Golf is the highest participated sport in New Zealand and has had major growth over the last few years. We have seen our Memberships increase to a staggering 105,000 in 2020, which continues to climb. As great as that is, we have seen the same trend in ACC injury claims increasing from 6094 in 2019 to 7591 in 2021, where back pain seems to be the most prevalent among the injuries.
What causes these injuries?
Golf is all about consistency and repeating the same motion over time. We find ourselves repeating the golf swing 60 times per round or more (especially for us hackers!). Unfortunately, it’s not a symmetrical movement, producing high loads on the spine. In fact, 70% of the forces produced in the golf swing occur to the lower back causing ‘’compression loads of up to eight times a person body weight’’ were found by Hosea and Gatt. You could easily see those of us with poor swing mechanics or those of us you have just miss timed a shot can leave the body vulnerable to getting injured.
What can Chiropractic do?
It’s fair to say for an ideal golf swing, a free moving spine and pelvis is required. With the amount of force on the spine we can eventually get areas of increased tension. And increased tension means less flexibility which leads to restricted range of motion. Its also important to have a strong balanced foundation, around which the torso can rotate. Take building a house, you require a strong foundation, where you begin by getting rid of any barriers or obstructions that would prevent this. This is where the chiropractic adjustment can help. It makes sure there is no interference in the nervous system so that you not only move easier but also allow the body to better coordinate the muscles in your body. A better brain body connection means more strength as your body is able to recruit more muscle fibres and maximise the muscle contraction. That’s why it is no secret that top PGA players like Jordan Spieth and Tiger Woods have employed chiropractors as part of their team. In fact Dr. LaFountain, director of chiropractic services for the PGA, would go on to say that 72% of the PGA tour back in 2008 were all under chiropractic care.
As you can see, chiropractic can help you when you are injured but it can also help you to perform at your best with no restrictions. So as a beginner golfer or a someone who is playing ‘scratch’ why not give chiropractic a go today?
References
18 Holes with a PGA Chiropractor. (2008). Dynamic Chiropractic. Vol. 26, Issue 15. Retrieved from https://www.dynamicchiropractic.com/mpacms/dc/article.php?id=53305
Costa, M. V., Chibana, E. T., Giavarotti, L., Compagnoni, D. S., Shiono, A. H., Satie, J., & Bracher, S. B. (2009). Effect of spinal manipulative therapy with stretching compared with stretching alone on full-swing performance of golf players: a randomized pilot trial. Journal of Chiropractic Medicine, 8(4), 165-170. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcm.2009.06.002
Golf Club Memberships Spike in New Zealand’s Post COVID-19 Spurt. (2020). NZGM. Retrieved from https://nzgolfmagazine.co.nz/golf-club-memberships-spike-in-new-zealands-post-covid-19-spurt/
López, C., Serna, J. R., & Turner, A. (2010). Spinal musculoskeletal disorders in golf players. Revista Andaluza de Medicina del Deporte, 3(3), 121-125.
Nesbit, S. M., & Serrano, M. (2005). Work and Power Analysis of the Golf Swing. Journal of Sports Science & Medicine, 4(4), 520-533. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3899668/
Sports and Recreation Injury Statistics. (2021). ACC. Retrieved from https://www.acc.co.nz/newsroom/media-resources/sport-and-recreation-injury-statistics/