Foot Pain Ruining Your Golf Swing?
The barrier to a perfect golf swing could lie in your big toe. Or
your heel. Or on the ball of your foot. Experts with the American
College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons (ACFAS) say these are the three
areas of your feet most likely to cause pain that can ruin your golf
swing.
Behind these pain-prone spots can lie stiff joints, stretched-out
tissues and even nerve damage. But pain relief is possible and
frequently does not require surgery.
The three most common painful foot conditions that can ruin your golf swing are heel pain, arthritis and pinched nerves.
-- Arthritis can cause pain in the joint of your big toe that makes it difficult to follow-through on your golf swing.
-- Heel pain typically results from an inflammation of the band of
tissue that extends from your heel to the ball of your foot. People
with this condition compare the pain to someone jabbing a knife in
their heel. Heel pain can make it uncomfortable for golfers to maintain
a solid stance during crucial portions of their golf swing.
-- Neuromas, according to FootPhysicians.com, are nerves that become
thickened, enlarged and painful because they've been compressed or
irritated. A neuroma in the ball of your foot can cause significant
pain as your body transfers its weight from one foot to the other in a
golf swing.
Several other painful conditions can also make the perfect swing
difficult. Ankle arthritis or ankle instability can affect the proper
weight shift during the golf swing. Some athletes and former athletes
develop chronic ankle instability from previous ankle sprains that
failed to heal properly. Achilles tendonitis can also contribute to
balance-threatening instability during your golf swing. Ill-fitting
golf shoes may cause corns and calluses that make standing
uncomfortable.
For the majority of golfers and other patients, treatments are simple
and involve custom orthotic devices (shoe inserts), stretching
exercises, changes to your shoes, medications, braces or steroid
injections and physical therapy, depending on the condition and its
severity. However, if these conservative measures fail to provide
adequate relief, surgery may be required.
"Foot pain is not normal. With the treatment options available to your
foot and ankle surgeon, a pain-free golf swing is clearly in view,"
says Daniel J. Hatch, DPM, FACFAS, president-elect of the ACFAS. "When
your feet aren't in top condition, your golf swing won't be either."
The American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons (ACFAS) is a
professional society of more than 6,000 foot and ankle surgeons.
Founded in 1942, the College's mission is to promote research and
provide continuing education for the foot and ankle surgical specialty,
and to educate the general public on foot health and conditions of the
foot and ankle through its consumer website, http://www.footphysicians.com.
American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons
http://www.footphysicians.com
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