In 2019, 34.2 million people in the US played golf. Of these, 2.5 million played the sport for the first time. That's 100,000 more first-timers than in 2000, the year when Tiger Woods' popularity soared.
All these stats prove that golf is now one of the most well-liked sports in the US.
The thing is, while golf is a low-impact sport, it can still cause injuries. From 1990 to 2011, for instance, over 660,000 people had to seek emergency treatment for golf injuries.
This is why golfers should seek chiropractic care. Regular chiropractic care not only treats and prevents injuries. It's also a good way to improve your golf.
All the Good Reasons Why Golfers Should See a Chiropractor
The Adjustment
There was a study completed in Sao Paulo, Brazil that aimed to measure the effectiveness of a golfer’s performance with a chiropractic adjustment. They divided the golfers into two groups; one group did their basic stretching and warm-up regimen, while the other group also received chiropractic adjustments on top of their usual warm-up routine. Both groups were of similar age groups and skill levels. In measuring the average distance of their drives, they found that spinal manipulation therapy combined with stretching may be associated with improvement of a golf player’s full swing performance when compared to muscle stretching alone.
Why does the adjustment help? Between each of the vertebrae in your spine, you have small joints that allow the spine to move in various planes of motion. One of these motions-rotation, is extremely relevant in a golfer’s swing. We find this motion to be a common area of restriction in not only golfers, but in the general population as well. When the spine is lacking rotation, this will greatly decrease the full potential of your golf swing. Not only can it cause a reduction in your overall power and distance, but it can also change your swing and affect your overall trajectory. Chiropractors are trained to assess for these discrepancies in motion and can improve them with adjustments.
Muscle Work
There is no questioning the importance of the muscles in producing an effective golf shot.
Weakness or under-activation in major muscle groups will directly affect your swing. Also, it is important to note that tightness, or overactivated muscles will also affect your golf swing. Yes, we all know that weak muscles affect performance. But what less people realize is that tight muscles can also do the same. This is often the case in more avid golfers, who are consistently swinging the clubs on a daily basis.
Our office uses several techniques to address these problems within the muscles. Chiropractic adjustments, massage, mobility sessions, and cold laser therapy are a few services we offer that work together to obtain maximum potential with your golf game. Our services are designed to reduce inflammation, alleviate pain, and restore function so that the muscles and spine can perform at their maximal potential.
As mentioned before, the utilization of chiropractic care for golfers is not only significant in improving performance, but also in the prevention of injuries. The average golf swing puts about eight times the body weight on a golfer’s low back, which is about three times more than running. Repetitive compression and torsion can cause wear and tear to the spine, particularly in the discs and vertebrae. As with all physical sports, there are potential consequences to your body. Regular chiropractic care can be beneficial in this regard, as it can help mitigate the aches and pains commonly experienced with play. This will allow you to not only play the sport you love to your full potential, but also allow you to do so for a long time.
If you have any questions about how chiropractic care can help improve your golf game and prevent injury, feel free to contact our office. We would love to help out in anyway possible! Mention this blog and we will get you set up for a FREE assessment in the office.
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