The Most Common Golf Injuries I Treat in Scottsdale (And How to Avoid Them)
One of the reasons I love practicing physical therapy in Scottsdale is that golf is a year-round sport.
On any given day, there are people playing at TPC Scottsdale, Grayhawk Golf Club, Troon North Golf Club, or one of the dozens of other incredible courses throughout the Valley.
Golf is often viewed as a low-risk sport compared to football, basketball, or soccer.
And while it's certainly lower impact, that doesn't mean it's injury-free.
In fact, golf injuries are incredibly common.
The challenge is that most golf injuries don't occur from one traumatic event. They develop gradually over time through thousands of swings, mobility restrictions, strength deficits, and movement compensations.
As a physical therapist, I treat golfers of all ages and skill levels. From weekend warriors to competitive players, the injuries tend to follow some familiar patterns.
The good news?
Most of them are preventable.
Why do golfers get injured?
A golf swing is one of the most athletic movements many adults perform.
Think about what's happening during a swing:
Rotation through the spine
Rotation through the hips
Force production through the legs
Rapid acceleration and deceleration
Significant stress through the shoulders, elbows, and wrists
Now repeat that 70 to 100 times in a single round.
Then do it multiple times per week.
The body can absolutely handle those demands—but only if it has the mobility, strength, and control to do so.
Research published in The Journal of Sports Medicine has consistently shown that limited mobility and physical conditioning are strongly associated with golf-related injuries.
Low Back Pain
This is the undisputed champion of golf injuries.
Low back pain is by far the most common golf-related complaint I treat.
Many golfers lack the hip mobility and thoracic spine mobility necessary to rotate efficiently.
When that happens, the lower back often absorbs stress it was never intended to handle.
Over time, irritation develops.
Research has repeatedly shown that golfers with low back pain often demonstrate reduced hip mobility and altered movement mechanics compared to healthy golfers.
When I evaluate golfers with back pain, I'm almost always looking at the hips first.
Treatment frequently includes:
Hip mobility work
Thoracic mobility exercises
Core strengthening
Dry needling
Spinal and joint mobilization
Swing-related movement assessment
Golfer's Elbow
Despite the name, golfer's elbow is not exclusive to golfers.
But it is extremely common among them.
Repeated gripping and swinging place significant stress on the tendons along the inside of the elbow.
Initially, symptoms may only occur after a round.
Eventually, everyday activities such as lifting a coffee mug or shaking hands can become painful.
Treatment often includes:
Dry needling
Shockwave therapy
Progressive strengthening
Grip strength training
Shoulder and scapular strengthening
One of the biggest mistakes golfers make is continuing to hit balls while completely ignoring the strength deficits contributing to the problem.
Shoulder Pain
The golf swing places substantial demands on the shoulders.
Particularly the lead shoulder.
Common diagnoses include:
Rotator cuff tendinopathy
Shoulder impingement
Biceps tendon irritation
Shoulder stiffness
One thing I frequently find is that the shoulder isn't necessarily the primary problem.
Limited thoracic mobility and poor scapular control often force the shoulder to compensate.
This is why treatment typically focuses on the entire movement chain rather than simply the painful area.
Hip Pain
As golfers age, hip mobility often becomes one of the biggest performance-limiting factors.
Unfortunately, it can also become one of the biggest pain generators.
Hip impingement, arthritis, and mobility restrictions are common findings among golfers who struggle with rotation.
Many golfers are surprised to learn how much easier the swing feels once hip mobility improves.
Treatment often includes:
Aggressive capsular mobilization
Long-axis traction
Mobility exercises
Glute strengthening
Hip stability training
Because if the hips aren't moving, something else is going to compensate.
And that "something else" is often the low back.
What does the research say about injury prevention?
One of the most interesting findings in golf injury research is that many injuries appear to be related more to physical limitations than swing mechanics alone.
A golfer with adequate mobility, strength, and conditioning can often tolerate less-than-perfect mechanics.
A golfer with poor mobility and poor strength often struggles even with a technically sound swing.
Research published in The British Journal of Sports Medicine continues to support strength training and mobility work as important components of injury prevention for golfers.
The strongest golfers aren't necessarily the best golfers.
But resilient golfers tend to stay on the course longer.
How I help golfers at Modern Movement
When golfers come into my clinic, the goal isn't simply getting rid of pain.
The goal is helping them continue playing golf.
That often involves a combination of:
Dry needling
Shockwave therapy
Joint mobilization
Mobility training
Strengthening
Movement assessment
Return-to-play progression
I want golfers moving better, feeling better, and ideally hitting the ball a little farther in the process.
Not a bad bonus.
The bottom line
Golf may not look physically demanding from the outside, but the body would disagree.
The repetitive nature of the golf swing creates unique stresses that can lead to injury when mobility, strength, and recovery are neglected.
At Modern Movement Physical Therapy in Scottsdale, I help golfers address the underlying factors contributing to pain so they can continue enjoying the game for years to come.
Because golf is a lot more fun when you're thinking about your next shot—not your back, shoulder, or elbow.
Take good care of your body, it's the only one you have.
Yours in health,
Dr. Michael Price