For many of my massage therapy clients playing golf is a favorite pastime they feel passionate about. For my golfers, competition is everything. They always want to be at the top of their game.  

Many don’t realize that Golf is a full-body sport. The golf swing is a dynamic movement in which the entire body is engaged from head to toe. It is imperative that avid golf enthusiasts exercise building muscle strength and flexibility to avoid injury and play their best game possible. When muscles are tight not only can it cause them to become injured, but it can also have a major affect on the effectiveness of their swing.

IMPORTANT MUSCLES THAT IMPACT YOUR GOLF GAME

Below are a few of the key muscles/muscle groups to make sure you are keeping fit and flexible in order to keep your golf swing at an all time high. 

Neck & Shoulders

The neck is made up of small muscles. When a golfer has poor neck posture and weak muscle control this can cause muscle fatigue.  Weak shoulders require you to rely on other muscles to compensate – this is one of the most common reasons for overuse and injury of the wrists. When weakness in the neck and shoulders is a factor, many rely on their wrists in an attempt to stabilize the swing.

Arms & Wrists

Excellent wrist flexibility is crucial for an accurate downswing.  Grip strength and forearm endurance is important in holding the club accurately. When arm and wrist muscles are tight or fatigued an accurate golf swing is hard to accomplish.

Hips

Tight hips often cause players to have a hard time keeping their pelvis stable while they are swinging the club back. When the pelvis becomes imbalanced it can cause incorrect weight shift to the front foot. This simple shift could really impact the players shot. 

Hamstrings

Anyone who has ever felt pain in their lower back after a long round, or has struggled to reach down for the ball without shooting pains – you are probably experiencing tight hamstrings. When the hamstring are tight they shorten. This causes the pelvis to be pulled underneath which makes the spine have to compensate by stretching more than it should. This stretch causes 

stress of the neck and shoulders and leads to reduced swinging power.

RELIEVING MUSCLE PAIN FOR GOLFERS IN WINSTON SALEM

Another common issue I often treat through massage therapy is golfers elbow (also known as tennis elbow, or medial epicondylitis). These “swinging” sports put a lot of stress on the elbow joint and can lead to a lot of pain. Golfers elbow is cause by overuse and is usually felt where the common flexor tendon attaches to the humerus near the elbow joint.    

If you feel muscle tightness in any of these muscle groups, don’t wait until your golf game starts to suffer, make an appointment today!  To schedule, all you have to do is give us a call: (336) 918-8115