August 2019 August 2019 | Page 32

Not Just For Golf.... use your golf cart to stretch golf car twists hamstring stretch loosen your lower back Stretch, don’t strain. A few minutes spent warming up and stretch- ing your body means you won’t have to spend precious weeks recovering when you could be playing. There are golfers who claim to play their best golf when they are carrying an injury sim- ply because they are not focusing as much on their game as protecting them- selves from further injury, so they concentrate and play bet- ter. You don’t have to be injured to concentrate! An injury will not help T targets one of your key muscle groups go he fitter you are the better you will cope with the rig- ors of a full round on that new monster 7,000 yard plus course you just heard about. Your best fitness re- gime will promote flexibility and suppleness. It doesn’t matter how old or unfit you are, you can easily improve your ease of movement with just a few simple exercis- es. 32 WWW.GOLFCAROPTIONS.COM your game in the long run, particu- larly if it is a recurring problem. It will end up with you having to give up the game we all love so much. What should you do to reduce the chance of golfing injuries that might stop you playing the game? First of all you should try to keep your level of general fit- ness up over any layoff period. Regular walks and stretching exercises will do that without too much effort or disruption to your lifestyle. I t is a wise golfer who warms up and gently stretches his or her muscles before starting a round, and it is equally important to cool down properly after your game. Just a few stretches after a round of golf can help in pre- venting any injuries, particularly to the back and ham- strings. Walking can tighten your hamstrings and that makes them more susceptible to tearing and injury.