A prospective study of injuries and illnesses among 910 amateur golfers during one season

Patrick Gordon Robinson ^1,2, Benjamin Clarsen ³, Andrew Murray ^2,4

¹Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, Edinburgh Orthopaedics, Edinburgh, UK.
²European Tour Performance Institute, Virginia Water, UK.
³Department of Health and Function, Western Norway University of Applied Sciences, Bergen, Hordaland, Norway.
⁴UK Collaborating Centre Illness and Injury Prevention in Sport, Edinburgh, UK.
⁵Institute of Interdisciplinary Exercise Science and Sports Medicine, MSH Medical School Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany.
⁶Family Medicine, McMaster University Michael G DeGroote School of Medicine, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada.
⁷Medical Committee, International Golf Federation, Lausanne, Switzerland.
⁸Swiss Golf Medical Center, Schulthess Klinik, Zurich, Switzerland.
⁹LG Performance, Oceanside, California, USA.
¹⁰Titleist Performance Institute, Oceanside, California, USA.
¹¹FITSTATS Technologies, Inc, Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada.
¹²School of Physical Therapy, Belmont University, Nashville, Tennessee, USA.
¹³Golf Medical Center, Schulthess Klinik, Zurich, Switzerland.

⁰Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, Edinburgh Orthopaedics, Edinburgh, UK.

Bmj Open Sport & Exercise Medicine +

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August 2, 2024

View abstract on PubMed

Summary

Amateur golf has low injury and illness rates compared to other sports. Key areas for injury prevention include the lumbosacral spine, shoulder, and knee, especially for older golfers with prior injuries.

Area Of Science

Sports Medicine
Epidemiology
Orthopedics

Background

Amateur golf participation involves risks of injury and illness.
Understanding the prevalence and incidence of these health issues is crucial for prevention strategies.

Purpose Of The Study

To determine the prevalence and incidence of self-reported injuries and illnesses in amateur golfers over a 5-month period.
To identify potential risk factors associated with golf-related injuries.

Main Methods

Recruited 910 amateur golfers from the USA and Switzerland.
Monitored participant health weekly for 5 months using the Oslo Sports Trauma Research Centre Questionnaire on Health Problems.
Collected baseline data on personal, golf-specific, and medical history.

Main Results

Prevalence of injuries was 11.3% and illnesses was 2%.
Incidence rates were 3.79 injuries and 0.94 illnesses per golfer per year.
Lumbosacral spine, shoulder, and knee were the most affected injury regions.
Increased age, osteoarthritis, and previous injury were associated with higher injury risk.

Conclusions

The prevalence and incidence of injury and illness in amateur golf are relatively low.
Future research should focus on the lumbosacral spine, knee, and shoulder to minimize injury burden.

Keywords:

Epidemiology Golf Illness Injuries Risk factor