At Lakeshore Sports Physical Therapy, PC, we primarily use the ATM 2 for thoracic, lumbar and hip limitations. These same areas can frequently be problematic for golf enthusiasts, and the ATM 2 has excellent potential for assisting golfers in isolating and coordinating the movements required in the golf swing.
I utilize the ATM 2 for portions of the care of nearly every patient with these limitations. Commonly treated diagnoses include: lower back pain, thoracic pain, disc herniation, scoliosis and hip strains. We also use the ATM 2 with patients whose poor posture is contributing to shoulder pain and tendonitis. For many of my patients, the ATM 2 provides an immediate improvement in pain and/or mobility, allowing us to spend more of our session on muscle retraining and strengthening.
For example, if a patient or client's impaired hip mobility is limiting the ability to properly activate his or her gluteal muscles, I have the patient or client perform isolated hip extension in the ATM 2 for several repetitions. After performing the isolated movements, the patient is able to perform other exercises more effectively.
Our postures tend to degrade with age and over time, especially if our daily activities are repetitive. Commonly, our spines rotate in the direction of our dominant hand, and lose mobility in the opposite direction. This loss of rotation towards the non-dominant hand significantly impedes follow through during the golf swing and is the source of many a golfer's frustration. I have seen several patients and clients markedly improve the symmetry of their spinal range of motion and resting posture by exercising in the ATM 2 twice a week for 3-4 weeks.
Angela Pennisi, PT