LOW BACK PAIN IN GOLFERS

8a and b: Golf swing with decreased support base using a swiss ball

9a and b: The extension quadrant to strengthen the lower back and hips

10a and b: The flexion quadrant to strengthen the abdominals and hips

an eccentric muscle contraction while controlling the resistive tubing to the starting position (14). Using dynamic, weight-bearing postures and all three types of muscle contractions maximises excitation of proprioceptive pathways providing coordinated, balanced move- ment (14,18). Dynamic stability is contin- ually stressed during these exercises with the single leg stance.

12a,b and c: Strengthening specific muscles involved in the golf swing using ‘resisted swing’

To strengthen the spinal rotators of the mid and upper back, the shoulder quad- rant is a great functional exercise (figure 11). Placing the tubing over the shoulder, wrapping it around the upper body and keeping the pelvis square, the external obliques, internal obliques, semispinalis thoracis and rotatores can be functionally strengthened again using concentric, eccentric and isometric muscle contrac- tions (14). To add the dynamic balance component, the progression would be to perform this exercise standing on one leg.

The speed and power of the golf swing comes from the hips and legs. It is vital for a golfer to initiate the swing with hip extension and rotation towards the target. Main muscle groups assisting with this action include (19,20): ■ Trail side gluteus minimus, medius and maximus

■ Trail side tensor fascia latae and ili- otibial band

■ Trail side external obliques, lead side internal obliques

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11a and b: The shoulder quadrant to strengthen the spinal rotators

13a,b and c: Strengthening muscles which generate power while rotating on a balanced leg using ‘golf lunge’

■ Bilateral erector spinae ■ Lead side hip internal rotators (listed above)

Strengthening these muscles within each golfer’s specific swing pattern can be achieved with the ‘resisted swing’ (figure 12). Using the resistive tubing attached to the hips and wrapped around the waist allows the golfer to swing with his or her normal movement pattern but forces them to develop strength in the area where strength is needed in the golf swing, the hips and pelvis. Many of the professional

golfers use this exercise since it is effec- tive with any swing pattern. The unortho- dox swing of Jim Furyk, for example, can be enhanced and strengthened as the exercise does not force one to change their swing plane.

During the resisted swing, as with the assisted backswing, accelerated swing and shoulder accelerated swing, the line of the tubing from the wall attachment to the body forms a perfect visual reference to align the feet, hips and shoulders with the swing plane. In addition, any swing

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