Research article - (2018)17, 492 - 500
Injuries among Korean Female Professional Golfers: A Prospective Study
Hee Seong Jeong1,2,3, Young Moo Na1,3, Sae Yong Lee2,3, Young Jae Cho1,3,
1Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, SOL Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea
2Department of Physical Education, Yonsei University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
3Yonsei Institute of Sports Science and Exercise Medicine (YISSEM), Yonsei University, Seoul, Republic of Korea

Young Jae Cho
✉ Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, SOL Hospital, 352, Banghwa-daero, Gangseo-gu, Seoul, 07592, Republic of Korea
Email: cyjjyc94@hanmail.net
Received: 18-04-2018 -- Accepted: 30-07-2018
Published (online): 14-08-2018

ABSTRACT

This study aims to analyze the incidence, location, type, and mechanisms of injuries and possible injury risk factors among all levels of Korean female professional golfers. This was a prospective study with a follow-up period of 24 months. A total of 363 members of the Korean Ladies Professional Golf Association (KLPGA), who competed in tournaments during the 2015 and 2016 seasons, took part in the study. The incidence of injury varied by tournament level and was significantly higher in Division II (11.1/1000AEs) and Division III (13.4/1000AEs) than in Division I (5.6/1000AEs) (p < 0.05). The most common location and type of injury were the shoulder/clavicle (Division I: 14.1%, Division II: 15.7%, Division III: 17.3%) and the tendinosis or tendinopathy (21.2%) (Division I: 23.7%, Division II: 21.2%, Division III: 18.5%), respectively. The most common mechanism of injury was the golf swing (47.9%–51.6% for the three divisions), and the most frequent specific phase of injury was upon ball impact (23.5%–30.9%). Multivariate analysis revealed that body mass index and the number of previous season competitions were significantly associated with injury risk in female golfers. The other factors examined did not have a significant association with golf-related injuries. In conclusion, KLPGA golfers were commonly exposed to injuries and showed a higher rate of injuries in competitions than practices, with significantly higher in Division II, III than Division I. However, overall, there was no significant difference in the location, type, mechanism and risk factors for injuries among the division level of KLPGA.

Key words: Golf, epidemiology, BMI, injury prevention, neuromuscular training

Key Points
  • The incidence of injury was different according to the level of tournament plays in female professional golfer and higher in the low group of tournament play.
  • The most common location and type of injury in KLPGA were the shoulder/clavicle and tendinosis/tendinopathy respectively.
  • The most common mechanism of injury in KLPGA was due to the golf swing, and the most frequent specific phase of injury was upon ball impact.
  • Risk factors for injury in KLPGA were BMI, and the number of tournament games played in the previous season.








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