Return to Golf Following Cervical and Lumbar Spinal Fusion: A Systematic Review.

BACKGROUND: There is a paucity of literature about return to play (RTP) for golf protocols following cervical and lumbar fusions. The timing of return to this sport is a common question among patients. The aim of this review was to analyze and report the current protocols for RTP following cervical and lumbar spinal fusion. METHODS: A systematic search was conducted using the following databases: MEDLINE, PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and Google Scholar. A 3-step, multiauthor screening process was conducted in accordance with Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. Inclusion criteria included peer-reviewed and published prospective, case-control, cohort, case series, or review articles. Studies had to pertain to RTP for golf following instrumented cervical or lumbar spinal fusion to be included. RESULTS: Three articles met inclusion criteria: 2 retrospective survey-based cohort studies and 1 survey-based case series study. All studies included a minimum of 1 year of follow-up. Of patients, 71.6% (n = 51) were able to RTP following surgery; 54.3%-80% were able to RTP at a similar or improved level of play as preoperatively. Postoperative pain reduction was noted in 2 articles. CONCLUSIONS: Most golfers are able to RTP within 12 months following cervical or lumbar spinal fusion. Patients generally reported decreased lower back pain and leg pain postoperatively. Following cervical or lumbar fusion, many golfers are able to RTP at the same or an increased frequency compared with preoperatively.

Sun-related risks and risk reduction practices in Irish outdoor workers.

BACKGROUND: Ultraviolet radiation (UVR) is an occupational hazard for outdoor workers. AIMS: This descriptive study aimed to describe the solar UVR risk, and explore associations between demographic characteristics and sun-safety knowledge, risks and practices, in golf-course maintenance workers on the island of Ireland. METHODS: A survey, designed to collect demographic and occupational information, measures of skin cancer knowledge and sun protection practices, was completed by 154 male outdoor workers in the golf-course maintenance industry. Statistical analysis included tests of association and non-parametric tests. RESULTS: Less than 10% of this mainly male worker group had received education/training on solar UVR risks (sun safety) and two-thirds were more concerned about workplace injury. While a majority used routine precautionary measures, those with greater knowledge of skin cancer, senior grades and workers under 45 years were significantly more likely to use sunscreen and/or sunglasses. CONCLUSIONS: Findings indicate that these workers were a high risk group for skin cancer, with good knowledge of the risk, but limited training or education in risk reduction. While the prevalence of sunscreen and sunglasses use is relatively good, it was better among younger workers and those in senior grades, and could be improved if they were routinely provided as a control measure by the employer.

Ansiedad estado competitiva y estrategias de afrontamiento: su relación con el rendimiento en una muestra argentina de jugadores amateurs de golf / Competitive state anxiety and coping strategies: their relationship with the performance of an argentinean sample of amateur golf players

El objetivo del trabajo consiste en estudiar si existe una relación entre ansiedad competitiva, estrategias de afrontamiento, y rendimiento deportivo en una muestra de 77 jugadores argentinos amateurs de golf (edad promedio: 16.14). Se realizó un estudio descriptivo, correlacional y transversal. Se administraron las versiones en español del Inventario de Ansiedad Competitiva y del Cuestionario de Aproximación al Afrontamiento en el Deporte. Los jugadores de golf que tienen un peor nivel de hándicap presentan mayores niveles de ansiedad somática (r = .30; p < .01); mientras que los que obtienen un mejor rendimiento deportivo en el torneo son los que presentan mayores niveles de autoconfianza (r = -.31; p < .01) y recurren a la búsqueda de apoyo social como estrategia de afrontamiento (r = -.27; p < .01) (AU)

The aim of the study is to analyse whether there exists a relationship between the level of competitive state anxiety, the use of coping strategies and the performance of a sample of 77 Argentinian amateur golf players (mean age: 16.14). The design of the study was descriptive, correlational and transversal. For data collection the Spanish versions of the Competitive State Anxiety Inventory and the Approach to Coping in Sport Questionnaire were administered. While golf players who show a poorer handicap reveal higher levels of somatic anxiety (r = .30; p < .01), those who achieve better performance in tournaments are the ones who have higher levels of self-confidence (r = -.31; p < .01) and resort to social support as a coping strategy (r = -.27; p < .01) (AU)

A good walk spoiled: on the disappearance of golf as an active sport in America.

