Affiliations: [a] Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Konkuk University
School of Medicine, Konkuk University Medical Center, Seoul, Korea | [b] Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Nalgae Hospital,
Seoul, Korea | [c] Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Myongji Hospital,
Goyang, Korea | [d] Department of Rehabilitation, Seoul National
University College of Medicine, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital,
Seongnam, Korea | [e] Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Seoul National
University College of Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul,
Korea | [f] Departnent of Orthopaedic Surgery, Seoul National
University College of Medicine, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital,
Seongnam, Korea
Note: [] Corresponding author: Joo Han Oh, Department of Orthopaedic
Surgery, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul National
University Bundang Hospital, 166 Goomi-ro, Bundang-gu, Seongnam-si, Gyeonggi-do
463-707, Korea. Tel.: +82 31 787 7197; Fax: +82 31 787 4056; E-mail: ohjh1@snu.ac.kr
Abstract: BACKGROUND: The highly trained professional tour golfers
would likely have different strength profiles in their muscle groups from
non-athletes, which may be associated with the level of golf performance. OBJECTIVES: To describe an isokinetic muscle strength profile of
several upper and lower extremity muscles of ladies professional tour golfers
in comparison to non-athlete controls, and to explore possible correlations
between strength and driving distance and average score. METHODS: Sixty seven ladies professional tour golfers and 25 non-athletic women were
enrolled. Absolute and weight-adjusted concentric isokinetic peak torque (PT)
at 60°/s of the shoulder abductors, adductors and rotators, and elbow
and knee flexors and extensors were measured bilaterally. RESULTS: All absolute and most weight-adjusted PTs were significantly higher in professional
tour golfers than non-athletes. The weight-adjusted PT differed significantly
only with respect to the shoulder adductors and knee muscles. Significantly
higher strength ratios: bilateral shoulder adductor/abductor, right shoulder
internal/external rotator, right elbow extensor/flexor, and bilateral knee
flexor/extensor characterized the golfers. Further, the correlations between
the strength of any of the tested muscles and either the driving distance or
the average score were low to negligible. CONCLUSIONS: These results furnish a reference framework for isokinetic strength of
the abovementioned muscles of professional tour golfers, and thus be used in setting realistic
rehabilitation goals for lady golfers who suffer from some injury involving,
directly or indirectly, these muscles.
Keywords: Ladies professional golfer, isokinetic muscle strength, driving distance
