Pilates im golf

Golf is booming in Switzerland. The number of licensed players of the ASG (Association Suisse de Golf) has increased by over 50,000 to 90,725 between 2000 and 2016(1). According to Gossheger et.al.(2), 40% of amateur golfers are injured during a 2-year period. The proportion of overuse in golf is over 80%, which illustrates the potential of preventive and secondary preventive measures.

Golfers who hit more than 200 training balls per week or play more than 4 rounds per week seem to have a significantly increased risk of injury. Further risk factors are: The development of the modern golf swing with its progressive hip-guided "down swing" and the "reverse C-position" increases the demands on mobility and torso strength (3).

According to the motto "distribution of movement = distribution of forces", Pilates training focuses not only on stability, but also on a harmonious distribution of movement over an entire kinetic chain. With regard to the golf swing, this concerns the alignment and axial extension of the movement segments of the spinal column, the improved extension of the AMS, an improved congruence of the joint partners of the shoulder joint as well as an improvement in the rotation ability in the hip joint.

Michael Brunner, Owner Spirit Studio, educator Polestar Pilates

1. https://www.golfsuisse.ch/asg/binarydata/statistique_developpement_golf.pdf

2. Gosheger G, Liem D, Ludwig K, Greshake O, Winkelmann W. Injuries and overuse syndromes in golf. Am J Sports Med. 2003.31:438-43.)

3. Finn C. Rehabilitation of low back pain in golfers: from diagnosis to return to sport. Sports Health. 2013.5:313-9.