As a physical therapist who specializes in golf there were a couple of areas in the traditional PT setting that I thought needed to be addressed to help maximize return to golf following an injury or surgery. Below I have listed a few of the shortcomings I have noticed in the traditional rehabilitation process for golfers and several areas of 'low hanging fruit' to help them feel better, have more confidence in returning to play and return to and even exceed prior level of performance. The solution: our return to golf programs. Our Return to Golf Programs are designed to help fill in some of these common 'gaps' in the rehab process for most golfers. Here are just a few of the aspects that make our return to golf program unique for those in the Fort Wayne area:
1. We look at your golf swing: The golf swing itself could have been a contributing factor to the injury/surgery in the first place. This is often overlooked in the rehab setting as it's not something that most rehab professionals have an understanding of. Often times the time away from golf combined with rehabilitation can help relieve the pain, but if the swing was a significant contributing factor there is a good chance that the pain will come back. Nothing is more frustrating.
Also if you were trying to play through the pain for a while prior to surgery your body may develop compensatory movements in the swing. Unfortunately these don't always go away just because the pain is no longer present. We can work alongside a golf professional if this is the case to help with this transition.
2. We look at the entire body: Frequently rehab after a surgery is mostly focused on the area of the surgery, while the rest of the body can become deconditioned. Besides this, other areas of the body might have also been contributing to the injury as well.
3. We understand how the body functions in the golf swing and can help make sure you have the movement competency and capacity to be ready to safely return to play and get back up to speed quicker. Just because you passed the tests to be discharged from physical therapy, doesn't mean the body is yet ready for the demands of the golf swing. Our specific testing protocol can help make sure you are ready for the golf course.
4. We can help with the actual return to play process-something that is often self guided after being discharged from physical therapy. Insurance companies typically don't view golf as medically necessary for most amateur golfers and often once you have regained strength and motion and the ability to perform daily activities you are typically discharged. You might be provided with a vague return to golf protocol with some generalized instructions. This phase of the rehab process can be a big transition especially if previously had pain with golf. We want to help you through this transition with confidence. We can be there as a resource to let you know if what you are experiencing/feeling is appropriate and help with making sure your volume or practice/play is appropriate as well.
These are just a few aspects of our return to golf program designed to help you safely and confidently return to golf and maybe even exceed your previous level of play. Too often I talk to guys/ladies that have been through an injury or surgery and continue to have persistent pain, loss of distance and have started to lose the enjoyment of the game and are even considering giving it up. This doesn't have to be the case. We would be happy to help in any way possible.
Feel free to contact us for more info about this unique program and how it can help your game and health on the course. We also offer free 'discovery' consultations to help you get to know us and learn more about our services.
