STRETCHING & WARMING UP FOR GOLFERS

Introduction
Stretching is beneficial to everyone but there are unique benefits to the golfer, and it is an essential component of a golf specific fitness regime. Extreme muscle tightness in specific muscle groups affects the golfers body and in turn will affect individual golf technique. Some signs and symptoms of muscle tightness in the golfers are as follows:

1. The affected muscles feel tight and in spasm. Localised pain in the upper trapezius (neck and shoulder muscle) can cause neck and shoulder pain further tightness may lead to referred pain (pain occurring in another area, other than site of tightness) eg. intense upper trapezius muscle spasm leads to pain in the back of the head leading to headaches or even migraines.

2. Muscle tightness can also lead to reduced movement, eg. hip tightness, causing reduction of smooth efficient movement at the hips in the golf swing, which leads to hip slide. This in turn can lead to a reduction in rotation in the golf swing.
Excessive movements and tightness can have an adverse affect on swing plane eg. tight pectorals causing the club to come inside swing plane.

Dynamic Warm Up Can Enhance Muscular Power
From a study carried out using three commonly used stretching techniques (below), it was found that dynamic stretching produced increases in power (up to 8.9% in the muscle group tested) that were significantly greater than changes in power after static and PNF stretching:

Static: where stretches are held in the fully extended position;

Dynamic: using controlled speeds of movement through the range of motion but without bouncing as in ballistic stretching or holding in the fully extended position;

PNF (proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation): combines a series of isometric muscle contractions and static stretches performed according to several specific protocols.

A further study found that static stretching warm-ups resulted in a decrease in performance; where as dynamic warm-ups improved performance. The beneficial response to a dynamic warm-up is thought to relate to the rehearsal of specific movement patterns, which may help increase the coordination of subsequent movement.

Any golfer who is serious about having golfing longevity and playing to their full potential should undergo Physical Profiling.

After all what is the point of getting into your 50’s and beyond then finding out you can’t move!
For information on Physical Profiling, treatment of any golf related condition or advice on golf fitness contact us here.

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