When You Experience Joint Pain

While playing golf has many health benefits, the activity can sometimes place strain on your joints — specifically your hips and knees, causing pain and other problems.

The most common cause of hip pain in golfers is due to the rotational movement required when you swing your club. It usually feels like pain in the groin or buttock, and it sometimes radiates down the thigh to the knee. People with hip arthritis find this type of rotation quite painful, says Dr. Amy Wasterlain, a Middlesex Health orthopedic surgeon.

If you do experience hip pain, Dr. Wasterlain says that non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs like ibuprofen, naproxen, Advil, Motron or Aleve can help. They are effective in reducing and alleviating hip pain because they have anti-inflammatory effects.

“It’s hard to avoid the twisting movement required to swing a club,” Dr. Wasterlain adds. “If you do experience pain while golfing, your best bet may be to play nine holes at a time and minimize walking between holes.”

If the pain is persistent, you should see a doctor. Your hip is an essential joint, and it directly impacts your mobility.

There following are a few common signs that can help you determine if hip surgery is needed and the right choice for you:

• Groin pain, which can sometimes travel down the thigh into the knee
• Pain when doing basic activities, such as going up and down stairs, getting in and out of a car or putting on your shoes and socks
• Stiffness in your hip
• Pain when participating in rotational activities, such as playing golf

“Hip replacement can be a fantastic surgery because it restores your quality of life with a relatively easy recovery compared to other types of surgery,” says Dr. Wasterlain, who uses an anterior, minimally invasive approach when replacing hips that only requires a small incision on the front of the hip.

And there’s more good news.

If you do need hip replacement surgery, you will be able to golf again. Your game may even improve!

“Many of my patients find that their golf game improves significantly after a hip replacement, Dr. Wasterlain says. “Hip replacement eliminates the stiffness and pain that many golfers experience when they swing the club.

Dr. Wasterlain also cites a recent research study to back her findings. The study found that 88 percent of competitive golfers felt their drive distance improved after having hip replacement surgery. Golfers’ handicaps decreased by two points after surgery, and pain improved from 7 out of 10 to 2.5 out of 10.

That same research study showed that golfers were back to putting just two months after surgery and back to playing a competitive game of 18 holes after four months. Some of Dr. Wasterlain’s patients have reported being back on the course even sooner.

What about your knees?

When it comes to mobility, your knees are very important too!

Rotational motion when swinging a club and walking the course can cause knee pain when golfing. Like with hip pain, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs can help, as well as minimizing the distance you walk.

If your knee pain persists for more than two weeks, is associated with swelling and does not improve with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, a trip to the doctor’s is recommended.

Dr. Wasterlain says there are many conversative treatment options, such as prescription non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs like Meloxicam or Celebrex. There are also topical non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and cortisone shots, which can help reduce symptoms for about three months.

When conversative treatments no longer work, and if your X-ray shows arthritis, surgery may be an option. Surgical options may include arthroscopy, a minimally invasive outpatient procedure; a partial knee replacement; or a total knee replacement. Middlesex Health surgeons use a variety of minimally invasive techniques to ensure the most accurate placement and the speediest recovery.

When can you get back on the golf course after a knee surgery? Dr. Wasterlain says you should be able to do easy putting by about four weeks after your surgery and nine holes by about eight to 10 weeks. The hope is that you are back to playing a full 18 holes after about three months of recovery.

The Bottom Line

Your joints are important both when playing golf and throughout your daily life. It is important that you take good care of them and see a doctor if you experience regular pain.

For more information about Middlesex Health’s orthopedic services, click here.

Featured Provider