Golfers and Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

From: Larry Foster, M.D. | The following information appears courtesy of orthopedic surgeon Dr. Larry Foster, and is reprinted with permission from his "Dr. Divot's Guide to Golf Injuries."

• Symptoms: Numbness and tingling of the fingers (particularly at night), hand weakness and clumsiness
• Treatments: Among the possible treatments are: Rest, medication, splinting, surgery.

Do:

• Make sure that club handle grips are replaced as needed, or consider larger/softer grips.
• Reduce grip pressure on the club handle

About the Author: Larry Foster, M.D., F.A.A.O.S., is a board-certified orthopedic surgeon who calls himself "a bad golfer, but a good golf orthopedist." Dr. Foster's enthusiasm for golf has earned him the nickname "Dr. Divot." Dr. Foster trained at Columbia University and the Hospital for Joint Diseases in New York City. He is the author of "Dr. Divot's Guide to Golf Injuries."

Helge: I've been looking into celebrities, sports people, golfers, and musiciens suffering from CTS = Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. CTS isn't very well known among the general public. Finding celebrities that could give a face to this syndrome would help to explain what it is all about.

Dr. Foster explains to us how the golf swing affects our joints and muscles, and which joints and muscles are most susceptible to injury. Then he gives us tips for preventing those injuries, and explains what treatment options are available if they do occur.

Most golfers will suffer an injury - 60-percent of us a major injury - related to golf at some point in our lives. Foster also shows how a poor golf swing makes those injuries more likely.

After going through the most common golf injuries, their causes and treatment, Foster offers warmup routines and conditioning exercises that can help us avoid trouble.