Golfers of all ages may experience chronic overuse injuries or acute injuries that affect their form and swing. The experienced physical therapists at Memorial Hermann | Rockets Orthopedics offer specialized, multidisciplinary rehabilitation services to help golfers—from casual players to professional level—get the care they need to quickly return to the course and help them prevent future injuries.
As golfers themselves, our specialized physical therapists work closely with Memorial Hermann-affiliated orthopedic surgeons, occupational therapists, athletic trainers, coaches and instructors to assess and treat the following conditions and injuries related to golfing:
- Golfer's elbow (medial epicondylitis)
- Back stain
- Spinal stenosis
- Discogenic conditions that affect the cushion-like discs between the vertebrae
- Trigger finger
- Wrist sprains
- Nerve injuries
- Ulnar cruciate ligament (UCL) injury of the elbow
- Bursitis of the hip or shoulder
- Rotator cuff tears
- Rotator cuff tendinitis
- Torn hip labrum
- Fractures
Memorial Hermann | Rockets Orthopedics offers Advanced Interdisciplinary Programs for injuries to the knee, hip, spine and upper extremities. Golfers benefit from research—some even conducted at Memorial Hermann—that our physical therapists, occupational therapists and affiliated orthopedic surgeons use as the basis for developing treatment plans that optimize outcomes.
What to Expect
Whether you are seen first by a Memorial Hermann-affiliated orthopedic surgeon or make an appointment directly with Memorial Hermann | Rockets Orthopedics, as permitted through Texas’ direct access provision, you will undergo a whole-body assessment by one of our specialized physical therapists at any of our locations throughout Greater Houston.
This initial assessment and golf-specific movement screening will help pinpoint the injury and allow the multidisciplinary team to take your personal health history and training regimen into consideration when developing your personalized rehabilitation plan. It will allow our team to provide you with strategies to elevate your body’s performance to minimize your risk of further or repeated injuries. Your plan may include any of the following:
- Dry needling
- Cupping
- Taping
- Instrument-assisted soft tissue massage
- McKenzie Method® of Mechanical Diagnosis Therapy®(MDT)
- Blood flow restriction
- Occupational therapy
- Referral to an orthopedic surgeon
It’s important to note that direct access to our program has a mandated length of time and any extended treatment will require an order from a physician. If an injury requires a higher level of care, we will refer golfers to an affiliated orthopedic specialist.
Meeting the 'Gold Standard' in Injury Prevention
The physical therapists in our Golf Medicine program have completed or are near completion of certification by the Titleist Performance Institute (TPI), which is the world’s leading educational organization dedicated to the study of how the human body functions in relation to the golf swing.
Through this “gold standard” certification, physical therapists learn to use data to determine “The Body-Swing Connection” and help golfers minimize their potential for injury. Swing mechanics, biomechanics, physical fitness, movement quality, current health and injury history are all assessed in the initial movement screen. Results of the assessment are used by Memorial Hermann | Rockets Orthopedics physical therapists to help golfers move as efficiently and safely as possible to match their physical abilities and maximize their performance. These assessments are being used by both Memorial Hermann and TPI to advance research in golf medicine.
Memorial Hermann’s proximity to some of the nation’s best known country clubs and PGA and LPGA tour courses allows our team of specially certified physical therapists to evaluate your injury and use evidence-based treatments and prevention strategies to get you back to golfing as quickly and safely as possible. To schedule an appointment, call (713) 242-2270.