Golf is an activity enjoyed by millions and in recent years the popularity has skyrocketed. Regardless of your level of play, anyone can enjoy a day outside on the course, plus it comes with many health benefits. It might be surprising for some, but if you walk or use a push cart you can burn anywhere from 1400 to 2000 calories over 18 holes. That’s a lot!
Another thing most golfers have in common is that at some point they will experience pain. According to Dr. Tom LaFountain, Director of Chiropractic Services for the PGA Tour, 80 percent of injuries suffered through golfing are back related. This is most likely due to the repetitive nature of golf. When a golfer swings repetitively, they are making themselves more likely to experience muscle strains.
More than a Monkey on Your Back.
While golf is considered a low impact sport, to swing a golf club can be quite violent. Every golf swing puts a significant amount of compression load on the spine. Studies have found that each swing can place up to eight times a person’s body weight on the spine. Imagine if you are 180 pounds, that can be upwards of 1400 pounds of compression on the spine.
Over time this can compromise the spine, leading to misalignments of the vertebrae, joint dysfunction and pain.
Chiropractic Care and Golf
Chiropractic care promotes optimum function of the whole body including the spine. We established a golf swing can be violent, and it absolutely requires coordination between several body parts. Chiropractic care is an effective way to improve the function and mobility of the body by reducing the misalignments of the joints most compromised by repetitive motion.
However, it should not always be about treating the injury after it happens. Many people who participate in sport, not just golfers, enter the game already compromised. They’re suffering from joint dysfunction or misalignment. Playing any sport with a poor spine can lead to poor posture and poor joint mechanics which lead to injury. Perhaps you have been playing Look Out Mountain golf club in Phoenix Arizona, and felt your back seize up after a routine swing. Chiropractors can adjust the spine to reduce misalignments and improve joint mechanics of the spine in order to prevent injury. Regular chiropractic care is the best way to assure that you can not only prevent injury but also spend less time away from the course.
Why Tiger Woods Uses Chiropractic Care
Tiger Woods is an incredible athlete and arguably the greatest golfer of all time. He worked tirelessly from a very young age to be the best and chiropractic care has helped him do that. He has said “I’ve been going to a chiropractor for as long as I can remember, it is as important as the practice of my swing.” He is not alone, Woods and many other professional golfers rely on regular Chiropractic care to maximize mobility and prevent injury.
We may not be on the same level as a professional golfer such as Tiger Woods, but all golfers want to play without the worry of injury or pain. Consider visiting a Chiropractor near you to discuss how treatment can help you stay healthy and enjoy a day on the course.
At some point most of us have experienced upper back and neck pain while driving. Perhaps you turned your head to the side to shoulder check and felt a sharp shooting pain, or just a “crick” in your neck.
This is a problem.
It can be even more of a problem when the pain in your neck causes you to recruit your entire upper body to shoulder check, or even worse “hope for the best” and not check at all. We have all seen other drivers do that one.
It’s important to know what causes your commute to be a pain in the neck and how to fix it before you cause an accident.
Don’t accept anything less than a full range of motion.
This is not an “eh…its good enough” moment, you need to be able to comfortably turn your head from side to side. Your safety and the safety of others are at risk here. As a Chiropractor one of the first things we evaluate when a patient presents with neck pain is the range of motion. How far can you turn your head to the left and then to the right.
A full range of motion should include the ability to turn your head so your chin is in line with your shoulder without shrugging your shoulders, turning your body or having pain of any kind. You don’t have to go “full exorcist” but you should easily be able to bring your chin near your shoulder, and if you can’t it is a sure sign that there is a problem not just with the muscles, but also the bones in your neck.
It May be More than your commute.
The pain in your neck while driving may be more than the length of your commute, or the frustration of driving in heavy traffic. The likelihood is that there are other factors as well, and your commute is where the pain manifests.
Most people work at a desk all day with poor posture, and then double up on the poor posture on the commute back home. At a red light look at the other drivers around you and I am sure you’ll notice that their head is way forward, their shoulders are rounded forward, and they are probably slouched down in the seat.
This posture puts a tremendous amount of extra weight and pressure on the back of your neck, leading to muscle fatigue, soreness, misalignment of the bones in your neck, and finally pain.
One simple thing.
While this is not going to fix the root cause of this problem (misalignment if the bones in your neck), It can be a very helpful thought when it comes to better posture. Try pushing or pointing the top of your sternum (breastbone) towards the sky. This naturally helps you sit up straighter and pulls your neck and shoulders back.
It’s all about alignment.
As tempting as it might be to chalk up your neck pain to stress or needing a massage, the reality is that your commuting conundrum comes down to alignment.
Think about it this way.
Your entire central nervous system travels to every part of your body from your brain and your spinal cord. The majority of your peripheral nerves pass through one or more areas of your spine. When your spine is out of alignment, these nerves become cramped sending distress signals to your brain in the form of pain, numbness, tingling, or even burning.
Over time, if the bones are not realigned, the muscles begin to compensate for weakness or pain creating even bigger problems than before. If you fix the alignment problem, you fix the nerve problem which, in turn, fixes the muscular problem.
