Osteopathy for Golfers
Specialist treatment from a county golfer who understands your game inside and out.
Get back to playing your best golf ever - pain free
Golf demands more from your body than most people realise. The rotational forces through your spine, the repetitive loading on your elbows and wrists, the hip mobility needed for a consistent follow-through — even a minor restriction in one area can ripple through your entire swing. That is why generic treatment often falls short for golfers. You need a clinician who genuinely understands the biomechanics of your sport.
At Compass Health Clinic in North Finchley, our osteopath Laura Bonar brings something no other practitioner in North London can offer: she is both a qualified osteopath and a county-level competitive golfer. Laura represents Middlesex at county level, captained the Middlesex Women’s Elite Squad in 2026, and has trained with the Welsh Development Squad. She does not just understand golf injuries from a textbook — she has lived the physical demands of competitive play at the highest amateur level.
Why Choose a Golf-Specialist Osteopath?
Most osteopaths can treat a sore back. But understanding why your back hurts after 18 holes — and how your set-up position, swing plane and follow-through contribute to that pain — requires someone who knows the sport from the inside.
Laura’s approach is highly functional and golf-specific. She assesses the mechanics of your golf swing alongside the physical movements that underpin it, identifying restrictions or imbalances that may be limiting your power, accuracy or consistency on the course. Her background in Psychology and Performance Science — including research into mental imagery for performance enhancement — means she also understands the psychological side of playing through pain, returning from injury, and performing under pressure.
Having worked with local golf professionals and aspiring tour players, Laura has practical experience designing pre-tournament warm-ups, in-season management plans and structured rehabilitation programmes that get golfers back on the course safely and performing at their best.
Common Golf Injuries We Treat
The golf swing generates significant forces through the body, and the repetitive nature of practice and play makes certain injuries particularly common among golfers. At Compass Health Clinic, we see and treat all of the following regularly:
- Lower back pain — The most common injury in golfers at every level. The combination of spinal rotation, extension and lateral flexion during the swing places enormous demand on the lumbar spine. Poor hip mobility or thoracic stiffness often forces the lower back to compensate.
- Golfer’s elbow (medial epicondylitis) — Pain on the inside of the elbow caused by overloading the forearm flexor tendons. Despite the name, it can also be caused by poor grip mechanics, equipment issues or training volume changes.
- Tennis elbow (lateral epicondylitis) — Just as common in golfers as golfer’s elbow. Often caused by the lead arm absorbing impact forces through the swing.
- Shoulder injuries — Rotator cuff strains, impingement and stiffness are common, particularly in the lead shoulder. Restricted thoracic rotation often shifts excessive load onto the shoulder complex.
- Hip pain and stiffness — The lead hip requires significant internal rotation during the follow-through. Restriction here is one of the most common contributors to both hip pain and secondary lower back injury.
- Wrist and hand injuries — The lead wrist is particularly vulnerable due to the ulnar deviation demands at impact. Repetitive strain from range sessions often contributes.
- Neck pain — Often related to the sustained rotational position of the head during the swing, compounded by underlying cervical or thoracic stiffness.
What to Expect from Your Appointment
Every appointment at Compass Health Clinic starts with a full clinical assessment — we never jump straight to treatment without understanding the full picture first. For golfers, Laura’s assessment includes:
- A thorough case history — understanding your injury, your playing level, your practice habits, any equipment changes, and your goals.
- A full musculoskeletal examination — assessing range of motion, joint mobility, muscle strength and control through the areas relevant to your golf swing.
- Golf-specific functional assessment — Laura will look at the physical movements that underpin your swing, identifying where restrictions or weaknesses are affecting your performance or contributing to your pain.
- Hands-on treatment — using osteopathic techniques including soft tissue work, joint mobilisation, manipulation and dry needling where appropriate.
- Tailored exercise prescription — you will leave every session with specific exercises to take home, including video demonstrations. Rehabilitation is always part of the plan, not an afterthought.
If appropriate, we also offer shockwave therapy for persistent tendon conditions such as golfer’s elbow and tennis elbow, delivered alongside your hands-on treatment rather than as a standalone procedure.
Not Just Injury Treatment — Performance Optimisation
You do not need to be in pain to benefit from seeing Laura. Many golfers come to us wanting to improve their mobility, increase their clubhead speed, or address niggling stiffness that is holding their game back. Laura works with golfers to:
- Improve thoracic and hip rotation to unlock a fuller, more powerful swing.
