Looking out at the grassy hills and sandy bunkers that surround you can bring a certain serenity only found on the course. As we all know physical and mental health can go hand in hand, but golf and arthritis going hand in hand is new news to me. New studies show golf can not only help your physical health, but also does wonders for mental health too. This article focuses mainly on osteoarthritis which they say is often known as the “wear and tear” form of arthritis. Research on those with osteoarthritis who are still able to play golf resulted in positive results all around with little impact on the joints. and among people with osteoarthritis, 22% of non-golfers reported high to very high levels of psychological distress, compared with just 8% of golfers.
The article also touches on the obvious assumption that osteoarthritis, being a degenerative disease of the cartilage in the joints, would get worse with more physical activity but their studies show less reports of pain from those who play golf. The focus on golf is more than the low impact and high reward on your body, it’s also the feeling of “exercise, community, friendship and a sense of belonging.” Golf can be accessed around the world and is now being recommended for aging folks everywhere! If you haven’t been out on a course, gather some friends or loved ones and see why everyone loves this amazing sport with positive effects on all qualities of life. If your friends and loved ones aren’t quite interested, the course itself provides a wonderful community eager for new members.