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At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

The contribution of golf to daily physical activity recommendations: how many steps does it take to complete a round of golf?

To quantify the number of steps adults take during an 18-hole round of golf, we recruited 42 healthy volunteers (12 men and 30 women aged 30-80 years) with established United States Golf Association handicaps to complete an 18-hole round of golf on each of 3 municipal golf courses. Subjects walked each course while wearing a pedometer to record step data. Analysis revealed that each golfer took a mean +/- SD 11,948 +/- 1781 steps per 18-hole round of golf. Regardless of handicap level, sex, or course played, most subjects exceeded 10,000 steps during a typical round of golf. Consequently, in most cases, walking 18 holes of golf will meet the recommendation to accumulate 10,000 steps per day as part of a general physical activity plan.

Activities of Daily Living↗

[Sports medicine analysis of golf "swing" and lesions occurring during golf practice].

Health problems as seen in golf from the viewpoint of sports medicine and orthopedics are described. For better understanding important phases of the swing are analysed in correlation with possible lesions. Golfers mostly suffer from lumbal spine, elbows, hands and wrists, as well as from shoulder and knee disorders. We must differentiate between problems of the acute injuries and chronic disorders, whereas degenerative problems may interfere with specific golfing movements and are thus aggravated. The most likely causes of muscle joint and bone disorders are overuse, inadequately trained muscles and poor technique.

Athletic Injuries↗

Healthy swing: a golf rehabilitation model.

OBJECTIVE: To describe a rehabilitation model using a multidisciplinary team approach for the diagnosis and treatment of individuals with golf injuries or physically challenged persons desiring to play golf. DESIGN: A retrospective, descriptive study of a multidisciplinary golf rehabilitation program that included evaluation by a physiatrist, a physical therapist, and a Professional Golf Association golf professional. RESULTS: A total of 145 individuals were treated in this program between 1994 and 1997. The majority of subjects were amateur (95%), male golfers (80%), with a mean age of 55.7 yr (range, 14-80 yr). Golfing injuries of the lower back were the most common diagnosis and had a higher frequency in men than women (49% vs. 28%); women were more likely to have shoulder (28% vs. 10%) and elbow (13% vs. 9%) injuries than men. Interventions used included medical or surgical treatment (89%), physical rehabilitation, including exercises or diathermy (92%), and modification of golf swing technique (83%). Outcomes included a return to sports participation in 98% of subjects. All subjects with golf-induced injuries returned to sports participation, and one male and one female subject won state amateur golf championships. CONCLUSION: A comprehensive, multidisciplinary model for the evaluation and rehabilitation of golf injuries has been developed, using a team of healthcare professionals and a golf teaching professional. This approach may play a role in facilitating recovery and sports participation in injured golfers.

Adolescent↗

Golf injuries. An overview.

Over the years, golf has become an increasingly popular sport, attracting new players of almost all ages and socioeconomic groups. Golf is practised by up to 10 to 20% of the overall adult population in many countries. Beyond the enjoyment of the sport itself, the health-related benefits of the exercise involved in walking up to 10 km and of relaxing in a pleasant natural environment are often reported to be the main motives for adhering to this activity by recreational golfers. Golf is considered to be a moderate risk activity for sports injury; however, excessive time spent golfing and technical deficiencies lead to overuse injuries. These are the 2 main causes of injuries among golfers, and each has specific differences in the pattern in which they occur in professional and amateur golfers. Golf injuries originate either from overuse or from a traumatic origin and primarily affect the elbow, wrist, shoulder and the dorsolumbar sites. Professional and weekend golfers, although showing a similar overall anatomical distribution of injuries by body segment, tend to present differences in the ranking of injury occurrence by anatomical site; these differences can be explained by their playing habits and the biomechanical characteristics of their golf swing. Many of these injuries can be prevented by a preseason, and year-round, sport-specific conditioning programme including: (i) muscular strengthening, flexibility and aerobic exercise components; (ii) a short, practical, pre-game warm-up routine; and (iii) the adjustment of an individual's golf swing to meet their physical capacities and limitations through properly supervised golf lessons. Finally, the correct selection of golf equipment and an awareness of the environmental conditions and etiquette of golf can also contribute to making golf a safe and enjoyable lifetime activity.

