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BY JOHN L. BOOS-N.S.C.A-C.P.T, L.M.T
How can you almost guarantee that a person has chronic low back pain and not be a gifted mind reader to know it? The answer is simple. Is the person addicted to golf? Is the person avoiding the necessary and proper exercise coaching to physically handle the golf addiction?
Practicing golf is not the major cause of lower back pain; it’s the physical lack of preparation to execute the game, rather than the game itself. Please, let me make myself very clear here. I’m not beating up the game of golf. It can be a great mental relief from the build up of weekly stress that many people are bombarded with. But what encouraged me to write this article is that in the last 5 or 6 years, I’ve noticed more and more people physically hurting themselves due to lack of proper physical preparedness for the game.
I have about half a dozen clients that work in the city and only come in for their exercise session on weekends. Lately, with the weather getting warmer most of them have been trading off their weekend strength training sessions for golf. After a few weeks of this trade off, I usually hear from most of them again. However, instead of making an appointment for a strength training session, they’re making a massage appointment for their mid and low back pain. These incidents have increased in the last 5 years.
The body and the mind are capable of many things if properly prepared. One of the biggest blunders one could make is to use an activity that is bio-mechanically unilateral, (one-sided) repeatedly with no way of balancing out the movement.
Now, let’s take into account that most people (not all) that play golf are white collar workers with occupations that test the physical body with actions and postures that create muscular imbalances. If the physical body is already half mangled from sitting in an office, riding in the car or train, or spending too much time behind a desk, how can anything positive be expected to come out of a movement where there is little muscular balance involved?
I’m not suggesting that golf is as dangerous as running through a mine field blindfolded. That’s plain stupid. Golf is not a stupid activity. In fact, it requires much eye-hand coordination, strategy, analysis and control. If you haven’t played it, try it. It only looks easy. The only thing that is not very smart is playing it when you’re not physically ready to and then suffering because of it. And even worse, having to make a change in the way you play the game to compensate for poor rotation and flexibility of the trunk, discomfort and pain.
Many of my weekly clients (woman and men alike) are avid golfers. I’ve heard them talking to each other in passing during training sessions like children opening up presents on Christmas. They talk enthusiastically about places they have played such as Myrtle Beach, Bethpage Black and Shinnecock. My golfers do not take this game lightly. I can honestly say that the clients that regularly and consistently show up for their exercise session, have all expressed a noticeable improvement in their game and a reduction in any back and neck pain. One of my loves is developing exercise equipment that deals with pathologies that are brought on by life’s bad habits and commercial gym equipment of a questionable nature. I have developed a number of exercise machines that vastly focus on several major physical concerns. Two of the areas that we specialize in are strengthening the lower back and upper back/neck. These are major problem areas for golfers.
I’m a firm believer that no one truly fails at anything. I believe things that happen are merely a result of what one does. You don’t fail at an exercise program or eating program. You end up with a result of what you do or have not done. If you do less than the necessary preparedness, you receive a result equal to or less than you wished for.
I’ve seen people go on low carbohydrate diets, skip breakfast and not exercise properly and think they failed because a year later they’re fatter than ever. The truth is that they succeeded. They did everything needed for short term weight loss and long term fat gain. They should pat themselves on the back for accomplishing the result they worked for, even though it’s not what they wished for.
In order to acquire the results you wish for, there are four basic steps: 1) Get off of the old habits of making excuses. 2) Educate yourself on what and how to do what’s necessary (you may need a coach). 3) Allow yourself a positive attitude and love for what you are doing. 4) Practice, practice and practice some more. |
