| Everyone talks about golf-induced pain, but | | | | occurring. |
| foot injuries are hardly ever discussed. Most | | | | |
| people just try to limp around the course, | | | | 3. Shin Splints: Pain in the muscles of the |
| ride a cart or just throw their swing off and | | | | lower leg is usually caused by excessive |
| increase their stress when their feet hurt! | | | | walking after a period of inactivity. It can |
| Over 45 million Americans participate in | | | | also be caused by over pronation in the feet, |
| amateur golf. A full round of golf affords | | | | putting excessive pressure on the lower leg. |
| the opportunity for a close to 5 mile workout | | | | |
| that can reduce stress and improve your | | | | 4. Heel/Arch Pain: Plantar fasciitis is very |
| cardiac health. Good foot action is the mark | | | | prevalent in all sports and commonly occurs |
| of an accomplished golfer and has been | | | | due to excessive pronation in the feet. |
| compared to intricate dance steps. Why is it | | | | Golfers will often complain of pain when |
| then that a golfer's feet get no respect? | | | | first rising in the morning and after periods |
| Addressing your foot biomechanics can add | | | | of rest. Pain will be located in the center |
| yards to your game and make your golf outing | | | | of the heel radiating along the arch. |
| much more enjoyable. | | | | |
| | | | 5. Achilles Tendonitis: Inflammation of the |
| During the golf swing the body acts as a | | | | Achilles tendon is caused by repetitive |
| whip, power production starts with the feet | | | | stress when pushing off or following through. |
| pushing against the ground. The foot pivots | | | | Your swing can really inflame this tendon |
| and provides intrinsic lateral movement to | | | | with excessive stress. |
| enable the hip to fully rotate around a fixed | | | | |
| leg position. Each foot moves differently | | | | 6. Hallux Limitis: Jamming and deterioration |
| during a golf swing, the back foot must allow | | | | of the big toe joint cartilage is caused by |
| for more pronation (rolling in to collapse | | | | overextension during the follow through. This |
| the arch) during the follow through of the | | | | can eventually cause the joint to swell, |
| golf swing than the front foot. | | | | stiffen and limit its motion. Hallux limitis |
| | | | can be so painful that it affects your |
| The anatomy of a biomechanically sound swing | | | | walking and eventually hampers your swing. |
| goes like this: During set-up, your weight | | | | |
| should be evenly distributed on both feet | | | | 7. Metatarsalgia - This term actually refers |
| with slightly more weight on the forefoot as | | | | to any pain in the forefoot region. This can |
| you lean over, and slightly more weight on | | | | be caused by excessive twisting which causes |
| the insides of both feet. Maintenance of | | | | painful blisters, calluses and sore joints. |
| proper foot alignment on the back swing is | | | | |
| critical for control of the downswing and | | | | 8. Morton's Neuroma - Inflammation of the |
| contact position. During the back swing, | | | | nerve in the ball of the foot in between the |
| weight should be shifted to the back foot; | | | | toes occurs from excessive twisting in your |
| it should be evenly distributed on the back | | | | swing. This can be very painful for golfers |
| foot or maintained slightly on the inside. | | | | who walk around the fairway and can often |
| | | | make their toes feel numb or have significant |
| As the back foot remains in a solid position | | | | burning pain. |
| on the back swing without any rolling to the | | | | |
| outside, the front foot is in turn rolling to | | | | Custom Foot Orthotics and Golfing Injuries |
| the inside. The front heel occasionally comes | | | | |
| off the ground to promote a full shoulder | | | | Orthotics allow a golfer's body to establish |
| turn. Completion of the back swing places the | | | | a better point of contact with the ground |
| weight on the back foot, evenly distributed | | | | when executing a golf swing. They will also |
| between forefoot and rear foot, with the | | | | stabilize your feet, evenly redistribute |
| weight left on the front foot rolling to the | | | | weight and correct your entire body posture |
| inside. | | | | during the golf swing. In recent research, it |
| | | | has been shown that the use of orthotics |
| The downswing involves a rapid shift of | | | | while playing golf improved balance in 71% of |
| weight from back to front foot; momentum | | | | participants. An impressive 50% felt that |
| brings the heel of the front foot down, and | | | | they were hitting the ball harder and 38% of |
| follow-though naturally causes a rolling of | | | | participants reported a lower golf score |
| the back foot to the inside and the front | | | | while using orthotics. This research suggests |
| foot to the outside. Golf should always be | | | | that orthotics can help golfers improve |
| played from the insides of the feet. | | | | balance, hit the ball harder and obtain a |
| | | | lower golf score. Why is everyone not taking |
| As you can imagine, healthy feet are critical | | | | this easy advantage to improve their swing? |
| to a successful golf game. Having | | | | |
| biomechanically sound, stable feet will | | | | Anyone who has a foot that is not able to |
| attain that goal! | | | | function normally due to biomechanical |
| | | | conditions such as excessive pronation or |
| What kinds of injuries are seen in golf that | | | | supination can achieve a state of optimal |
| are caused directly or indirectly by foot | | | | biomechanics with custom foot orthotics from |
| function? | | | | your podiatrist. Orthotics not only allow |
| | | | your feet to function better, but they also |
| 1. Lower Back Pain: This is the most common | | | | can prevent and treat a variety of painful |
| golf injury. Pain and stiffness in the back | | | | injuries that can affect your concentration |
| and neck are usually caused by the twisting | | | | and ultimately your golfing handicap. |
| motion of the golf swing as the shoulders | | | | Bringing painful knees, legs, feet or an |
| rotate around the hips. This twisting of the | | | | aching lower back to the fairway can prevent |
| torso in a coil fashion can put enormous | | | | you from playing to the best of your golfing |
| pressure on the vertebrae, muscles and | | | | potential. |
| ligaments of the spine especially during the | | | | |
| recovery phase. Indeed when one addresses the | | | | And don't forget the shoes! Before you leave |
| ball, the bent back puts the golfer in a most | | | | the store, make sure your golf shoes fit |
| vulnerable position. A very common, yet | | | | well. Shop in the afternoon when your feet |
| insidious cause of lower back pain is over | | | | are slightly swollen so the fit will be |
| pronation in the feet. Even a slight postural | | | | accurate. Wear the socks you play in to try |
| misalignment caused by over pronation can | | | | on the new shoes. This also helps you get the |
| lead to back pain. | | | | right fit. Don't buy anything you wouldn't |
| | | | wear on a long walk, remember the close to 5 |
| 2. Knee Problems: Inflammation or pain in the | | | | miles you will be walking on the course! |
| knees is caused by the twisting motion of the | | | | |
| golf swing and sometimes by walking in ill | | | | Bottom line: If you want to improve your |
| fitting shoes. Rest, is again the best | | | | swing, lower your handicap and decrease your |
| medicine. However, a re-evaluation of one's | | | | stress level while playing golf; address your |
| swing and foot orthotics to realign the knee | | | | feet - your foundation! Do not ignore foot |
| can help prevent this condition from | | | | pain; it affects your entire game! |