Adult↗

Lower back and elbow injuries in golf.

Golf injuries to the lower back and elbow are common problems in both the professional and amateur player, and any information regarding the successful treatment of these injuries has important implications for the medical practitioner. This paper presents the successful management and outcome of two case studies associated with low back pain and lateral epicondylitis in golf. Exercise therapy and conditioning has been shown to be an effective treatment modality for these two types of injury. In particular, a dynamic exercise programme which incorporates golf functional rehabilitation, is a modern and accepted method by both the patient and the clinician. Effective programmes need to be golf-specific to maintain the interest of the participant and yet at the same time they need to be able to accommodate other factors such as age, gender and the level of the golfer. Furthermore, it is critical that the clinical practitioner has a fundamental knowledge of normal swing mechanics and a working knowledge of the musculoskeletal requirements needed to swing a golf club. In the case of the lower back injury, evaluation was based on detailed computer tomography and centred on the conditioning of the transversus abdominis muscle. Although this muscle is not considered to be paraspinal, it has particularly important implications in the maintenance of spinal stability so that other more specific golf functioning exercises and rehabilitation can be performed. For the case study of lateral epicondylitis detailed evaluation and consideration of neuropathy was an important factor in the diagnostic process. In part, it was necessary to deviate from conventional treatment to produce an effective outcome. A comprehensive resistance-strength-training programme and golf functional 'hitting' programme was used to treat the problem. The conformity by the patient to complete the exercise regimen has been an issue of concern for clinicians managing and treating golf-related problems. Many golfers are 'fanatical' and unless they can see that by continuing the programme their injury will be overcome, it is difficult trying to restrict their time on the golf course. The two case studies described in this article highlight how an extensive and dynamic golf functional programme could be used as an effective method for managing and preventing golf injuries.

Back Injuries↗

Proper swing technique and biomechanics of golf.

Golf is an alluring sport because there are many different ways for an individual to create good, effective golf swings. The key for teachers and players is to design good swings that are not physically debilitating. The human body certainly was not designed with golf in mind. That does not mean, however, that golf must be physically damaging. The current fixation on injury has more to do today with the type of player than the game itself. Many of the new players in golf today are older, generally between 30 and 55 years. They come to golf from other sports, such as tennis, jogging, basketball, baseball, and so on. The injuries we see today in golf have probably been brewing in other sports for many years. Golf is simply the current sport of choice, but it often is seen as the culprit for injury. This is all the more reason for continuing to educate players and teachers in the hope that they can create pain-free and injury-free golf swings. If injury prevention moves to the forefront of modern-day teaching, there will be an opportunity to change the way golf is taught and played. That is a mission well worth undertaking.

Biomechanical Phenomena↗

Golf science research at the beginning of the twenty-first century.

At the beginning of the twenty-first century, there are 30,000 golf courses and 55 million people who play golf worldwide. In the USA alone, the value of golf club memberships sold in the 1990s was US dollar 3.2 billion. Underpinning this significant human activity is a wide variety of people researching and applying science to sustain and develop the game. The 11 golf science disciplines recognized by the World Scientific Congress of Golf have reported 311 papers at four world congresses since 1990. Additionally, scientific papers have been published in discipline-specific peer-reviewed journals, research has been sponsored by the two governing bodies of golf, the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews and the United States Golf Association, and confidential research is undertaken by commercial companies, especially equipment manufacturers. This paper reviews much of this human endeavour and points the way forward for future research into golf.

Biomedical Research↗

Children's misadventures with golfing equipment.

