#golf

Our Favourite Summer Activities

Here at Ladner Village Physiotherapy, we like to stay active. Let’s introduce you to our therapist’s favourite summer activities and why you might want to give them a try!

Devon (Physiotherapist/ clinic owner):

Favourite activity: Ultimate frisbee

Why you may want to try it: Ultimate frisbee is one of few sports where players often don’t begin to play until they are adults. This is great as it means everyone starts on an even playing field. The ultimate frisbee community is welcoming and encouraging. According to Devon, ultimate frisbee might be the activity for you to try if you enjoy hard work, games of strategy, sprinting, sarcastic banter and a few cold drinks after the game!

Where to try it: the Vancouver Ultimate League plays on fields all over Vancouver and they also have a Surrey league.

Nicole (Physiotherapist/ clinic owner):

Favourite activity: Horseback riding

Why you may want to try it: Horseback riding is an activity perfect for animal lovers. Nicole loves horseback riding because she loves spending time around horses, being outside, and working on her core strength and balance. Horseback riding might be the right activity for you if you are looking for a new and challenging activity to try which is fairly low impact and a lot of fun!

Where to try it: Delta has so many barns and stables for horseback riding, from beginner to advanced level! Crescent Stables offers lessons to all ability levels as does Five Star Farms and Top Form Equestrian.

Sofy (Physiotherapist):

Favourite activity: Running

Why you may want to try it: Running is one of the most accessible activities around! All you need is a pair of runners and you’re good to go. Sofy enjoys running as it is a great way to enjoy the outdoors, explore the city, and there are always new ways to challenge yourself. She recently completed her first marathon!

Where to try it: Out your front door! If you’re looking for a clinic or a group to run with, the Run Inn out of Tsawwassen is a great group to join (they can also get your feet set up for success with the right shoes for your body).

Stephanie (Physiotherapist):

Favourite activity: Climbing

Why you may want to try it: Climbing is a fantastic way to challenge yourself and try something you may not have tried before. Outdoor climbing is an amazing way to explore our beautiful backyard and (literally) bring your exploring game to new heights! Stephanie loves climbing as it is a social activity where you can enjoy time with her friends, and you are able to challenge yourself by setting goals (or projects as they are called in the climbing world) to complete.

Where to try it: The Hive is a great place to try bouldering, a type of climbing with shorter walls, no ropes and thick crash pads. If you’d prefer to be roped in, try Coastal Climbing in Surrey.

Trevor (Physiotherapist):

Favourite activity: Golf

Why you may want to try it: Golf is the perfect mix between a challenging competitive sport and a great relaxing activity. Whether you hit up the driving range, play 18 holes, or even just go to a pitch and putt, golf is a fun social activity that can be accomidated to your skill level. Trevor enjoys golf as he likes spending time with friends, a good competition, and taking a break from the craziness of life for a few hours.

Where to try it: Try one of South Delta’s fabulous golf courses! We have The Links at Hampton Cove, Kings Links by the Sea, Tsawwassen Springs & Beach Grove Golf Club.

Anh (Physiotherapist):

Favourite activity: Tennis

Why you may want to try it: Tennis is a perfect summer sport! It’s very accessible, affordable, and a lot of fun! Anh enjoys playing tennis as it’s a great way to work on her hand eye coordination (which we hear could use some work!). One reason we love tennis is that it’s an easy to learn sport for people of all ages! You can easily bring your kids out to play (or run around and chase balls for you, either way, we don’t judge)!

Where to try it: South Delta has tennis facilities at several major parks in Ladner and Tsawwassen. We also have two tennis clubs, the Ladner Tennis Club and Tsawwassen Tennis Club, both offering tennis lessons, lit courts at night and tournaments.

Gabrielle (Register Massage Therapist):

Favourite activity: Swimming

Why you may want to try it: Swimming is a fantastic low-impact activity. Since you can float in the water, swimming takes pressure off your joints and allows you to move them into different ranges of motion than you may be able to out of the water. Swimming not only helps stretch muscles by allowing them to move more freely, but it’s also a full body strengthening workout! Gabrielle loves swimming because you can stay cool, hang out with your family, and it’s great for stiff joints!

