissues become less able to withstand stress as we age.

Common conditions

Plantar fasciitis

Plantar fasciitis is the number one cause of heel pain. It’s frequently linked with a history that includes a sudden increase in activity, new footwear, transitioning from indoor to outdoor training or recent weight gain.

Plantar fasciitis pain is concentrated on the bottom centre of the heel, where the plantar fascia inserts onto the heel bone. The plantar fascia is a strong band of connective tissue attached to the bottom of the heel bone and extends to the toes. It acts as a truss or support for the arch and foot.

When the heel moves or rotates too much, or your arch is higher or low, there is increased stress on the plantar fascia, leading to microtearing off the bone. This microtearing causes inflammation and pain. Pain is typically worse when first getting up in the morning or after a period of rest.

The Orthosleeve FS6 helps ease and reduce swelling with 6 zones of compression to increase circulation and reduce inflammation.

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Massage balls can be effective in breaking up scar tissue that may have formed due to inflammation.

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Knee problems

Inflammation or pain in the knees is caused by the twisting motion of the golf swing and sometimes by walking in ill-fitting shoes. Rest, re-evaluating your swing and foot orthotics can help prevent knee injuries.

Shin splints

Pain in your lower leg muscles is commonly caused by excessive walking after a period of inactivity. It can also be due to over-pronation in the feet, putting excessive pressure on the lower leg.

Hallux limitus

Hallux Limitus is a condition in which the movement of the big toe becomes restricted, limiting the range of motion.

A prominence or bump can occur on the top of the big toe joint, restricting the range of motion and resulting in a ‘jamming’ of the joint. Jamming or deterioration of the big toe joint cartilage is caused by overextension during the follow-through. The joint swells, stiffen and limits its motion. Hallux Limitus can be so painful that it affects your walking and eventually hampers your swing.

Achilles tendonitis

These injuries occur when the tendon that connects the shin to the heel becomes inflamed or begins to degenerate. This condition is caused by wearing improper footwear, inflexible calf muscles and neglecting to stretch before a golf match. It is important, therefore, to wear adequately cushioned shoes with firm arch support, replacing worn-out shoes and stretching and strengthening your calf muscles.

Metatarsalgia

Metatarsalgia is a common cause of pain in the ball of the foot. This pain is characterized by a deep, dull or throbbing pain that occurs while sitting and standing. When you walk, the pain can be sharp.

Metatarsalgia causes swelling and inflammation near the joint of your second toe. People with a second toe that is longer than the big toe develop this condition at a higher rate than others.

Morton’s neuroma

Morton’s Neuroma is a painful condition that leads to foot and toe numbness or burning. It is caused when the tissues surrounding the nerve thicken or the nerve linked to the toes swells. People with Morton’s neuroma describe a sensation like standing on a pebble. Golfers commonly experience this condition, particularly if they walk a lot or wear tight golf shoes with little room for the toes to flex.

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