It has been said that a
good golf swing starts from the ground up, but that could be bad news if
you regularly wear dress shoes or sit for most of the day. A common
issue that can develop is poor ankle dorsiflexion (aka "lazy ankle"). If
the ability to hinge the joint so your toes point upward is restricted,
it can cause problems in your swing, says Golf Digest fitness advisor
Ben Shear .
From
a power perspective, the ability to squat at the start of the downswing
and leverage the ground to create more force and clubhead speed will be
impeded without good ankle dorsiflexion. It more commonly leads to
off-center hits, because poor ankle mobility makes it tougher to stay in
a steady posture during the swing and get the club to consistently
bottom out in the right place.
Dress
shoes typically elevate the heel of the foot, so the angle between the
foot and leg is increased (plantar flexion). Sitting with a hunched
posture also reduces the need for dorsiflexion, which is why desk jobs
can lead to off-center strikes.
"What
makes matters worse is that a lot of people wear uncomfortable dress
shoes all week, so they wear the sneaker-style golf shoes when they play
because they feel so good," Shear says. "But those shoes typically lack
heel support, so the need for good dorsiflexion is magnified. It makes
it harder to make a good swing."
Even
elite athletes can have dorsiflexion issues as a result of injuries and
the scar tissue that develops on top of the joint where the tibia
(shin) bone meets the talus (ankle) bone. For them, a painful pinching
sensation is felt as they flex the foot upward.
For
most of us, however, calf tightness is a clear warning sign of
restricted ankle mobility: particularly when your knee juts out over
your foot or when you raise your toes while keeping your heels on the
ground.
To correct the problem, first take Shear's dorsiflexion test (below).
If you feel a pinching sensation or pain on the top of the joint, or if
there is tightness in the calf of that leg, follow one of the two
exercise prescriptions he gives to improve your range of motion.
And as a bonus, click on the video below to watch Shear give you a little help before your next round of golf.
Rushing
here, rushing there! Late for this appointment, need to return that
phone call! Everyone is busy, busy all the time! Rest assured, eating
healthy on-the-go IS possible. All it takes is a little planning ahead.
Having healthy food convenient is key. Join #HealthyWayMag Fitness Chat this Monday
5pm(Pacific)/8pm(Eastern) on Twitter and pick up healthy eating tips,
nutritious snacking ideas and on-the-go best food choices!
Here’s how to join:
Log onto your Twitter account and follow @HealthyWayMag
to see the chat questions. Questions for discussion will be posted as
Question 1, “Q1″, Question 2, “Q2″ and so on. Contribute your answer and
experience via answers to Question 1 noted as “A1″, designating your
answer to Question 2 as “A2″ and so on. Interact with others, chat,
exchange ideas, training tips and have fun!
Monday September 28, 2015 #HealthyWayMag Fitness Chat welcomes Co-Host Helen Agresti, R.D:
Helen is the founder of Professional Nutrition Consulting and The
24_7 Dietitian app. She’s a mom of 5, contributor for the Huffington
Post, triathlete, and chocolate lover. Helen is passionate about
educating families on how to cook healthy meals and snacks at home. You
can now receive Helen’s Personal Nutrition Coaching thru her 24_7 dietitian app-available on iOS and android. Go to www.pronutritionconsulting.com for more info.
- See more at: http://www.healthyourwayonline.com/eat-on-the-go-healthy/#sthash.QCFw58Ad.dpuf
Rushing
here, rushing there! Late for this appointment, need to return that
phone call! Everyone is busy, busy all the time! Rest assured, eating
healthy on-the-go IS possible. All it takes is a little planning ahead.
Having healthy food convenient is key. Join #HealthyWayMag Fitness Chat this Monday
5pm(Pacific)/8pm(Eastern) on Twitter and pick up healthy eating tips,
nutritious snacking ideas and on-the-go best food choices!
Here’s how to join:
Log onto your Twitter account and follow @HealthyWayMag
to see the chat questions. Questions for discussion will be posted as
Question 1, “Q1″, Question 2, “Q2″ and so on. Contribute your answer and
experience via answers to Question 1 noted as “A1″, designating your
answer to Question 2 as “A2″ and so on. Interact with others, chat,
exchange ideas, training tips and have fun!
Monday September 28, 2015 #HealthyWayMag Fitness Chat welcomes Co-Host Helen Agresti, R.D:
Helen is the founder of Professional Nutrition Consulting and The
24_7 Dietitian app. She’s a mom of 5, contributor for the Huffington
Post, triathlete, and chocolate lover. Helen is passionate about
educating families on how to cook healthy meals and snacks at home. You
can now receive Helen’s Personal Nutrition Coaching thru her 24_7 dietitian app-available on iOS and android. Go to www.pronutritionconsulting.com for more info.
- See more at: http://www.healthyourwayonline.com/eat-on-the-go-healthy/#sthash.QCFw58Ad.dpuf
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