The purpose of this study was to identify and describe injuries sustained by children less than 15 years of age associated with golfing equipment resulting in presentation to an emergency department. These findings can then be used to highlight potential injury prevention strategies. Retrospective analysis of data from the Victorian Emergency Minimum Dataset was performed. Golf-related injury cases were identified for the period April 1997 - December 2002. Cases where the text description of the injury event included the word "golf" were extracted for analysis. Text narratives of all cases were reviewed and cases occurring during golf play or practice or at a golf course were excluded from the analysis. There were 309 presentations to an emergency department for treatment of an injury caused by golfing equipment in children less than 15 years of age. The majority of presentations were male (71.5%) and children aged 5-9 years presented most commonly (53.1%). Head injuries were the most common reason for presentation (84.4%), with open wounds being the most common type of injury (68.5%). Being struck by an object (96.8%) was the most frequent cause of injury. Whilst relatively uncommon, golf equipment injuries to children could be prevented by attention to community safety and awareness of correct storage of golfing equipment. In addition, education of children regarding the safe handling and use of golf equipment could be useful. This could help reduce the number of emergency department visits and hospital admissions, thereby contributing to the reduction of costs associated with injury.

Accidents↗

Impacts of golf courses on macroinvertebrate community structure in Precambrian shield streams.

The influence of golf course operation on benthic macroinvertebrate communities in Precambrian Shield streams was evaluated using rapid bioassessment and the reference condition approach. Streams were sampled for water chemistry and invertebrates in 1999 and 2000, six on operational golf courses, and seven in forested reference locations. Correspondence analysis (CA) was used to determine the major patterns in the macroinvertebrate taxa, and canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) was used to evaluate relationships with environmental variables. The reference streams were used to define the normal range of variation for a variety of summary indices to evaluate the golf course streams. In all cases, golf course streams were higher in nutrients and dissolved ions and more alkaline than the forested reference streams. There was considerable variability in the macroinvertebrate fauna from the golf course streams, which was related to differences in golf course land management practices and to the potential influence of highway runoff. Of the management practices evaluated, fertilizer application rates in particular were important, as was the presence of ponds upstream on the course. Invertebrate taxa with higher abundances in golf course streams included Turbellaria, Isopoda, Amphipoda, Zygoptera, and Trombidiformes. Taxa more common in the reference streams included Ephemeroptera, Megaloptera, Culicidae, and Plecoptera. There were marked differences in the overall benthic macroinvertebrate community in three of the six golf course streams studied relative to the forested reference streams, suggesting that golf course land management on the Precambrian Shield can be associated with significant differences in macroinvertebrate community structure.

Animals↗

Golf-associated head injury in the pediatric population: a common sports injury.

OBJECT: Golf-related injuries constitute a common type of sports injury in the pediatric population. The increase in the frequency of these injuries is largely attributed to the increase in the popularity of golf and greater use of golf carts by children. METHODS: The purpose of this study was to investigate the mechanisms and complications associated with golf-related injuries in the pediatric population and, by doing so, assist in the prevention of such injuries. We reviewed the charts of 2546 pediatric patients evaluated by the neurosurgery service at the authors' institution over a 6-year period. There were 64 cases of sports-related injuries. Of these, 15 (23%) were golf-related, making these injuries the second-largest group of sports-related injuries. Depressed skull fracture was the most common injury observed. Neurosurgical intervention was required in 33% of the cases. With rare exceptions, patients made good recoveries during a mean follow-up period of 22.2 months. One death occurred due to uncontrollable cerebral edema following a golf cart accident. One child required shunt placement and several revisions following an injury sustained from a golf ball. CONCLUSIONS: Children should be advised on the proper use of golf equipment as a preventive measure to avoid these injuries. Precautionary guidelines and safety training guidelines should be established. The institution of a legal minimum age required to operate a golf cart should be considered.

Adolescent↗

Golf-induced injuries of the wrist.

