Whether you like to sink a few holes at the local pitch-and-putt, or compete in international tournaments with million-dollar sponsorships on your shirt, one truth in golf remains universal -- a bad back means a bad game. Consequently, anybody who plays golf with any regularity should make sure their backs are free of pain, weakness, cramps and other conditions, and having regular appointments with an accredited chiropractic practitioner can be one of the most effective ways to maintain spinal health and mobility.

Using joint mobilisation, spinal manipulation and other treatments, a good chiropractor can both treat back pain and injuries you have suffer on the course and prevent new ones from occurring or becoming debilitating. Here are just some of the ways your chiropractor can keep you on the course and under par:

Lower back pain

The unnatural and rather violent action of a powerful golf swing can take a tremendous toll on a golfer's muscles, bones and joints, but fatigue and strain are particularly common in the lower back. There are few committed golfers who have not experienced some kind of lower back pain during their playing careers, and many of them seek chiropractic treatment for swift and effective relief.

Chiropractors can use a number of treatments to relieve your back pain. Spinal manipulation is probably the most well-known, and involves your chiropractor readjusting the alignment of the vertebrae in your lower spine using measured pressing and thrusting motions (this manipulation often, but not always, produces the distinctive spinal 'crack'.). This realignment can take stress away from tight muscles and tendons connected to your lower spine, which both reduces pain and increases mobility and flexibility.

Other treatments can also be offered, such as soft tissue massage; this relaxes tense, damaged muscles and promotes blood flow to the area to speed healing. To prevent the back pain from recurring, your chiropractor may also guide you through a range of exercises designed to improve strength and flexibility in the lower back; these exercises, once learned and understood, can often be done at home.

Posture correction

Many golfers spend thousands of dollars on equipment and hours at the driving range trying to improve a dubious swing, never realising that the cause of their golfing woes is much closer to home. If your posture is not straight, even and balanced, achieving optimum swing technique is practically impossible.Chiropractors are experts are correcting posture, and can often determine the nature and position of your posture problems by simply watching you stand and walk. To help correct them and help you achieve a more balanced golfing stance, a number of treatments can be offered.

If your chiropractor thinks your posture problems are due to a misaligned spine, spinal adjustment can be extremely helpful; good chiropractors will take x-rays of your spine to confirm their suspicions. Tense muscles and joints can also be a major cause of poor posture, so your chiropractor will examine your back and neck for signs of excessive tensions and help release pressure using nerve stimulation, massage, and joint fixation correction.

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