A NEW METHOD FOR CONTINUOUS RECORDING OF TRUNK POSTURES WHILE PLAYINGGOLF

In this paper a new method for the registration of trunk movements is presented. With this method, called the Portable Posture Registration Set (PPRS), movements can be recorded continuously over a long period of time. The purpose of this study was to test whether the PPRS can be applied in golf. A pilot study using 4 male golfers demonstrated that qualitative and quantitative data on trunk movements in golf can be c ollected with the PPRS. The inclination of the trunk proved to be larg e (40-45 degrees) in all swings tested, resulting in a considerable lo ad on the back. The contribution of torsion to the spinal load was rel atively small, especially in the putt, which showed very little moveme nt in the transverse and frontal planes. However, putting accounted fo r most of the total spinal load in playing a course. Even when playing a round of 18 holes, subjects did not experience any hindrance or dis comfort from the sensors or the recorder. This method seems to offer n ew possibilities in the biomechanical study of trunk movement in golf.