Where to try it: If lap swimming is your thing, your best local options this summer are Winskill Aquatic and Fitness Centre and the Ladner Outdoor Pool (the Ladner Leisure Centre will be closing at some point for several months, but we don’t know when that will happen as of yet). I’d also encourage you to get into nature and try swimming at Centennial Beach (warm and shallow for daaaaays).

Kheya (Registered Kinesiologist):

Favourite activity: Volleyball

Why you may want to try it: Volleyball is a fun, challenging, and quick moving team sport. Volleyball is a blast because you can play it indoors, outdoors, or even on the beach! Kheya loves volleyball as she loves the amount of teamwork involved, being outside, and the rush you get after getting a great hit or block in. Volleyball is great a great way to meet new people and be involved in the community as everyone all supportive, friendly, and welcoming.  

Where to try it: Volleyball BC offers several leagues for various ability levels all over Metro Vancouver. Urban Rec offers a beach volleyball league in Ladner.

We hope you enjoyed learning a little bit about our practitioner’s favourite summer activities and may even feel inspired to try a few of them for yourself!

If you have any aches or limitations preventing you from trying these activities, come visit one of our therapists to get the help you need to get back to it!

To book an appointment, call (778) 630-8800, email us or book online.

Improving Your Golf Game

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Trevor Reid, one of our physiotherapists at Ladner Village Physiotherapy, is a former athletic therapist with some of Fraser Valley University’s varsity teams. An avid golfer, Trevor has given his tips on how to improve your golf game.

Want to know more about Trevor? Read all about him here!

Golf is a fun sport played by many in our community. We are lucky to have an abundance of courses including Beach Grove, Tsawwassen Springs, The Links at Hampton Cove, Kings Links and Delta Golf Course. I’m still working my way through all of them!

The Golf Swing

As you could imagine there are many different forces and mechanical components involved in a golf swing. As complex as a golf swing may be, Newton’s Third Law of Physics still applies:

When two objects interact, they apply forces to each other of equal magnitude and opposite direction.

In other words, when a club hits the golf ball it causes the ball to go flying in the opposite direction. We can use this simple concept to our advantage in two main ways: generating more force and moving through a bigger range of motion:

  1. Producing more force - Any exercise that strengthens an individual’s muscles involved with a golf swing will allow them to produce more force which can then be applied to the golf ball.

  2. Increasing available range of motion - Any mobility exercise that can gain range of motion related to a golf swing can allow for force to be generated over a longer period of time.

When performing a specific strength and mobility regime you will be able to hit the ball further and improve your game!

A good golf swing involves your entire body. Your feet need to be planted and well engaged. The power behind your swing is driven from your legs and core and transferred to your arms in one seamless motion. Making the most of your swing requires strong muscles and mobile joints from head to toe.

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The Exercises

Looking for some starters? Here are some of my favourite golf strengthening and mobility exercises you can do at home 2-3 times per week. The first four exercises can be performed for 10 repetitions (both sides) for 2-3 sets, then finish off with the stretch at the end.

1. Dead bug: A good exercise to strengthen the core muscles.

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Lay flat on the ground, raise your arms and legs in the air and keep the knees bent at 90 degrees. You will then straighten/lower one arm and the opposite leg at a time while the opposite limbs stay in the starting position. You will then return to the starting position and repeat the same movement on the opposite side. Be mindful to keep your core engaged - no back arching!

 

2. Resistance band trunk rotation: Helpful on strengthening the rotational muscles.

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Tie a band around a stationary structure (like a door knob) then stand 3 to 4 feet away from the band. Straighten both arms fully and hold the band between your interlocked hands. From this position, you will rotate away from the band and then return to the starting position, perform this movement on both sides.

 

3. Knee swings: Effective at keeping the hip muscles and lumbar spine mobile.

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Lay on your back, bend both knees and then swing them side-to-side.

4. Seated thoracic spine rotation: Good for improving the mobility of your thoracic spine.

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Sit in a normal chair, cross your arms across your chest and then slowly rotate left and then the right.

 

5. Quadratus lumborum stretch: A muscle commonly tight in golfers.

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Start on your hands and knees and place your hands slightly off to the side. Lean back while keeping your hands in the same place, go until you feel a stretch on the opposite side of your lower back. Hold for 30 seconds on both sides.

 

Does your golf swing need a bit more oompf? Book with us online, by email or phoning (778) 630-8800. Until then, see you on the course!