The average golfer tends to take up golf at an age when he or she is no longer participating in energetic, competitive and physically demanding sports. Unfortunately, this decreased involvement in competitive play contributes to an overall decrease in flexibility – especially of the spine, shoulders, hips and pelvis (key components of a good golf swing). Common everyday activities like working on computers or commuting long distances tend to contribute even more to this lack of flexibility. This is important to note because flexibility is the key to improving your game and reducing your pain.
Flexibility plays a greater role in golf than just an improved long game – it also decreases the likelihood of experiencing an injury while practising or playing. In fact, the root cause of golf injuries is a lack of golf-specific flexibility.
The golf swing depends on nearly every joint between the tips of the toes and the ends of the fingers. All these joints taken together create an unbroken chain. Any limitation in motion of any of these joints will shift the work burden to other “healthier” joints causing unnecessary strain and contributing to increased muscular fatigue (Does your swing improve or degrade as you near the 18th hole?). This can cause serious repetitive motion injury to both the dysfunctional joints and the over-burdened (but otherwise healthy) joints, as well. According to Jeffry H. Blanchard, golf professional and author of “The Geometry of Golf”: “The chiropractor is the perfect choice to evaluate, educate, treat, condition and train those who choose to play golf.”
The Chiropractic Solution
Any effort to treat golf-related injury or improve the golf swing requires a combined approach that addresses both the joint mechanics AND muscle flexibility. Joint mechanics are best addressed with corrective chiropractic adjustments to the affected joints. Active Release muscle therapy is effective at restoring flexibility to tight damaged muscles. Working with chiropractors who understand golf and the swing mechanics of the sport can be a life-saver. Chiropractors not only help golfers feel better by readjusting and decompressing their spine but can also provide advice that helps them prevent future injury and even lower their score.
To hit longer and more powerful golf shots you must be willing to improve your posture and flexibility – the domain of Chiropractic care for over 100 years