Golf is a very complex sport that encompasses many components ranging from technical shots, swing mechanics, mental preparedness, and overall physical conditioning. Although a very technical-based sport, golf also has many physical implications that impact one’s ability to repeatedly swing a club with sufficient power and efficiency throughout a round.
From a simplistic standpoint, an individual’s golf swing characteristics are linked to almost every major joint in the body. Correct body sequencing can be dependent on whether a body region has enough mobility to move through sufficient range of motion, or if the regions above or below that mobile segment have enough stability to allow those other mobile regions to move efficiently. Well, what does this mean? It means that one region of the body can be impacted by the function of another unrelated region: a concept called regional interdependence.
Let me give you an example… Let’s take the mechanics of a backswing for example and how the pelvis, thorax and shoulder relate to each other. The pelvis, thorax and shoulder all serve as rotational components in the swing, however, lack of sufficient rotation in either of these regions can increase movement demands on relatively more stable regions such as the lower back for instance. This can put excessive stress on the lower back or alter swing mechanics such as early extension or excessive sway to compensate for mobility deficits.
Well, now you might be asking, “How do I know whether I have a mobility or stability dysfunction?” This can be a confusing question to solve by yourself. The good news is that there are more objective assessments and swing video analyses that can be utilized to evaluate the relation of swing mechanics to body movement (body-swing connection). The video analysis provides adequate assessment of specific tendencies or swing faults in one’s swing pattern, while the supplemented screen and movement assessment gives indication of why you swing a certain way due to either mobility or stability deficits. Optimizing movement mechanics can not only improve the efficiency of your swing but can also reduce the occurrence of injury-inducing mechanics that may reduce your risk of injury. Sounds like a win-win to me.
So, how does one get connected with a professional that has the expertise to both evaluate, treat, and improve pain and performance? Lucky for you, our very own Chris Munoz, PT, DPT, CSCS, TPI-M2 is a Titleist Performance Institute medical level II certified professional who has the expertise to address your golf specific needs. Don’t keep guessing on why you have pain with golf or swing a certain way! Come in for free 20-minute golf discovery visit so we can help analyze your movement mechanics. Let’s get you back on the course so you can swing more often, hit the ball further, and improve the longevity of your golfing career. Give us a call today at 720-480-2866 to schedule your assessment!
