More than 70% of the sample stated that they never or seldom warmed up, while a mere 3.8% reported warming up on every occasion they played. Golfers claiming to warm up stated that they generally performed stretches (89.6%), ball hits (27.1%) or air swings (23%), with only 0.2% performing aerobic exercise.

The most common reasons given for warming up included:

• To play better (74.5%)
• To prevent injury (27%)
• Because everyone else does (13.2%)

Common reasons for not warming up were:

• Don't need to (38.7%)
• Don't have enough time (36.4%)
• Can't be bothered (33.7%)

The Australian researchers point out that, according to emergency departments and sports medicine clinics, golfers commonly suffer sprains and other overuse injuries as well as traumatic acute injuries, falls and impacts with golf balls. Pro-golfers have a higher rate of injury (lifetime injury risk of 89% compared with 57-62% for amateurs), but amateurs tend to have less well-conditioned bodies and therefore place greater stress on their musculo-skeletal systems during the golf swing.

A correct warm-up is important for injury prevention, often players are not in good physical condition which contributes to the risk injury. Performing a golf specific warm-up will significantly reduce the liklihood of any injury occuring.

An appropriate warm-up for golfers would include aerobic exercise to raise body temperature, followed by stretching the hands, wrists, forearms shoulders, lower back, chest, trunk, hamstrings and groin. The warm-up would conclude with a series of golf swings with progressive increases in the range of movement and vigour.

In the Australian, golfers who claimed to know what sort of warm-up reduced injury risk were more likely to warm up than those who didn't. And the researchers conclude: 'Knowledge of the injury prevention benefits of warming up appears to be a significant motivator of positive attitudes and behaviours. Different educational strategies are likely to be needed to combat the range of negative behaviours and attitudes.'

Edited by Alan Ruddock

Courtesy of PPonline.co.uk

References

Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport 6 (2):210-215