Active Release for the Golf Swing.

There is a thin material that covers the muscles and soft tissue in our bodies, which is known as connective tissue, or fascia.  This connective tissue can be thought of as having a saran wrap type consistency.

In a functional, normal body, this connective tissue is smooth, slippery, and healthy, which allows muscles, tendons, ligaments, and nerves to slide over one another without interference.  The connective tissue must be healthy in order for muscles to contract and stretch properly.  However, as we age, our bodies tissues are exposed to trauma, usually in the form of stress, or strain.  After the trauma occurs, the body responds by creating microfibers, cross linked fibers, or scar tissue in the damaged area.  There are many names for this unhealthy tissue.  These cross linked microfibers are usually in a scattered, criss-cross type of arrangement that is unable to stretch like the original healthy tissue was able to stretch.

Furthermore, these cross fibers act to immobilize the injured area in order to set the stage for the healing process in the tissue.  The problem is that these microfibers not only don’t go away on their own, they actually tend to accumulate over time as part of a vicious cycle of unhealthy joint mechanics.  This is why people tend to become stiffer as they get older.

This unhealthy scar tissue cannot be released by simply stretching.  The reason for this is that the area that is laden with microfibrous scar tissue is like that because the body needed to immobilize that area at some point.  Scar tissue is acting like a cast acts to immobilize a broken bone.  What good would a cast do you if you could just stretch and break the cast?

It is estimated that 95% of the worlds population have accumulated scar tissue which is restricting their flexibility.

We know how important flexibility is when it comes to golf swing mechanics.  The key areas we look for when we assess a clients swing are:

#1)  Spinal rotation:  The ability of the spine to rotate without restrictions is probably the most important role flexibility plays in the golf swing.  A spine that is restricted by microfiber adhesions will wreak havoc on the golf swing.  When the spine can’t rotate during the backswing, the arms usually must compensate to get the club back, resulting in the club face being “off plane”.  Once the club head is off plane, it’s nearly impossible to correct that during the downswing.  A majority of the time this kind of restriction will result in an either very short backswing, or an “over the top” motion at the beginning of the downswing.

#2) Shoulder mobility/flexibility:  Shoulder flexibility is important during both the backswing and follow through.  Restricted shoulders will cause a very inefficient swing that lacks potential power.

#3)  Hip mobility/flexibility:  Chronically tight hip rotators are extremely common due to the sedentary lifestyle.  Sitting in chairs at work and driving will cause compression to the hip rotators located under the glute muscles, which will accumulate microfibers and damage over time.  Tight hips will cause too much spinal rotation, setting the stage for chronic low back pain.