Can I Golf With Osteoporosis?

Laurie wrote to me last weekend with this question, “Hi Susie, Just curious about how you feel about golfing for someone with osteoporosis. Several of my friends want to take lessons and I’d like to join them. Thanks! Laurie

Great question, Laurie, and I’m so glad that you asked it before signing up. I love to hear about people getting together to be active because if you make exercise an enjoyable social experience, you’ll usually make it happen. Golfing is such a wonderful social sport, but the problem for those with osteoporosis or low bone density is the side and forward bending, along with twisting that are needed to hit that ball.

Take a look at the National Osteoporosis Foundation’s “Proper Body Alignment” guidelines. They note that, “Many exercises and activities such as yoga, Pilates, tennis and golf may need to be avoided or modified because they often involve twisting and bending motions,” which increase the risk of vertebral fractures in those with osteoporosis. After looking through those precautions, maybe you can get your friends to join you in another weight bearing activity that is safer for your bones, like brisk walking or dancing!

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