Philippa Stewart, Head Physio for the LET, on the injuries keeping her busy this and every week

Blisters, bad backs and stiff necks. Welcome to the life – and the most common dangers – of pro golf.

Golf is a physically demanding sport that can take its toll on even the healthiest of players. Philippa Stewart, Head Physiotherapist for the Ladies European Tour, is part of the team working hard to make sure the players are all in tip top shape for three demanding rounds on the Faldo. So, what are the main injuries she’s had to deal with this week? Actually, it’s not muscular or skeletal but a common niggle that many golfers will understand.

“The most common injuries this week are blisters. The girls are coming in with lots of blisters as it’s hot and sweaty.”

The most common golf-related injuries that Philippa sees are related to the lower back, but she adds: “We also see a lot of neck problems which are actually related to travel – whether it’s bad pillows or uncomfortable beds.”

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Coming so late in the season, the majority of the work being carried out by Philippa and the team is to manage ongoing injuries.

Philippa urges the players to understand the importance of rest and recovery, and to find a happy medium, adding that it is “OK to rest, recover and sleep.”

She explains: “We’re doing a lot of taping as it’s quite late in the year, so the girls are carrying quite a few injuries. We teach the girls how to manage the injuries from icing to taping to the right kind of stretching and we tape it up and help support the injuries.

“In golf, injuries tend to be a little more cumulative and come in over a period of time. The girls often come in the next day with a bit of a niggle – something might be feeling a bit tight or there might be a little pain here or there. What I’ve taught the girls over the years is to be very proactive when it comes to injury prevention but also to see me straight away if they feel something, before it becomes a major issue.”

To any club golfers out there wondering how to stay fit and healthy? Philippa’s mantra is straightforward: “Prevention, prevention, prevention and proactivity.”