Correct Motion Can Be Your Key

How can functional motion improve your golf game? The answer is simple: if the joints of the body function appropriately, the golfer is allowed to move in optimal ranges of motion. For most players, some joints in the body don't move in full motion. When joints fail to function properly, other joints must make up the difference. Much the same as a team of workers, if a few workers are sitting down on the job, the other workers must make up the difference. The overburdened workers will become tired and production will decline. This is the same scenario that is present in the skeletal system of most golfers. When a few joints in the body 'sit down on the job', others are forced to pick up the slack. This dysfunction can cause a decrease in production and an increase in pain. My advice:

1) Begin a stretching program. This can allow the muscles to reorient themselves to bones. Some slight stretching is ok to do before you play, but it is most important AFTER you play. When you reach the trunk of your car following the round, use it to do some leg and low back stretches.

2) Use a golf-specific exercise program. By increasing the functional strength of golf-specific muscles, the player can protect the skeletal system and it's components. These can be found online if you feel comfortable, or obtained by a personal trainer, physical therapist, or chiropractor.

3) Visit a chiropractor. Chiropractors are trained to locate and treat dysfunction of joints in the body. By normalizing the overall function of joints, better performance and lower levels of pain can be expected.

-Nathan Williams