Mar 21

Golf Tip: Golfers Need to Strengthen Rotator Cuff to Prevent Injury

Many golfers do not pay attention to the function of their rotator cuff and its critical role in the golf swing until they’ve had an injury to that area. Golfer can develop tendinitis, bursitis, and tears in the rotator cuff due to the repetitive motion of the golf swing and from weak muscles.

The best prevention is to strengthen the shoulders. The following exercises will strengthen the muscles that comprise the rotator cuff:

1. External Rotations-Lay on your side, supporting your head with your hand. Place your elbow on your hip and bend your arm in a 90-degree angle with palm facing the ground. Using a light hand weight, lift and lower your arm, rotating your shoulder through a complete range of motion. Do 20 to 25 repetitions on both shoulders.

2. Internal Rotations-Lay on your side, your head supported by pillows or a rolled up towel. Holding a hand weight, place your arm in a 90-degree angle, with your upper arm resting on the ground and your palm facing the sky. Raise your arm up and down, rotating your shoulder through a complete range of motion. Do 20 to 25 repetitions on both shoulders. Increase the weight as you progress.

Find out how you can retool your swing after rotator cuff surgery in my latest article in the March/April may edition of Golf Fitness Magazine available at newsstands everywhere.

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6 comments

Comment from: Steve Wozeniak PGA [Visitor]

As an Instructor you should be teaching your students how to swing with absolutely NO PRESSURE on the rotator cuff!! Bad instruction is why people have torn rotator cuffs, bad backs and aching joints. In all GREAT swings players have no pressure on the cuffs.
Steve Wozeniak PGA Director of Instruction Bellevue/Lake Spanaway Golf Courses
www.stevewozeniak.com

03/22/08 @ 20:50

Comment from: Steve Wozeniak PGA [Visitor]

Was in Barnes/Noble today and read it as requested.

MY GOSH swing plane has nothing to do with taking pressure off of the rotator cuff!! Baseball players get torn rotator cuff's with crappy swings and they have a flat swing plane. Players must keep the arm connected to the shoulder which INCLUDES the Pec and Lat muscles which you touched on. The key to taking pressure off is players MUST hinge the left elbow while keeping the arm Connected at 100 miles per hour. Simple Physics dictate this not me!! Anybody can do this with an upright or flat swing if they learn the simple fundementals that are in ALL great swings. Steve Wozeniak PGA Director of Instruction Bellevue/Lake Spanaway Golf Courses
www.stevewozeniak.com

03/28/08 @ 17:10

Comment from: Heated Shoulder Pads [Visitor]

not going close to anyone or not living existence. Why would anybody want to avoid it? It only makes you enhance and turn out to be much better.

07/27/10 @ 00:42

Comment from: Frozen Shoulder relief [Visitor]

My advice is just don't consider on board the negative comments that other make by knowing it is her problem not yours.

07/27/10 @ 11:41

Comment from: shoulder and neck pain therapy [Visitor]

If it's 'constructive' and 'criticism', it's an Oxymoron. Nevertheless, 'constructive' is a tag picked up voluntarily and the process is purely subjective. If ever someone feels hurt, he ought to leave the field to the others. There is a concept called 'Swakucha mardanam' that implies self-gratification (because none else is coming forward to do it, without hurting). A discussion or even a forum for it permits no self-centered human emotions.

08/02/10 @ 02:52

Comment from: Pedro Cyfers [Visitor]

You gave tremendous positive points there. I did a search on the topic and found most peoples will agree with your blog. And it can be even more fun to have a debate or a discussion about the things you disagree on.

09/06/10 @ 19:32

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