Avid Golfer? Tips for Protecting Your Back
If you've been struggling with persistent muscle pain and discomfort in your back, the last thing you might think to blame is your frequent rounds of golf. In fact, what many avid golfers don't realize is that the action of swinging a golf club can be damaging to your back. That doesn't mean you need to put the clubs up, though. You can easily address issues like this with the help of a chiropractor. Here is a look at some of the questions you might have about how your golf game affects your back and what a chiropractor might be able to do to help.
How Can Golf Cause Back Strain?
The action of swinging when you play golf twists your back. With every swing, those twists add up and can gradually lead to wear and tear on the muscles and your spine. Not to mention that if your form isn't perfect, you might even be putting added strain in some areas based on how you stand or the way that you twist. Over time, this may lead to spinal instability or other problems in your lower back. Swinging a club focuses on a single set of muscles and joints every time. You wouldn't expect your workout routines to do that, but it's also problematic when your hobby does.
What Can a Chiropractor Do?
A chiropractor will schedule a series of adjustments for you if you're struggling with persistent back pain. The more time you spend on the green, the more often you'll find that he or she wants to see you for adjustments. These adjustments will typically focus on things like maintaining the alignment of your pelvis and your spine. This alignment, believe it or not, is a key component to a properly formed golf swing.
If you want to optimize that swing without causing damage to your back, your stance is of the utmost importance. Remember that your spine is essentially the center of the pivot point when you swing a club. It is the point that your arms rotate around when you swing. You need unrestricted movement and your pelvis and spine need to be aligned. If they aren't, those joints can bind and cause serious damage.
Your chiropractor will also evaluate the condition of all your joints from your hips up through your torso. If you're compensating for a poorly aligned core, your chiropractor will see that strain in other joints and be able to help with adjustments. This can ensure a more fluid range of motion, which is helpful both on the course and off.
What Else Can You Do to Avoid Injury?
One of the mistakes that some golfers make is showing up for tee time and hitting the green right away without taking time to stretch. When you don't stretch your muscles and warm up before you play, you put all of that muscle tissue and the joints it protects at risk of injury. Pull your knees to your chest in a few repetitive movements to help stretch your hips. Touch your toes a few times to loosen your hamstrings. Grab a club and lift it across your shoulders. Twist at the waist while holding the club to stretch your shoulders and back. Then, take a few light practice swings before you get out there. The more limber your muscles are before you actually play that round, the more support they'll provide to the joints. It may seem simple, but any athlete will tell you that warming up like this can reduce the risk of injuries.
Don't wait until you are actually in pain to visit a chiropractor and address the issues in your golf game. If you're an enthusiast, reach out to a chiropractor in your area today. He or she can help you with an initial evaluation, which will identify any existing issues. Then, you can work together to establish an adjustment schedule and treatment plan to not only deal with those issues, but keep more from occurring. Contact a representative from a facility like Rockwood Chiropractic for more information.
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