Don’t Overlook the Neck for the Rotational Athlete
In physics there is a law of the conservation of energy, which states that energy is neither created nor destroyed but rather transforms from one form to another. This is relevant when it comes to athletics; we take a stationary person or object and need to impart movement upon that activity. Nowhere is this truer than with the rotational athlete who is required to transmit force in all three planes of motion. He or she needs to be able to properly move, while being stable, to perform an athletic movement properly and pain-free. Everything begins with the spine, where mobility increases as we move toward the head.
Though most people consider cervical movement as the head moving atop the body, but many fail to consider the implications of the body moving beneath a fixed head, as in the case of a golfer or baseball player who is required to keep his, or her, eye on the ball while performing a violent rotational swing. If there are any weaknesses along the chain then all aspects of the chain, and surrounding soft tissue, are impacted and can cause injuries to the athlete. Normal ranges of motion are 45° for bother Cervical Flexion and Extension as well as (B) Lateral Flexion. Cervical rotation values are considered normal if the individual possesses 80° bilaterally.
If there are hindrances in any of those movements (actively or passively) then the athlete will be unable to properly execute the activity and place themselves at increased risk for injury in their spine (most likely a herniated disc). Golfers require adequate cervical movement patterns to properly rotate their Thoracic spine beneath their cervical spine; this mobility and stability will allow for the golfer to maximize their power output by transferring force from maximum potential energy at the top of their completed backswing to greatest kinetic energy at the moment of impact. A thorough SFMA evaluation to assess movement of the athlete should be performed prior to beginning a training routine toward athletic goals to ensure optimum performance while minimizing risk for injury.
If you have any further questions about the rotational athlete or the c-spine, please contact me at Jason@Rule76Performance.com.