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My problem, he explained, was likely to have been caused initially
by a car accident I had five years before, or it was possibly
a form of RSI: repetitive strain injury. Oh dear. I had previously
privately mocked the idea of RSI being a legitimate injury, considering
it to be a ruse dreamed up by gold-digging litigious types eager
to take advantage of our contemporary compensation culture. My
first piece of medicine was to eat a large portion of humble pie.
RSI is, I now understand, a series of ‘microtraumatic physical
stresses’ experienced as a result of repeated operations,
often in your occupation. In my case this would be using a laptop
computer, which causes me to stoop rather than look straight forward,
and spending hours at a time writing and reading. This causes
the ligaments which hold the vertebrae together to exceed their
elastic limit, meaning they no longer adequately hold the joint
in tight proximity. This then causes abnormal joint wear and tear,
producing inflammation, muscle spasm and nerve impingement.
“What we do as chiropractic specialists is to firstly identify
the exact vertebrae in question,” says Jakubowski. “Then
I rehabilitate it by means of a specific adjustment or manipulation
into its correct position, taking into account the vertebrae above
and below.”
He sits you down and cradles your neck and skull while chatting
away. Once you have relaxed, you are ‘yanked’ in a
controlled manner. It left me with watering eyes. It hurt.
However, after a few sessions (which become less painful each
time), I now have full mobility back in my neck and shoulders
and have full faith in his expertise and that of Karen and Amanda,
the two therapists who carried out my deep-tissue massage.
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| SEVEN
HEALTHY POINTERS
TO BETTER GOLF |
|
The pressure points – the lower back, shoulders
and wrists – are the most obvious joints at
risk for golfers, due to the repetitive nature of
the golf swing. But carrying a golf bag can place
enormous strain on your neck. Take advantage of dual-harness
straps over your shoulders to distribute the weight
evenly. |
Trolleys are not the best way to carry your clubs.
This can build unnecessary pressure from pulling and
bending in the wrong positions. Powered or electric
carts are safer. |
|
Golfers often don’t warm up effectively prior
to playing. If the muscles aren’t prepared by
a good stretching routine, this can lead to a lack
of flexibility and injury. Stretch hamstring, quads,
chest muscles and shoulders – if necessary,
on each tee. |
Don’t forget to have a good post-game stretch
as well. |
Wear proper shoes for stability. |
Pain is a warning sign. Don’t ignore it.
If you do injure yourself, use ice rather than heat
and seek help from your doctor or a British Chiropractic
Association practitioner. You can call the BCA on
0118 950 5950 or visit www.chiropractic-uk.co.uk to
find out where your nearest chiropractor is. |
Remember! – a healthy back
will improve your swing |
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I suspect I will now become a regular visitor to the clinic,
simply to insure against recurring problems, and I will always
sympathise with anyone who is genuinely suffering from a form
of RSI. In fact, only recently has it been suggested that the
‘yips’ may not be a psychological problem but a form
of RSI, caused by constant use of a similar grip position and
twisted wrists.
Jakubowski explained that the majority of injuries sustained in
sports are a result of repetitive strains. In golf, the structural
elements of the body, the ligaments (ligaments attach bones to
bones), stretch beyond their elastic limit, thereby rendering
the joint structure unstable or hypermobile. If the initial episode
of back or neck pain is not treated correctly, disc degeneration
ensues.
“Pain is always the last symptom to come and the first to
go,” says Dr Jak. “This establishes that the structure
deforms over time as a result of the unidirectional nature of
the golf swing, producing the joint weakness, leading to the pain.
Just because you don’t suffer from pain, it doesn’t
mean there isn’t a problem lurking. Of all the professional
golfers I have seen, these structural weaknesses were there much
longer than the symptoms.
“Having just one joint or muscle out of line can make 18
holes seem like 108,” he warns. “It’s no wonder,
if you are swinging your club 70-100 times with an injured back
or wrist. By simply aligning the body perfectly, everyone can
play golf better, and with less effort.”
As someone who has acted as chiropractic consultant to the British
Olympic figure-skating team, to Formula 1 drivers, Premiership
footballers and international cricketers, as well as to numerous
professional golfers, he is someone worth heeding.
Dr Antoni Jakubowski can be contacted at the
Gonstead Clinic,
Suite 6/7, 22,
Harley Street,
London W1G 9PL.
Telephone: (020) 7637 2920.
Website: www.gonstead.co.uk
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