Learn Why It Is So Important To Stretch Before Playing Golf!
Although a single golf swing may seem relatively harmless, the accumulation of 60-100 swings per game and 200 or more swings during a practice session can place great stress and strain on your body. Each swing involves complex shear, axial, and compression forces on your spine, equal to that of eight times your body weight.
In order for your body to endure this magnitude of force without injury and a compromised golf game, it is vital that your joints are capable of achieving a full range of motion. Balance, core strength, and good posture are also essential to reaching and maintaining an injury free and comfortable golf stance and swing. These are a few of the many lessons we will teach you when you choose us as your
local physical therapist in SD. When your body is unable to achieve adequate motion from a joint, for example your hips, it will compensate by overloading your spine and wrists in an attempt to achieve the same result. Hip rotation inward is essential to attain a good follow-thru in your lead leg and a smooth backswing on your trailing leg. If you are lacking this motion, your low back compensates with excessive side bending which leads to increased spinal compression and eventually low back pain.
It is no secret that with age, your golf swing becomes more challenging and painful due to the effect of degenerative disease, decreased spinal mobility, and trouble with balance and proprioception.
A respectable golf game starts BEFORE you get to the first tee box. Since a golf swing begins at the hips and ends at the hands, Kate recommends that a golfer perform their warm-up routine in the same order. Below are some quick and effective stretches that Kate suggests being done prior to "teeing off.”
Vanessa Jackson DPT, TPI-CGFI L3 and Kate Grace PT, OPA-C