Golf Knee Injuries
Quick Links:
Cartilage Tears – Ligament Injuries – Wear & Tear (Osteoarthritis) – Book Your Appointment
Knee injuries are surprisingly common on the golf course but most respond to simple treatment and rehabilitation.
As with all knee injuries, the quicker you seek diagnosis by a knee specialist, the clearer the treatment plan and the better the outcome is likely to be.
Knee Meniscus ‘Cartilage’ Tears
What Is The Meniscus?
Your knees each have two menisci which are crescent-shaped and in some ways act as shock absorbers. Although they are often described as ‘cartilage’ this is not strictly accurate.
How Common Are Meniscus Tears In Golf?
Very common. Meniscus tears may not be the most common golfing injury, but they are believed to the sport’s most common knee injury.
That may come as a surprise. After all, it’s easy to assume that knee meniscus tears only occur in sports that involve rapid, twisting movements. Unfortunately, the reality is more mundane. The rotational movement of your golf swing, or simply squatting down to line up a putt or remove the ball from the hole can be enough to tear through the knee meniscus.
What Are The Symptoms Of A Meniscal Tear?
You may not notice any symptoms for a few days until the knee starts to swell. You may not even remember the cause of the initial injury. Yet a torn meniscus can be painful, occasionally causing catching/locking sensations that may make it harder to enjoy – or even participate – in golf and other activities.
How Do You Treat Meniscal Tears?
At Yorkshire Knee Clinic, we use a knee arthroscopy (a type of keyhole surgery technique) to treat meniscus injuries if they fail to settle with simple measures.
Knee Ligament Injuries
Minor (and on rare occasions major) knee ligament injuries can be caused by slipping on wet grass or stumbling in the rough.
The effects can vary, ranging from the most common ligament injury, medial collateral (down the inside of the knee) to cruciate ligament damage which, although rare, can leave the knee feeling unstable and liable to give way.
Wear & Tear (Osteoarthritis)
Is Golf Likely To Increase Or Reduce The Risk Of Developing Osteoarthritis?
There is growing evidence that gentle to moderate activity has a positive – and potentially even regenerative – effect on the knee. Whilst that may not prevent you developing osteoarthritis in the long term, it could help delay the onset or slow progression.
In general, golf should not trigger osteoarthritis unless you suffer a golfing knee injury (e.g. tearing your ACL) which could then increase the likelihood of the knee wearing out early.
What Are The Symptoms Of Osteoarthritis?
On the golf course, you’re likely to feel the first signs of wear in the knee as a gradually developing discomfort, swelling and stiffness which can spoil the enjoyment of the round. Osteoarthritis is a degenerative condition and over time your knee is likely to become more painful. Ultimately you may feel that, without surgery, you cannot continue playing.
How Do You Treat Osteoarthritis?
Surgery is never the first step. Initial treatments are likely to involve painkillers, physiotherapy and modifying your behaviours to eliminate activities that make the pain worse. This may include reducing the frequency of golf rounds; it could eventually mean stopping play altogether.
With a knee replacement (partial or total depending on the level of wear), however, you should be able to return to the fairways with normal or near normal function.
Book Your Appointment
Yorkshire Knee Clinic’s orthopaedic specialists can help you recover from a golfing knee injury so you can make the swiftest possible return to the course
You May Also Be Interested In
Skiing Knee Injuries
When you return home, it's important to seek swift diagnosis & treatment from your knee specialist
Overuse Injuries
Treatment for repetitive knee injuries to help you return to your activities
Sports Injuries
Early diagnosis, collaboration & understanding to speed your recovery