Golf isn’t the first sport that comes to mind when you think of injured athletes, but you might be surprised at the number of injuries doctors see. From Phil Mickelson and Michelle Wie to the casual weekend golfer, aches and pains in the lower back, elbow, shoulder, hand and wrist can affect your game or keep you at home.

Golf injuries can occur from overuse, improper technique, or in a sudden moment during a swing.

Mickelson and Wie both recently withdrew from tournaments because of wrist injuries. Fred Couples has battled back problems throughout his career, and even Tiger Woods has experienced aches and pains. But the weekend golfer is much more likely to suffer an injury than a professional golfer because of improper technique.

This summer, take some preventative measures to avoid injuries while on the links.

• Elbow injuries are common. To avoid them, strengthen your forearm muscles by squeezing a tennis ball, doing wrist curls and reverse wrist curls.
• Before starting a round of golf, warm up your muscles by stretching to avoid soreness and strain after the game.
• Strengthen and condition your entire body. Being in peak physical shape is the best advice for avoiding and recovering from an injury.
• Slow your swing so that there will be less shock in the elbow and shoulder when you hit the ball and to avoid straining your back.
• Take lessons from a golf instructor to perfect your stance, swing and technique to prevent injury.
• Make sure your clubs are the correct length and are a comfortable fit for you.