It’s a great time to golf in the Northeast. The sun is out, the grass is beautiful, the breeze might help your ball float a little farther… and then WHAM! Your elbow feels like it’s been stabbed with an ice pick, or your whole arm starts to tingle, or you simply can’t grip your 9 iron. Have no fear … Chiropractic is here!

Dr. Roger Walker, of Gulph Mills Chiropractic Center, is one of the few chiropractors in the King of Prussia/Main Line area who specializes in extremity adjustments. Regular chiropractic care allows the whole body to perform optimally. Dr. Roger can help remedy chronic back pain as well as golfer’s elbow without the negative side effects of pain medication or surgery.

Great, but how will chiropractic shave strokes off of your game? It’s a matter of mechanics. Despite the fact that most people think of golf as a leisurely game, it is surprisingly athletic. A golf swing works muscles in more parts of the body than you might think. Knowing which muscle groups are engaged in swinging a club properly and keeping those muscles doing their job correctly can definitely improve your game. Curious about which muscles are working to propel that little white dimpled ball down the fairway? Well, I won’t keep you in suspense…

External Abdominal Obliques

I know, many of you are asking, “The what, now?” External Abdominal Obliques are the fancy medical term for the muscles on your sides at the waist area, from your ribs to the top of your hip. These muscles help rotate the torso (fairly important in the game of golf, right?!)

Gluteus Maximus

You probably know this one, but just in case you don’t, you sit on it (unless you’re Mork from Ork). I’ll bet you didn’t realize you were using it to blast the ball off the tee. Your talented tushie gives your body the ability to rotate your thighs and provides support to your stance. Here’s a helpful hint: tightening the Gluteus Maximus just before and during your swing keeps your lower body still, providing a solid foundation for your swing and follow-through (see, Chiropractic is already helping your swing & all you’ve done so far is read an article!)

Pectroalis Major

The pectoralis major, or chest muscle, extends from the sternum to the shoulder joint on each side of the chest and helps the shoulder flex and the arm extend. This muscle is vital for rotation and a smooth, effective golf swing.

Latissimus Dorsi

The latissimus dorsi muscle goes from underneath the armpit to the mid-level of the back, connecting to the ribs in the thoracic area and shoulder blade. This muscle works in conjunction with the pectoralis major, helping the arm to move toward the body, and to rotate and extend, muscle movements that are required to perform a golf swing.

Forearm

I won’t get into the impossible-to-pronounce names of these muscles because I don’t want you to fall asleep reading my article, but suffice it to say that the muscles of the forearm are vital to a golf swing. Without a proper grip on the club, your ball might just sit on the tee laughing at you while your club goes flying.

Chiropractic helps keep your muscles working efficiently. When one area of your body, or even just one muscle, is not performing the way it should because of subluxation in the spine, other parts of your body will overcompensate, causing pain. When your spine is not in its proper alignment, the rest of your body will suffer (and so will your game). Call Gulph Mills Chiropractic Center to schedule a Complimentary Initial Assessment and become the next Arnold Palmer*! 484-751-5037

*Becoming the next Arnold Palmer not guaranteed.