Is Golf Bad for Your Hips? [Maybe, but…]

• Playing golf sometimes results in strains and pains, like golf hip pain.
• Tension in the hip flexors or poor mechanics can cause stress on your body.
• Among golfers, two common causes of hip pain are muscle strain and hip bursitis.
• When playing golf, those who swing with their dominant (back) hip are more likely to develop hip bursitis.
• If you have bad mechanics or are tense in your hip flexors, rotating your hips will put even more strain on your body.
• A Reddit user suggests that keeping your hips rotating properly is key to preventing extra stress on your body.
• The best way to keep golf-related hip pain at bay is to focus on having proper mechanics and not over-rotating your hips.
• Immediately cease playing if you experience any hip pain, and consult a doctor or physical therapist.

I was introduced to my new friends at the golf club by a mutual acquaintance. We all hit it off immediately and started talking about our love of golf. We also shared stories of how our hips have been bothering us lately. It turns out we all share the same problem – tight hip flexors from playing golf.

We all agreed that we needed to do something about our hip pain, so we started researching what was causing it. We read articles, blogs, and forums and talked to our physical therapists. We all learned that poor mechanics or tension in the hip flexors could cause undue stress on your body. And that’s when we decided to take action.

We started stretching and foam regularly rolling and doing exercises to loosen up our hip flexors. It’s been a few weeks, and we’re already starting to feel better. Our swings are more fluid, and we’re hitting the ball further than ever.

I also love using kettlebells to increase my hip flexibility- scroll down for one of my favorite kettle bell hip opener exercises!

Is golf bad for your hips? Maybe, but only if you don’t rotate properly. By taking some simple steps to loosen up your hip flexors, you can avoid any pain or discomfort you might be feeling. So get out there and start swinging!

So, is golf actually bad for your hips?

Your hips matter a lot to the way you swing when you play golf. By rotating your hips, you can use all of your upper body power, and by engaging your hips on the downswing, you can increase the distance you cover by 15 to 20 yards.

Your shoulders and arms are then drawn into motion after your upper body. Since your hips are so important to your swing, it should be no surprise that hip pain is a widespread problem among golfers.

Hip discomfort or immobility while playing golf might affect your performance or, in the worst-case scenario, force you to miss time on the greens.

To keep you flexible, your hips must work really hard. Flexion and extension actions involve your muscles, in which you straighten your leg to put your foot back on the ground.

Flexion involves bringing your knee closer to your chest. Additionally, abduction (moving your leg out to the side and away from your body’s midline) and adduction (bringing your leg back toward the midline) are movements that are made possible by your hip muscles.

Your hamstrings and gluteus maximus, which allow you to move your legs side to side, are among the hip adductor muscles. Adduction and extension movements are moderately vigorous due to the strength of the hip adductors and extensors.

One of your major weight-bearing joints is the hip, yet even simple movement puts strain on your bones and muscles.

Although your hip joints are typically strong during everyday activities, golfing needs your hips to pivot and turn more than they are accustomed to, making them particularly prone to injury.

To counteract the stresses of repeated adduction, flexion, and extension, the motion of swinging a club also necessitates a lot of control in your gluteal and adductor muscles.

These stresses can be applied repeatedly when playing golf and result in injuries that make it difficult or impossible to continue.

Hip discomfort can have many different causes; however, muscle strains are frequently to blame. Hip arthritis and tears in the tough cartilage that covers the ends of the bones at the joint are other common causes of hip pain.

Arthritis is a disorder that causes excruciating joint inflammation, which can eventually lead to the hip bones breaking down and severely hamper your golf game.

In golf, you are urging your muscles to do one quick movement while also anchoring your body consistently. The muscle complex may get tense both on and off the golf course over time if there isn’t a correct release.

Your core will twist as they start to strain on your pelvic bone.

Common causes of hip pain after golf

First, before you do anything to ease or treat any hip flexor tightness, it is crucial to acquire a proper diagnosis of the underlying reason for your golf hip pain. Furthermore, this incorrect position weakens the muscles that surround the hip and spine, increasing the risk of injury.

In spite of the fact that hip tightness is extremely prevalent, you might not have acquired it from playing golf. But that hip discomfort can be becoming more noticeable due to your interest in golf.

Without you even realizing it, stress from your daily life may be affecting how well you play golf.

Preventing and Treating Hip Pain

Warming up your muscles before grabbing the clubs is one of the best methods to avoid hip injuries. The muscles that support your hip joint and socket can benefit from increased flexibility and strength, as well as using proper technique.

Utilizing good swing techniques and engaging in muscle-strengthening activities, particularly core exercises, can lower your risk of developing hip pain. Consult a golf professional to ensure you are swinging with the correct form.

Hip pain is frequently treatable at home with conservative measures like rest and ice. Anti-inflammatory medicines, massage, physical therapy, and hydrotherapy are a few other non-surgical options for treating hip discomfort.

To lessen hip discomfort and inflammation, your doctor might suggest cortisone injections.

I love kettlebells to deal with my hip pain

Kettlebell exercises are becoming more and more popular, thanks to their ability to improve strength, endurance, and flexibility. But many people still don’t know about all the amazing benefits that kettlebells can offer. For example, did you know that kettlebell exercises can help relieve hip pain from playing golf?

Hip pain is a common problem for golfers of all levels. The repetitive motion of swinging a club can cause pain in the hips, groin, and knees. Kettlebell exercises can help alleviate this pain by strengthening the muscles around the hips and improving flexibility.

Kettlebells are particularly beneficial for golfers because they combine both aerobic and anaerobic exercise. This combination is key for improving overall fitness and preventing injury on the golf course. Doing some kettlebell swings before your round can help warm up your muscles and prevent injuries.

There are many different kettlebell exercises that can help with hip pain from playing golf. One of the most effective is the single-leg deadlift. This exercise strengthens the glutes, hamstrings, and calves, which are all key muscles for stabilizing the hips.

If you’re looking for a challenge, try the single-leg deadlift with a kettlebell in each hand. This added weight will really work your muscles and help to build strength and power.

Another great exercise for relieving hip pain is the good morning. This move targets the hamstrings, glutes, and lower back, which are all key areas for stability and power.

Start by holding a kettlebell in each hand with your feet hip-width apart. Bend at the hips, keeping your back straight, and lower the kettlebells down to your shins. From here, stand up tall and squeeze your glutes at the top of the move.

Doing a few sets of these exercises a few times per week can make a big difference in your hip pain. You’ll start to see and feel results in no time!