Is It Normal For Hands To Hurt After Golf? Find Out

Golfers often face hand and wrist injuries, with the wrist getting hurt three times more than the hand¹. Hand and wrist injuries are the third most common in golf, after back and elbow injuries¹. If your hands and wrists hurt after golf, you’re not alone.

Common signs of golf-related hand and wrist injuries include feeling hot, swelling, stiffness, a small bump on the wrist, and feeling weak in the wrist and hand¹. These problems can come from different golf injuries, like wrist tendonitis, sprains, hamate bone fractures, and damaged blood vessels¹.

The leading wrist/hand (left side for right-handed players, right side for lefties) is most at risk, from either overuse or a bad swing². Risk factors for wrist injuries in golf include poor posture, being inactive, weak muscles, over-cocking the wrist, and bad golf swing mechanics¹.

Table of Contents

Key Takeaways

Hand and wrist injuries are common in golf, with the wrist being injured 3 times more frequently than the hand.
Symptoms of golf-related hand and wrist injuries include pain, swelling, stiffness, and weakness.
Risk factors for wrist injuries include poor posture, weak muscles, and improper swing mechanics.
Seeking professional help is crucial for treating and preventing further damage from golf-related hand and wrist injuries.
Proper warm-up, strength training, and technique refinement can help minimize the risk of hand and wrist injuries in golf.

Common Hand and Wrist Injuries in Golf

Golf is a popular sport that can take a toll on your hands and wrists. The hand and/or wrist is the third most common body region injured for most golfers, after the back and elbow². Wrist injuries in particular are three times more frequent than hand injuries in golf². Golfers lacking strength in their forearms are more prone to wrist and hand injuries², with the leading wrist/hand (left side for right-handed players, right side for lefties) being most at risk².

Tendonitis

One of the most common golf-related hand and wrist complaints is tendonitis, or inflammation of the tendons that cross the wrist². This is often treated with rest, splinting, ice, and anti-inflammatory medication.

Hook of the Hamate Fracture

Another distinctive golf injury is a fracture of the hook of the hamate bone in the wrist, which can cause pain, numbness, and tendon irritation³. This injury may require surgery to remove the broken bone fragment³.

Injuries in golf can result either gradually from overuse or from a traumatic blow, causing sprains or fractures². Tendonitis is the most common wrist/hand complaint in golf due to tendon inflammation², while other common injuries include golfer’s elbow, lateral epicondylitis, triangular fibrocartilage complex (TFCC) tears, and Hypothenar Hammer Syndrome²³.

Proper injury prevention and treatment are crucial for golfers to maintain their performance and enjoyment of the game. Understanding the common hand and wrist injuries associated with golf can help players take steps to prevent and manage these conditions²³.

Is It Normal for Hands to Hurt After Golf?

Many golfers feel hand and wrist pain after playing. This can come from bad grip technique, poor swing, overusing muscles, or not recovering well after the game¹. Some muscle soreness is okay, but if it’s bad or doesn’t go away, you might have an injury that needs a doctor.

The wrist gets hurt more often than the hand in golf, since golfers use their wrists a lot¹. Golf injuries usually happen from bad form, one big injury, or using the same muscles too much¹. Signs of golf injuries include feeling heat in the wrist, swelling, stiffness, and feeling weak in the wrist and hand¹.

About 85-90% of new golfers might feel their fingers and finger joints sore after hitting the driving range⁴. This often happens because they grip the club too tightly, which is common in beginners⁴. To avoid this, try to grip the club lighter, keep the grip pressure even, and use bigger grips if your hands are larger⁴. The golf swing works out muscles in a special way, making some muscles sore. This soreness usually goes away as you practice more and your muscles get used to it⁴.

To avoid hand and wrist injuries in golf, focus on the right grip, swing, and staying in good shape. Warming up, getting stronger, stretching, and improving your swing can lower the chance of overusing your muscles¹. Also, seeing a pro can help you get the right treatment and avoid more harm to your hand and wrist.

Elbow Injuries Caused by Golfing

The elbow is a common spot for golfers to get hurt⁵. Golfer’s elbow, or medial epicondylitis, is a painful condition on the inner elbow side from swinging a golf club⁵. It’s not just golfers who get it; tennis players and those with repetitive wrist movements can too⁵. Symptoms include pain, tenderness, stiffness, and numbness in the fingers, especially when swinging a golf club⁵.

Golfer’s Elbow or Medial Epicondylitis

⁵ This injury happens when muscles and tendons get damaged from too much stress or bad sports techniques⁵. It can also come from activities like tennis, weight training, or certain jobs⁵. Risk factors include being over 40, doing repetitive tasks for more than two hours daily, being overweight, and smoking⁵. To prevent it, strengthen your forearm muscles, stretch before playing, and use the right equipment⁵.

