Foot Stabilization and the Golf Swing
FEATURE
Rick Bishop
DC, CCSP
Athletes put a lot of stress on their bodies. The incidence of Tommy John surgery for overhand-throwing athletes is at epidemic levels. Some of the more common injuries we see with runners include plantar fasciitis, Achilles tendonitis, and stress fractures. We often see golfers experience back pain, knee pain, foot and ankle injuries, and even neck pain. These are just a few injuries that many athletes experience, depending on their sport.
We can often, and rightfully so, attribute these injuries to overuse. They typically will develop slowly over an extended period, and they can last for weeks, months, and even longer if not diagnosed early enough and properly treated. So, what is the common connection, or is there one? How can they be prevented? How do they affect athletic performance? What is the connection between our feet and all these injuries? These are all great questions and some of the more common ones I encounter in my practice.
When a new patient comes into our office, one of the first things we look at is his or her posture. Poor posture can lead to imbalances and dysfunctions throughout the kinetic chain. It is extremely important to develop a baseline with regards to posture from the onset. Therefore, we start this assessment from the ground up by looking for any asymmetries, imbalances, or other dysfunctions in their feet. We will then scan patients with Foot Levelers scanning technology. This is by far the most precise and accurate imaging unit I have found to assess foot asymmetries. If imbalances or asymmetries are found, the Foot Levelers innovative software then creates a vivid illustration of the feet to reveal how this affects the kinetic chain. The kinetic chain (sometimes called the kinematic chain) is an engineering concept used to describe human movement. It is used in a wide variety of clinical conditions, including musculoskeletal, sports medicine, and neurorehabilitation, as well as prosthetics and orthotics.1
Experts estimate that as much as 80% of the population will experience a back problem at some time in their lives2, and the numbers may be higher among golfers. Why is that? A solid foundation is vital to every athlete. It translates into positive results, and if your lower half is weak, it affects outcomes and performance on the field. As a result, if your “foundation” breaks down, it will often have a negative impact on your upper half. Over time, this can and will often lead to muscle imbalances and ultimately result in overuse injuries.
Let’s look at golfers, for example. First off, we know that the golf swing puts a lot of added stress on the back due to the amount of rotation it requires and generates. This is the most common injury seen in golfers. The twisting motion of the golf swing usually causes pain and stiffness in the back and neck as the shoulders rotate around the hips. I currently have a patient who is in his second year as a professional golfer. One of the biggest improvements he has seen in his game from wearing ParFlex Plus orthotics by Foot Levelers is the reduction in fatigue at the end of a round—not only from playing the round but also from the amount of walking he does during a round. We think of the stress of the swing itself and how balance in the feet impacts this. However, think about how vital the reduction of fatigue is to a golfer. When you properly support and stabilize your feet, you help boost energy and stamina and reduce fatigue.
“Let’s say, for example that one of your feet is excessively pronated. J J
Let’s discuss the impact the feet have on the biomechanics of the golf swing. If your feet are imbalanced or asymmetrical, you might favor one foot over the other, ultimately leading to overcompensation. Doing so creates challenges to your golf swing, which requires balance to be smooth and correct, especially during setup. Therefore, a person with imbalances in his or her feet can unknowingly distribute weight unevenly across his or her feet. This uneven stance reduces balance and results in an unnatural swing.
One of the most important components of the golf swing is the transfer of your weight from your back foot to your front foot at the moment of impact. Let’s say, for example, that one of your feet is excessively pronated. Because of this imbalance in your feet, you might unknowingly delay transferring your weight for a fraction of a second, which ultimately leads to a bad shot. All this time, I thought my poor golf game was the result of my driver (and putter)! Not so fast. Before we blame the equipment let’s take a look at our foundation, or even more precisely, our body’s center of gravity (COG).
In the anatomical position, the COG lies approximately anterior to the second sacral vertebra, or about 1 inch below your navel and about 1.5 inches deep. This area plays one of the most impacting roles to the overall success of an athlete. Coaches stress the importance of balance, strength, and agility to be a successful athlete. Our own COG protects us from potential injury but also gives us that balance, strength, and agility, which leads to pelvic stability and power. So, what do we do when we develop asymmetries or imbalances in our feet leading to pelvic instability? Well, we do like any good diagnostician would and look to uncover the underlying cause of the problem.
"Coaches stress the importance of balance, strength and agility to be a successful athlete."
In my experience as a sports chiropractor, working with athletes ranging from amateurs in youth athletics to the most elite, high-profile athletes in professional sports, pelvic stability is vital to success. Personally, I have seen some wonderful results in athletes who use orthotics. We were able to achieve greater pelvic stability by creating balance in their feet. When you have a balanced foundation, you greatly minimize asymmetries throughout the body. This ultimately reduces overcompensation throughout the kinetic chain in the body, which in turn decreases your risk of injury while leading to increased athletic performance.
I highly recommend Foot Levelers custom orthotics for anybody who is looking to gain an advantage with their game, but also for those who just want to add quality to their lives and perform better. Address your foundation—your feet! It affects your entire game!
Rick Bishop DC, CCSP, is well versed in chiropractic techniques including Diversified, Pierce, Thompson, and Activator methods as well as Extremity adjusting. He is especially interested in the chiropractic needs of athletes and has attended numerous seminars in sports chiropractic. Dr. Bishop is a Certified Sports Chiropractic Practitioner (CCSP), is the Executive Director of the Professional Baseball Chiropractic Society, member of Pro Sport Chiropractic, the AC A Sports Council (ACASC), USSCF (The United States Sports Chiropractic Federation) and the MLBPAA (Major League Baseball Players Alumni Association). Dr. Rick Bishop received his Doctorate of Chiropractic degree in December 2001from Sherman. Prior to attending Sherman College, he attended the University of Pittsburgh where he received his B.S. in Natural Sciences.
