PREPARING YOUR BODY FOR GOLF SEASON

By Dr. John A. Papa, DC, FCCPOR(C)

Warmer weather signals the start of summer and golfers can’t wait to get on the course to start their season.  Good preparation can go a long way in helping to avoid and/or minimize the chances of suffering a muscle or joint injury while playing golf.  Included below are some tips to improve your game and prevent the pain!

1.      Prepare physically by including flexibility and strengthening exercises as part of your training and practice routine.  Muscles act as important shock absorbers and help prevent strains and sprains of vulnerable regions such as the back, along with the shoulder, elbow, wrist, hip, and knee joints.

2.      Warm-up and cool-down both before and after your game.  Include gentle stretching and range of motion exercises, as well as a brisk walk or gentle jog to loosen the muscles and joints.

3.      Nourish your body by staying hydrated.  Drink plenty of fluids before, during and after your game and steer clear of caffeine and alcohol as they further dehydrate you.  Dehydration affects your energy level and your physical functioning.  Consider bringing nutritious snacks to help maintain your blood sugar levels during play.

4.      Use a wheeled golf cart for carrying heavy clubs.  Alternate every hole by pushing or pulling your golf cart to help prevent cumulative strain on your body.  If you must carry your golf bag, use both shoulders straps.  This will spread the weight across a greater area.  If there is only one strap, alternate sides frequently.  If you find that your bag is getting too heavy, put it down and take a break.

5.      Prepare for the elements.  Golf requires long periods of standing.  Choose a golf shoe that fits comfortably while providing adequate support.  This may help prevent knee, hip, and lower back pain.  To protect from sun exposure, apply sunscreen and wear a wide-brim hat.  Wear loose and comfortable clothing.  Know your physical limits.  Playing too much too soon is one of the most common causes of golf injuries, so build your tolerance and pace yourself.

6.      Whether it is your golf clubs or your golf swing, golf can be a very technical sport.  Ensure that your clubs are the right height and grip.  Select irons with large heads and graphite shafts to lessen vibration.  Adopting a golf swing based on your physical and biomechanical capacity is important.  Take lessons to learn the correct swing technique and avoid unnecessary injuries.  A golf professional can help you with club selection and technique.

In the event that you suffer a muscle or joint injury while golfing that does not subside, you should contact a licensed health professional.  For more information, visit www.nhwc.ca.  The author credits the Canadian Chiropractic Association (CCA) in the preparation of this educational information for use by its members and the public.

This article is a basic summary for educational purposes only.  It is not intended, and should not be considered, as a replacement for consultation, diagnosis or treatment by a duly licensed health practitioner.

2012 NEW HAMBURG CLASSIC RACES

Congratulations to everyone who participated in this year's New Hamburg Classic Races! 
Click here for the results: http://www.chiptimeresults.com/results/

The New Hamburg Classic Races is a fundraiser for five local charity groups:  Aldaview Services, New Hamburg's volunteer Firefighters, the Wilmot Family Resource Centre, Interfaith Community Counselling Centre and the Wilmot Recreation Complex.

The Neil Dunford 5K Race was held this year in memory of one of the founding members of the New Hamburg Classic Races.  Neil Dunford was a long-time supporter of the event, an avid runner and athlete who lost his battle with cancer last year.

The New Hamburg Wellness Centre is proud to once again be a sponsor of this event.  Our team was on-site to provide post-race massages for all the athletes.

Photos from this year's race: 
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.291044710987035.64439.264342590323914&type=3

AN INTRODUCTION TO CHIROPRACTIC CARE

By Dr. John A. Papa, DC, FCCPOR(C)

Chiropractic is one of the largest primary contact health professions in Canada.  Approximately four and a half million Canadians use the services of a chiropractor each year.  Despite the professions growing popularity, there are still many in the public who don’t exactly know what services a chiropractor performs or what qualifications and training they possess.  This article is the first of a two part series introducing the chiropractic health discipline and the profession’s role in the health care system.

A large majority of patients who seek chiropractic care do so for complaints of the musculoskeletal system (joints, muscles, tendons, nerves and bones).  Chiropractors provide diagnosis, treatment and management of these complaints which may include but are not limited to:  back pain, neck pain, sciatica, whiplash, osteoarthritis, migraine and tension headaches, upper and lower extremity complaints, along with repetitive strain, sport, work and motor vehicle injuries.

 

Chiropractic practitioners undergo a rigorous course of study similar to that of other health professionals.  Training involves a minimum of three years undergraduate university education, followed by another four years of intensive academic and clinical education at an accredited chiropractic college.  Becoming licensed to practice chiropractic requires all eligible candidates to pass national and provincial examinations before applying to the Licensing Board.  Specialized post-graduate training enables the chiropractors of today to offer their patients additional treatment options.

Chiropractic in Canada is regulated by provincial statute in all provinces (The Chiropractic Act, 1991), created in accordance with the Regulated Health Professions Act (RHPA, 1991).  Chiropractors along with medical doctors, dentists, psychologists, and optometrists have the legislated right and obligation to communicate a diagnosis and to use the title doctor.  The College of Chiropractors of Ontario, like the colleges in each of the other provinces, is similar to the regulatory bodies for other health professions.  It is responsible for protecting the public, standards of practice, disciplinary issues, quality assurance and maintenance of competency.

 

Chiropractic is well recognized within the health care system.  Chiropractic care is covered by the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) for occupational injuries, by automobile insurance in the event of a motor vehicle accident (MVA) injury, and by many Extended Health Care (EHC) plans.  A medical referral is not necessary to access chiropractic care.  Chiropractic adjustments are just one mode of therapy utilized by chiropractors today (but not with every patient).  Some chiropractors are also trained to employ other forms of physical therapy such as acupuncture, electrotherapy, soft tissue therapy, and rehabilitative exercises.  If your complaint is not something that would respond favorably to chiropractic care, a referral is made to the appropriate health professional.

 

Additional chiropractic resources can be found at: (www.nhwc.ca), (www.chiropractic.on.ca), and (www.ccachiro.org).  Join us next month for the second part of this series on chiropractic where you will learn about the chiropractic experience from a patient’s perspective.

This article is a basic summary for educational purposes only.  It is not intended, and should not be considered, as a replacement for consultation, diagnosis or treatment by a duly licensed health practitioner.