BOOK CONTENTS - 208 PAGES - OVER 120 PHOTOS

Play Golf Forever: Treating Low Back Pain and Improving Your Golf Swing Through Fitness

INTRODUCTION: GOLFING FOREVER WITH FUNCTIONAL TRAINING

The Conundrum – Oh My Aching Back
Some Numbers
Introducing Functional Training
Par For the Course – A Summary

PART ONE: THE BACK

1) UNDERSTANDING LOWER BACK PAIN

Seeing Health
The Neuromuscular System
The Big Picture is Intricate
“Lumbar” and Other Definitions
What You Can’t Control
What You Can Control
Defining Pain
The Vague Term “Sciatica”
The Misnomer “Slipped Disc”
Common Causes of Lower Back Pain
Muscular Dysfunction Pain
Osteoarthritis
Lumbar Disc Pain
Lumbar Nerve Root (Radicular) Pain
The Natural Wear of Repetitive Motion
Par For the Course – A Summary

2) DECIDING TO SEE A DOCTOR

The Mind/Body Connection
Fear of the Unknown (less than 1 percent)
Red Flag List
Rare But Dangerous Reasons for LBP
Pain Without Red Flags
Imaging Studies – “Doc, I want an MRI”
Par For the Course – A Summary

3) FINDING THE RIGHT TREATMENT

The Cornerstone: Exercise
Physical Therapy
Medications
NSAIDs
Muscle Relaxants
Oral Steroids
Narcotics
Anti-Depressants and Anti-Seizure Drugs
Injection Therapy
IDET & Nucleoplasty
Research
Surgery
Prosthetic Discs & Larry’s Story
Par For the Course – A Summary

PART TWO: THE GAME OF GOLF.

4) EXAMINING WHY GOLFERS GET LOWER BACK PAIN

A Quick Glance at The Golf Swing
The Four Causes of Back Pain in Golfers
Change
Alignment
Twisting
Speed
The Vicious Circle
Comparing Golfers With and Without LBP
Richard’s Story
Par For the Course – A Summary

5) ANALYZING THE GOLF SWING IN PIECES

Start and Take Away
The Move Halfway Back
Taking it to the Top
Powering Down
Completing the Release
The Finish
Par For the Course – A Summary
PART THREE: THE PROGRAM
6) EXAMINING HOW MUSCLES AND NERVES WORK
The Autonomic Nervous System
Reflex Action and Programming
The Role of Your Core Muscles
Muscles Get Tired
Balance Training and Proprioception
Par For the Course – A Summary

7) BACK BASICS – POSTURE AND BODY MECHANICS

Sitting
Standing
Resting
Standing From a Chair
Getting Out of Bed
Lifting
Dishes
Groceries
Jaffe’s Law
Standing at a Sink – Shaving or Brushing
The Golfer’s Lift
Par For the Course – A Summary

8) GET READY – GETTING STARTED & FINDING THE RIGHT EQUIPMENT

Physical Therapy For Some
The First Connection
Home Or Gym?
Group Exercise
Which Gym?
Machines to Use
Tools Anyone Can Afford
Par For the Course – A Summary

The Program
Two Days Per Week Schedule
Par For the Course – A Summary

10) USING FUNCTIONAL TRAINING TO CHANGE YOUR LIFE – LOW IMPACT

The Program
Par For the Course – A Summary

11) STRETCHING ON THE FIRST TEE

Stretching is Part of Conditioning
The Healing Power of Stretching – A Story
Listen To Your Body
Start Stretching at the First Tee
The Stretches
Stretching While On The Course
Par For the Course – A Summary

12) CONCLUSION: BELIEVING THAT MOTION IS LIFE

Stay Forever Young
A Golfer’s Story
Play Golf Forever

BIBLIOGRAPHY
GLOSSARY