The competition can get pretty fierce out on the golf course,
whether it’s Tiger Woods battling David Duval for $1.3 million
or two amateurs spending a lazy Saturday afternoon playing
for a beer. Small, subtle adjustments can often make the difference
between winning and losing, a point emphasized by a study
published in the Journal of Manipulative and Physiological
Therapeutics.
Twelve
experienced golfers took part in the study, designed to examine
the effect of orthotics (custom-made, flexible shoe inserts)
on the golf swing, before and after nine holes of simulated
golf. Subjects wore the orthotics daily for six weeks, and
measurements were taken using an electronic device that measures
club speed (club-head velocity, or CHV) as the golfer swings.
Use of the custom-fit, flexible orthotics increased CHV by
3.5 miles per hour, translating to appromixately a 15-yard
increase in the distance the ball traveled in the air. Orthotic
use also appeared to reduce the effects of fatigue associated
with nine holes of golf, suggesting the potential for more
consistent golf performance.
The authors caution that their results only address a specific
sample of golfers using a specific set of orthotics. For more
information on the potential benefits of orthotics for golf
and for overall health and wellness, schedule a consultation
with your chiropractor.
Reference:
Stude DE, Gullickson J. Effects of orthotic intervention
and nine holes of simulated golf on club-head velocity in
experienced golfers. Journal of Manipulative and Physiological
Therapeutics, March/April 2000: Vol. 23, No. 3, pp168-74.
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