subject: 7 Things You Can Do To Make Your Golf Swing Pain-Free! [print this page] 7 Things You Can Do To Make Your Golf Swing Pain-Free!
By far the number one cause of low back pain in golfers is caused by excessive rotation of the spine or big turn while holding a stationary hip position at the top of the back swing. This swing habit has been taught to many golfers on the false belief that it engages the "big" muscles of the back creating a sling shot effect for more head club speed and ball distance. This belief is a myth and causes significant back stress especially during the top of the back swing and during hyperextension in the down-swing and follow through.
Current research has demonstrated that a short backswing achieves the same club speed at ball impact as long backswings. Secondly, the low back muscles only provide 5% of torque, whereas the oblique stomach muscles do most of the work. The truth is that most of the power during the swing comes from exerting a short quick stretch to the muscles that surround the shoulder joint during back swing without the help of any spinal rotation. The only purpose for pelvic and spinal rotation in the backswing is to achieve a body position that allows for effective club head delivery at ball impact.
To protect your back, here are 3 good reasons why you need to a short golf swing.
More ball control that leads to greater accuracy without the shanks or hooks
Ball distance that's equivalent in length to the big shoulder turn
Minimal pressure on the back decreasing the likelihood of injury
So how do you change what you're doing?
Correct posture at ball address is critical for initiating the proper swing plane with the least amount of stress on the spinal joints.
Secondly, a professional golf swing analysis to help indentify hazardous movements especially over rotation with fixed hips putting undue, excessive stress on your spine and extremity joints.
Change your swing to a shorter, compact swing. This means you need to work on keeping your shoulders and hips as parallel to each other a possible throughout the majority of the golf swing. This requires stretching the muscles around your hips and back sufficiently enough to acquire a level of synchronicity to achieve parallel movement.
Dedication to a core strength conditioning program to strengthen the stomach and back muscles to help protect the spine during the swing.
To minimize injury, perform before playing a 3 part warm up, this consists of a heart raiser to get you pulse up, a series of static stretches and then a further series of dynamic stretches (stretches done whilst moving)
Proper equipment is an important key in preventing injury. A club too long or short, too stiff or flexible or too many different makes of clubs in your bag can result in frequent alterations of posture at ball address and inconsistent tempo. It's very important to see fitting specialist.
Stay energized through frequent hydration and energy snacks. Fatigue causes injuries because it's more difficult for the body to protect itself. Stopping an activity at the first sign of fatigue can prevent sports related injuries.
Having had my own fair share of injuries I know far too well how frustrating it is to be sidelined with an injury that could have been easily avoided. It sucks to sit and watch your friends play because your injury is not responding to treatment or popping pain numbing pills that merely cover up the symptoms, deceiving you into actions which could make the injury more serious.
So why is chiropractic different?
I can't think of any other healthcare approach that closely relates to the needs of the sports participant. Most sports involve body contact, fast starts and stops, and positioning that places an unusual amount of strain on the back and structural system. As a Chiropractor, I consider a person as an integrated being, giving special attention to the spine, joints, muscles, tendons, ligaments, and nerves. For example over pronation of the foot, a collapse of inner arch during running or walking can affect not only the joints in the foot but also in the neck and back leading to headaches, neck and low back pain. Chiropractic stresses the importance of keeping all the systems of the body functioning efficiently so the player enjoys peak performance, at minimum injury risk, and fast recuperative powers.
Chiropractic is a science and art is based on the premise that good health depends, in part, upon a normally functioning nervous system. When there is interference in the nervous system caused by a misaligned or malfunctioning spine, tissues and organs may not function properly. Detection of these problem areas ("subluxations") and their correction by spinal manipulation will relieve nerve interference and allow the spine and nervous system to return to a healthy state. Correction of the problem and maintaining good health is the goal of Chiropractic.
Who receives chiropractic care?
Chiropractic is now popular worldwide and is the treatment of choice for many amateur and professional athletes, teams, and coaches. Many world class and Olympic athletes, as well as professional stars and teams, have retained sports chiropractors to provide care.
Tiger Woods: Top Professional Golfer - "Being a chiropractor patient has really helped me immensely.I've been going to Chiropractors for as long as I can remember. It's as important to my training as practicing my swing. Lifting weights and seeing a chiropractor on a regular basis has made me a better golfer. I've been going to Chiropractors for as long as I can remember. It's as important to my training as practicing my swing
Other Sports Stars Include: Jerry Rice, NFL Hall of Fame player, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Former Mr. Universe, Kobe Bryant, NBA all star and current NBA Champion and Carl Lewis, Olympic Gold Medalist and former world record holder all utilize chiropractic care. The Players Association of the NFL has officially incorporated sports chiropractors as a regular part of care. AC Milan has a full time staff chiropractor. Chiropractors have been selected as attending doctors at the Olympic Games and at national and world championships in track and field, cycling, volleyball, powerlifting, aerobics, and triathlons.
What can be treated with chiropractic care?
The primary treatment I perform is manipulation (an "adjustment") to those areas of the spine or surrounding joints which are slightly displaced and fail to function normally. Given by hand (the word chiropractic means "done by hand"), the adjustment will restore proper alignment and function to the spinal joints, thereby restoring the normal nerve transmission and healing potential to the vital structures of the body. Typically after the adjustment one experiences a feeling of wellbeing and calmness. Others may feel increased mobility. Chiropractic adjustments are also very safe. A New Zealand research study has shown chiropractic to be "remarkably" safe and without side effects.
Therapeutic exercise, myofascial massage, PT modalities, orthotic footwear and nutritional support area are also part of patient care when appropriate. Injuries like neck and back strain/sprains, herniated disc injuries (arm and leg pain, tingling and numbness), headaches, sciatica, carpal tunnel, scoliosis, sprains (ankle), strains (eg. pulled muscles), tendinitis (eg. tennis elbow) and bursitis (eg. shoulder pain) and joint problems in the shoulder, elbow, wrist, hand, hip, knee, ankle, and foot can all be treated effectively with chiropractic care. These are all good reasons to seek chiropractic care.
However, the beauty of Chiropractic is not only drug-free and surgery free care, but also preventative and performance enhancing care. Maintaining proper alignment will allow athletes to be prepared for their sport. Many of the greatest athletes in the world are adjusted before competition as a "tune-up" in an effort to place their bodies in a state of peak efficiency.
