Hooray, the beautiful spring weather has finally arrived! There are so many wonderful things to do outside this time of year - biking, golfing, walking, playing with  your kids - the list is endless. Be sure to give yourself a tune-up as you are more active, to make sure you don't end up in pain and unable to enjoy the warm weather!

Chiropractic and Your Golf Game

by Dr. Dean MacDonald, D.C.

More and more golfers are turning to chiropractic, not just to treat pain syndromes like golfer’s elbow, but also because they’ve heard that chiropractic could help improve their swing and their golf game.  Both motivations have a lot of merit!

Low Back Injuries in Golf

A little known golf statistic is that low back pain represents the number one complaint/injury among PGA tour professionals. Low back sprains/strains and even disc problems are equally, if not more prevalent among amateur golfers. Low back injuries can occur among golfers for many reasons including poor swing mechanics, repetitive strain, or simple overuse. In any case, the first step in treating or preventing low back injuries in golf is identifying how and why they occur.

The key to determining the cause of most low back injuries in golf is understanding the golf swing as it relates to the mechanics of the lumbar spine and pelvis. The golf swing is inherently stressful on the low back and pelvis. As with throwing a baseball, shooting a puck in hockey or serving a tennis ball, power in the golf swing is generated from the ground up. This means that forces are generated first in the lower body, then transferred through the low back and pelvis, to the torso, upper limbs and eventually to the golf club.  This places an incredible amount of torque and strain on the muscles and joints that stabilize the lumbar spine and pelvis. Strength and stability of these muscles and joints are therefore essential not only for generating power, but for avoiding low back injuries in golf.     

Chiropractic Can Help!

Chiropractic can help prevent or reduce the frequency and severity of low back injuries in golf. This is because chiropractic adjustments remove vertebral subluxations (misalignments) in the spine that interfere with the proper function of the nervous system and muscles. In doing so, chiropractic adjustments create mobility in the joints and balance in the muscles of the pelvis and low back. This provides the core strength and stability required to transfer forces from the lower body to the upper body and golf club to generate a powerful golf swing. In addition, this reduces the stress and strain placed on the discs, joints and soft tissues of the lumbar spine and pelvis.

If you have or have had low back pain or low back injuries in the past, contact your chiropractor for an examination to determine if chiropractic could help you or your golf game!

Did you know that many of our favourite native and introduced plants are used in Herbal Medicine to treat a variety of health conditions?

by Dr. Elizabeth Cherevaty, ND

Discover the medicinal plants of the University of Guelph Arboretum with our very own Norfolk Wellness Naturopathic Doctor, Elizabeth Cherevaty ND. Enjoy a guided walk through the Arboretum woods, meadows and Gosling Gardens, highlighting important medicinal plants including motherwort, mayapple, blue cohosh, bloodroot, red raspberry, Joe Pye weed, hawthorn, black walnut, Solomon's seal, plantain, wild ginger, horsetail, burdock, St. John’s wort and goldenrod. Each participant will receive a colour booklet covering the plants surveyed. The outdoor tour will begin at the Arboretum's Taylor Centre at 6:00PM and will conclude with a brief overview of Herbal Medicine, so be sure to bring your questions! Please dress for a walk in the woods; flashlights recommended. Rain or shine.

This event helps to raise funds for the Arboretum. Advance registration is required. Register by phone: 519-824-4120, ext. 52358; by fax: 519-763-9598; or by email: [email protected]

Massage is more than just a Luxury
by Leslie Brown, RMT

Over the years, massage has obtained a reputation for being an indulgent treat for those who love to pamper themselves.  Many people think of massage as splurging at a high-end spa or a luxury once a year on their birthday.

Now, if you have had this type of massage as a gift or giving yourself a treat, no doubt you would have felt transformed into a wonderful world of relaxation.  And although Massage Therapy does have benefits of relaxation and reducing stress, research has shown many benefits to relieving pain and improving overall health.

Many clients use Massage Therapy to deal with chronic neck and back pain, but treatment is also beneficial to treat specific conditions, such as tendinitis, frozen shoulder, headaches, TMJ (jaw) dysfunction, and fibromyalgia. Treatment is also beneficial as part of health care routines dealing with sleep problems, anxiety, and depression.

Athletes use massage therapy to keep muscles healthy before and after practices or training as well as games or performances.  Massage also provides several benefits during pregnancy to help the body as it goes through physical changes.  Most commonly this includes treatment focus on muscles in the lower back/hips (for postural reasons) and calves (to reduce muscle cramps felt at night).

Massage Therapists in Ontario are required to complete a 2200-hour course and pass a written and practical exam before they become a Registered Massage Therapist.  Many RMTs include deep-tissue, relaxation, or lymphatic treatment as part of their practice.  Regardless of your condition or health history, your RMT will design a treatment plan to determine the most beneficial treatment for you.