Sunday, September 12, 2004

[secret korean hide out] thanks to terry, b and i now frequent this korean market on junipero serra on our own. to me, it's a little hide out - it's right off the freeway, behind this fence of bushes, and it's standing there alone amongst the mcd's, denny's, and krispy kremes of the united states! the sign actually says "ASIAN FOOD" - do i sense some korean pride? in any case, they have a morning glory store!! yay to the days when cc and i used to rampage one of these and emerge victorious with multiple pencils and colored pens! haha :)

are you guys ready for it?
- today's new light bulb -
(for the love of golf - how to prevent injuries)

1. Take it easy

Most golfing injuries result from overuse. You might practice your swing for hours, with the hope that it'll help your game. However, if your musculoskeletal system isn't conditioned for the extra strain, over-practicing a swing will do more harm than good. As with all sports and exercise programs, start out slowly and work up to your desired level of activity. "Get in shape to play your sport. Don't play your sport to get in shape," Dr. Laskowski says.

2. Warm up

Several practice swings are definitely beneficial, especially if you go through the motion slowly before taking full swings. But before grabbing your clubs, walk — or jog — a few minutes and be sure to go through your stretching program. Golfers who rush from the parking lot to the first tee often report that they don't really get into the groove until the fourth hole or so. Avoid this by giving yourself plenty of time to check in and get warmed up. Who knows? You might just shave a few strokes off your score.

3. Be flexibile

A daily stretching routine is recommended regardless of your athletic pursuits. Improving your flexibility helps your muscles accommodate all sorts of demands. In golf, stretching is important to make sure that your body can move through the range of motion required in the golf swing without causing excessive stress on the muscles or joints.

4. Strengthen your muscles

You don't need bulging muscles to hit a long drive, but strength training is important for overall fitness and avoiding injuries. For golfers, Dr. Laskowski emphasizes strength training and flexibility in the lower back, abdomen and hip areas, as well as your shoulders. Aim for balanced strength. Work the front and back of your shoulders equally, as well as the muscles around the shoulder blade and the front, middle and especially back deltoid muscles —the top muscles of your upper arm. Balanced strength in the front and back shoulder muscles provides protective stability to the rotator cuff, which is prone to golfing injuries — especially as you age. Similarly, strive for a good balance of strength in your lower back muscles and abdominal muscles. It's beneficial for golfers to improve the strength of their forearm muscles, as well.

If any of this gets to be an utter bore, please provide feedback :)

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