El Dr. Millett se pronuncia sobre las lesiones frecuentes en la práctica del Golf.
Si Usted se encuentra entre los millones de Estadounidenses que jugaron al golf el último año, sin duda sabe que el deporte esta ganando popularidad. Pero con la popularidad viene un efecto adverso poco afortunado, si bien no inesperado: las lesiones relacionadas con el golf. Tanto si Usted esta intentando evitar el río que rodea el tee número 16 en el Club Roaring Fork como si recorre las 7,156 yardas del Club de Golf de Aspen, la violenta rotación de un swing puede dañar su cuerpo.
The goal of a golf swing is to use the large muscles of the legs, back, and trunk to produce the kinetic energy that drives the arms through the ball. It may be simple physics, but it takes incredible control to keep all those body parts working in harmony. Pro golfers, who can take as many as 2,000 swings in a week, are susceptible to overuse injuries of the spine, shoulders, and wrists. For the weekend warrior, poor mechanics can add hands and elbows to the list of swingrelated injuries.
Luckily, there are a number of treatments from arthroscopic surgery to joint replacements that can remedy those injuries and get you back on the course in remarkably little time. (The bonus: A recent study found that more than two-thirds of recreational golfers who had shoulder- replacement surgery improved their scores by almost five strokes!) After most surgeries, a player can return to chipping and putting within six to eight weeks. The irons can be taken out at three months. Regular, full-intensity play can usually resume at six months.
Rehabilitation, of course, is key. The program should focus on the biomechanical aspects of one’s swing, something that can be done in consultation with a physiatrist, a physical therapist, and a golf pro. By retooling the entire swing, or simply shortening the backswing or follow-through to diminish forces placed on the body, a player can prevent the injuries from recurring. It may be hard work, but when the sun’s shining, the fairways are freshly mowed, and the greens are smooth, it will all be worth it.
Peter J. Millett, M.D. Dr. Millett is an orthopedic surgeon at the Steadman Clinic in Vail, Colorado.
