Testing for Physical Limitations: Reverse Spine Angle
Dave Phillips and Dr. Greg Rose review another common swing fault, the Reverse Spine Angle, in this episode of Golf Fitness Academy. Reverse spine angle is the result of the upper body tilting back or leaning towards the target at the top of the swing and contracting the muscles in the lower back. Players who have difficulty separating their upper body from their lower body during the backswing and/or who have weak abdominal muscles may have this swing fault. This fault often leads to back pain and injury. Dave and Greg show how to test for any physical limitations of separating upper and lower body and core abdominal strength. They'll also teach golfers with these restrictions several strength and flexibility exercises which will help minimize this swing fault and alleviate stress on the back.
Episode Details
Many golfers suffer from back pain. Often this is caused by a common swing fault, the Reverse Spine Angle.
A reverse spine angle is the result of the upper body tilting back towards the target and causing contraction of the muscles in the lower back. This can trigger pain in the lower back when firing at the ball and result in injury.
Two contributing physical factors to Reverse Spine angle are:
difficulty in separating the upper body from lower body during backswing and a tendency to lift to get into position at the top of the swing
inability to maintain contraction in your abdominals
A blood pressure cuff, available at any pharmacy and some supermarkets, can be used to measure your abdominal strength
If you have one or both of these physical limitations, make flexibility and abdominal strength exercises part of your fitness routine. Both upper body/lower body flexibility and abdominals can be trained every day.
Never continue any of these exercise if you experience significant back pain. See your doctor or health care practioner.
