This weekend the top golfers of the world are going head to head in an attempt to win one of the sport's most famous events. The 86th Master's Tournament is on its second day today and the golfers participating need to keep their bodies at peak performance to beat out their competition. Many of the greats who play the game see a chiropractor regularly and will even get chiropractic adjustments during the tournament. Vijay Singh, Jordan Spieth, and even Tiger Woods have all publicly thanked their chiropractors for the roles they played in helping them throughout their careers. Why do golfers love chiropractic so much? Let’s talk about the game of golf, the stresses put on the body during a golf swing, and what chiropractic can do to help both the pros and weekend warriors prevent injury.
Golf may seem like a casual and easygoing activity, but in reality, it is a physically demanding sport. The entire body is used to produce the action of a golf swing. Muscles in your arms, legs, thighs, and back all work in unison to create the fluid motion necessary for the perfect shot. The brain needs to analyze both the environment of the course and the body’s position in order to make a good judgment on how to hit the ball.
In order to be precise, the body is constantly sensing the position of all the muscles and joints. When the brain tells a part to move, the position change is relayed back to the brain as feedback to let the brain know movement did indeed happen. If body parts aren’t moving the way they should then the feedback is thrown off and the golfer loses accuracy. The most common cause of these feedback issues is tight muscles and joints. If a muscle or joint is tight or stiff, movement in that section of the body is inhibited. To compensate, another muscle or joint will begin to move. This extra movement confuses the brain and throws off balance and biomechanics.
Seeing a chiropractor in Rochester may be the key to taking your golf game to the next level. Let’s go over just some of the treatments that your chiropractor can use that can specifically address muscle tightness and joint stiffness that may be affecting your swing.
Electrical muscle stimulation can help reduce muscle spasms and pain.
Class IV deep tissue laser therapy can help reduce inflammation, improve blood circulation, and speed up healing and recovery.
Instrument-assisted deep tissue manipulation can work on any deep muscle adhesions and scar tissue to improve muscle extensibility and allow the muscle fibers to work in unison to perform their movements.
Therapeutic exercises are prescribed to stretch tight muscles and strengthen weaker muscles. By getting better balance in your muscles, you are less likely to recruit secondary muscles to help compensate for the lack of strength which can cause muscle tightness and joint stiffness.
Chiropractic adjustments can help joints move better and perform at their optimal range of motion. Adjustments to the cervical, thoracic, and lumbar spine, shoulders, and hips, allows them to work in unison during the swing motion.
All of these treatments combined allow for the necessary movements required for golf to be optimized. It’s not just about feeling better, it’s about performance as well! Studies have shown that players actually drive the ball much farther after a chiropractic adjustment!
Chiropractic care is not just for professionals. Any amateur golfer or weekend warrior should consider seeking care as well. Golf is one of the leading activities to cause back pain due to the nature of a golf swing. The average swing puts about 8 times a person's body weight onto the lower back. If lumbar joints are restricted, the repetitive compression and twisting can lead to serious disc problems. Regular chiropractic care allows the joints in the lower back to move as intended through the golf swing, limiting the strain placed on the disc and preventing injury.
If you experience pain while golfing or are just looking to keep your back at peak performance, schedule an appointment with your Rochester chiropractor. Here at Rush-Henrietta Family Chiropractic, we have all of the tools and experience necessary to keep golfers enjoying the game they love and playing at their highest level. Schedule an appointment and see the difference yourself
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