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Functional exercise progression for return to golf*

Functional exercise progression for return to golf*
Day 1:
  1. Dynamic warm-up (5 to 10 minutes)
  1. Greenside chipping and putting with focus on club face center contact and swing path (30 minutes)
  1. Cool-down stretching period (10 to 20 minutes)
  1. Ice (10 to 20 minutes)
Day 2:
  1. Dynamic warm-up (5 to 10 minutes)
  1. Half swings focusing on contact and swing path with high irons (8, 9, P) off tee, no divots (30 minutes)
  1. Cool-down stretching period (10 to 20 minutes)
  1. Ice (10 to 20 minutes)
Day 3:
  1. Dynamic warm-up (5 to 10 minutes)
  1. Three-quarter swings focusing on contact and swing path with iron progression P to 6 off tee, no divots (30 minutes)
  1. Putt (10 minutes)
  1. Cool-down stretching period (10 to 20 minutes)
  1. Ice (10 to 20 minutes)
Day 4:
  1. Off
  1. May putt
Day 5:
  1. Dynamic warm-up (5 to 10 minutes)
  1. Full swings focusing on contact and swing path with iron progression P to 4 off tee, no divots (45 minutes)
  1. Cool-down stretching period (10 to 20 minutes)
  1. Ice (10 to 20 minutes)
Day 6:
  1. Dynamic warm-up (5 to 10 minutes)
  1. Normal full swings focusing on contact and swing path with iron progression wedges to low irons (60 minutes)
  1. May putt and greenside chip
  1. Cool-down stretching period (10 to 20 minutes)
  1. Ice (10 to 20 minutes)
Day 7:
  1. Dynamic warm-up (5 to 10 minutes)
  1. Normal full swings, progression from wedges to low irons to hybrids and woods (60 minutes)
  1. May putt and greenside chip
  1. Cool-down stretching period (10 to 20 minutes)
  1. Ice (10 to 20 minutes)
Day 8:
  1. Off
  1. May putt
Days 9-11:
  1. Dynamic warm-up (5 to 10 minutes)
  1. Full swings, full bag warm-up on range, progress from wedges to driver (minimum 30 minutes)
  1. Putt and greenside chip
  1. Play 9 holes
  1. Cool-down stretching period (10 to 20 minutes)
  1. Ice (10 to 20 minutes)
Day 12:
  1. Full play permitted, but allow 1 to 2 days off or just putting each week
After completing all phases of an appropriate rehabilitation program following injury, the athlete may begin returning to golf using a functional progression such as that described above. The functional progression is a prioritized sequence of activities that enables the athlete to reacquire the skills and conditioning necessary for a safe and effective return to full play.
Begin with day 1. If the athlete can complete this exercise sequence without pain or abnormal movement, they may progress to the next step on the following day. If the athlete cannot complete a given step without any pain or dysfunction, they should repeat that same step on the following day until able to do so. In some cases, it may be necessary to begin with an exercise sequence from an earlier day if pain persists. If pain continues to worsen, the athlete should stop and follow up with the clinician managing their recovery.
It is extremely important that the athlete perform each exercise correctly. Once they have completed all the steps below, they may return to full play.
* This program is suitable for patients recovering from a number of different upper or lower extremity injuries and returning to golf, but a knowledgeable clinician should determine whether it is appropriate for the individual patient.
¶ Ice should not be applied directly to the skin; place a thin towel or some comparable cloth between the ice and skin. If treating medial elbow tendinopathy (golfer's elbow), avoid placing ice directly over the ulnar nerve at the cubital tunnel.
Graphic 131636 Version 1.0