Golf Injury Prevention

There are three phases to the golf swing, each of which can cause injury if executed incorrectly. Additionally, there are specific exercises you can perform to help reduce your risk of hurting yourself during that particular swing phase.

Phase 1: Take-Away. The take-away consists of the set-up movement to the top of the back swing. During this phase, the most common potential injuries involve the thumb and wrist, particularly on the lead hand. Here is an effective workout for the muscles of the wrist, hand and forearm. To begin, stand with your feet shoulder-width apart holding a 5-pound dumbbell in your right hand. Keeping your arm to your side and using only your wrist, raise the dumbbell as high as you can and lower it as far as you can. Do two sets of 12 reps. Next, do another two sets of 12 reps, but while moving your wrist from side to side as far as you can. Repeat this entire workout with the dumbbell in your left hand.

An advanced workout for your wrists would be to take a barbell/dumbbells with a weight you can handle, anywhere from 10-45 pounds, and do three exercises back to back to back without rest. Start with your feet shoulder width apart and grab the weight with your hands facing down, shoulder-width apart, held which each thumb. Reverse-curl the weight up toward your body, flexing the forearm as you finish the movement at the top. Do 10 reps.

Phase 2: Impact. The next phase of the swing is the impact, which consists of the downswing and impact with the ball. The most common injuries during this phase are attributable to stress on the back knee and compression forces acting on both wrists. Additionally, the lead elbow and hand/wrist are often hurt during impact.

In terms of exercises that can help prevent these injuries, leg extensions/leg curls and abduction/adduction exercises (almost all fitness clubs have equipment for these types of exercises), along with regular stretching and massage, are extremely effective for the legs. Triceps pushdowns using a reverse grip with the hands facing up is an excellent exercise for the triceps and will help to prevent injury to the elbows. High-intensity training (one set to muscle exhaustion for each exercise, using slow, deliberate movements) works well and is a safe method of training for all the exercises above. For the legs, do 12-15 reps; for the triceps/elbows, do 8-12reps.

Phase 3: Follow-Through. Finally, there is the follow-through after impact. During this phase there is abdominal torque and risk of spinal injury. I recommend training the oblique muscles (essentially the sides of the abdomen) using a trunk rotation machine, twisting slowly in a circular fashion for 12-15 reps, and a lower back extension machine for 12-15 reps. Do not use heavy weights for these exercises and make sure to do them slowly and eliminate momentum. These exercises will help strengthen the core muscles and help prevent back injuries.

Source: To Your Health, February 16, 2010 [Volume 4, Issue 5]

Dr. David Chen
Chiropractor in Laurel, MD
Laurel Regional Chiropractic

The Importance of a Well Aligned Body to Your Golf Game

Golf and chiropractic are a perfect combination. A chiropractor, along with a good golf instructor, can help you evaluate, treat, condition and train golfers. A chiropractor will look at the body in balance from head to toe, which is the essence of the golf swing. Anything interfering with the stance or the grip restrictions in the swing will have a profound effect on your golf swing. There are three fundamental causes of golf injuries: poor posture, lack of flexibility, and lack of balanced functioning of muscles. And, of course, poor swing mechanics is the fourth cause.

The golf swing is all about efficient energy transfer from the lower body into the hips, through each of the joints of the spine, into the shoulder girdle, down the arm, through the golf club, and finally into the golf ball. Posture at the address of the ball is important to position yourself to effectively transfer energy and hit that long straight shot you are visualizing. If back pain and dysfunction are impairing your posture, your swing will suffer. That means compensating during your swing that can lead to more biomechanical problems and pain in other areas of the body. Without good posture, pain can be a self-perpetuating cycle that inhibits your game.

Look at yourself in a mirror. Stand nice and tall with your hands to your side. Is one shoulder higher than the other? Now place you hands on your hips. Is one hip higher than the other? If you are serious about golf you should really be serious about your body. Most golfers will spend lots of money, time, and care on their golf equipment but spend little time with their most valuable equipment – that’s themselves. Take a few minutes every day to stretch before playing as it will make a tremendous difference.

Dr. David Chen
Chiropractor in Laurel, Maryland
Laurel Regional Chiropractic