I am asked this question a lot. The simple answer is, yes, but there’s more to it. When a patient comes to me with an injury, I do generally assess the mobility of their spine, hips, shoulders and neck. The golf swing requires these areas to move well, and if there is a physical restriction it can increase the likelihood of an injury. In saying this however, there are a lot of stiff golfers out there who don’t get injured too!
There’s some evidence to suggest that having a limitation in the lead hip can increase the risk of lower back pain. There is also some evidence to suggest that having more mid-back (thoracic spine) mobility can improve the separation of your top and bottom-half of your body when you swing. There is also a skill to separation too however.
On the whole, I prefer to assess and then improve golfer’s mobility in these areas using resistance or strength exercises, not stretching. I make sure that these resistance exercises are going through big ranges of movements. This has a more lasting stimulation of the muscle and skeletal system to improve the mobility for the long-term. Don’t waste your time with static stretching.
If you want to ask me more, or come in for an assessment then feel free to email directly on pat.gillham@drivingperfgolf.co.uk