During the past 60 years, there has been a major transition in the way golf is played in America. Its potential as exercise largely has been negated by the increase in motorized golf cart usage to approximately two of every three rounds played in this country. Accidents in golf carts have increased rapidly, which, by making the sport more dangerous, will likely bring future regulations. Consequently, playing golf has gradually become more of a public health threat than a benefit. The motorized cart also has resulted in an almost doubling of the size of golf courses, which now occupy a large amount of the built environment designated for activity. These changes are a major loss to society, portend future problems, and call for the sport to reevaluate its current model.

El patrón de movimiento en el swing de golf en jóvenes promesas / No disponible

Introducción: El swing de golf es una destreza que podríamoscatalogar de golpeo de velocidad donde el objetivo esque la cara del palo alcance la máxima velocidad en el momentodel impacto.Objetivos: Analizar la secuencia temporal del swing degolf y determinar su patrón de movimiento.Métodos: Se han analizado biomecánicamente 10 golpeosde 4 jugadores promesas, mediante el sistema de fotogrametría3D Vicon Oxford Metrics® de captura automática.Resultados: En primer lugar se ha podido comprobar quelos valores absolutos de velocidades lineales eran mayoresen los chicos que en las chicas. El análisis de las 2 fases delswing indica que la fase de aceleración downswing presentauna variabilidad menor que el backswing. El análisis de la secuenciatemporal de máximos alcanzados en las velocidadeslineales de los segmentos muestra que sus acciones siguenun orden diferente en función del sexo. La secuencia en loschicos empieza por el movimiento de caderas y sigue conel codo izquierdo, el hombro izquierdo y el palo; en las chicas,las caderas y el codo izquierdo actúan simultáneamenteseguidos del hombro izquierdo y del palo. En cambio, lassecuencias de velocidades angulares encontradas seguíanen ambos sexos el mismo orden: primero el giro de caderas,luego el giro de hombros y por último la aceleracióndel palo. Esta secuencia de acciones se encontraba más separadaen el tiempo en los hombres que en las mujeres.Conclusiones: Se hallaron los patrones del movimientomediante fórmulas discriminantes en ambos sexos, capacesde predecir si el golpeo sería “bueno” o “malo” siguiendoel criterio de rendimiento marcado en la velocidad de la cabezadel palo

Introduction: The golf swing is a skill that could be classifiedas high velocity hitting in which the main goal is thatthe head of the golf club reaches its maximum velocity atthe moment of impact.Aims: To analyze the timing sequence of the golf swingand to identify the movement pattern of this skill.Methods: Ten golf swings executed by four young playerswere biomechanically analyzed. Automatic capture with ViconOxford Metrics® was used.Results: The absolute values of the linear velocities werehigher in men than in women. In the interval analysis, thedownswing showed less variation than the backswing.Analysis of the maximum speed timing sequence revealed adifferent order depending on gender. In men, the sequencestarted with the hip movement, followed by the left elbow,left shoulder and the club head. In women, the hips and leftelbow moved simultaneously, followed by the left shoulderand the club head. In contrast, the angular velocity sequencesfollowed the same order in both genders: first the hipturn, then the shoulder turn, and finally the golf club headacceleration. These key events were more separated in thetime line in men than in women.Conclusions: Movement patterns were found throughdiscriminatory formulae in both genders, which were ableto predict whether the golf swing was “good” or “bad”, taking the club head speed as the performance criterion (AU)

[Trendy sport: golf]. / Trendsport Golf.

Golf is currently the most frequently played sport in the world and it will continue to grow in importance. Nevertheless, there is a striking deficit in our knowledge of the physical and psychological profile of golfers. In the foreground are not the acute but the chronic sport specific injuries, predominantly of the lumbar spine, the upper extremities (golfer's elbow and golfer's shoulder), and less commonly of the lower limbs (minor injuries to the ligaments). In addition to therapy, prophylaxis should also be used in order to better recognise and influence the sport specific burdens.

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.