Can you play golf with a rotator cuff injury? Sometimes, yes. It depends on what is wrong, how bad it is and how your shoulder reacts. Here is how I think about it.
Key takeaways
- Can you play golf with a rotator cuff injury? Often yes, if the pain is mild and your arm strength is normal.
- Night pain, weakness or pain that worsens through a round means stop and get it checked.
- Most shoulder problems start with non-surgical rehab.
- Many golfers return after surgery, but it can take months and some lose distance.
Can golf cause a rotator cuff injury?
It can contribute. The rotator cuff is a group of four muscles and tendons. They keep your shoulder steady while you move your arm. Golf puts repeated load on both shoulders. The lead shoulder (the left shoulder for a right-handed golfer) is the one that most often becomes sore. Rotator cuff problems also become more common with age, whether or not you play golf. So it isn’t always possible to say golf was the cause.
Shoulder pain in golfers isn’t always the rotator cuff. Impingement, joint problems at the top of the shoulder, arthritis and instability can all look similar. That is one reason an assessment is worthwhile.
When can I keep playing?
If the pain is mild and settles within a day, you can often keep playing. Your arm strength should feel normal. A few adjustments help:
- Shorten your backswing, especially if pain occurs at the top of it.
- Play fewer holes, and use the short game as a way to stay involved.
- Cut down range sessions and big drivers for a while.
- Warm up your shoulders properly before you play.
When should I stop and get it checked?
Stop and book an assessment if you have:
- Pain at night, or pain that wakes you from sleep.
- Weakness when you try to lift your arm.
- Pain that is getting worse through a round, or that doesn’t ease with rest.
- A sudden onset after a fall, a heavy lift, or a mishit into the ground.
Sudden loss of strength after an injury, or a shoulder that looks out of place, needs prompt medical attention.
What does rehab involve?
Most shoulder problems start with non-surgical rehab. That generally means:
- Settling the irritation by modifying what aggravates it.
- Progressive strengthening of the rotator cuff and the muscles around the shoulder blade.
- Working on movement through the upper back and the opposite side, so the shoulder isn’t doing everything.
- A gradual return to swinging, starting with short shots.
I won’t promise a timeline. It depends on the problem. I’d rather give you a range after I’ve examined you.
What if I need surgery?
Some people do need a repair. The good news is that many golfers return to the game, though not always to the same level.
What does the research say?
Do most golfers with shoulder problems need surgery?
A review of shoulder injuries in golf (Kim and colleagues, 2004) noted that the lead shoulder is particularly vulnerable. Common problems include impingement, AC joint arthritis, rotator cuff tears, instability and arthritis. Most respond to nonsurgical treatment, including rest and a structured physical therapy program. Sometimes subtle changes to the swing help too.
How many golfers return to golf after surgery?
For people who have surgery, the numbers are reasonably encouraging. They come from surveys of people who chose to respond, so they might be a bit optimistic. A survey of 127 golfers after arthroscopic repair (Tramer and colleagues, 2021) found 76 per cent returned to golf. Of those, 86 per cent returned within a year. Shoulder pain during the swing dropped from 61 per cent to 19 per cent.
Does surgery cost golfers distance?
A larger survey of 197 patients (Yoon and colleagues, 2022) found 73.6 per cent returned to golf. However, 39.6 per cent reported a worse driving distance afterwards.
What happens to handicap after surgery?
A smaller study of 47 golfers (Williamson and colleagues, 2023) found 76.3 per cent returned. The mean handicap changed by about one stroke.
What do I take from the research?
Most golfers can get back to the course, whether or not they have surgery. However, it can take months, and some lose a bit of distance.
Book an assessment
So, can you play golf with a rotator cuff injury? An assessment gives you a clear answer for your shoulder. If it is limiting your golf, book a physiotherapy appointment with me at our Cromer clinic. Physio appointments run on Tuesdays and Thursdays, 8am to 2pm. You can also read about physiotherapy at Links and the most common golf injuries.
This article is general information, not personal medical advice. If you can’t weight-bear or use the arm, see your GP or an emergency department. The same applies to severe or sudden swelling or pain. Otherwise, book an assessment rather than self-diagnosing from a blog post.
