January 10, 2008 - It’s no secret that resistance and flexibility training can have a positive impact on a person’s athletic performance. Sport-specific programs are popping up everywhere, but many athletes haven’t yet realized the degree of impact that conditioning tailored to their sport can have.

According to Miami Golf Fitness, a golf-specific program in Miami, Florida, the key to improving your golf game and reducing risk of injury is to start a program that delivers not only overall conditioning, but golf specific strengthening exercises, stretching and injury prevention techniques with specific stretching for the golf player.

In fact, any kind of strength training is creating immediate impact on players. “If you are an avid golfer and have never exercised with weights before and started a very basic strength training program, you would see some improvement to your game,” says Rafael Moret, creator of the Miami Golf Fitness Program. Says Moret “As a Golf Fitness Instructor, there are very specific things that my clients look for to make their games better. Golf players are looking to strengthen their backs to reduce lower back pain, develop strength in their swing, add more stability to their stance, and stretch all the muscles that tighten up with their game.”

Moret’s program is divided into 4 segments to help cover all the need of the golf player:

1. Injury Prevention Exercise Drills
2. Total Body Conditioning Circuit and Endurance Program
3. Golf Specific Strength Training Exercises
4. Golf Specific Stretching and Flexibility

When speaking of basketball, B.J Maack of the Arkansas Sports Performance Center says, “If you are looking at doing some basketball-specific training, there are some important things to look for in a program. Treat any training program like you would a visit to a doctor: Ask questions, do your homework.”

According to Maack, a solid basketball-specific program should have these key components:
1. Emphasis on explosiveness: what is done to improve vertical jump?
2. Endurance: will there be a definitive change in your metabolic rate?
3. Footwork: what is done to improve quickness from step A to step B? What else is used besides ladder drills?
4. Strength: are proper lifting techniques emphasized? Is it matched according to ages? Is there a periodization schedule?
5. Speed: is there a strong emphasis on overall speed development & proper running form?
6. Sports Medicine Approach: how does the program balance aggressive training while not causing overuse injuries? How does an old injury or imbalance fit into the training program?
7. Research: is this workout proven? Can you look on paper at how this has helped athletes? Is there a list of success stories?
8. Nutrition: how do the right foods/supplements fit into this program?

Sport-specific programs recognize the importance of injury prevention. The dynamics of the golf swing and the explosiveness required of basketball players necessitates the use of the entire body, making injury reduction and longevity promoting techniques imperative. Each sport has particular demands and needs specific training techniques to address. Maybe, when the majority of athletes begin to catch on to the need for targeted, sport-specific training, the occurrence of injuries will subside and the length of an athlete’s “playing days” will be extended.

If you suspect that you have a sports injury, it is critical to seek the urgent consultation of a local sports injuries doctor for appropriate care. To locate a top doctor or physical therapist in your area, please visit our Find a Sports Medicine Doctor or Physical Therapist Near You section.