Page 71 - Golf Champion Magazine - March 2023

support. The same applies to ankles. As the probability of
the outer ligaments of the ankle being sprained is much
higher than the inner ligaments, special attention should be
paid to stretching the outer side. In this case, you can hold a
club in one hand and support your body slightly like a cane,
then stretch your foot by pressing it against the ground
while pointing your toes outwards, stretching the ligaments
on the outer side of the ankle sufficiently.

The role of socks cannot be ignored. Socks that adequately
wrap the foot, ankle, and calf while reducing unnecessary
friction with the shoes, especially those that provide support
to the ankle, should be worn. While it may feel refreshing
to wear ankle socks in hot weather, it cannot sufficiently
prevent friction with shoes when walking for long periods
or during a swing, and may also cause slight pressure on the
ankle joint. Exposing the ankle to air or moisture can also
lower the temperature of the area, reducing the support of
the ligaments, and increasing the risk of sprains. It is better
to have slightly warm feet than to suffer from a sprained
ankle and ruin your play for a while. Golf is a representative
mental sport, so even minor discomfort during play can
So why do ankle sprains frequently occur on the golf course? greatly affect your score. Therefore, it is important to
First, we need to take a closer look at the golf course itself. prepare and wear comfortable and good-quality socks and
If we typically walk on flat ground, the chance of spraining shoes in advance to prevent any discomfort.
an ankle is almost non-existent. However, a golf course is
not flat like regular ground; it is a bumpy grassy field with However, if you do end up spraining your ankle, you should
slopes, hills, and valleys. Golfers also need to get on and off immediately apply ice to the affected area on the day of
carts, and there may be wet and slippery areas due to water and the day after the injury. You should also apply taping
accumulation. If the golf ball lands in the rough, the golfer or an ankle support to apply pressure. If the symptoms are
has to walk into a heavily grown area to retrieve the ball, severe, you should have an X-ray taken at a nearby hospital
and it is easy to lose balance and misstep on the uneven to rule out any possible fractures. If it is not a fracture,
terrain, resulting in a sprained ankle. acupuncture or physical therapy can stimulate the damaged
ligament tissue for faster recovery. In cases where there is
To prevent this, you first need to wear shoes that fit well. severe pain or swelling, herbal medicine may be prescribed
Golf shoes should fit well and should not cause discomfort. to reduce pain and promote blood and lymph circulation,
If you are someone who often sprains your ankles, it's a thus reducing inflammatory reactions.
good idea to choose golf shoes that wrap around your ankles
slightly, like basketball shoes. Additionally, if the spikes on 난히 골프장에서 발목을 자주 접지르는 사람이 있다. 접지른다는
the golf shoes are too high, it can be a problem even if the 유것은 ‘염좌’라고도 표현하는데 발목 관절을 감싸고 있는 단단하면
player is taller. Although it is a small difference, the higher 서도 탄력이 있는 조직인 인대가 늘어난 것을 말한다. 관절은 뼈와 뼈가
a person's height is when wearing golf shoes, the higher
their center of gravity becomes, making it easier to twist
their ankles. It's similar to someone wearing high heels and
stumbling or spraining their ankles.

If you frequently sprain your ankles, you should choose
golf shoes without spikes or with spikes that don't protrude
too much. Additionally, stretching your ankles sufficiently
before starting golf can prevent these injuries. Like all
ligaments and muscles, stretching and warming up
sufficiently before exercise increases their elasticity and

| | 71