Improving Your Golf Game with Physical Therapy

11/30/2009

To consistently play better golf, you must be physically able to execute a proper golf swing time after time. To accomplish this, you must achieve true “body balance.” Your posture, balance, flexibility, strength, power, control and endurance must all work together. To get maximum results, you must be physically conditioned.

In the early 1980’s, scientists measured precise muscle activity during the golf swing and identified which muscles were most involved in the swing and how they worked together. This helped determine why golf injuries sometimes occur. From 1984 to 1988, Paul Callaway served as the Director of Physical Therapy for the PGA Tour and assisted with clinical research to support the scientific studies. Based on this experience, Paul created "Body Balance for Performance," a golf-specific fitness training and therapeutic treatment program to reduce injuries and improve swing performance.

The "Body Balance for Performance" program begins with a comprehensive evaluation performed by a licensed professional trained by Paul Callaway, P.T. A professional clinician screens any pain you may be having, diagnoses the dysfunction leading to the pain and objectively measures the extent to which physical characteristics may be contributing to or inhibiting your golf swing. The program is fully customized for each individual to maximally strengthen and improve the physical characteristics necessary to consistently swing a golf club properly. The pace and scope of the individualized program takes into account the physical needs and performance goals determined in the initial evaluation, the time frame established to reach goals and the amount of time your daily schedule allows you to regularly devote to a program. Once determined, the structure of the customized program will follow a release, re-educate and rebuild process.

First, when pain is present, sophisticated instruments help accelerate tissue repair and reduce painful inflammation in muscles and joints that may hinder your ability to play golf. Then, revolutionary therapeutic stretching techniques will be provided to release connective tissue tightness presently restricting your posture, flexibility and swing.

As pain is eliminated and tightness released, the next step is to re-educate the body. You will learn how to assume better posture and balance when you address the ball and to replace physical characteristics of bad swing habits. As the release and re-education phrases of your program begin to improve posture, flexibility, balance and swing motions, you will also learn how to rebuild the muscles necessary to strengthen, stabilize and condition your body. Added strength, stability and conditioning will help support your new and improved body structure and will maximize your golf swing performance potential.

Precise golf specific rebuilding exercises will promote extra distance, improved accuracy, greater consistency, reduced fatigue and fewer injuries. Ultimately this process helps you reach your maximum physical potential and performance goals safely and efficiently. Furthermore, when all phases of the program are properly maintained, you will be able to prevent your old posture and swing habits from rapidly returning, therefore minimizing your previous levels of inconsistent play and injury.

The "Body Balance for Performance" complete golf health, fitness and performance training program could help you play the most enjoyable and injury-free golf of your lifetime! Call YPT for more information on this program.

Sheila Yonemoto, P.T.,
Yonemoto Physical Therapy
55 S. Raymond Ave., Suite 100, Alhambra, CA 91801
PHONE: 626 576 0591 / FAX: 626 576 5890

Links:
http://www.yonemoto.com/ - Yonemoto Physical Therapy home page
http://www.yonemoto.com/programs/IMT.htm - Integrative Manual Therapy, a Hands-On Approach
http://www.yonemoto.com/programs/qigong.htm - Qigong to boost the immune system