Foot problems in golf
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A full round of golf can often add up to a 6.5 to 8 kilometer workout, which can cause some discomfort and pain in your feet. Painful and tired feet can affect your timing and balance enough to have a large impact on your swing, which can be reflected on the scorecard at the end of the round.
Common issues for golfers:
Plantar fasciitis (Heel Pain): Pain in the heel often indicates inflammation of the long band of tissue under the foot (plantar fascia). It presents as a sharp pain and discomfort predominantly in either the inside of the heal or along the arch. It is a common injury with golfers as they spend long periods of time on their feet.
Achilles Tendonitis: Achilles tendonitis it another common injury amongst golfers due to the higher forces that are being placed through your feet during the golf swing. It commonly causes inflammation and pain along the tendon.
Mortons Neuroma: Morton’s neuroma most commonly occurs in the golfer’s lead foot. When the weight is transferred onto the front leg the lead forefoot is placed into a inverted position. This position causes more pressure on the nerves within the intermetatarsal space. It presents as a tingling or burning sensation starting in the forefoot and shooting towards the toes.
Hallux rigidus: Hallux rigidus is a disorder of the joint located at the base of the big toe. It causes pain and stiffness in the joint, and with time, it gets increasingly harder to bend the toe. This condition can be caused and aggravated from repeatedly overextending the big toe during the golf swing follow through.
Lateral Ankle Pain: Due to the transfer of weight onto the lead foot inverting the forefoot, the structures on the lateral ankle like the peroneal muscles and lateral ligaments can become strained.
Depending on your Biomechanics certain tendons and ligaments in your legs are being overused and can be strained. This can result in pain and discomfort. It is Important that when choosing golf shoes, you choose shoes that provide comfort and Stability on the golf course. Custom-made orthotics for your golf shoes will improve posture and stabilize your feet, along with evenly distributing the pressure and forces throughout the feet, which can minimise your risk of overuse injuries in the lower limb. If your having any problems please contact our friendly staff at Coast Sport and make and appointment with one of our podiatrists, or book an appointment online via the button below.
Thanks to Coast Sport Podiatrist Will for preparing this post. You can find out more about Will here. Will practices as a Podiatrist at both Toukley (Toukley Family Practice) and Tuggerah (Tuggerah Medical Centre and Coast Sport).
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