THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, March 30, 1995 TAG: 9503290218
SECTION: SUFFOLK SUN PAGE: 22 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY PHYLLIS SPEIDELL, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: SUFFOLK LENGTH: Medium: 71 lines
Lured by their love of golf, about 100 men and women spent part of the first day of spring at the Holiday Inn.
They weren't there to play, but to learn how to enjoy the sport even more by preventing common injuries and soreness that plague amateurs and pros alike.
Obici Hospital sponsored a golf clinic that brought together several physicians and Suffolk golf pro Mark Lambert for an evening program that began with light hors d'oeuvres and a few minutes for golfers to chat with Lambert as well as Dr. Jeffrey Persons, an orthopedic surgeon, Dr. Alan Doyle, a specialist in physical medicine and rehabilitation, and Dr. Miley Walker, a urologist who is president of the Obici medical staff.
All three physicians are avid golfers and have had personal experiences with golf injuries. Walker, who has been playing golf for about two years, originated the clinic idea after he had several herniated cervical discs, aggravated by an improper golf swing.
Using slides, demonstrations and their own golf experiences, the physicians and Lambert explained how most golf injuries and soreness can be prevented by proper conditioning, equipment and technique. Golf-related mishaps, they noted, are not just the amateur's problem; about 50 percent of the touring pros have sustained injuries that have sidelined them for eight to 10 weeks.
Among amateurs, the most common injuries are to the lower back, elbows, shoulders, hands and wrists. Most of the injuries are overuse injuries, prompted by improper golf technique, poor flexibility, or lack of conditioning. ``Most people are pretty sedentary during the work week and then go out and play 18 or 27 holes on the weekend and they are not conditioned for it so they can develop an overuse injury,'' Doyle said, adding that the golfer who walks an 18-hole course is generally walking between three and five miles.
Using simple equipment at home, like small weights, elastic cords, and even a golf club, golfers can follow a conditioning program that, combined with an aerobic exercise like cycling, will condition the body generally as well as strengthen vulnerable areas like the lower back, hands, forearms and wrists.
Doyle also had several warnings about golf cart injuries, mishaps where golfers have been jostled around or thrown from carts that took a turn too sharply, flipped over on too steep a grade, or hit a bump too quickly because the driver was somewhat inebriated.
Lambert emphasized the importance of good golf mechanics, especially a proper grip, and the right golf equipment. While standard length clubs are suitable for most golfers, Lambert highly recommended that women play with clubs designated for them with thinner and more flexible shafts. He also recommended clubs with graphite shafts as being more shock absorbing than steel, reducing the impact on the golfer's body.
Bob Oliver, a retiree from Smithfield, has been playing golf for 50 years and still found the clinic valuable. ``This sounded like something I needed,'' he said. ``I have some back problems, and my golf game is not very good.''
Oliver, who only recently has started to play with any frequency, can remember a time when his score was in the 80s. ``Now I am lucky to break 100,'' he confided with a laugh.
Among the tips offered to the clinic guests were:
Follow a generalized conditioning program on and off season to increase strength, stamina and flexibility.
Learn and use proper golf techniques.
Warm up before you hit the first golf ball.
Use a squat, not a bend, to pick up a ball or retrieve a tee.
Don't smoke. Smoking increases the risk of herniated discs. by CNB