- Resolve long-standing stiffness that limits your backswing or follow-through.
- Build a pre-round warm-up routine tailored to your body and your game.
- Design a conditioning programme to maintain physical resilience through the season.
- Manage training loads during busy competition periods to reduce injury risk.
Whether you are a competitive club golfer chasing your handicap, a weekend player who just wants to play pain-free, or an aspiring professional preparing for qualifying events, Laura brings the clinical expertise and golfing insight to help you move better, play better and enjoy your game for longer.
About Laura Bonar
Laura is a registered osteopath who graduated with distinction from the University College of Osteopathy (now HSU) in 2025, where she received the Vice Chancellor’s Award for Clinical Excellence, the Silver Medal for Academic Achievement, the Sven Svenson Bursary for Promising Osteopathic Career and the Rising Star Award.
Her background combines a BSc in Psychology from Royal Holloway University and an MSc in Performance Science from the Royal College of Music, both awarded with distinction. Her research into mental imagery for performance enhancement informs her understanding of the mind-body connection and its role in recovery and return to sport.
As a county golfer representing Middlesex, Laura currently plays for the elite women’s team and captained the Middlesex Women’s Elite Squad in 2026. Her competitive career began with the Welsh Development Squad, and her father played golf professionally, giving her first-hand insight into the demands placed on golfers at every level.
Laura’s approach blends osteopathic treatment with exercise rehabilitation and performance psychology, empowering every patient to take an active role in their recovery and their game.
Frequently Asked Questions About osteopathy for golfers:
Q: Can an osteopath help with golf injuries?
A: Yes. Osteopaths are trained to diagnose and treat the musculoskeletal problems that commonly affect golfers, including lower back pain, golfer’s elbow, shoulder injuries and hip stiffness. At Compass Health Clinic, our osteopath Laura Bonar specialises in treating golfers and brings the added insight of being a county-level competitive golfer herself.
Q: What is the most common injury in golfers?
A: Lower back pain is the most common injury among golfers at all levels. It is typically caused by the repetitive rotation and extension forces of the golf swing, often aggravated by limited hip or thoracic mobility. Osteopathic treatment can address the underlying restrictions and help prevent recurrence.
Q: How can osteopathy improve my golf game?
A: Even without an injury, restricted mobility in your thoracic spine or hips can limit your swing rotation, reduce power and affect consistency. Osteopathic treatment aims to restore full range of motion, improve muscle balance and optimise the physical foundation of your swing.
Q: Do I need to be injured to see a golf osteopath?
A: Not at all. Many golfers see Laura for performance optimisation rather than injury treatment. This can include improving mobility, building a pre-round warm-up routine, managing training loads during busy periods and addressing minor stiffness before it becomes a problem.
Q: What makes Laura different from other osteopaths?
A: Laura is a county golfer representing Middlesex and captained the Middlesex Women’s Elite Squad in 2026. She has worked with local golf professionals and aspiring tour players. Her combined expertise in osteopathy, psychology and competitive golf means she understands both the clinical and sporting demands of the game.
Q: Can you treat golfer’s elbow with osteopathy?
A: Yes. Golfer’s elbow responds well to a combination of soft tissue treatment, joint mobilisation, progressive loading exercises and, where appropriate, shockwave therapy. Laura will assess the underlying causes — including grip mechanics and training load — to address the root of the problem, not just the symptoms.
Q: Do you offer shockwave therapy for golf injuries?
A: Yes. Compass Health Clinic offers radial shockwave therapy for persistent tendon conditions such as golfer’s elbow and tennis elbow. Shockwave is always delivered alongside a full clinical assessment and hands-on treatment, never as a standalone procedure.
Q: Is there a discount for golf club members?
A: Yes. We have partnerships with golf clubs across North London. Members of affiliated clubs receive £10 off every osteopathy appointment at Compass Health Clinic. Contact us to check whether your club is part of the programme.
Q: Where is Compass Health Clinic?
A: We are based at 823 High Road, North Finchley, N12 8PR. We are easily accessible from across North London including Barnet, Whetstone, Muswell Hill, Finchley, Friern Barnet, Southgate, Highgate and Totteridge. Free parking is available.
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