October got off to a wonderfully warm start here in the Algarve. The unexpected spell of rain is passing over and we will hopefully see the sun breaking through again over Vilamoura for the finals of the Portugal Masters, the biggest golfing event in the Algarve calendar. The forecast for the rest of October and early November looks ideal for all the avid golfers across Europe and beyond, boarding Faro-bound planes in pursuit of a few days golfing in the sunshine.
To non-golfing onlookers, the game may seem like a gentle walk in the park, but golfers will tell a different story. Like any sport, players are subject to injury. Back pain, knee pain, golfer’s elbow; they can all make you feel very under par. Here we look at one of the most common golfing injuries that can bring misery to a well-earned break in the Algarve.
As the more mature golfer (and let’s face it, that’s a high proportion of the golfing fraternity) hits middle age and beyond, a common cause of shoulder pain is ‘Subacromial Impingement Syndrome’. Mr Duncan Learmonth (right), Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon at BMI Healthcare in the UK explains: “This condition occurs when the Rotator Cuff tendons become irritated underneath a prominence from the shoulder blade. The prominence, called the Acromion, can be felt at the point of the shoulder. As the Rotator Cuff tendons rub against the under-surface of the Acromion they become swollen and inflamed.”
By all accounts, this condition can prove extremely painful and debilitating. The inflammation may result in a build-up of scar tissue which eventually may irritate the bone. And there’s a chance that this could result in permanent muscle damage. On the more positive side, in most cases, the damage is reversible.
Expert advice
Mr Learmonth’s advice is to listen to your body - if you feel pain, stop! Aim to keep your arm below shoulder level, don’t carry out activities that require you to reach up over your head and don’t allow your shoulder to stiffen up. A cold compress over the shoulder rounding can help and, if they’re suitable for you, take anti-inflammatory tablets. This may be enough to ease your symptoms and enable you to eventually return to normal activities. In the meantime, you can always console yourself at the 19th hole.
If your symptoms persist, physiotherapy to strengthen the shoulder muscles may be the answer. If this isn’t effective, a steroid injection close to the inflamed muscles may give relief. A keyhole surgery procedure, to trim the bone that is irritating the Rotator Cuff muscles and remove any excess scar tissue, may be another option.
The good news is that with the right treatment, the vast majority of patients are able to return to their previous activities and golf of course!
Fancy having a golf course on your doorstep?
There are 39 beautiful courses dotted across the Algarve’s 4997 square kilometres, which means on average, there’s one every 128 square kilometres. And, there’s a wide choice of property for sale either on or near the Algarve’s golf courses. This villa on the Vale de Pinta Champion Golf Course in Carvoeiro is one of many worth viewing.
*The properties featured in this blog were listed for sale on Meravista at the time of publication, but may have since been sold or removed from the website.
Golfers – is shoulder pain affecting your swing?
by Almonds and Oranges
October got off to a wonderfully warm start here in the Algarve. The unexpected spell of rain is passing over and we will hopefully see the sun breaking through again over Vilamoura for the finals of the Portugal Masters, the biggest golfing event in the Algarve calendar. The forecast for the rest of October and early November looks ideal for all the avid golfers across Europe and beyond, boarding Faro-bound planes in pursuit of a few days golfing in the sunshine.
To non-golfing onlookers, the game may seem like a gentle walk in the park, but golfers will tell a different story. Like any sport, players are subject to injury. Back pain, knee pain, golfer’s elbow; they can all make you feel very under par. Here we look at one of the most common golfing injuries that can bring misery to a well-earned break in the Algarve.
By all accounts, this condition can prove extremely painful and debilitating. The inflammation may result in a build-up of scar tissue which eventually may irritate the bone. And there’s a chance that this could result in permanent muscle damage. On the more positive side, in most cases, the damage is reversible.
Expert advice
Mr Learmonth’s advice is to listen to your body - if you feel pain, stop! Aim to keep your arm below shoulder level, don’t carry out activities that require you to reach up over your head and don’t allow your shoulder to stiffen up. A cold compress over the shoulder rounding can help and, if they’re suitable for you, take anti-inflammatory tablets. This may be enough to ease your symptoms and enable you to eventually return to normal activities. In the meantime, you can always console yourself at the 19th hole.
If your symptoms persist, physiotherapy to strengthen the shoulder muscles may be the answer. If this isn’t effective, a steroid injection close to the inflamed muscles may give relief. A keyhole surgery procedure, to trim the bone that is irritating the Rotator Cuff muscles and remove any excess scar tissue, may be another option.
The good news is that with the right treatment, the vast majority of patients are able to return to their previous activities and golf of course!
Fancy having a golf course on your doorstep?
There are 39 beautiful courses dotted across the Algarve’s 4997 square kilometres, which means on average, there’s one every 128 square kilometres. And, there’s a wide choice of property for sale either on or near the Algarve’s golf courses. This villa on the Vale de Pinta Champion Golf Course in Carvoeiro is one of many worth viewing.
*The properties featured in this blog were listed for sale on Meravista at the time of publication, but may have since been sold or removed from the website.
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