TheCanonShot, Flickr.com
The 2009 PGA tour kicks off this Labor Day weekend and Andrea Metcalf, nationally recognized fitness expert would like to help golf enthusiasts keep their game on par. The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) reports that there were more than 103,000 golf-related injuries treated in 2007, and they cost about $2.4 billion in medical, work-loss, pain and suffering.
Following are some tips for golfers to help protect themselves from injury:
1. Straight Spine: When sitting, standing, and especially when lifting, using proper technique will prevent fatigue and injury. Ask an expert if you don’t know how to do it, but be sure and assess your technique for these simple daily activities. With your swing, be sure to keep tension on the shaft consistent. Be careful not to let your arms and trunk become too rigid. Remember greater range of motion provides better club head speed.
2. Stretch: Stretch at every chance you can get. Range-of-motion exercises are a good way to keep your muscles and ligaments flexible and strong. Plus, you’ll feel energized by taking breaks throughout your golf game to stretch. Click here to see a quick video from Andrea with easy stretching tips.
3. Relax: Remember the best swing comes from a pendulum motion rather than powering through. Have a relaxed grip to help keep golfers elbow at bay.
