Abstract
The purpose of this study was to determine the immediate effects of chiropractic wrist manipulation on three golf performance indicators, namely clubhead speed, distance, and smash factor in asymptomatic male golfers.
A quasi-experimental study design, set up at the Golfers Club (Fourways, Johannesburg), compared 50 participants in the test group with 50 participants in the control group. The participants were right-handed with handicaps of 17 or less.
The data collection process comprised left and right wrist range of motion readings using a manual goniometer; five warm-up shots using a 7-iron into nylon netting; and ten shots recorded using the FlightScope Simulator. The process was concluded with left and right wrist range of motion goniometer readings. Only the test group received chiropractic wrist manipulations. No subjective data was recorded as participants were asymptomatic.
There was a noteworthy difference in left and right wrist range of motion without any significant change in the test or control groups’ performance indicators. The evidence suggests that the immediate effect of chiropractic wrist manipulation on golf performance indicators is limited.
M.Tech. (Chiropractic)