| Golf exercises for the lower back can be very | | | | An amateur or less skilled golfer is more likely to |
| beneficial in preventing injuries from the golf swing. | | | | have less efficient mechanics. To compensate for |
| First and foremost the goal of any golf fitness | | | | these improper mechanics the golfer will attempt |
| program or golf fitness training exercise is to | | | | to generate extra force from specific muscles |
| develop the body in order to execute the golf | | | | than the amateur. Causing these muscles to work |
| swing efficiently and effectively. This can result in | | | | much harder to execute the golf swing. |
| increased driving distance, more accurate shots, | | | | Research from Hosea indicated in certain |
| and consistent play. On top of this a golf fitness | | | | situations amateurs may develop up to 80% |
| program has a secondary benefit. Such a training | | | | more peak torque in their lumbar spine (i.e. lower |
| program can help in the prevention of injuries | | | | back) than a professional, muscles required to |
| I always like to say it is much easier to prevent | | | | generate greater amounts of force are at a |
| an injury from occurring than rehabilitating from | | | | much higher risk of overuse injury. |
| one. The next few articles will discuss common | | | | Additionally, Hosea found professional golfers |
| injuries from the golf swing and how a golf fitness | | | | generate 34% more clubhead speed than the |
| program can assist in the prevention of such | | | | amateur, yet amateurs were producing spinal |
| injuries. Probably one of the most common | | | | forces 50 to 80% higher, and 50% more trunk |
| injuries, and one as amateurs we are well aware | | | | muscle activity than the professional. |
| of is to the lower back. Research indicates that | | | | All of this research points to the first reason as |
| one out two recreational golfers will incur a lower | | | | to why the lower back is commonly injured in the |
| back injury at some point during their playing | | | | amateur golfer. Inefficient golf swing mechanics |
| career. | | | | cause the muscles of the lower back to work |
| Why is the lower back so often injured during the | | | | harder to generate torque in the swing. Over time |
| game of golf? Research studies have provided us | | | | these muscles will become fatigued from the |
| some keys as to why this is the case. The golf | | | | trauma caused by inefficient mechanics. Increasing |
| swing is typically broken down into phases | | | | dramatically the possibility of an overuse injury to |
| (address, backswing, downswing, follow through), | | | | the lower back. |
| and the sum of these phases is the full swing. | | | | How can the amateur take the first step in the |
| Each phase of the swing can be performed either | | | | prevention of a lower back injury? First and |
| efficiently or inefficiently. A professional is more | | | | foremost is the development of more efficient |
| likely to perform each phase of the golf swing | | | | swing mechanics. This can only be done through |
| more efficiently than that of the amateur. As a | | | | proper instruction and practice. If you are finding |
| result the professional's swing has more efficient | | | | yourself in the category of a candidate for a |
| mechanics from start to finish, requiring lesser | | | | lower back injury, my first suggestions is begin |
| amounts of activity from the muscles to execute. | | | | developing a more efficient golf swing. |