Get an Edge on Your Golf Game with Sports Massage

All athletes, including golf enthusiasts look for an edge that can help them train more effectively, perform better or overcome injuries quickly.  A competitive athlete will push his or her body to the limit to achieve greater speed, endurance or power.   All this pushing puts stress on the muscles and requires a great deal of recovery in order to avoid injury and overuse trauma.  Golfers are no exception to the risks of injury due to muscle overuse.  Sports Massage for Golf professionals and recreational golfers, can increase flexibility, speed recovery time after rigorous practice and decrease your chance of injury allowing you to achieve your true golf potential.

Sports Massage for golfThe main golf swing muscles and their role in the golf swing:

  • Shoulders support the golf club at the top of the swing and also add clubhead speed as an extension of the core
  • Upper Back maintains spine angle for ease of turning on back swing and follow- through
  • Lower Back is critical in maintaining golf posture during the swing and while putting
  • Glutes help maintain flexion in the hips and produce the ‘golf squat’ position for a powerful swing base
  • Quadriceps allow consistent knee flexion and golf posture for a repeatable swing
  • Hamstrings allow you to transfer your weight correctly on the backswing and downswing for maximum power
  • Core muscles produce maximum power from the pivot and store energy from torque created on the back swing

Sports massage for Golf players aids performance in the following ways:

  • Reduces chance of injury through assisted stretching and event preparation
  • Increases ange of motion and muscle flexibility resulting in improved power and performance
  • Shortens ecovery time between workouts by maximizing the supply of nutrients and oxygen to muscle tissue through increased blood flow
  • Enhances elimination of the metabolic by-products of exercise

Client Spotlight on Jodie

Jodie Thomas dances for the Pacific Northwest Ballet.  From humble beginnings in St. Maries, Idaho (a town so small it didn’t even have a movie theatre), Jodie has danced her way into the big leagues. She moved from her hometown to study in Spokane at the age of 14, and then to Seattle two years later to study at the Pacific Northwest Ballet School.   Today, she is an accomplished soloist for the company.

 

With an uncommon grace, Jodie bends and moves in ways most of us wouldn’t attempt!     So, when Jodie began experiencing lower back problems, a major strength center for dancers, she had to take quick action.  She turned to Dreamclinic and therapist Drew Roehrich.  Working with Drew has allowed her to keep dancing at the highest level.

 

“Massage has helped loosen the muscles of my lower back so that I can properly stretch and strengthen my body… Dancing is tough on the body and the yearly wear and tear takes a certain toll—as I get older, I need to pay even more attention to ensuring that I keep my body strong and flexible to help ward off injury.  Dreamclinic has played an important role in this effort.”

 

Having performed leading roles in productions from Stowell’s Romeo and Juliet to Petipa’s Don Quixote.  This fall of 2008, Jodie turns her attention to a staple of the holiday season in Seattle – Stowell and Sendak’s Nutcracker – which runs November 28th through December 30th.

 

Jodie intends to keep dancing for many years to come and says “my primary goal is to keep my body strong, flexible and healthy so I can continue to enjoy my dance career!”

Client Spotlight on Jennifer

 

With a strong background in competitive sports, Jennifer Triplett recently joined the Starbucks Duetto Visa Category 4 cycling squad for her first year of racing.  A Pacific Northwest native, her athleticism started at a young age where she participated in basketball, soccer, softball, track and field, ski team and volleyball.

 

“This season has been amazing,” Jennifer said. “Thanks to proper training, nutrition, massage and support from friends, family and teammates, I am accomplishing my dreams.”

 

Jennifer says she recommends massage as part of anyone’s training program, regardless of what sport they’re competing in.  She sees a Dreamclinic therapist for 90 minutes every three weeks.  “Believe me,” she says. “It works.”

 

“I have been supplementing my training every three weeks with massage since January.  I time it so I have a massage at least 2 days prior to a big race or event and then use the time on the table as meditation.  While my muscles are soothed and relaxed, I visualize tactics and most importantly crossing through the finish line first.

 

“Thank you to all of those people who believe in me – and here’s to getting to the Olympics!”

Client Spotlight on Joyce

 

Joyce Lagow is a brand manager in the food service group at Starbucks as well as a competitive cyclist for Team Starbucks Duetto Visa.

 

Her involvement inathletics started early when she began spending weeks at a time hiking and camping with her family in Oregon.  In high school, she competed in basketball and softball, which led to skiing and weight lifting in her twenties (at one point she could life 210 pounds — twice her weight!).

 

Never one to rest, Joyce tackled rock climbing before discovering a setback in cycling: she found herself struggling just to finish races.  Rather than give up, she found a new coach and a new resolve.  A year later she won the Washington State Masters Criterium Championship.

 

Joyce now lends her expertise and support to her cycling team.  “I am committed to building the roster with women who are dedicated to supporting each other as a team,” she says.  “Given the talent on the team now, I anticipate having an impressive season.”

 

Joyce is also a big proponent of massage.  “In terms of racing, massage is critical to the recovery process.  There is a clear correlation to my performance as an athlete and how consistently I employ massage during the racing season.”