Wednesday, September 5, 2012

Alignment Is Nothing to Twist Your Back About

Yesterday I was practicing when a local high school golfer asked if he could join me. As we started out he began telling me about an accident he had that left his back in serious pain. This is not uncommon even for the young players. Back pain, knees, shoulders, wrists and hips are commonly injured areas.

On the PGA TOUR you can hear the same stories of pain and injury and these guys are generally in their 20's and 30's. You don't even want to get started talking about the discussions on the PGA CHAMPIONS TOUR (seniors). That sounds like a clinic for pain trauma.

Why in golf is injury so prevalent? It's a non contact sport...so far...and you just swing a club. What's the big deal?

The problem with golf is that you swing a club the way your body generally disagrees with. I've had professional athletes in other sports play golf with me and the next day are sore. These are well tuned machines. But not for golf. Over the past decade you have seen an increase in sports trainers focusing on golf. The fact is there are more people that play golf than any other sport. In fact it is noted as the 4th largest watched sport after Soccer, Cricket and Rugby. But golf is the one sport that you can practice into old age. If you can move, you can play golf.

But exercise isn't enough for the golfer, if your body isn't in alignment. Exercise may be hurting you if your body isn't aligned correctly. I should know I can throw my body out of alignment with the best of them.

If You Have Back Pain
Don't Do THIS!
Last week I did something to my hip on the driving range. It pinched the sciatica and I ended up being down and out for over a week. I don't know what I did, it just happened. Twisting and turning forcing my body into every positions a Yoga instructor couldn't find. Many folks have asked me to try Yoga...I don't need Yoga, I do it every day. At least it feels that way!

But I do need a therapist who has been trained in some form of physical health. Some like messages, some use chiropractic and others use Bowen. There are more. But it has to work for you, your body type and even your temperament.

For me, I use the Bowen Method. It has been the most helpful therapy. I tried a variety of others but it just never seemed to work as well as my Bowen sessions. The key is alignment. I need to be in alignment in order to be pain free and swing correctly. Bowen provides this for me. Remember that pinched sciatica from last week? I woke up a couple days after that like the leaning tower of Pisa. Crystal thought I was joking but when she found out I wasn't...she wasn't laughing. After two treatments I'm doing much much better, ready to travel next week to Monterey for the Northern California PGA Championship. Throw me a prayer, wish me luck, do a dance, whatever makes you happy. But if you need some help with your body alignment, get some help. I believe you'll see improved range of motion and even add distance and consistency to you game...with out the pain.

Thanks for reading and let your friends know I have some very encouraging news coming soon. In the mean time...

Swing hard and look up,
Byron
PS. Please check out Greg Kennedy at Bowen Wellness Center. My Bowen Therapist.

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