Padraig Harrington wins Open Championship despite wrist injury
Irish golfer Padraig Harrington has won the Open Championship despite injuring his wrist the weekend before.
The 36-year-old won the Claret Jug at Royal Birkdale, Southport, for the second successive year, which makes him the 16th player to do so since the championship started and moves him to third in the world rankings of golf.
Earlier in the week it looked like Harrington would not be able to compete in all the rounds after injuring his wrist after retaining the Irish PGA the Saturday before.
Common wrist injuries are sprains and strains, and treatment can include wearing a wrist support to protect the area and give it some stability.
Harrington was working out at his home gym when he sprained his right wrist, hitting it against an impact bag, a golf version of a punching bag. He also suffered from a neck injury two weeks ago at the European Open.
Despite starting the week with the injury, he finished three over par, four ahead of runner up Ian Pouller and actually said injuring his wrist helped him to win the Open Championship.
Harrington says injuring his wrist helped him to relax before important rounds of the tournament and took the pressure of performing well off him. He also believed that because he couldn’t do any practice rounds, he was rested and fresh for the actual championship.
His inflamed and sprained wrist was treated with laser light therapy, ice and anti-inflammatory medicine, and his wrist responded well to the treatment at the start of the week, allowing him to compete.
In his speech, Harrington thanked his physiotherapist, Australian Dale Richardson for helping him to recover.
Wrist sprains can be caused by a number of things, including sudden impact, falling awkwardly and overuse, and are common in people who regularly play sports using their hands, such as golf, tennis and cricket.
It is important to reduce swelling and pain in the area with ice treatments, and rest the wrist. Wrist supports are also useful to support the area following an injury and to prevent further injuries.
Mobilis Healthcare stocks a wide range of ice and cold treatments to help reduce swelling and ease pain, as well as a large selection of wrist supports, including Vulkan wrist supports.
