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The game of golf is deceptively rigorous. There are an estimated 30 million Americans who play golf. An individual playing 18 holes will take anywhere from 70-150 swings of the club. This is in addition to 50-100 swings each session at the practice range. While each individual swing may last only a second, the golfer can generate a club head speed of 80-100MPH. This is quite a collision to take place with such frequency. In a review done by Calloway and Jobe on the 1985-1986 PGA Season, 77% of all golfers sustained injuries. Of these, 42.4% were found at the base of the spine between the hips, and 43.8% at the lower back. Even players like Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson have at one time been on the tender back list. If these pro athletes are commonly sustaining back injuries, it would seem likely that the recreational golf practitioner's chances would be much higher.

The Golf swing involves both moving and non-moving postures. In the address, the golfer should bend his back about 45 degrees bent forward at the waist. Assume a rounded posture in the neck and lower back. Too much curvature in the neck and lower back will lead to decreased spinal rotation, thus limiting the club head speed. Poor shoulder and upper torso flexibility can cause limited backswing.

Here is the most important tip about your swing; unless you are incredibly flexible, take a short backswing. Power is not created with the backswing. The force in your swing is specifically generated in the conversion of energy at the backswing to the downswing. Make it quick. Another common mistake is a lateral shift or backward movement during the backswing and/or downswing. This is also a direct result of poor flexibility, specifically in the hips and trunk.

The most common injuries are a direct result of poor ergonomics and inflexibility. Stretching should be used in injury prevention. However, it will also markedly improve your game. Here are some useful techniques. Move your neck through all ranges of motion. Clasp your hands behind your head and try to move your elbows backwards and then forwards, attempting to touch. When standing, grab your foot and stretch your quadriceps. Rotate your spine. Bend over and touch your toes, stand upright and then slide one arm down the leg laterally bending as far as you can go. Lie on your back and grab your knees. In addition, focus your work out regiment on golf centered exercise. For example, do oblique crunches. Use a cable pulley to perform weighted downswings and back swings. Hold a medicine ball and rotate your spine with your arms slightly extended. Do lunges and hip abduction exercises.

Remember the keys to a good game are endurance and flexibility. Take these tips, train, and stretch specifically for the sport. In a matter of no time, your game will improve and, more importantly, your body will do the same!

Today I wanted to talk a little about mattresses. Every so often people will ask me about what kind of mattress I prefer. Let the truth be told, my mattress was really cheap and I love it! In the case of mattresses high cost does not always equal better comfort. Just because a mattress is $5,000.00 does not mean it is better than a $500.00 mattress. Here's why...people are individuals and individuals have different needs. For the most part I believe a firm mattress with a pillow top is better for the back. First, the firm mattress supports the back and secondly the pillow top absorbs the pressure at the shoulders and hips if you are a side sleeper. Is a Sleep Number or Tempurpedic worth the money? Well, if you are one person of a couple it seems that a Sleep Number bed is a definite option. Most of the time two people have two different concepts of "bed comfort". In the case of Sleep Numbers you can set the tension for your side of the bed as you please. Tempurpedic beds, chiropractically speaking, have the right concept in mind. They have a uniform foam in which when you lie on it will contour the body appropriately to take pressure off the spine. These beds are suppose to be superior to spring beds because the springs cause a uniform pressure throughout the body and do not "give" at certain curvatures in the body. Although the concept is great I suggest you keep the receipt because they do offer, I believe, a 90 day trial and a lot of people report difficulty getting used to how hard they are. Rule of thumb: If you are waking up in the morning with more pain and/or stiffness then you went to be with its time to get a new mattress. Spring mattresses should be turned over every so often and replaced sometime around 5-7 years. When shopping for a new mattress lie in the position you normally sleep in for 15 minutes at the store. If you feel good when you get up that’s the mattress for you! Happy shopping!

Steve you're supposed to eat Icecream at an Icecream social!

I was asked to be the backstage (get it BACK stage, hehe) chiropractor at the Destiny's Child concert! The concert was great! I had so much fun!

Did you know that Giraffe's have seven cervical (neck) vertebrae just like ours? Well, not exactly....they do have seven, as do we, but as you can see their bones are somewhat larger. This is the Giraffe's second cervical vertebrae or C2. Neat, huh?

Did you know that a Cheetah uses it spine like a spring when running? The spring like motion helps to propel the cheetah's body forward so it can run so quickly.
These are 2 of the 5 babies at the National Zoo.

So Steve and Jen's show was a success. They sold some pieces and lots of people stopped by. Thanks to everyone who showed their support. For those of you who bought pieces don't forget, they are heavy so bend your knees when you pick them up!