Golf is a low-impact sport (until a bad swing hits the ground) and it’s generally a low-risk sport. According to the American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine (AOSSM), the average golfer plays 37 rounds per year and is practicing more and more, so they are at risk for acute and chronic problems, particularly from strained muscles, inflammation, and repetitive motions. Age, stress, tension and desk jobs can inhibit flexibility and range of motion, which also can directly impact a golfer’s game and can lead to injuries.
A published research in 2012 show that the majority of injuries involving golfers are related to poor swing mechanics along with the repetitive nature of the game. The majority of these injuries originate in the low back. Improper muscle balance and the joint dysfunction created by either too little or too much curvature in the low back can result in excess torsion and compressive load in the low back. This combination leads to a number of musculoskeletal problems.
Research statistic showed:
– 53% of male and 45% of female golfers suffer low back pain.
– As many as 30% of professional golfers are playing injured.
– 33% of golfers are over the age of 50.
– Playing golf and another sport increases chance of injury by 40 percent.
Proper muscle balance for correct swing, proper hip function is essential for injury prevention and optimal performance. Strengthening the low back and hips is important so the low back muscles do not have to take the brunt of the torque when swinging. Rotational force placed on the back during swing is equal to more than eight times ones normal body weight.
Acupuncture addresses the imbalances by loosening you up physically by decreasing inflammation and muscle tightness and tension. This will help increase hip rotation in order to decrease the amount of shoulder turn, and thereby reduce the amount of trunk flexion and side bending during downswing for instance. The body will have the ability to rotate properly and maintain a wide arc throughout the swing and give the player the ability to hit with a much greater distance.
In addition, as any practiced golfer knows, a calm body and mind is essential to a great golf game. Tension, anxiety, stress, and other emotional distractions interfere with concentration and your connection to the ball through your clubs. Acupuncture significantly reduces such emotional and psychological disruptions. By going into your game more mentally relaxed and physically looser, you’re less likely to be injured while playing. Acupuncture is not a substitute for a stretching and warming up, Acupuncture can reduce the risks of pulled muscles, strains, and sprains.
In addition to low back pain, golfers are prone to a variety of other problems – elbow, shoulder, and wrist injuries and pain. Acupuncture is also great for treating golf injuries. If you experience strains, sprains, or other muscular problems, acupuncture can shorten the recovery time and get you back out on the golf course.
Regardless whether you’re just taking it up or you’ve been golfing for 50 years, acupuncture can reduce the risks of chronic and acute injuries and re-injuries, and heal more efficiently if you already suffer from golf related injury. Call today (206-455-4172) and schedule an acupuncture appointment or schedule an appointment online.