Golf Physical Therapy
What is Golf Fitness?
Golf fitness includes being physically fit as well as having a strong understanding of the mechanics of your swing to practice proper technique. With both physical fitness and proper technique ,golfers will play great golf and enjoy the game season after season.
Why is being physically fit for golf important?
Physical conditioning will ensure increased power and distance to play better golf. When you are physically fit you are at less risk for injury, which means you will play better, longer, season after season. Your body is your best piece of equipment in the game of golf. The foundation for your golf game is your body and worth the investment in golf specific fitness training. A solid foundation for the physical components includes flexibility, strength, rotational core power, and balance. Advanced technology in golf equipment today does help, and having appropriate clubs with proper fit is also important. Golf lessons are a valuable tool to advancing your game and we highly recommend everyone invest in golf lessons from a professional instructor.
Why is it important to address physical conditioning with golfers of all ages to reduce risk of injury?
A small percentage of golf injuries are traumatic, but most are overuse injuries. Overuse injuries occur when the body compensates repeatedly in the golf swing. Causes of overuse injuries include poor conditioning, lack of proper warm up, technical swing errors due to pre-existing physical conditions or swing faults, and poor posture or body mechanics. The most common overuse injury in amateur golfers is lower back pain, followed by wrist/elbow/shoulder pain. The number of occurrences in female golfers that will suffer from wrist/elbow/shoulder overuse golf injuries is doubled.
Can golf injuries be prevented?
Great news! Golf injuries can be prevented. It's very important to make time for a proper warm-up. Perform a daily routine with sport specific exercises which may include stretches and core rotational strengthening for increased power generated from the hips. Learn and utilize spine protection techniques for lifting, bending, and maintaining safe posture both on and off the golf course.
Why work with a physical therapist to improve golf performance?
The effects of an injury can be detrimental to your golf swing and overall performance. Golfers commonly suffer from low back, shoulder, or elbow pain. These repetitive stress injuries develop as the body compensates in the golf swing from underlying physical limitations. If you are experiencing pain or recovering from surgery, illness, or injury, working with a physical therapist that is specially trained to work with golfers can help you become pain free AND improve your sports performance.
We use Titleist Performance Institute methodology to determine specific areas of physical impairment that may affect your ability to maintain or perform golf specific motions and patterns required for proper swing mechanics. Titleist Performance Institute is revolutionary in its state-of-the-art research that correlates deficits in stability or mobility directly to the most common swing faults. Every golfer will be scored on flexibility, strength, rotational core power, and balance. Results will be used to assign corrective exercises designed to address specific swing faults. Incorporating golf specific patterns in your physical therapy program will ensure the best results for improving your overall golf game and preventing injury.
