Many golfers experience low back pain In August of 2008, PRNewswire reported that up to 85% of injuries from golf were related to the spine.
Paul Chek of the C.
H.
E.
K.
Institute writes that low back pain (LBP) among golfers is very high, with 53% of male golfers and 45% of female golfers presenting with LBP on any given day.
Of course these facts aren't that surprising when you know the bio-mechanics of the body, and the bio-mechanics of the game.
The health, balance, and motion of the spine is integral to the health, balance, and motion of one's golf performance.
75% of golf professionals use chiropractic care Which is why 75% of professional golfers on both tours utilize chiropractic care to maintain their golf performance.
If you want to golf like the pros, according to one line of thought, you have to practice like the pros.
And that may mean giving your spine access to some tender, love, and care from a chiropractor.
Especially if you're one of those golfers who faces spine related pain on any given golf outing.
A simple exercise shows you why In order to show you how you might benefit, all you need to do is the following exercise.
Step one: Grab your driver.
Relax.
Deep breath in and out.
Now take a practice swing and make it a good one.
That probably felt good.
Take a few more swings if you want to warm up a bit.
Step two: Now grab your driver, get into position to take a practice swing--but before taking your back swing, subtly lean your head to the left or right a few degrees.
Now swing just as you did before.
If you're like most, you'll feel tightness and a sensation like you can't move as much or as far as before.
Step three: Ok..
..
Last one.
Before you get into position to take your practice swing, subtly rotate your shoulders, with your back shoulder coming forward, ever so slightly.
Now keep the shoulder rotated and take that practice swing.
Awkward isn't it? Can you anticipate where that ball is going to go? So what does this have to do with NUCCA chiropractic care? Chiropractic affects posture which affects your golf game What if I told you that there is one bone in the body that can cause head tilt and rotation, which then leads to shoulder rotation, hip rotation, and the shortening of one leg? What if I told you that one bone, named the Atlas and located at the top of the neck, can be gently corrected? What if I said that this correction will in turn will correct the problems of posture I just mentioned? Shoulders will relax, heads will stop tilting and come back to center, and the muscle tension that leads to short legs and lack of balance in the posture will let go, creating a new stability...
What if I told you that I have patients ranging from 7 years to 66 years old, and all of them had head tilt or rotation to some degree or another, and none of them knew it when they walked in my door? Alignment of the top of the spine affects the body's alignment The Atlas bone shifts from accidents or injuries in the course of one's life, reshaping your posture so subtly, that you may not even realize it.
Your body has adapted to your abnormal posture and decreased range of motion.
Your body has had to compensate for this abnormal posture with every movement you make.
This compensation has led to destabilization, and greater stress on muscles and joints.
The percent of compensation you've made takes away from your maximum potential to swing your club, both effortlessly and consistently.
Atlas shifting affects more than just golf swing The Atlas bone is shaped like a ring, and the sensitive brainstem is suspended just above it.
The shifting of the Atlas can put pressure on the brainstem, which will contract the para-spinal muscles down the entire back.
Paul Chek confirms this by saying, "The upper cervical spine reigns superior to the viscera, emotions, sacrum/ coccyx system, pelvic girdle and all remaining joints.
" (He refers to the remaining joints as slave joints.
) This can cause aches and pains all over the body, not to mention headaches, and other visceral issues, and I am talking about the non-golfer and golfer alike.
If your Atlas is shifted, just think what it may be doing to your golf game? Get a new driver, or a new sense of balance? Would you rather spend $500 on a new driver that may or may not improve your golf game in the upcoming summer? Or would you like to take that money and put it towards improving you...
your atlas...
your posture...
your stance? Look in the mirror, check to see if your head is tilted, or if your shoulder is hiked up.
If they are you may be a candidate for NUCCA upper cervical chiropractic care.
Consult the NUCCA website to see if there is a practitioner in your area, or even get in contact with me via this website and I'll see if I can find someone who practices in your geographical region.
Do it like the pros do.
If you're looking to work on your game in this up and coming golf season, giving your spine some tender love and care with chiropractic may be in order.