Arthritis And Golf

You are probably reading this article because you have arthritis, but don't worry, because that does not mean you need to give up golf! Phew, now that that is settled you can take a deep breath and start thinking about getting back on the course. Although you may have come here to find out how golf can help your arthritis, this article is mainly about how exercise can help. And golf is a great source of exercise, so they really go hand in hand. Golf is great for increasing your strength and your mobility. Research has shown that exercise is one of the best ways to improve your arthritis. Some of the things it can improve are your mood, your heart and blood flow, increased flexibility and decrease general pain.

Exercise like golf is excellent for reducing joint pain and your stiffness. It also helps build stronger muscles around your joints. One big problem caused by arthritis is inflammation and exercising reduces this. If you arthritis is so painful that walking the course or even swinging the club is not possible at this point, that is ok. That does not mean you will never play again, it just means you need to start off slower. The best place to start if you are in this kind of pain is the pool. In the water you will feel much less stress on your joints but will build strength and increase your range of motion. This is an important step to getting back on the course. Many gyms with pools will have aquatic exercise programs. Even just running in place in a pool is excellent exercise, because the water provides great resistance you don't get outside, but also doesn't apply the stress and pressure of running on a hard surface.

Getting back to golf, there are many things you can do to help make your golf game more comfortable. Many of which are the gear you choose. Wrist braces and gloves will definitely make swinging the club less painful for you by keeping your wrists and hands more stable. These are cheap items that you should purchase. Another gear change could be your shoes. Wearing shoes with no spikes will make your walking more comfortable. With arthritis, your swing speed may not be as fast as it once was so you might want to look into using lower compression balls.

So I am hoping that after reading through this short article you will see that you do not need to give up on golf if you have arthritis. Remember, if you are having too much pain to play, start off with easier, less stressful exercises like the pool or yoga. Once you are ready to get back on the course, go for it! The exercise you get from swinging the club and walking the course is great for your arthritis so don't stay off the course because you think you might put yourself in more pain. Staying active is what is going to make your body fight the pain and grow stronger.