If you’re a retired San Jose senior, you’ve either played golf or know someone who does regularly, because it’s one of the most popular activities for men and women once they have retired. It’s ideal, because it combines cardiovascular activity with strength training, and allows seniors to adjust their game based on their own fitness level, either by walking the golf course or taking a cart.

As with any activity, while golf may be an ideal sport, seniors do need to exercise caution in order to prevent injury since golf can put physical strain on the wrist, shoulder, the hips and other parts of the body. Plus, when walking over uneven or hilly terrain at the golf course there is always the potential that seniors could fall or injure themselves.

There’s no such thing as being too old to golf, and as long as some simple safety tips are kept in mind, seniors can benefit from getting out in the fresh air and remaining active.

• Always warm up – seniors need to stretch before beginning a golf game, with special focus upon the arms, shoulders and upper body
• Adjust if your technique is causing pain – seniors who find that their golf swing results in pain in different areas of their body can talk to a golf professional about adjusting their swing
• Invest in the right equipment – while it may seem most economical to borrow clubs from someone who is no longer using them, clubs need to be the right weight and size for seniors otherwise they can cause strain and injury. Clothing is also important, proper, good fitting shoes that provide support can prevent injuries
• Seek medical help for pain – treat injuries immediately with ice or a hot compress in order to reduce swelling or pain, and if the injury remains, see a doctor and rest the area

Sources:

1. Suite101
2. About

mage Source: pro.corbis.com

Call Home Instead Senior Care serving elders in San Jose, Los Gatos, Santa Clara and Saratoga when seeking help for your aging parents - 408-370-6360.