A study claims that golfing can be good medicine for arthritis. This article examines the truth about the effectiveness of this outdoor activity.
Is Golfing Good for Your Health?
According to researchers, osteoarthritis patients that golf have lower psychological distress. They also experience improved general health when compared with the general population.
Brad Stenner, an occupational therapist at the Alliance for Research in Exercise, Nutrition, and Activity at the University of South Australia, said golf is a health-enhancing source of physical activity. He also said golf is affordable, fun, and a sport for life. Stenner said gold has clear physical and mental health benefits.
How Does Golf Help Your Arthritis?
Stenner said golf helps maintain the joint range of motion and provides strength and endurance in people with osteoarthritis. He also said it contributes to mental health and overall well-being. Stenner said golf is linked with lower levels of chronic diseases. These include obesity, heart disease, and diabetes.
As lead researcher, Stenner said the team discovered that golfers with or without osteoarthritis had a higher quality of life. He also said they had lower psychological stress levels, indicating less anxiety and depression. Stenner said golf improves well-being through many factors, including community, friendship, exercise, and a sense of belonging.
How Was the Study Conducted?
For the study, Stenner and his colleagues examined 459 golfers with osteoarthritis. Among this number, over 90% of golfers rated their health as good, very good, or excellent. This was a huge improvement over the 64% of the general population who did not play golf.
Moreover, among individuals with osteoarthritis, 22% of non-golfers recorded high to very high levels of psychological distress.
Is Golfing Recommended for Treating Arthritis?
Dr. Ariel Goldman, an orthopedic surgeon at Northwell Health in Great Neck, N.Y said doctors recommend physical activity for reducing pain and improving the well-being of people with osteoarthritis. He also said patients with arthritis who play golf have a lower record of arthritis
pain than those who don’t. Goldman said this shows that more activity allows patients to handle their osteoarthritis better. He also said regular physical activity can improve pain and reduce risk factors like obesity.
Conclusion
Golf is a low-impact sport and can majorly maintain your mental health and overall well-being. Other low-impact activities with the same benefits as golf include Pilates, tai chi, bowling, pickleball, and yoga. With any of these activities, you can properly deal with your osteoarthritis.
