Does Golf’s ‘X-factor’ Swing cause Back Injuries?
Golf chiropractor Shane Lawlor discusses the ‘X-factor’ swing, favoured by players like Rory McIlroy, and the importance of strength and conditioning. Harder, better, faster, stronger. Professional golfers are hitting the ball further and swinging the club with more force than ever before. Advancements in club and ball technology, along with improved strength and conditioning training, have helped players smash driving distance records, forcing designers, particularly in the United States, to lengthen their courses. Whether the arms race is good for the sport is up for debate. Another important discussion, however, is whether it’s good for the players. A study published in the Journal of Neurosurgery: Spine in February 2019 claimed the modern ‘X-factor’ swing – designed to increase distance – can cause back injuries. Read Full Article
Shane on XIX Golf Podcast
Check out Shane’s XIX Podcast Interview discussing all things Golf Injuries, Rehab & Performance ▫️How he got to work on the PGA & European Tour ▫️Whats it like working with tour pros?▫️The changes he’s seen in the past 10 years ▫️What it takes to be a tour pro? ▫️What amateurs can do to improve their game? Soundcloud https://soundcloud.com/xixholepodcast/shane-lawlor-ep22 ITunes https://itunes.apple.com/ie/podcast/shane-lawlor-ep-22/id1447577461?i=1000431070179&mt=2
Thoracic Mobility & Golf
Thoracic (Mid Back) Mobility is key for the golf swing. If you are a golfer and want to improve your thoracic mobility . Try these three exercises daily and include them in your warm up. ▪️ Functional Range Conditioning (FRC) Thoracic CARs 1 x 10 (Clockwise & Counterclockwise) . ▪️ Titleist Performance Institute Reachbacks 1 x 10 . ▪️ Dynamic Neuromuscular Stabilization 4.5 Month Rotations 1 x 10 both sides Belly Breathing with Intra Abdominal Pressure (IAP) .
Building Better Senior Golfers
Shane’s talk from the Irish Strength Institute 2018 Symposium “Building Better Senior Golfers” Discussing a number of aspects including ▪️ Common Injuries seen in Senior Golfers ▪️ Assessing & Treating the Senior Golfer ▪️ Rehab Applications including Dynamic Neuromuscular Stabilization, McGill Method and Functional Range Conditioning ▪️ The Importance of a Warm Up .
Is Your Body Birth Ready?
Being birth ready.. Pregnancy can be a daunting time for any woman with each pregnancy being different and new hurdles may crop up throughout. So it’s important to be as prepared as you can be both physically, emotionally and mentally, in order to deal with everything that may come as best you can. Here are a few things that I commonly tell my mums when it comes to physical well being. Physical health I can’t stress enough how beneficial it is for mum to stay active during pregnancy as it helps to prepare for the demands of carrying a child and for labour. A woman’s body goes through so many changes it’s good to be ready for these challenges. Exercise can help women through pregnancy not just physically but emotionally too, which must not be taken lightly. So if you’re active, fantastic stay that way. There may be days when you don’t feel up to doing much other than eat or sleep, please listen to what your body is telling you. It’s telling you for a reason. The key is to always listen to your body and adapt workouts to suit. However, do not start something new if your body […]
GDPR & Your Privacy
Clinic Patient Privacy Statement Lawlor Clinic as a data controller is aware of its obligations under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). The Clinic is committed to protecting the privacy and security of your personal information. We want you to be absolutely confident that we are treating your personal data responsibly, and that we are doing everything we can to make sure that the only people who can access that data have a genuine need to do so. This privacy notice summarises, in line with GDPR, how we collect and use personal data about you during and after your time as a patient of this clinic. It also sets out how long we keep it for and other relevant information about your data. It applies to current and former patients. Please contact the Clinic on info@lawlorclinic.ie for full privacy terms and conditions or request a copy at reception. We need to collect personal information about you and your health, in order to provide you with the best possible treatment. Your requesting treatment and our agreement to provide that care constitutes a contract. You can, of course, refuse to provide the information, but if you were to do that we would […]
The Big Toe & Golf
The foot and ankle are often overlooked in golf when you consider the average round of golf will equate to about 10km of walking depending on how wayward your shots are. One of the most important components of the foot is the big toe because of the impact it can have on your swing and walking during your round. The right big toe is needed to load the right knee, quadriceps, and hip during the back swing and is also essential at impact through to follow through. Signs of Big Toe Dysfunction: Loss of Posture Sway in golf swing Limited follow through Pain on walking Hallux Rigidus: One of the most common conditions we see in the clinic is hallux rigidus, where there is moderate to severe stiffness of the big toe. We use joint mobilisation, active release techniques (ART®) and functional integrated dry needling to improve the mobility of the joint. To help increase the joint range of motion and bring longer term results we give patients exercises based on functional range conditioning (FRC®) If you would like to book in for a Titleist Performance Institute Golf Specific assessment then contact the clinic today on […]
European Golf & Fitness Symposium 2018
Shane has been selected to speak at the inaugural European Golf & Fitness Symposium which will be held in Lisbon. Portugal this coming April 12th & 13th This symposium will bring together international experts in the areas golf coaching, biomechanics, physical preparation, injury prevention, treatment and fitness. Shane is one of Europe’s leading Sports Chiropractors and is an expert in the treatment, screening and rehabilitation of golf injuries. He has travelled extensively with professional golfers on both the European & PGA Tours since 2009 and worked with over 45 different tour pros. For more information on the European Golf & Fitness Symposium visit the website Yours in Health Lawlor Clinic: Spine & Sport, Portlaoise, Laois Experts in the Assessment, Treatment & Rehab of Golf Injuries
Top Tips For Sciatica Relief
It has been shown that 80% of the population will suffer from an episode of back pain during their lifetime. A smaller number will also suffer Sciatica, a referral into the leg which can be caused by a disc bulge, bony narrowing of the exit canal or entrapment of the nerve along its path down the leg, for example at the piriformis muscle. Walking: It is important that you keep as active as possible, so we recommend short frequent walks for our patients who suffer from back pain or sciatica. Depending on the severity of the leg symptoms we also ask the patient to shorten their stride so this will put less pressure on the sciatic nerve particularly during the swinging of the leg forward. McKenzie Extension: This is one of the few positions that patients or athletes will feel any relief from their leg pain, The extension exercise has been shown to centralise the disc material taking pressure off the nerve. You should feel the leg pain reduce during the hold, the pain may also localise to the low back or buttock area. Cat & Camel: Spinal flexibility and control is important for the lumbar spine. The Cat […]
Plantar Fasciitis
Plantar fasciitis is one of those phrases that gets thrown around a lot in conversations. But do you know what it actually means? What is the plantar fascia, what causes irritation to it, and how can you prevent and treat the cause of the problem using Active Release Techniques? What is the Plantar Fascia? The plantar fascia is not a muscle or tendon, it is actually a connective tissue structure that supports the bottom of the foot. It runs from the heel bone to the toes and lies on top of the deeper muscles of the foot. But it is not the plantar fascia on its own that causes the problem. The fascia works in conjunction with the flexor digitorum brevis and quadratus plantae muscles, both are flexors of the toes. What causes Plantar Fasciitis? An irritation and inflammation to the previously mentioned tissues and muscles, to state it very basically! But what causes the irritation? Biomechanical issues in the foot and ankle, tightness or damage in muscles of the feet or calf, sudden increase in activity that is too much too soon, some even say too much sitting around (underactivity) can cause the problem. But when you do get […]
