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Golf and Your Feet
Golf Orthotics – click here for information
Leading the Way
First, your weight is placed lightly on the balls of your feet, balanced
between your front and rear foot. Then there is a slight shift to the
back foot, then another shift back to the front. Sound like dance steps?
These intricate movements actually describe what goes on below the knees
during an ordinary golf swing.
Good foot action is the mark of an accomplished golfer. "All timing,
distance, and direction comes out of the lower body with the feet
leading the way," golf legend Jack Nicklaus has said. Nicklaus or any
professional will tell you that problems with the feet, even a painful
corn or callus, can impede timing and balance to the point where it's
reflected on the scorecard at the end of the day.
Close to 45 million Americans enjoy golf on an amateur level. Many of
our patients regularly play at golf courses in Seattle and other Puget
Sound communities. Above and beyond the satisfaction of competition, a
full round of golf affords the opportunity for a 4-5 mile workout that
can reduce stress and improve cardiovascular health.
Golf Shoes
Wearing proper golf shoes is critical. Once, driven by fashion, golf
shoes were wing-tip oxfords with spikes. Today, shoes are constructed
using basic principles of athletic footwear and the specific
biomechanical principles of golf 1. Some even incorporate advanced
technological innovations such as graphite shank reinforcements, which
keep them light and add strength.
Don't wear anything on your feet that wouldn't be comfortable if you
were taking a good long walk. Make sure shoes fit well in the store
before purchasing them. It's best to shop for them in the afternoon when
the feet are slightly swollen. Try on shoes with the same socks you'll
wear on the course. Tie both left and right shoes tightly and walk
around your store or pro shop a few minutes before deciding on a make
and model.
If you make an appointment to see us in
our Seattle office, be sure to bring your golf shoes with you.
The Ideal Swing
Biomechanics, the application of mechanical laws to living structures
such as the feet, play a crucial part in developing the ideal golf
swing. The lateral motion and the pivoting intrinsic to the golf swing
can be functionally impeded by certain biomechanical conditions. Faulty
biomechanics can inhibit proper foot function, and your game will
suffer.
The anatomy of a biomechanically sound swing goes like this: During
set-up, your weight should be evenly distributed on both feet with
slightly more weight on the forefoot as you lean over, and slightly more
weight on the insides of both feet.
Maintenance of proper foot alignment on the backswing is critical for
control of the downswing and contact position. During the backswing,
weight should be shifted to the back foot. It should be evenly
distributed on the back foot or maintained slightly on the inside.
Shifting weight to the outside leaves you susceptible to the dreaded
"sway," a common error in swing. Without an exact reversal of the sway
in the downswing, swaying will result in improper contact with the ball.
As the back foot remains in a solid position on the back swing without
any rolling to the outside, the front foot is in turn rolling to the
inside. The front heel occasionally comes off the ground to promote a
full shoulder turn. Completion of the backswing places the weight on the
back foot, evenly distributed between forefoot and rearfoot, with the
weight left on the front foot rolling to the inside.
The downswing involves a rapid shift of weight from back to front foot;
momentum brings the heel of the front foot down, and follow-though
naturally causes a rolling of the back foot to the inside and the front
foot to the outside. Golf should always be played from the insides of
the feet.
Like the great Nicklaus said, "lively feet" are critical to a successful
golf game. Having healthy, biomechancially stable feet is the first
prerequisite for achieving that goal.
Foot Orthotics for Golf: Preventing Pain,
Improving Game
For the foot that is not able to function normally due to biomechanical
conditions such as excessive pronation (rolling in) or supination
(rolling out), a state of optimal biomechanics can be achieved through
the use of custom orthoses, custom shoe inserts that can be prescribed
by a podiatrist. Orthoses not only allow the feet to function as they
ought to but can alleviate the predisposition to injury brought on by
biomechanical imbalances.
If you already wear orthoses in your street shoes, by all means transfer
them to your golf shoes. If you play golf on a regular basis, you may
want to invest in a pair of golf orthotics – orthotics prescribed
specifically for the biomechanics of golf. For optimum control, the
unusual function of the feet in golf shoes calls for different orthotic
function then might be seen for walking or running.
