Arthritis, Degenerative Joint Disease, and Golf: There is hope

Regardless of how arthritis affects your golf game, you can work to counteract its effects by changing behaviors.

Have you been told that you have arthritis, degenerative joint disease (DJD) or degenerative disc disease (DDD)? Each of these terms means basically the same thing and are very commonly used by doctors to describe what are mostly natural changes that occur in the joints and spine.

TWO MAJOR CATEGORIES OF ARTHRITIS

OSTEOARTHRITIS

By far, the most common type is osteoarthritis, which is typically what we mean when we say "arthritis." When osteoarthritis is in the extremities (knees, hips, shoulders, fingers, etc), it's called degenerative joint disease.

INFLAMMATORY

When it's in the spine, it is labelled degenerative disc disease. A very common misconception is that this is a disease which attacks at random and progresses once it begins. This is simply not true. Osteoarthritis/DJD/DDD happens naturally as we age. Over time, our joints slowly begin to wear down from use, including everyday movements like bending, twisting, and—yes—swinging a golf club. The degree to which this wear-and-tear or arthritis occurs depends on things like how you move, your weight and your genetic predisposition.

THE GOOD NEWS

There is good news regardless of your relationship with arthritis, you can control it through your behavior and consistent measures to counteract its effects.

The symptoms from arthritis/DDD/DJD do not correlate to the degree of damage shown on an X-RAY OR MRI, especially in the spine. In the mild to moderate stages of arthritis in the extremities, and mild to moderate, and even severe, stages of arthritis in the spine, pain can be significantly or totally reduced by strengthening muscles that support the affected joints and learning to move in ways that put less force through those joints.

MORE GOOD NEWS

With a comprehensive program like GOLFFOREVER, you can take the right steps toward making the necessary changes and following the right instruction.

For those with inflammatory arthritis, medication is usually required to effectively treat the disease. Further relief can also be achieved with the right strength training regimen and behavioral change. Exercises in the "Daily Routine" and "Strength Training" sections of the GOLFFOREVER program, such as side planks, bridges, squats and rows, help to build the important muscular support structure around the spine, hips and shoulders.

Want to learn more? Visit GOLFFOREVER.COM to build flexibility, mobility, strength and more confidence in your game than ever before.

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All GOLFFOREVER content and exercises are presented with the expressed understanding that you should visit a doctor to determine the cause of any pain you may be feeling and in some rare cases that can include cancer, fractures, infection and more. It should also be understood that you are strongly advised to first receive clearance from a physician before following any exercises or advice presented on this site, and that Morning Read and its partner, GOLFFOREVER, are not liable for any injuries that may occur.