The immediate and short term effect of spinal manipulative therapy (SMT) on asymptomatic amateur golfers in terms of performance indicators

Abstract

Golfing literature today recommends to both the amateur and professional golfers to try and achieve maximum performance with each golf club (Seaman, 1998 and Bulbulian, Ball and Seaman, 2001). This encourages golfers to use a state of maximum spinal rotation in their golf swing in order to achieve optimal performance (Seaman, 1998), thus resulting in back pain becoming endemic in the golfing population.

Thus if it is considered that performance, in terms of the golf swing, is mainly influenced by; • the strength and power of the torso, i.e. the low back and abdominal muscles (Chek, 2003), • as well as muscle balance and flexibility, i.e. those muscles which are responsible for the static and dynamic postural stability of the golf swing (Chek, 2003).

It then stands to reason that any decrease in the range of motion of the lumbar or thoracic spine of the amateur golfer, in terms of biomechanics, could affect their performance (Nordin and Frankel, 2001). In this regard it is hypothesised that altered biomechanics could be that of asymptomatic segmental joint dysfunction .

In terms of interventions Kirkaldy-Willis and Burton (1992) explained the effect of SMT in the treatment of low back pain, similarly Bergmann et al. (1993) and Vernon and Mrozek (2005) further proposed the following effects of spinal manipulative therapy (SMT): • SMT may stretch or break intra-articular adhesions that form from immobilised facet joints due to acute synovial reactions. • SMT allows entrapped menisci to exit the facet joint in which it became entrapped. • If the capsule of the facet gets lodged between two adjacent articular surfaces, the process of SMT could allow this to be freed. • SMT re-aligns misaligned spinal segments to conform to the centre of gravity.

It was thus assumed that if these mechanical and reflex mechanisms occur in the symptomatic amateur golfer, they should also occur in the asymptomatic amateur golfer. Currently however very little is known about the effects of spinal manipulative therapy (SMT) on asymptomatic segmental joint dysfunction.

Objective:

Therefore, the purpose of this study was to evaluate the immediate and short term effect of spinal manipulative therapy (SMT) on asymptomatic amateur golfers in terms of performance indicators.

Methods:

Forty three asymptomatic participants were randomized to four equal groups consisting of ten participants each (and three drop outs). Three of the groups received a single intervention, i.e. spinal manipulative therapy (SMT) while the last group acted as a placebo control group and received no intervention. Objective measurements were taken using the EDH Sports-FlightScope Pro Electronic Swing Analyser. All objective data collection took place pre and post SMT. Statistical analysis included various statistical methods and correlation analyses, by means of the latest version of SPSS.

Results and conclusions:

The main findings were that certain outcomes seem to be better with lumbar manipulation alone (smash, horizontal azimuth) and others better with thoracic manipulation alone (CHV, vertical azimuth, distance), but none are better with both lumbar and thoracic manipulation. Therefore in terms of future studies of this nature the treatment groups should be analysed separately and the research powered for such analyses (e.g. larger sample sizes).