Research on Orthotics for Golfers
Several studies have demonstrated the benefits of foot orthotics for
golfers. A 2001 study stated that “use of these custom orthoses reduced
the effects of fatigue associated with playing 9 holes of golf; they
could thus improve the likelihood of more consistent performance.” 2
A 2000 study found that “the use of the custom-fit, flexible orthotics
in this study had a positive influence on CHV in experienced golfers.” 3
Other studies have demonstrated that orthotics can have positive impact
on shot accuracy, golf swing and balance. 4-6
You can learn more about orthotics in the orthotics section of this website or by
reading our Orthotics White Paper. We are experienced in producing golf orthotics for all
levels of golfers. To find out if you are a candidate for orthotic
devices, contact us to make an
appointment for an evaluation.
If a round of golf is painful on the feet, first assess the quality of
your shoes. Any time pain is not adequately resolved with good, stable
golf shoes and is present for more than two or three consecutive rounds,
contact us to make an appointment in our
Seattle office. We can diagnose and treat any problems and help
make your feet an asset, not a liability, to your golf game.
Other Injuries and Treatment
The torque of a golf swing can strain muscles in the legs, abdomen, and
back. The fact that the game is usually played on hilly terrain
increases these forces, which in turn predispose to injury. Proper
warm-up and stretching exercises specific to golf can help in injury
prevention. A sports podiatrist can recommend a suitable warm-up
regimen.
If biomechanical imbalances are present, these existing stresses will
overload certain structures, and predispose the golfer to overuse of
muscles and strain on ligaments and tendons. Orthoses will equalize the
weight load on the lower extremity and in essence rest the overused
muscle.
Other problems, such as tendinitis, capsulitis, and ligament sprains and
pulls, can also keep a golf enthusiast back at the clubhouse. Improper
shoes can bring on blisters, neuromas (inflamed nerve endings), and
other pains in the feet. Podiatrists see these problems daily and can
treat them conservatively to allow for a quick return to the sport.
When injured, participation is no substitute for rehabilitation. Injured
body parts must be thoroughly treated and rehabilitated to meet the full
demands of golf or any other sport. If you are injured, your return
should be gradual. As much as you may want to get back to your game,
take it slowly. A healthy body makes for a more enjoyable game and
possibly a better scorecard at the end of the day.
Tips
• Start easy and build up your playing time carefullyy
• Don't forget to stretch regularly
• Fit your shoes with the socks that you
plan to wear.
• Contact us for an appointment if you experience any foot pain or wish
to have a biomechanical evaluation.
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This article reprinted with permission of the American Podiatric
Medical Association
(1) Williams KR, Cavanagh PR. The mechanics of foot action during the
golf swing and implications for shoe design. Med Sci Sports Exerc.
1983;15(3):247-55
(2) Stude DE, Gullickson J. The effects of orthotic intervention and
9 holes of simulated golf on gait in experienced golfers. J
Manipulative Physiol Ther. 2001 May;24(4):279-87.
(3) Hume PA, Keogh J, Reid D. The role of biomechanics in maximizing
distance and accuracy of golf shots. Sports Med. 2005;35(5):429-49.
(4) Pietrocarlo TA. Foot and ankle considerations in golf. Clin
Sports Med. 1996 Jan;15(1):129-46.
(5) Stude DE, Gullickson J. Effects of orthotic intervention and nine
holes of simulated golf on club-head velocity in experienced golfers.
J Manipulative Physiol Ther. 2000 Mar-Apr;23(3):168-74.
(6) Stude DE, Gullickson J. Effects of nine holes of simulated golf
and orthotic intervention on balance and proprioception in experienced
golfers. J Manipulative Physiol Ther. 1997 Nov-Dec;20(9):590-601.
All pages on this website © 2005-2010
Douglas Hale, DPM & Lawrence Huppin, DPM
Foot and Ankle Center of Washington, Seattle
The material provided on this web site is for informative purposes only.
If you need specific medical advice, please contact the office for an appointment.
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