Newsletters: May 2002

• Treatment and Prevention of Golf Injuries
• Chiropractic: The Golfer's Edge

NOTE: I am available for presentations, talks and/or workshops on a variety of topics suitable for any size group. Contact the office for more info and/or to make arrangements
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TREATMENT AND PREVENTION OF GOLF INJURIES

Is it possible for golfers to remain injury free while still lowering their scores and having fun? The answer, of course, is a resounding YES!

I currently treat a wide range of golfers, from beginners to the elite and I was the Official Tournament Chiropractor for the Annual Morningstar Golf Tournament for several years. In addition, I have been exposed to many injuries while competing as a gymnast at the University of Manitoba, and currently as a recreational marathon runner and triathlete.

As a chiropractor, I can offer a unique perspective on the many ailments faced by golfers. Following is my response to the most commonly asked golf-related questions.

What are the most common injuries you see in golfers?

The low back contains a disc between each vertebrae. Discs are joined by two moveable spinal joints. Most low back pain is caused by a mis-alignment or restriction of the spinal joints and occasionally by a bulging disc. This can put pressure on the spinal cord and its surrounding structures including nearby nerve roots.

Chiropractic is a natural healing method where the doctor locates areas of misalignment causing malfunction. The chiropractor uses carefully directed and controlled pressure to restore spinal bones to a more normal position. This procedure is known as an adjustment.

Can these injuries be treated, and how?

Chiropractors are experts specially trained to treat musculoskeletal (muscle-bone) conditions commonly affecting golfers. In addition to restoring spinal motion through chiropractic adjustments, chiropractors also restore spinal mechanics to golfers by prescribing exercises to improve flexibility and physical fitness.

Can Chiropractic help lower my handicap?

Any person who diligently strives to improve his physical fitness level and flexibility will have to improve their golf score. Not only will they play better, they will feel better and have more fun. However, if your usual score is 105, don't expect a round of 72 after the first adjustment.

How can I prevent these problems from reoccurring?

The best way to get in shape is never to get out of shape. Chiropractic care helps restore motion to spinal joints which have become fixated (stuck) and do not move properly. For top performance in golf, muscles, tendons and ligaments depend upon proper joint movement. Injuries to these tissues can reduce range of motion, and decrease blood supply and nerve flow which will ultimately take you out of the game. Chiropractic care has provided tremendous benefit to almost every type of athlete. Remember that the best treatment for injury is prevention.

Dr. Smith can devise a comprehensive health care plan for you based on your age, condition and health objectives. Find out if chiropractic care can restore your health, improve your performance and bring even more fun to the great game of golf.

It's no wonder golfers suffer a lot of back pain. Picture the contortions a golfer's spine goes through during each and every shot. First, he or she asks it to bend really far in one direction for the backswing; then, after hesitating for a second, the golfer's back must suddenly change direction, forcefully twist and bend through the downswing, absorb the impact of the golf club hitting an inanimate object, and then continue twisting for the follow-through. This crazy maneuver is then repeated about 70 times (or 180, as the case may be) per game.

Such movement would be hard on even the fittest athlete. That problem is compounded when you consider most golfers are strictly weekend players, mixing this intense activity with long periods of idleness that leave their muscles weak, tight and prone to injury. (This can occur even if the golfer is active in other sports, as the demands on muscles often differ for different activities.) Then, each time the weekend golfer returns to the links and forces these weak or tight muscles into action, it can put excessive stress on the spine and spinal joints resulting in poor spinal joint mechanics. This can decrease power, as well as speed, hand-eye coordination and consistency.

Many golfers could benefit from chiropractic spinal adjustments; which correct spinal deviations and muscle imbalances. Tiger Woods, who recently became the youngest golfer to ever win the sport's Grand Slam, has said that chiropractic treatments are as important to him as practicing his swing. Not only can chiropractic care decrease the pain associated with extreme activity followed by inactivity, but it can also improve a golfer's range of motion and swing. In fact, golfers could be doing themselves a disservice by not getting their backs cared for.

Chiropractors can also make nutritional and exercise recommendations to help golfers prevent back problems and maintain good spinal health. For instance, rehabilitation exercises promote speedier recovery and warm-up exercises can be beneficial before each game. Certain exercises will also help golfers strengthen abdominal muscles to reduce strain on the back muscles. Recent chiropractic research has found that using a shorter backswing cuts down on stress on the lumbar spine and, if done properly, can be just as effective in achieving maximum clubhead speed (a measure of how far the ball is hit).

Chiropractors can also recommend healthy ways to reduce inflammation, so that golfers can avoid over-the-counter painkillers such as ASA or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), which can be harsh on the stomach and can even cause gastrointestinal ulceration. Instead, some foods and natural supplements can provide anti-inflammatory action, while improving overall health. Dark green and other colourful vegetables, for example, are sources of anti-inflammatory omega-3 fatty acids, bioflavonoids and other phytochemicals. In addition, supplementing the diet with omega-3 fatty acids, flavonoids, ginger, turmeric, boswellia and bromelain can further help decrease swelling around the spine.

While chiropractic care can be beneficial in maintaining overall back health, sometimes golf-related injuries cannot be avoided. That is why chiropractors have been urging their golfing patients to reduce spinal rotation during the backswing to lessen the change of torsional injury.

GETTING YOUR BACK IN SHAPE FOR GOLF

If you have back pain that persists after golfing, see your chiropractor. Book a chiropractic check-up to make sure your back is in the best possible shape for a fun, active summer.

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Contact the office:
Dr. Larry Smith D.C., B.P.E.
Chiropractor

P.O. Box 307
255 Island Highway
Parksville, British Columbia
Canada V9P 2G5