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.