Get in the Swing: Chiropractic Improves Your Golf Game

Golf is a year round sport in other parts of the country, and even here on Long Island, there are die-hard golfers who will brave any kind of weather to get a few rounds in, but summer is the time when everyone on Long Island who owns a golf club is out on the greens.  Long Island boasts roughly 125 golf courses between Nassau and Suffolk Counties, yet trying to reserve a tee time can be a challenge.

That means that there are a lot of people who are walking long distances over uneven terrain, standing around waiting, carrying heavy golf bags, bending, twisting and swinging, all in the name of fun.  It also means there are a lot of people suffering from golfer's back, and their game is suffering as well, because you can't perform at your best when you're in pain.

There are over 30 million golfers in the United States and surveys have shown that at least 80% of them experience back pain, which may be related to their favorite pastime.  "Golf back" is a recognized phenomenon, but the physical stresses associated with playing golf may also result in neck pain, shoulder, pain, elbow pain and hip pain. A proper golf swing puts the body in a awkward position and creates a tremendous amount of torque, which can leave you suffering from pain in various body parts, especially in older golfers.

You may choose to tough it out and work through the pain, but it's not advisable.  Not only will ignoring your pain probably make matters worse and continue to exacerbate the underlying condition, but your game will suffer as well.  How can you expect to execute the perfect swing when you can barely stand straight?

You might also choose to mask the pain with over the counter pain medication, like acetaminophen (the active ingredient in Tylenol) or ibuprofen (the active ingredient in Motrin and Advil).  These remedies might be acceptable for use in the short term, but just because they are sold over the counter doesn't mean they are harmless.  Long term use of ibuprofen can contribute to stomach problems, including ulcers and exacerbate bleeding.  Acetaminophen, in large doses can be toxic to the liver.  One of our previous articles on this blog was about the dangers of acetaminophen.

Your other option is to seek safe, natural Chiropractic care to help treat your pain and avoid any further injury.  At Wantagh Woods Chiropractic, Dr. Barbara Rosinsky uses gentle Chiropractic manipulation and other passive therapies to treat pain and injuries.  Chiropractic adjustments help to keep the spine in optimal alignment, which can go a long way toward preventing injury during golf or other sports.

If you want to get back to enjoying your game, call us to make an appointment for a free Chiropractic evaluation.  Your game will thank you.

Summer Injuries? Chiropractic Can Help

If your family is like most American families, summertime is your most active season.  The favorable weather gets you outdoors, engaging in your favorite sports and activities.  Perhaps your busy lifestyle keeps you from pursuing the physical activities you enjoy, but when you're on vacation, you tackle challenges that your body isn't used to doing.  And that's when the trouble begins...

You might take a fall, sprain or strain a joint or muscle and end up in pain.  Chiropractic is a safe and effective way to address the pain of injuries and overuse for both adults and children.

In the summer months, when school's out, children spend more time outdoors, running and playing, and unfortunately, often falling.  The jarring action of a fall can cause their young spine to go out of alignment, creating what chiropractors refer to as a subluxation.  Subluxations interfere with normal nerve function, and in a young child, could interfere with normal growth and development of the spine.

It's important to have a chiropractic examination after a fall or injury, especially if back or neck pain results.  If left untreated, the subluxation can develop into a longer term problem, especially in developing children.

Chiropractors are among the few types of doctors whose methods are completely safe and natural.  We don't use prescription drugs or surgery.  Chiropractic adjustments are performed manually.  They are painless, and covered by most health insurance companies.

Chiropractic adjustments help to restore normal functioning to the entire nervous system, which in turn, can improve a wide variety of conditions.  In addition to neck and back pain, chiropractic adjustments have helped many people with headaches, TMJ, sinus problems, issues with joints in the arms and legs and more.  At Wantagh Woods Chiropractic and Wellness, we see patients of all ages, with a variety of conditions for which we can provide relief.

Many professional athletes receive regular chiropractic care to speed healing of injuries, prevent new ones from occurring, improve their overall health and get a competitive edge.  Let us help you and your family to get and stay in the game with safe, natural chiropractic care.  To learn more about how we can help you and your family get and stay healthier, visit our website at www.wantaghwoodschiropractic.com or call us at 516-783-0088 for an appointment.