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Golf Rehabilitation

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Golf is one of the most complex movements in all of sports. If the body is unable to move correctly and efficiently you and your game will suffer. Improper movement patterns can result in poor technique and eventual injury. This proven golf specific training program will condition your body to move correctly and efficiently resulting in less stress on the body and improved golf performance.

North Texas Physical Therapy BACKtoGOLF Program is directed by physical therapist Jay Platt who has specialized in golf rehabilitation and conditioning since 1995. Jay has 4 years experience as a traveling physical therapist on the PGA TOUR, and has helped thousands of golfers improve their enjoyment of this great game by "Building a Better Golf Body".

Jay Platt, PT, ATC, CSCS
Jay Platt, PT, ATC, CSCS

Golf Rehabilitation Services: Provides golf specific evaluation, treatment, and rehabilitation of any injury that is affecting your golf. Our goal is to get the golfer back on the course as safely and quickly as possible. This is accomplished through improved biomechanics and golf specific exercises, resulting in decreased occurrence of re-injury.

  • Evaluation: Golf specific physical assessment and biomechanical analysis.
  • Rehabilitation Session: Corrective exercises for flexibility, strength, stability, posture and balance as related to the golf swing. Biomechanical drills to integrate the correct movement patterns.

Athletic Golf Posture - The Foundation of the Golf Swing

How we sit and stand throughout the day can affect our golfing posture at address. Rounded shoulders, slumped posture is a common result of desk/computer work and contributes to decreased shoulder turn in the swing. The rounded spine posture limits the spines ability to rotate properly in the swing and creates increased stress on the spine. The rotational stress on the spine cannot be eliminated in the golf swing only minimized, by positioning the spine in the optimal position to rotate on itself. Golf is an athletic event, and we must start in an athletic posture to allow our body to move properly.

Primary Spine Angle
Secondary Lateral Spine Tilt

Athletic Golf Posture: This posture is created by hinging forward from the hips establishing the primary spine angle, with the knees slightly flexed to allow for proper weight distribution. A slight secondary lateral spine tilt places the hips and shoulders on a similar plane with the right shoulder and hip slightly lower, compared to the left. This posture places the spine in the optimal position to allow for the proper sequence and efficiency of movement required in the swing, and minimizes the forces on the spine. It is critical that the spine angle is maintained throughout the swing to allow for proper body motion. The hinging at the hips and slight flex of the knees engages the muscles of the hips and legs to support the rotation of the trunk on a stable base of support. This stable foundation allows the golfer to swing in balance and properly shift weight between the legs through rotation of the hips.

Stance
Weight shift with hip rotation
Weight transfer to left leg
with hip rotation
Complete transfer

Golf Conditioning Pyramid

  1. Endurance: Improving your general fitness level will allow you to practice longer and to play the finishing holes without getting as fatigued. As your physical conditioning improves you will have a lower resting heart rate, which will allow you to perform better under pressure. Your body will utilize oxygen more efficiently, which will allow you to think clearly, making better decisions on the golf course.
  2. Stability: The stability of your core muscles, hips, abdominals, back, and shoulders, are the foundation of the golf swing. These core muscles connect the upper and lower body and help maintain the proper angles of the body throughout the swing.
  3. Mobility and Flexibility: Proper flexibility of the golf muscles will allow for freedom of movement around a stable athletic posture. Tightness in the legs, trunk or shoulders can cause a faulty movement pattern that alters the golf swing and produces less than desirable results.

The first three are the "building blocks" of your golf conditioning program and must be addressed first.

  1. Strength: This allows you to support the club throughout the swing, and to swing under control.
  2. Speed: It takes 1.8 seconds to complete the golf swing. Consequently you must train the muscles to fire rapidly (1/4 of a second) in order to respond to the speed required in the golf swing.
  3. Power: " Strength + Speed = Power" Golf is a power game. Through proper conditioning of your "golf body", you will develop more power enabling you to increase your club-head speed and to hit the ball further.

To learn more on how you can get "BACKtoGOLF" contact North Texas Physical Therapy at 817-294-4646.


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