Lateral Epicondylitis

⁵ Lateral epicondylitis, or “tennis elbow,” is common in golfers too⁶. This overuse injury is getting more common in the US, affecting 19,856 patients from 2007 to 2014⁶. It often hits the right elbow of beginners who swing incorrectly⁶. Doing forearm exercises can help prevent it by warming up the muscles⁶.

⁶ To prevent golfer’s elbow, start slowly with your swing, use the right gear, and take lessons⁶. Rest your arm and stop the activity that caused the injury⁶. Then, try physical therapy or exercises to help the tendon heal⁶.

⁷ Golfer’s elbow, or medial epicondylitis, is from repetitive strain on the tendons on the inner elbow side⁷. It’s not just for golfers; people doing activities like gardening or bowling can get it too⁷.

⁷ Symptoms include pain on the elbow’s inside, stiffness, and numbness in the arm or fingers⁷. Activities like swinging a golf club or lifting weights can make it worse⁷.

⁷ Diagnosing golfer’s elbow involves a doctor’s review, physical check-up, and maybe x-rays for serious injuries⁷. Treatment includes rest, ice, stretching, physical therapy, and pain relievers⁷.

⁷ To prevent golfer’s elbow, stretch before and after activities, ice the area, and rest until pain goes away⁷.

Other Golfing-Related Injuries

Golfers often face injuries like hand, wrist, and elbow problems. But, they can also get TFCC tears, damage to blood vessels in the hand, and injuries from golf cart accidents⁸. These issues can keep players out of the game and need quick medical help.

Triangular Fibrocartilage Complex (TFCC) Tears

The TFCC is a key part of the wrist that helps with stability and cushioning. If it tears, it can cause ongoing wrist pain and might need surgery⁹. To avoid this, it’s key to swing right, keep your wrist flexible, and strong.

Damaged Blood Vessels

Some golfers get Hypothenar Hammer Syndrome, which harms blood vessels in the hand. This can cut off blood flow and cause pain, discoloration, and other signs⁸. It’s important to avoid putting too much stress or impact on your hand’s palm to prevent this.

Golf Cart Injuries

Golf cart accidents can also hurt golfers. They can lead to broken bones, head injuries, and serious harm⁸. Wearing seatbelts and not driving distracted can help lower the risk of these injuries.

Dealing with these golfing injuries, not just hand, wrist, and elbow ones, can help golfers avoid many problems. It’s smart to talk to a doctor to know your risks and how to prevent injuries⁸.

Treating Golf Injuries

If you’ve felt hand or wrist pain after golfing, you’re not alone. Golf-related pain makes up 10% of all wrist pain¹⁰. Conditions like Carpal Tunnel Syndrome¹⁰ and wrist tendinitis¹⁰ are common in golfers. It’s key to treat these injuries right to safely return to the game.

First, rest, ice, and anti-inflammatory medication are often the first steps. The RICE method (rest, ice, compression, and elevation) helps with wrist pain¹⁰. Over-the-counter pain relievers like NSAIDs can also reduce inflammation¹⁰.

For ongoing or serious injuries, you might need occupational and physical therapy. Physical therapy includes exercises to improve movement and strength¹⁰. A wrist brace can help with ongoing pain or prevent new injuries during golf¹⁰.

Severe injuries might need surgery¹⁰. Recovery times vary, but golfers can usually get back to putting and chipping in 6-8 weeks. Full swing activities may take 10-12 weeks¹¹ after certain wrist surgeries.

It’s important to see a doctor quickly if you’re experiencing wrist pain. Early action helps avoid more serious injuries. Golfers should stop playing and see a healthcare professional if they feel wrist discomfort¹⁰.

Conclusion

Hand, wrist, and elbow pain is common among golfers, but you can prevent and manage these injuries. By focusing on swing mechanics, physical conditioning, and post-game recovery, you can avoid overuse injuries¹². The lower back, elbow, and wrist are the most common injury sites, making up about 80% of all golf injuries¹².

Wrist injuries are especially common, affecting 13-20% of amateur and 20-27% of professional golfers¹². If you’re experiencing pain that doesn’t go away, it’s crucial to see a doctor to find out what’s causing it¹². Wrist injuries can happen from hitting something other than the ball, like rocks in the rough¹².

They can also come from a single forceful swing or repeated strain, leading to muscle, ligament, or bone injuries¹². By focusing on golf injury prevention, you can safely return to the game and keep enjoying it¹³. Studies like Murray AD, Daines L, Archibald D, Hawkes RA, Schiphorst C, Kelly P, Grant L, Mutrie N’s review show golf’s benefits for health¹³. McCarroll JR, Gioe TJ’s research in Phys Sportsmed highlights the physical challenges golfers face.