Home > Articles > Kimberly Williams

HeartFlex and the Golfer

Golf Enthusiasts And Pros Alike Are Prone To Repetitive Injury, Luckily There's An Exercise Device That Helps In Rehabilitation And Prevention

By: Kimberly Williams

Editors Note:

Because the wrist and forearm muscles are relatively small, the repetitive movements of the game of golf cause quick muscle fatigue and eventually the golfer may experience repetitive injury and even tendonitis. Proper exercise using high repetition and low resistance offers safe rehabilitation to the golfer's repetitive injury, prevents its occurrence, and improves the game…

Almost Half of All Golfers are Playing Injured

Approximately 40 million men, women and children now play golf. Regardless of status as amateur or pro, all golfers have one common link; the possibility of a repetitive injury. Statistics reveal that about 30% of all professional golfers are playing injured. Unfortunately this musculoskeletal plague is not limited to just the pros but has now spread to 50% of all amateur male golfers and 45% of their female counterparts.

golf swing Golf is a sport that is thought of as a game requiring technical skill rather than an endeavor requiring physical exertion . This perception couldn't be farther from the truth. The amateur golfer will use about 90% of his or her peak muscular potential when driving the ball. This is about the same muscle intensity as picking up a weight that can only be lifted four times before total fatigue occurs.

"Golfers almost without exception already concentrate on the mental aspect of the game. However, the golfer must also consider himself to be an athlete with physical conditioning in mind. This will not only help prevent repetitive injury, but will serve what is considered an even greater purpose -- more power to the swing and a better game."

As a parallel example, the average batting speed in baseball is an impressive 90 miles per hour executed by conditioned athletes. Similarly, the average golf club head speed is also about 90 miles per hour. As you can see, golf is a sport that requires tremendous physical exertion about 60 plus times during an 18- hole game.

Golf Is Highly Susceptible To Overuse Injury

There are certain muscular demands are unique to golf because they occur as spurts of intermittent activity requiring repetitive actions of continuous gripping and repeated swinging of the golf club. Because the wrist and forearm muscles are small, this repetitive movement hastens muscle fatigue and eventually the golfer is unable to exert the required force to drive the ball. This repetitive motion coupled with the resulting fatigue, if continued, will then damage the tendon sheaths at the forearm and wrist. Friction, inflammation and eventually torn tendons are the end result. This is the recipe for overuse injury called tendonitis or, in layman's terminology, 'golfer's elbow'.

"Golf is a sport that is thought of as a game requiring technical skill rather than an endeavor requiring physical exertion . This perception couldn't be farther from the truth."

Because overuse injuries have a subtle and slow onset, the golfer will be unaware of its extent until the game can no longer be played without pain. Signs of overuse to the muscles include pain after the game that doesn't resolve in the next 12 hours or pain that intensifies or manifests earlier in the successive golf sessions.

Neighboring Shoulder And Back Muscles Also Affected

The golfer must also be aware of other musculoskeletal problems that lurk in the shadows. Fatigue of the forearm muscles caused by the repetition, will then cause overuse and overwork to neighboring muscle groups in the shoulders and back, known as compensation patterns. Here, the golfer will notice that normal body movement is impaired thus wreaking havoc and muscle imbalance to the body as a whole, not to mention his game.

"As one group of distal muscles becomes fatigued, the load is then shifted to alternate muscle groups and the vicious cycle repeats itself. "

One critical difference between golf and other sports is the concept of preconditioning and preparation strategy prior to the game or sport activity. Simply stated, most sports prompt warm-up and stretching if not a full exercise regimen custom tailored to the specific sport. Golfers almost without exception concentrate on the mental aspect of the game. The golfer therefore must consider himself to be an athlete with conditioning in mind. This will not only help prevent further injury, it will serve what is considered an even greater purpose to some serious golfers; more power to the swing and a better game.

A golf-conditioning program in general must be designed to integrate and synchronize the body as a whole. While proper stance and mental acuity are important, proper conditioning is even more important. This conditioning includes restoring proper posture, proper spinal curvature, good flexibility and quality strength.

Specific to the game of golf is a strength program that focuses on the muscle group proximal to the elbow. This includes muscles surrounding the shoulder and the upper back. If these muscles are weak, posture will become compromised and a greater load is again placed on the distal forearm and wrist muscles.

As one group of distal muscles becomes fatigued, the load is then shifted to alternate muscle groups and the vicious cycle repeats itself.

The HeartFlex Upper-Body Conditioner

Central to the solution of preventing overuse injury is an exercise program that allows the golfer to safely strengthen the correct muscles. World class athletes are now utilizing convenient and simple equipment such as bands and weights that can be taken on the road and used easily and conveniently at almost any time.

"The image of the executive putting on his or her office carpet must be replaced by the avid golfer exercising properly before the alarming trend of golf injury can be reversed. The HeartFlex upper-body exerciser is, without reservation, the best fitness product to reverse this trend."

HeartFlex, a new product on the market is perfect for the task. It is a unique device engineered and made from lightweight plastic and other modern materials. This patented item is lightweight, compact and durable. It allows for high repetition and low resistance exercise necessary for safe rehabilitation to the golfer's repetitive injury. Beyond that, it helps increase strength and flexibility in a way no other product does.

HeartFlex for Golf The HeartFlex is a hand held piece of equipment that can be utilized in over 10 golf specific exercises to help the golfer rehabilitate existing injury as well as prevent a new injury due to the sport. The HeartFlex system also educates the golfer on appropriate technique in exercises that can be performed anywhere and anytime.

The image of the executive putting on his or her office carpet must be replaced by the avid golfer exercising properly before the alarming trend of golf injury can be reversed. The HeartFlex upper body exerciser is, without reservation, the best fitness product to reverse this trend.

About Dr. Kimberly Williams

Dr. Kimberly Williams has been involved in the fitness and wellness industry in San Diego for the past 20 years. Currently in private practice, she specializes in sports and work related injuries.

Dr. Williams has delivered lectures nationwide to other health professional as well as corporations on preventive health measures, weight management, nutrition and exercise theory and application. Dr. Williams and her team have designed and delivered customized programs that focus on action learning to guide health and behavioral change.

Dr. Williams presents to a variety of industries including corporations, fitness conventions and other health symposiums. Currently, Dr. Williams is a guest speaker on KPOP talk radio in San Diego covering a variety of health issues. She has authored two health and fitness books and is a provider of education for the American Council on Exercise, National Academy of Sports Medicine, and other continuing education organizations.