What’s in your back pocket?

Article by Dr Larry Callaway

BIO - Specific Chiropractic Center - Dr Callaway Blog

 

One of the most important muscle groups in the body are the Gluteal Muscles. This group of muscles is responsible not only for hip movement, but also as a transitional muscle between the upper and lower body. Often times the gluteal muscles are not considered part of the CORE. I hope to give you reasons why we need to have strong gluteal muscles to have an efficient and consistent swing.

1) The muscles that fill out your back pocket are actually a group of three on each side. There are the Minimus, Medius and Maximus. Each is uniquely designed to move and stabilize the hip, as well as transition between the upper and lower body.

  • a. Minimus: The smallest of the group helps to rotate the hip as well as move it away from the midline. This muscle also works in conjunction with a muscle that attaches at the knee.
  • b. Medius: The middle of the pack. This muscle is a stabilizer as well working in conjunction with muscles that move the hip away from midline.
  • c. Maximus: The Maximus is the biggest and “blends” with muscles of the leg and the low back. The muscles are therefore intimately connect and a continuation of the CORE.

2) Function: In the Golf Swing: The group of muscles allows you to have a massive amount of power coming through the bottom of your CORE while moving and stabilizing the hips. It is one of the first muscles to fire both into the back swing and through the contact of the ball.

3) Injury Prevention: Having a strong and functional gluteal group and proper sequencing muscle patterns allows your body to connect your entire swing. When your body is sequencing, starting with the master transitional muscles, it significantly decreases your chance for an injury.

So what’s in your back pocket!!!!