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Neil Davey Sports Physiotherapist
Golf is a
great sport and offers a range of health benefits.
►Regular golf can help improve stamina, cardiovascular fitness and
muscular endurance. For example, the average golfer playing an 18-hole game
walks about four and a half miles. While the risk of physical injury from
playing golf isn't as high as in other sports, golfers are prone to muscle
strain injuries.
Warming up is very
important
►Muscle strains are more likely to occur
if you fail to warm up properly before teeing off. A study of golfers found that
less than three per cent of golfers warm up properly, while nearly half don't
warm up at all. Suggestions include:
►Warm up your neck and upper back by dropping your chin to your
chest and gently rolling your head from side to side in slow half-circles.
►Warm up your shoulders. Hold a golf club horizontal to the ground,
keeping your hands about shoulder width apart. Slowly raise the club overhead,
hold for a few moments, and lower. Hold the golf club in a similar way but this
time behind your back. Raise as high as you can, hold for a few moments, then
lower.
►Warm up your torso with side bends. Slide your hand down your leg
to support the weight of your torso.
►Twisting through the waist, gently and slowly turn from one side to
the other.
►Go through the motions of swinging the club without actually
hitting anything. Begin with gentle half swings and work up to full swings over
the course of a few minutes.
The above warm up routines are suggested to avoid possible muscle
strain whilst playing golf.
However,
should problems arise, contact
Neil Davey
without delay - and literally get back on course – safe and well.
Telephone 07779
253999
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