Chiropractic care is the best way to realign your spine and restore your neck’s range of motion. The cervical vertebrae, the bones closest to the skull, are capable of moving in every direction. But if they are misaligned, their movement is impeded. By carefully and strategically realigning these bones as well as the rest of the spine, you will find your range of motion is restored and your pain is relieved at the source.
Stop relying on your mirrors and dumb luck to stay safe on your commute.
There are some surprising benefits of chiropractic care. It’s a drug free, non-invasive approach to healthcare that has become popular in recent years. In this blog post, we will discuss some of the benefits of chiropractic care and how it can help improve your overall health and well-being.
Benefits of Chiropractic Care: Pain Relief
One of the primary benefits of regular chiropractic care is its ability to relieve pain. Many people turn to chiropractic care as a form of pain management for conditions such as back pain, neck pain, and headaches. Chiropractors use a variety of techniques to relieve pain, including spinal adjustments to improve joint function, electronic muscle stimulation to reduce tension and exercises to improve stability of an area. These techniques can help to reduce inflammation, improve range of motion, and alleviate muscle tension, which can all contribute to reducing pain.
Benefits of Chiropractic Care: Improve Mobility and Flexibility
A common complaint that many people present to a chiropractor is a decrease in mobility and flexibility. This is because the spine plays a crucial role in the body’s movement, and when it is out of alignment, it can lead to stiffness, limited range of motion, and even muscle imbalances. Chiropractors can use spinal adjustments to realign the spine, to help to improve mobility and flexibility. This can lead to reduced pain, better posture, less strain on the joints, and improved athletic performance.
Benefits of Chiropractic Care: Its not just a treatment for the Spine
While it is true that Chiropractors focus heavily on the spine, for many of us it is not only about improving the alignment of the spine. Joint restriction or misalignment in the extremities can lead to a decrease in motion and pain. This can have a negative impact on shoulders, elbows, hands/wrists, hips, knees, ankles, and feet. Many Chiropractors can improve mobility and reduce the pain in these areas through a Chiropractic adjustment.
Benefits of Chiropractic Care: Boost Your Immune System
Chiropractic care can also help to improve overall health by boosting the immune system. The spine is closely connected to the nervous system, and when the spine is out of alignment, it can negatively impact the functioning of the nervous system. This can lead to a weakened immune system, making the body more susceptible to illness and disease. By realigning the spine, chiropractors can help to improve the functioning of the nervous system, which can lead to a stronger immune system and better overall health. This is just one reason why patients continue to get adjusted; the benefits of long term chiropractic care.
Studies have shown that regular chiropractic care can increase the number of white blood cells, which are responsible for fighting off infections and illnesses. This can lead to fewer colds and illnesses and a faster recovery time when they do occur. Additionally, the reduction in stress and improved nervous system function can have a positive impact on the immune system as well.
Benefits of Chiropractic Care: Improved Mental Health
In addition to the physical benefits, chiropractic care can also have a positive impact on mental health. Many people experience stress and tension in their muscles, which can lead to headaches and other symptoms of tension. Chiropractic care can alleviate many of the common symptoms of stress, including muscle tension, pain and headaches. Less of these symptoms can improve overall mental well-being.
Furthermore, research suggests that regular chiropractic care can also help to reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression by promoting a sense of relaxation and balance in the body. This is because chiropractic care can help to regulate the nervous system, which plays a key role in mood regulation. Additionally, the natural and holistic approach of chiropractic care can also help to promote a sense of well-being and reduce feelings of stress and tension. Long-term chiropractic care can also help to maintain a sense of balance and well-being, preventing the onset of mental health issues.
Benefits of Chiropractic Care: Improved Digestion and Respiratory Health
Chiropractic care can also help to improve digestion and bowel regularity. The nervous system controls the digestive system, and when the spine is out of alignment, it can negatively impact the functioning of the digestive system. Regular chiropractic care can help to improve the functioning of the nervous system, which can lead to better digestion and bowel regularity.
Chiropractic care can also help with conditions such as asthma, allergies, and sinus problems. The nervous system controls the respiratory system, and when the spine is out of alignment, it can negatively impact the functioning of the respiratory system. Regular chiropractic care can help to improve the functioning of the nervous system, which can lead to better respiratory function and less problems with asthma, allergies, and sinus problems.
Benefits of Chiropractic Care: It’s Non-Invasive and Drug-Free
Finally, chiropractic care is a non-invasive and drug-free approach to healthcare. Unlike some forms of conventional medicine, which may involve surgery or medications, chiropractic care is a natural and holistic approach to healthcare. This can be especially beneficial for people who are looking for an alternative to traditional forms of healthcare or who want to avoid the side effects of medications.
In conclusion, there are many benefits of chiropractic care. It is a form of alternative medicine that can offer many benefits to people looking to improve their overall health and well-being. It can help to relieve pain, improve mobility and flexibility, boost the immune system, improve mental health, digestion and bowel regularity, respiratory function and less problems with asthma, allergies, and sinus problems. It also provides a non-invasive and drug-free approach to healthcare. If you are experiencing pain or other symptoms, or simply want to have a healthier life… consider a visit to a Phoenix Chiropractor near you.
