Running Shoes
Don’t underestimate the importance of correct fitting running shoes!
This occurs because the muscles are stiff and have tightened due to the sedentary position they have been in all day. To prevent one from hurting themselves, it is really important that they do flexibility exercises on an ongoing basis, and that they do warm up before starting to play.
There is often a misconception that stretching and warming up are one of the same. Furthermore, people think that going for a walk will help flexibility however flexibility is its own area and requires special exercises, which encompass core stability.
Below are some of Mervyn Young Physical Therapist tips for warming up and flexibility especially for those golf players out there who wish to improve that first tee off shot!!
Warm up – is literally the act of warming up to take part in an activity such as golf.
It is very important to target the muscles/parts of the body that are going to be used during the sport.
Exercises for your game of Golf
- Rotate Head/neck in a clockwise & anticlockwise direction several times.
- In a standing position, raise the arms straight up parallel with floor hip-width apart. Swing the arms right and left rotating the chest allowing the movement all the way down to the feet. This exercise can be done with the head facing forwards and letting it go with the movements.
- Again standing in the above position this time rotate the pelvis right and left while trying to keep the arms in a still position.
- Always a good exercise is to pick up 2 clubs and swing genteelly pulling your body through your golf swing.
- Flexibility exercises – should be done regularly, not a token effort before playing.
- Lying on floor/yoga mat, etc.
- Relax the body as much as is possible move arms out and up to the side of your head several times in both directions (like snow angels)
- Bring both knees towards chest, hold legs just below knees, rock legs while encouraging knees closer to the chest.
- Place soles of feet on the floor as close to buttocks as possible, extend arms out to shoulder level on the floor and let the knees move right and left on the floor bringing a rotation stretch into the spine.