Golfers are sleeping wrong. These three positions increase mobility and reduce injuries
You can sleep your way to better golf.
Before you scoff and move on, one top fitness trainer is adamant that our sleep position can have a significant impact on our mobility on the course.
“It’s something that’s really overlooked with a lot of players,” says Darin Hovis, one of Golf Digest’s Best Fitness Trainers in America.
During an hour-long webinar with us, Hovis demonstrated numerous stretches that can improve your swing, but if you’re not as loose as you’d like, checking your sleeping position should be one of the first steps.
“Finding a comfortable position is different for everyone, but the key is being mindful of what may be stressed by sleeping in awkward positions every night,” Hovis said. “Use the pillows to your advantage to find something comfortable that gives you a position that’s not going to compromise you
over time.”
We all have our favourite sleeping positions, whether it be on our back, side or stomach, but while these may feel comfortable in the moment, if they are stressing a certain part of the body, then over time we will lose mobility and be susceptible to injury. The hips and lower back, in particular Hovis says, can become tight over time when you sleep in the wrong position. That’s especially an issue for golfers, who need mobility in the hips and spine to swing properly.
Here’s how Hovis advises golfers adjust their sleeping position, depending on their preferences.
The back sleeper
“If you sleep on your back, it can be very helpful to put a pillow under your knees. This reduces extension stress on the lower back,” Hovis says.
The side sleeper
“If you sleep on your side, place a pillow under the top knee to reduce rotation through the hip and the spine,” Hovis says.
The stomach sleeper
“If you’re a stomach sleeper, again, use pillows to your advantage so your head is not rotated 90 degrees in either direction for an extended period of time,” Hovis says. “Positioning your head on the side of the pillow is one strategy. Also, placing a pillow underneath your hips can allow the hips to flex while not stressing the lower back.”
Photo by Jetta Productions
