The short answer is yes
Golf is one of the few sports we can play from youth through the golden years, but to do so requires maintaining a healthy body, especially as we age. A golf swing engages the entire body by generating force from a complex twisting and rotating motion from your feet up through your neck. The repetitive twisting and centrifugal force, combined with the lifting and bending is stressful to your body.
The good news is that there are ways to minimize nagging injuries that degrade your game or keep you off the course, and a luxury massage chair is one of them. Studies show regular massage can help improve your flexibility and range of motion, helping reduce injuries and enhancing your performance.
Maintaining (or improving) your range of motion is closely linked to the power you generate from your swing: The more flexible you are the more powerful your swing will be.
How common are injuries in golf?
Golfers are no strangers to strains, sprains and overuse injuries. In a study that included 526 professional golfers recruited through the Professional Golfers Association, 66% reported sustaining one or more injuries during their professional careers. The most frequently reported injuries were lower back (44%), wrist (44%), elbow (23%), neck (20%) and shoulder (19%). Most players took time out from golf (72%) and received physiotherapy following injury (83%).
Lower back
When examining the movements involved in golf, from the body’s rotation in the swing to a player’s grip and foot placement, it makes sense that many of the most common golf injuries are in the joints and the lower back.
A full round of golf involves players hunching over their ball and lining up their shots before swinging for four to five hours. Amateur golfers know too well that, unlike the pros, it often takes more than two to three swings to get from the tee to the green. The repeated rotation in the swing can create severe lower back pain and strain.
Shoulder
The group of muscles and tendons surrounding the shoulder joint and keeping it firmly in place is known as the rotator cuff. In particular, the supraspinatus tendon is at risk for developing rotator cuff tendonitis (supraspinatus tendonitis).
Like the lower back, the rotator cuff absorbs continued stress with every golf swing, which can cause micro-tears, bursitis and ruptures in the soft tissue group. Athletes with a rotator cuff injury usually experience pain, weakness, and discomfort after playing golf and find it difficult to extend their arms overhead.
Elbow
Medial epicondylitis, also known as golfer’s elbow, is a condition that causes inflammation and soreness where the forearm tendons and muscles attach to the bone, causing inner elbow pain. The pain associated with golfer’s elbow can range from mild to severe and, if not treated, may impact a person’s ability to play the sport.
Wrist
Wrist tendonitis, or tenosynovitis, occurs when the long strands of fibrous tissue that run throughout the forearm and connect the hand to the bone become inflamed and painful. This may be a manageable condition at first because as the soft tissue in the wrist and forearm gets warmer, the pain will likely dissipate. But that doesn’t mean the condition won’t worsen. Left untreated, pain, stiffness and poor range of motion will present in the hand and on the top and bottom of the wrist.
How a massage chair can help your golf game
A massage chair is a great way to help reduce injuries and recover from the physical stress that can accumulate after playing golf by:
- Improving range of motion and muscle flexibility
- Increasing circulation
- Reducing muscle spasms and trigger points
- Boosting mental focus and alertness
- Decreasing anxiety and stress levels
Some of our favorite OHCO massage chair features for golfers
Arms of Embrace
Each arm contains six independently controlled air cells, allowing for over 479,000,000 unique sequences and unprecedented precision as your arms, wrists, and hands are massaged in soothing coordination.
MoveSync Dual Massage Mechanisms
Two mechanisms move in tandem for a supremely nuanced massage. The Sens8 NEO™ mechanism provides versatile and precise massage for the back and glutes, while a second mechanism located in the headrest is designed for the sensitive muscles in the neck.
Maxtrack ™
OHCO’s proprietary Maxtrack™ allows the M.8 NEO to move seamlessly from a lay-flat position to zero gravity to upright and all positions in between, providing an exceptionally therapeutic full-body stretch and comprehensive massage from your neck to your glutes.
Full Body Air Massage
The M.8 NEO is equipped with thoughtfully placed air cells to melt away muscle soreness and fatigue by encouraging blood flow and lymphatic flow to your feet, calves, hips, outer thighs, glutes, arms, hands, neck, and shoulders. Each air zone’s intensity can be independently customized to suit your needs.
ConstantTouch Infrared Heat
Infrared heating elements, supported by our proprietary ConstantTouch™ suspension, are adjacent to the massage rollers. They provide point-specific heat with just enough body contact pressure and warmth to help loosen muscles and improve blood circulation.
X-Y Shoulder Stabilizers
Only available from OHCO, proprietary and patented X-Y Shoulder Stabilizers gently reach forward as they press down on your shoulders to provide a gentle spinal extension of your mid- and upper back.
Reflexology Foot Rollers
Versatile 2-way foot rollers caress tired feet with gentle, nuanced massage and reflexology.
Total Body Heat
Foot, calf, palm, back, and seat heat increases relaxation and comfort. Pinpoint roller heat on the back and neck massage rollers provides “hot rocks” style warmth to the paraspinal muscles, and you can control each heat zone independently.
Total Immersion Atmosphere for Mental Focus / Meditation
- The air ion generator located in the headrest clears dust, dander, spores, and other pollutants from the air while offering a soothing white noise to drown out the distracting sounds around you.
- Add your favorite essential oil to the aromatherapy slot in the chair’s headrest and enhance your ability to rest your mind and body by activating your olfactory senses.
- The M.8 NEO’s welcoming pool of motion-activated light illuminates your path to rejuvenation. A darkened room is transformed by a soothing, slow dance of colorful lights after activating chromotherapy.
Ready to spend more time on the course and improve your game? Check out the M.8 NEO for a transcendental massage experience that will keep you on the course longer, happier and pain-free.