Original Research

The effect of trigger point therapy and medicine ball exercises vs trigger point therapy and stretching on hip rotational biomechanics of the golf swings

S. L. Quinn, B. Olivier, W. Wood, V. Naidoo
South African Journal of Physiotherapy | Vol 69, No 4 | a383 | DOI: https://doi.org/10.4102/sajp.v69i4.383 | © 2013 S. L. Quinn, B. Olivier, W. Wood, V. Naidoo | This work is licensed under CC Attribution 4.0
Submitted: 14 November 2013 | Published: 16 January 2013

About the author(s)

S. L. Quinn, Department of Physiotherapy, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa
B. Olivier, Department of Physiotherapy, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa
W. Wood, Department of Physiotherapy, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa
V. Naidoo, Department of Physiotherapy, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa

Full Text:

PDF (1MB)

Abstract

Background: Elite golfers sustain a large number of lumbar spine injuries. Poor rotational biomechanics, which may occur as a result of a shortened iliopsoas muscle, increase the incidence of lumbar spine injuries in golfers. Stretches and medicine ball exercises are often used as part of golf training programmes in an attempt to restore hip flexor length and improve rotational biomechanics. The aim of this study was to ascertain the effect of a combination of trigger point therapy and medicine ball exercises compared to a combination of trigger point therapy and stretching on rotational bio-mechanics of the golf swing. Method: This is a randomised controlled trial consisting of two experimental groups (trigger point therapy and stretching vs. trigger point therapy and medicine ball exercises) and one control group (no intervention). Hip flexor length and 3D biomechanical analysis of the golf swing was performed at baseline and one week later. Results: One-hundred elite male golfers participated in this study. Rotational biomechanics, specifically downswing hip turn in the group that received trigger point therapy combined with medicine ball exercises, showed statistically significant improvement at reassessment compared to the control group (p=0.0328). Conclusion: Rotational biomechanics (downswing hip turn) improved following a combination of trigger point therapy treatment and a one week programme of medicine ball exercises. This is postulated to have occurred through neural reorganisation and not through improved tensile muscle strength. This improvement in rotational biomechanics has the potential to decrease lumbar spine injury incidence in elite golfers. This study advocates the use of trigger point therapy combined with medicine ball exercises in the treatment of golfers with shortened hip flexors.

Keywords

Golf swing; Biomechanics; Stretch; Medicine ball exercises

Metrics

Total abstract views: 2358
Total article views: 1512


Crossref Citations

No related citations found.