Benefits of Traditional and Golf-specific Resistance Training in Amateur Female Golfers

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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Amateur female golfers were randomized to either a functional weight lifting group or a traditional weight lift group. Testing, consisting of performance measures and golf measures, was performed at baseline and after 10 weeks of weight lifting.

Detailed Description
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A randomized control trial to compare the effects of 10 weeks of two different types of training in recreationally active female golfers was performed. Participants were recruited through postings at local country clubs and public golf courses, as well as through emails to state and local women's golf associations. Following written informed consent approved by the university's institutional review board, participants completed a medical and golf history questionnaire. Golf-specific information gathered via the history form included self-reported number of years playing golf, handicap, frequency of play, frequency of practice. Baseline testing followed, consisting of measurement of height and weight using a stadiometer, bone density and body composition using dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA), 7-iron and driver club speed and total ball distance using a golf simulator (High Definition Golf, Interactive Sports Technologies, Vaughan, Ontario), and physical performance tests. Participants were then randomly assigned, using a random number generator, to either a traditional resistance training group (TRAD) or a golf-specific resistance training group (GSRT). Resistance training was conducted 3 days per week for 10 weeks. Each training session was directly supervised by at least one of the researchers, such that correct technique and appropriate resistance could be monitored. Following the 10 weeks of training, participants repeated the testing procedures under similar conditions as baseline testing.

Official Title
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Benefits of Traditional and Golf-specific Resistance Training in Amateur Female Golfers

Conditions
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Improved Performance in Amateur Female Golfers (MESH Term: Body Composition)

Intervention / Treatment
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* Other: Traditional strengthening
* Other: Functional Strengthening


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: females ≥18 years of age, and an official handicap or completion of at least 5 rounds of golf within the last year Exclusion Criteria: Exclusion criteria were current episode of musculoskeletal pain, unable to stand and swing a golf club independently, systemic disease including but not limited to rheumatologic disease or cancer, or psychological or other cognitive impairment.

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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Female

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Treatment
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: Single


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Active Comparator: Traditional strengthening<br>These subjects performed traditional strengthening exercises of targeted muscle groups (For example, bench press, lat pulldowns, dead lifts and wrist curls) | Other: Traditional strengthening<br>* dead lifts, bench press, wrist curls, and lat pulldowns as examples<br>|
| Active Comparator: Functional Strengthening<br>These subjects performed exercises that either mimicked golf (diagonal chop) or that required balance and stability (single leg dead lift) | Other: Functional Strengthening<br>* diagonal chops, one leg deadlifts, lateral plyometrics as examples<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Driver club speed | Driver club speed- continuous variable measured in mph | 10 weeks | 
| 7-iron club speed | 7-iron club speed-continuous variable measured in mph | 10 weeks | 
| Driver distance | Driver distance-continuous variable measured in yards | 10 weeks | 
| 7-iron distance | 7-iron -continuous variable measured in yards | 10 weeks | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Seated rotation flexibility | sit and rotate left and right- continuous variable measured with a goniometer in degrees | 10 weeks | 
| Weighted ball golf toss | Using a golf-like motion, toss a 6lb ball as far as possible- continuous scale measured in cm | 10 weeks | 
| Weighted ball seated toss | sitting in a declined position, use a chest pass motion to toss a 6 lb ball as far as possible- continuous measure measured in cm | 10 weeks | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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golf, strength training, physical performance tests, body composition