Life Extension and Golf Part I

Strength training is very beneficial in slowing the aging process. Most golfers are middle aged or older, and want to play golf as long as they can. To make this possible you will need good levels of flexibility, strength, and athletic attributes. Most people lose strength as they age. The main reason this happens is due to the lack of strength training. It’s never too late to start building the body. Some golfers in their 60’s and 70’s are capable of doubling their strength in a matter of a few weeks, this helps insure that you will not experience the side of effects linked with aging. You will not stop the aging, but you will drastically slow down the effects.

Increasing Clubhead Speed Part II

Another way to improve your swing is by improving your muscle coordination. This comes by practicing your swing under a watchful eye. In time you will feel when your swing is on. Some refer to this as muscle memory. By doing golf specific exercise, you can drastically improve your golf swing coordination.

Increasing Clubhead Speed Part I

As you increase the strength of your core muscles, your swing becomes faster, stronger and more coordinated. The end result is more distance on your shots. Professional golfers perform their entire swing about .25 seconds faster then the average golfer. By improving the rotation (twisting) muscles of the stomach region, you can add another 35-60 yards to your drives.

Spinal Decompression Explained

Important Elements of your Golf Swing

It is imperative that you strengthen your hips, legs, stomach and lower back prior to golfing. This will help insure that you have a stable basic stance when addressing the ball. It will also make your swing more powerful and accurate. This stance increases your body control throughout the different shots, terrains, etc. that you will encounter on the course.

I see a lot of golfers that have a rounded back when they are addressing the ball. This awkward position pulls all the powerful muscles out of their proper position, and predisposes them to a back injury. (Not to mention how it decreases your ability to load on your backswing.) With a straight upper back you will decrease the forces pressing on the discs in the spinal region. This posture may help keep you off of my Spinal Decompression Machine!

Golf Specific Exercise

Golf specific exercises are the exercises that mimic your swing. i.e. exercises that work your torso in a golf swing. They could be crunches, side bends, or twisting exercises.

Each exercise must engage the same muscle action or contraction used in your golf swing. The backswing would be more of a stretching exercise, where the downswing is a power contraction exercise.

In golf specific exercise, the key to success is to duplicate the golf swing as closely as possible. For example, a twisting of the torso as in your golf swing with a weighted club, would be very effective in building up your golf swing.

DMSO (Dimethyl Sulfoxide)

DMSO was discovered in Russia in the year 1866. Its use was primarily as an analgesic for treating muscle strains, sprains and tendonitis.

Athletes found DMSO to be effective when dispersed over injured body parts. It was quickly absorbed when applied.

DMSO works by blocking the conduction of pain receptors in nerve cells.

The Toronto Maple Leafs baseball team was treated by Dr. Paul with DMSO. He found that an injury treated with DMSO responded in 28 days, compared to taking 42 days healing time for injuries not treated with DMSO.

DMSO can carry substances directly into the body. This can lead to toxic reactions when non medical grade DMSO is not used.

DMSO is best used in 70-90 percent sterile water, and applied about every 4-6 hours. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before using DMSO.

The Ten Commandments for Beginning Golf

1. Find a great swing coach, and make it into a permanent thing.

2. Focus on what you are taught.

3. Don’t beat yourself up. Mistakes will happen.

4. Stay calm through the tough times.

5. Work on your weakest shots often.

6. Set up a time frame for what you would like to accomplish.

7. It will be important for you to set specific goals.

8. Be careful not to hit too many shots in one day. This happens at the range a lot. Keep all your shots at a quality level.

9. Keep an eye on your progress after each lesson.

10. Have Fun! This is a great game.

The Backswing

The role of the backswing is to put you in a proper position to deliver a powerful downswing. When you pull the club away, the muscles become stretched. They will now contract more forcefully on the downswing.

When a club is pulled up and back during a backswing, it produces a pathway over which you can generate maximum club head speed. The length of this pathway is determined by your stomach and shoulder flexibility. The club will also be a factor.

Rotation and twisting type exercises will be very effective in building up your backswing. There are many good books out on this subject.

Golfers and Degenerative Disc Disease

Degenerative Disc Disease is not really a disease process. This condition occurs when the disc becomes dehydrated and starts to break down. The causes of D.D.D. are numerous: aging, bad diet, smoking, and a lack of exercise. When discs break down, they become more prone to serious conditions such as disc herniations, disc bulges, and spinal sterosis. The end result is a decrease in spinal strength, speed and flexibility. To a golfer this could be the difference between playing pain free or in pain.

Spinal decompression machines can create a negative vacuum that actually helps the disc repair itself. Most golfers can recall playing the game in pain. Spinal decompression can help turn back the hands of time, and keep you on the golf course.

Sciatica And Back Pain

Sciatica is a feeling of pain, numbness, or tingling into the buttocks and thighs. The cause of this nerve disorder is due to the pinching of the sciatic nerve. The sciatic nerve is the largest nerve in the human body.

Major causes of sciatica are: herniated discs, bulging discs, degenerative discs and bones out of place in the spine. Sciatica can also be caused by tumors, arthritis, muscle spasms, and pregnancy. Sciatica responds well to chiropractic adjustments, and spinal decompression.

How Does Spinal Decompression Work? Part II of II

Spinal decompression can trick the body into relaxing. Regular pulling of the spine can trigger sensors in the muscles, and cause them to tighten up. Spinal decompression can bypass the muscle tightening response of the body. This is accomplished by gently pulling on the spine and relaxing the back over a period of time. The spine is able to reposition without tension, or putting itself into an emergency tighten down mode.

How Does Spinal Decompression Work? Part I of II

An increase in disc pressure causes the disc to bulge, and causes a lot of pain. Spinal decompression creates a negative pressure within the spinal disc that produces a vacuum. This vacuum helps pull nutrients and fluids into the disc region. This in turn helps facilitate the healing process, and helps retract the disc into a more proper position. This improved position is very beneficial for disc health.

Spinal Decompression and Spinal Stenosis

Spinal Stenosis occurs with a narrowing of the spinal canal. This can be caused by disc damage, and excessive bone growth. The end result is pain, weakness and numbness into the buttocks, legs and feet. Patients with spinal stenosis receive relief from spinal decompression by the repositioning and rejuvenating effect on the spinal discs.

What Is Plantar Fasciitis? Part III of III

By now you are probably thinking, how can I get rid of plantar fasciitis? It is not realistic to stay off your feet at all times. You are recommended to see a qualified physician.

Every time your foot hits the ground, the plantar fasciitis is stretched. You can decrease this pressure by losing body weight, wearing shoes and slippers that support your arch. Some physicians recommend medicine, taping of the foot, and orthotics. Orthotics are prescription inserts that fit into your shoe. Orthotics tend to support and help control the foot and ankle region. If you have any questions please contact me.

What Is Plantar Fasciitis? Part II of III

As earlier discussed, improper foot movement can cause plantar fasciitis. If the foot flattens too much at the arch, the tissue may overstretch. In return, if the foot flattens too little, the fascia is too tight and causes pain.

A heel spur can also cause plantar fasciitis. This bone growth can be caused by a pull on the heel bone over time.

Symptoms of plantar fasciitis occur on the bottom of the foot, usually in the morning. Pain may decrease after walking briefly, but comes back with rest or over activity.

What Is Plantar Fasciitis? Part I of III

The plantar fascia is a large group of ligaments that are bound together and run from the ball of the foot to the heel. This group of tissue creates a tension that pulls your foot into an arch. With improper movement of the foot these ligaments begin to break down. This causes inflammation, and now you have a condition called plantar fasciitis.