PALMDALE, Calif., Oct. 13, 2013 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- A Palmdale chiropractor is making use of natural healing and preventative care methods to help local golfers improve their performance and avoid injury. According to Dr. Thomas Dewald of Dewald Chiropractic, many golfers develop problems with their game due to spinal imbalances and overuse injuries that cause pain, stiffness, or less than optimal nerve function. "Chiropractic adjustments and other natural treatments can help golfers get more out of their sport and feel better doing it, while preventative wellness care can help them stay on top of their game," he says.

Dr. Dewald explains that a typical golf swing requires many of the body's joints and large muscle groups to perform perfectly under considerable stresses. He points out that the joints of the wrists, elbows, shoulders, lower back, hips, knees and ankles must have the proper freedom of motion to permit a fluid, accurate swing.

"Musculoskeletal imbalances from poor posture or an uneven gait can severely limit a golfer's swing and cause impairments to his whole game," says the practitioner. He adds that over time these imbalances can contribute to premature joint wear, disc problems and osteoarthritis that can make every swing painful and pinpoint accuracy impossible. Dr. Dewald's clinic uses chiropractic adjustments to correct such misalignments in an effort to restore their golfing patients' freedom and range of motion.

Overuse injuries account for many problems out of the golf course, according to Dr. Dewald. He describes the most common of these, a condition known as golfer's elbow, as a form of tendonitis that afflicts the connective tissues on the inside of the forearm where they attach to the elbow joint. The practitioner treats these injuries by prescribing massage therapy and other soft tissue therapies to stimulate the healing process while relieving local inflammation and pain. Physiotherapy and corrective exercises are then employed to rebuild the elbow's strength and flexibility. Dr. Dewald points out that these techniques, coupled with spinal adjustment, are also helpful in the treatment of lower back strain, another common complaint among golfers.

Once a golfer's immediate recovery has been affected, the chiropractor usually recommends ongoing wellness practices to help prevent future bouts of sports-related injuries. Patients may receive a customized exercise program to help maintain proper muscular support and flexibility, enabling better performance on the golf course. "We can help players understand how a fault in their technique may be causing pain or performance limitations, and we can also show players how to warm up before a round so they can play their best game without hurting themselves," Dr. Dewald says.

In addition to treatment and wellness care for golfers and other sports enthusiasts, Dewald Chiropractic provides spinal adjustment, nutritional counseling, massage therapy and other healing modalities for a wide range of injuries, illnesses and chronic pain syndromes.