Feeling banged up? Here's a handy guide to pain relief

Pulls, tears, bruises, inflammation—just some of the wonderful side effects of loving a sport so much that you can't walk away from that second bucket of range balls or an emergency nine after a day of 36 holes. That's OK, we've got your back—and your shoulders, knees, hips and neck. Here's a guide to potential treatments for damage to the body's soft tissue—everything from self-massage to Star Wars-like laser blasts to radio waves and the time honored tub of ice.

This information comes from research by Golf Digest fitness advisor Ralph Simpson, a physical therapist and former trainer on the PGA Tour. Please consult your doctor before trying any of these treatments.

HEAT/COLD

Extreme cold applied to the skin can slow inflammation and heat can increase blood flow, which might accelerate healing. Both reduce pain/achiness.

Note: There is research showing ice to be effective in the first 72 hours to reduce swelling from acute soft-tissue injuries (bruises, sprains, etc.), but heat might make a swollen area temporarily worse. Either can burn if used without proper skin protection for too long (more than 15 minutes).

FOAM ROLLING MYOFASCIAL RELEASE

Pressure is applied to the stiff or tight muscular area in the hopes of increasing blood flow and range of motion and countering the effects of microtears to muscle, fascia, etc. It's a convenient, cheap and effective technique for treating soreness and getting warmed up for golf.

Note: Pressure applied directly to a sprain or bruise where you feel pain can aggravate things, and some injuries are too deep within the body for massage to be effective. You might need a therapist to treat hard-to-reach areas.

DRY NEEDLING

Long, thin needles pierce the skin and the muscle to release painful myofascial trigger points. Pain reduction and improvement in range of motion can come rapidly after a treatment. This is great for issues with the muscles of the spine (areas too deep to easily reach by yourself) that are often inflamed by golf swings, including the trunk muscles and hip flexors.

Note: This requires a skilled professional for application and generally isn't used as a stand-alone treatment. Insurance might not cover the application. Soreness and bruising can occur where the needles enter the skin.

NSAIDs

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen or naproxen sodium are effective in relieving inflammation, particularly for minor issues. It doesn't get any easier for golfers than to pop a pill to combat pain, and even prescription-strength NSAIDs are fairly inexpensive.

Note: The longer you use them, the greater their potential to damage the kidneys and gastrointestinal components. They also have caused cardiovascular incidents (heart failure, strokes).

ACETAMINOPHEN

These medications are effective at reducing pain in the short term when administered correctly and can relieve common issues from playing golf such as delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS). They're cheap and easy to use.

Note: They're not effective at reducing inflammation but have been shown to be more successful and have fewer side effects than NSAIDs for extremity injuries. They can damage the liver if used at the same time as alcohol. Users also have reported stomach issues and allergic reactions. If you're wondering about combining acetaminophen and NSAIDs, that seems more effective in dental and post-surgical pain treatment than acute musculoskeletal injuries caused by golf. Acetaminophen alone is the better option.

STEROIDS

Whether administered by pill or needle, steroids offer speedy and strong relief to debilitating pain—the kind where even thinking about a golf swing hurts.

Note: Obviously, this treatment requires a physician to administer if it's an injection or a prescription if it's a pill. Neither is cheap without insurance. It might lead to tendon ruptures if treatments are often repeated. Some have reported soreness for a day or two in the injected area.

LOW-LEVEL CLASS III LASER THERAPY

Short bursts of light (five to 10 minutes) to an injured area have been shown to reduce tendon inflammation such as golfer's elbow. The treatments are quick and painless.

Note: It's generally not used as a stand-alone treatment, and insurance typically does not cover it.

CLASS IV LASERS

Class 4 lasers have been shown to reduce pain and inflammation as well as boosting the healing process through photobomodulation.

Note: You'll have to see a medical professional for this type of treatment, and it will cost you ($150 per treatment, on average).

PROLOZONE INJECTIONS

Injection of saline mixed with ozone has been shown to reduce inflammation and can be effective at treating chronic lateral elbow pain and osteoarthritic knees, but it’s use for low-back pain remains controversial.

Note: This strategy also is provided by a physician and usually ranges from $200 to $400 per injection.

EXTRACORPOREAL SHOCKWAVE TREATMENTS

High-energy acoustic waves are administered to tissue to stimulate quicker healing. This is usually done by a physical therapist or chiropractor in combination with a therapeutic rehab program.

Note: Although it can be useful to stimulate healing and pain reduction, it's real purpose is for chronic, non-acute, injuries and can cost up to $500 per session.

PLATELET-RICH PLASMA INJECTIONS

Platelets are extracted from drawn blood and then injected back into the body at a spot where injury/acute pain has occurred. It has been very effective on joint injuries and arthritis. For golfers, it's a treatment to consider for plantar fasciitis (foot) and elbow tendinitis.

Note: Not typically used as a treatment for muscle/tissue soreness. Although many studies on its efficacy have been done, there is still skepticism about its ability to help overcome issues. It's also expensive ($500 to $2,000 per injection) and usually not covered by insurance.

COLD PLUNGES

This might be the best new thing for self care. Submerging in water colder than 50 degrees for five minutes a handful of times each week has been shown to reduce inflammation, reduce stress and speed recovery from golf-course soreness.

Note: This is the cheapest, easiest (and perhaps) safest treatment of all. Just don't sit in cold water for too long. Pruning will be the least of your worries.

MORE: 3 at-home exercises to get in golf shape for under $100