Golf injuries of the wrist are rare, but when they occur they can be devastating for the avid golfer, competitive amateur golfer, or the professional golfer, as the hand and wrist are so integral to the game. The majority of golf injuries are overuse injuries of the wrist flexor or extensor tendons. The left wrist (in the right-handed golfer) is the most common location. Analysis of the golf swing finds excessive motion of the left wrist (in the right-handed golfer), along with a catapulting function, accounting for vulnerability of the left wrist to injury. Hyperextension and radial deviation of the right wrist may cause impingement syndrome and injury may also occur during impact of the swing phase. The majority of golf-induced overuse syndromes of the wrist are successfully treated nonoperatively, but may require restriction from golf for an extended period of time. Many of the wrist problems that we see can often be related to a strong grip (left hand positioned clockwise on the golf club handle), overgripping (too tight a grip) golf club grips in poor repair, or poor swing techniques. The most common bony injury of the wrist is fracture of the hook of the hamate. This injury is a source of chronic ulnar-sided wrist pain in the golfer and is often diagnosed late or left undiagnosed. Proper-fitting golf clubs, proper swing technique, and avoidance of obstacles may prevent this injury. Like any other sport, golf requires the use of proper equipment, proper technique, and conditioning to prevent injury.

Golf↗

Golf and upper limb injuries: a summary and review of the literature.

BACKGROUND: Golf is a popular past time that provides exercise with social interaction. However, as with all sports and activities, injury may occur. Many golf-related injuries occur in the upper limb, yet little research on the potential mechanisms of these injuries has been conducted. OBJECTIVE: To review the current literature on golf-related upper limb injuries and report on potential causes of injury as it relates to the golf swing. DISCUSSION: An overview of the golf swing is described in terms of its potential to cause the frequently noted injuries. Most injuries occur at impact when the golf club hits the ball. This paper concludes that more research into golf-related upper limb injuries is required to develop a thorough understanding of how injuries occur. Types of research include epidemiology studies, kinematic swing analysis and electromyographic studies of the upper limb during golf. By conducting such research, preventative measures maybe developed to reduce golf related injury.

Journal Article↗

Effects of orthotic intervention and nine holes of simulated golf on club-head velocity in experienced golfers.

OBJECTIVE: This study was an initial investigation evaluating the effects of orthotic intervention on club-head velocity (CHV) among a group of experienced golfers before and after 9 holes of simulated golf. SETTING: Northwestern College of Chiropractic, Bloomington, Minnesota. PARTICIPANTS: Twelve experienced golfers were included in the study. METHOD: CHV was measured with a device used by many Professional Golf Association and Ladies Professional Golf Association teaching professionals before and after wearing orthotics and before and after completing 9 holes of simulated golf. Subjects wore custom-made, flexible orthotics daily for 6 weeks and then were retested with the same objective measurement parameters. OUTCOME MEASURE: CHV (swing speed in miles per hour) was measured in all subjects before and after wearing custom-fit, flexible orthotics for 6 weeks and before and after completing 9 holes of simulated golf. RESULTS: There was an approximate increase in CHV of between 3 and 5 mph, or a relative increase in CHV by up to 7%, after subjects had worn custom-made, weight-bearing, flexible orthotics daily for 6 weeks. A 5-mph increase in CHV is equivalent to an approximate increase in golf ball travel distance of 15 yards, a significant increase for the tour player for whom small increases in performance can reflect large position changes on the roster board. In addition, the use of these custom of those eliminated the effects of fatigue associated with playing 9 holes of golf (relative to CHV) and therefore may improve the likelihood for more consistent golf performance. CONCLUSION: The use of the custom-fit, flexible orthotics in this study had a positive influence on CHV in experienced golfers.

Chiropractic↗

Golf-related ocular injuries.

PURPOSE: To examine patient outcomes from golf-related ocular injuries. METHODS: A retrospective case review was undertaken of subjects with golf-related ocular injuries treated at the Auckland and Waikato Hospitals during the 5-year period from 1997 to 2002. RESULTS: Of 11 injuries treated in the 5-year period, five of the subjects incurred globe rupture with two subjects requiring enucleation. Seven of the injuries were from golf balls and four injuries were from golf clubs. Six of the subjects had a final visual acuity of 6/48 or worse. CONCLUSION: Golfing injuries, though uncommon, are frequently associated with severe ocular trauma and poor visual outcome. Although unpredictable and difficult to avoid, proper golf etiquette and safety may diminish the incidence of golf-related ocular injures. Injuries caused by golf clubs occurred only in children.

