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Are You Stretching Before You Hit the Course?
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Don’t let your eagerness to get to the first tee keep you from warming up before each game. Forgetting to warm up can cause unnecessary injuries and more time spent in the clubhouse than on the course.
Take five minutes before you start to do these easy golf stretches so you can stay in the game all season long.
SIDE-BENDING STRETCH
• Stand with feet shoulder-width apart.
• Bend to one side without rotating until you feel a stretch in the side of your back.
QUADRICEPS STRETCH
• Keep your thighs together, and your knee pointing toward the ground.
• Pull your abdominal muscles in and maintain a straight back.
HAMSTRING STRETCH
• Stand with feet shoulder-width apart.
• Reach your hands towards the sky.
• Then, bending at the waist, reach toward your toes.
KNEE-TO-CHEST STRETCH
• Stand with feet shoulder-width apart.
• Using both hands, pull one knee into your chest.
• Repeat with the other knee.
FOREARM STRETCH
• With your arm straight out in front of you and palm facing down, gently pull your fingers back with the other hand.
• Next, with your arm straight out in front of you and palm facing upwards, gently pull your fingers back with the other hand.
• Do not let shoulder rise up.
SHOULDER STRETCH
• Hold the shaft of a club behind your back.
• Gently pull the club up with your top hand until you feel a slight stretch in the shoulder of your lower arm.
• Next, gently pull the club down with your bottom hand until you feel a stretch in the top shoulder and arm.
SQUAT
• Start from a standing position with feet shoulder-width apart.
• Squat down, trying to keep your heels flat on the ground.
BACK-OF-THE-SHOULDER STRETCH
• Place your left hand on your right shoulder.
• Gently pull your left elbow across your body toward your right shoulder.
Have you been suffering from back or neck pain from all your time on the golf course? You’re not alone. At Pickering Village Chiropractic and Massage, we provide our patients with more than just chiropractic and massage therapy services. We also have the know-how to build better personal wellness habits so you can be at your best for work or play, every day.
To book an appointment or learn more about the chiropractic and therapeutic massage therapy services available at our clinic, call 905-427-3202.
Keep Your Back in Mind This Summer
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As we head into July this week, we continue to spend more time in the great outdoors with activities, such as hiking, golfing, gardening, and running.
Being active can help you maintain your flexibility and good posture, build strong bones, and relieve stress. Recreational activities are a great way to enjoy these benefits while having fun. Whether you pick up a garden rake, a golf club or pound the pavement in running shoes, the important thing is to get moving.
Just remember, as you gear up for a fun-filled summer, keep the health of your back in mind!
Here are eight tips to keep your back healthy as you exercise over the coming months:
Warm-up
Before hitting the links or even the back garden, consider a short activity to warm up first, like going for a short walk. Make sure to do gentle stretches to limber up muscles and joints before lifting, digging or swinging that golf club.
Learn the Proper Technique
Learn the correct technique for your activity, right from the beginning. Poor technique can cause injury to joints and muscles. For example, be sure to kneel, not bend, when planting your garden. For golfers, take professional lessons to rid yourself of bad habits in your golf swing that could hurt your back.
Maximize Your Flexibility
Maintaining good mobility for muscles and joints will contribute to your athletic ability and help prevent injury. Restrictions in muscle and joint function can hamper your technique and lead to strains and sprains. If you are a runner, take the time to stretch out calf and thigh muscles before hitting the road.
Drink Fluids
Drink plenty of fluids before, during and after physical activity. Remember that once you are thirsty, you are already starting to dehydrate. Dehydration affects your energy level and your physical functioning.
Don’t Overdo
If you have a big day of yard work planned, consider breaking up different activities into smaller chunks to avoid overloading your body. With a return to summer sports, consider a smaller training session first rather than a longer one (ie a trip to the driving range before that first round of golf).
Cool Down
Cooling down after any physical activity is just as important as warming up. Take 20 minutes for a brisk walk or a slow jog, and stretch out your muscles and joints before heading for the shower.
Treat Injuries Promptly
If you suffer an injury or experience pain from your summer recreational activities, ice the area to reduce swelling and inflammation.
Seek Professional Help
If pain persists, consult a chiropractor or health care professional to help you with your recovery. In Ontario, you don’t need a referral to see a chiropractor.
How can chiropractic and massage therapy help with your back pain?
Chiropractic treatment relieves back pain using effective clinical tools like manipulation, mobilization, soft tissue therapy, exercise, patient education and rehabilitation.
Extensively trained in spinal manipulative therapy (SMT), chiropractors are proficient in providing specialized care which has been proven effective in reducing pain, improving function, and decreasing the chances of low back pain becoming a chronic condition.
Ajax chiropractors Dr. John Noble and Dr. Mark Fera can provide education on your spine and posture and create a personalized treatment plan for your low back pain designed to ease pain and lower your risk of recurrence.
Therapeutic massage therapy is also available at our clinic by Ajax massage therapists Rolf Castanheiro and Jessica Raedisch.
Call 905-427-3202 to learn more and book an appointment.