WOODBURY, Minn. - At Tria Orthopedic in Woodbury they're set up using cameras to take a detailed analysis of your golf swing.
“Pretty extensive screening process where we look at your body's range of motion, your flexibility, your ability to do certain tasks that you might be surprised make a difference in your golf swing,” says Matt Hofkens, Sports Medicine Physician at Tria.
Hofkens says the lower back is usually the most common place golfers experience pain. According to him, the key to avoiding injury on the golf course is knowing your body.
“Understanding what your body can do and what it can't do and then trying to match your body up to what your golf swing does is an important way to prevent injury and to enjoy the sport a whole lot more,” Hofkens says.
While they can help figure out how your swing might be causing strain in your body, Hofkens says don't underestimate the power of a good warmup before you tee off. “Maybe five or ten shots before. Understanding how your body feels that day is important too. We all feel different on different days,” he says.
According to Hofkens, some pain can be par for the course after you play 18, but if that pain lingers for two or three days after, it might be a good time to get it checked out.
Keeping your body in good shape year round can help keep you out of the doctor’s office.
“There are so many things you can do to improve your core flexibility, improve your shoulder flexibility, improve your spine flexibility in the off season that are a lot of fun and will get you in shape for other things, as well, without having to pick up a golf club,” Hofkens says.