Adolescent↗

The metabolic demand of golf in patients with heart disease and in healthy adults.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the metabolic cost of golf, while pulling a cart, in a group of patients with heart disease (HD) and healthy adults with a wide range of functional capacities. METHODS: Twenty male golfers aged 49 to 78 years participated in this study. All participants underwent a graded exercise test (GXT) with expired gas analysis to determine functional capacity. Each patient with HD (n = 10) was matched with a healthy adult of similar age. Each pair completed 9 holes of golf while pulling a cart, during which oxygen consumption was monitored continuously via the Cosmed K4b2 portable unit. RESULTS: The average metabolic equivalent (MET) value (1 MET = 3.5 mL x kg(-1) x min(-1)) (mean +/- SEM) for 9 holes of golf in this group of men with HD (4.1 +/- 0.1 METs) was similar to that previously reported value of 4.3 METs. Whereas the average MET responses were similar between the groups, when expressed relative to peak oxygen consumption, on average, patients with HD worked at a significantly higher percentage of their functional capacity (57 +/- 2.7%) compared to the healthy adults (46 +/- 2.6%). Some patients with HD exceeded 100% of GXT MET level during golf. In contrast, some healthy adults failed to reach 60% of GXT MET level during golf. CONCLUSIONS: Based on these data, walking the golf course while pulling a cart appears to provide an adequate training stimulus for most patients with HD. However, some lower fit patients with HD (< 8 METs) are in danger of exceeding a safe level and should be encouraged to monitor intensity on the golf course and consider using a motorized cart. For most individuals who are more fit (functional capacity > or = 8 METs), golf does not appear to provide the stimulus generally associated with improvement in functional capacity.

Aged↗

The role of biomechanics in maximising distance and accuracy of golf shots.

Golf biomechanics applies the principles and technique of mechanics to the structure and function of the golfer in an effort to improve golf technique and performance. A common recommendation for technical correction is maintaining a single fixed centre hub of rotation with a two-lever one-hinge moment arm to impart force on the ball. The primary and secondary spinal angles are important for conservation of angular momentum using the kinetic link principle to generate high club-head velocity. When the golfer wants to maximise the distance of their drives, relatively large ground reaction forces (GRF) need to be produced. However, during the backswing, a greater proportion of the GRF will be observed on the back foot, with transfer of the GRF on to the front foot during the downswing/acceleration phase. Rapidly stretching hip, trunk and upper limb muscles during the backswing, maximising the X-factor early in the downswing, and uncocking the wrists when the lead arm is about 30 degrees below the horizontal will take advantage of the summation of force principle. This will help generate large angular velocity of the club head, and ultimately ball displacement. Physical conditioning will help to recruit the muscles in the correct sequence and to optimum effect. To maximise the accuracy of chipping and putting shots, the golfer should produce a lower grip on the club and a slower/shorter backswing. Consistent patterns of shoulder and wrist movements and temporal patterning result in successful chip shots. Qualitative and quantitative methods are used to biomechanically assess golf techniques. Two- and three-dimensional videography, force plate analysis and electromyography techniques have been employed. The common golf biomechanics principles necessary to understand golf technique are stability, Newton's laws of motion (inertia, acceleration, action reaction), lever arms, conservation of angular momentum, projectiles, the kinetic link principle and the stretch-shorten cycle. Biomechanics has a role in maximising the distance and accuracy of all golf shots (swing and putting) by providing both qualitative and quantitative evidence of body angles, joint forces and muscle activity patterns. The quantitative biomechanical data needs to be interpreted by the biomechanist and translated into coaching points for golf professionals and coaches. An understanding of correct technique will help the sports medicine practitioner provide sound technical advice and should help reduce the risk of golfing injury.

Adult↗