To my fellow golfers and golf-enthusiasts,
Long Island golf season is coming to an unfortunate screeching halt. With cold weather amongst us, it is time to either migrate south with the birds or find a local golf simulator to get your swing work in. Fortunately, the game of golf is evolving and now athletes can improve their golf performance without a club in their hands. How, you ask? By maximizing power development, mobility, flexibility, strength, balance/stability, and even coordination, to bring your game to the next level. That's called: GOLF FITNESS!
What is golf fitness?
Golf fitness isn't about looking like Arnold Schwarzenegger or the top players on tour. It's about being fit to play the game of golf at an individual's highest level. Your highest level! It is about playing as many rounds of golf as you desire, without acquiring an injury. It is about identifying any strength deficits or mobility limitations that may hinder your performance and understanding how your physical limitations impact your golf swing. And, more importantly, how to address those limitations through strength and conditioning and physical rehab.
What are the benefits of a golf fitness program?
Although golf may not be a fast-paced, contact sport like football and hockey, it certainly is a high-velocity, repetitive full-body movement. In addition to strength, a golf swing requires an adequate range of motion in almost every joint in your body ranging from your neck to your feet/ankles!
Improve your mobility/flexibility: Your ability to achieve adequate positions in your golf swing is a priority in golf fitness, arguably more than strength. A full swing requires sufficient range of motion in your neck, shoulders, wrists, hips, spine and ankles. Lacking motion in one of these can be detrimental to your performance and lead to compensatory patterns. A well designed golf fitness program will address your individual mobility limitations on a regular basis.
Increase your total body strength: In order to produce a consistent, reproducible golf swing you must be able to create stability through your lower body to create a stable foundation for your torso and arms to rotate around. Increasing your strength will become a priority once your significant mobility limitations are addressed.
When initiating a golf fitness program at Movement Headquarters, day 1 will consist of a full-body movement assessment and a Titleist Performance Institute Screen. We will better understand how you move as an athlete in the gym and on the golf course. This will allow your doctor/coach to create a game-plan tailored to you, where we will address any movement restrictions that prevent you from performing on the course. Whether you are a novice to exercise or a gym rat, we will meet you at your current level and progress your program accordingly!
Can golf fitness help prevent common golf-related injuries?
As mentioned before, golf is a high-velocity, repetitive full-body movement. Just like your swing coach may discuss the importance of proper timing throughout the kinematic sequence (utilizing your hips, then torso, then shoulders, then hands), your golf fitness coach will discuss the importance of optimizing your kinematic chain. For example, it is imperative for a golfer to have the ability to stack and maintain tension through their foot, ankle, knee, pelvis and spine during the majority of functional movements like squats and deadlifts. Just like a chain, you are only as strong as your weakest link. Golf fitness can help you reduce your risk of acquiring common golf injuries like low back pain, elbow and wrist tendonitis, rotator cuff tears, neck pain, knee ligament sprains.
What kind of results can I expect from undergoing a golf fitness program and working with a Titleist Performance Institute Certified Provider?
Since our golf fitness coaches are also doctors of physical therapy, we have a unique opportunity to bridge the gap between rehab and performance. So whether you are a golfer suffering from chronic pain or someone in great shape looking to optimize your athletic performance, we've got you covered! We utilize principles from rehabilitation, strength and conditioning and sports performance to assess your current function
When you work with us at Movement Headquarters, there are 3 things we promise to provide:
Clarity
You will understand your diagnosis/injury
You will know the next actionable steps to take in order to get out of pain
You will see that it is possible to get back to activities that you enjoy!
Accountability
You will have our daily support and motivation to complete your individualized home exercise program
Empowerment
You will take control of your situation and actively work towards accomplishing your goals. We will help you change your life for the better!
All sessions will be on a 1-on-1 basis with your doctor/Titleist Performance Institute Certified coach to ensure clear communication and to provide the highest standard of golf performance training.
Winter Golf Programs Starting 1/3/21! Programs will include a combination of instruction from a PGA Professional and golf fitness with a Doctor of Physical Therapy/TPI Certified Provider.
If you are interested in working with us in-person at our Northport physical therapy and sports performance facility or remotely, please give us a call at 631-380-3820 or visit our website https://movementhqpt.com. Take advantage of this winter and improve your golf fitness, today!
By Dr. Patrick Gathman, PT, DPT, CSCS, Titleist Performance Institute Certified.