3-DIMENSIONAL KNEE-JOINT KINETICS DURING A GOLF SWING - INFLUENCES OFSKILL LEVEL AND FOOTWEAR

This study characterized knee joint kinetics during a golf swing and d etermined the influence of shoe type and golfer skill on the peak knee joint loads. Thirteen golfers each hit a golf ball using a five iron under two footware conditions: spiked and spikeless golf shoes. Data f rom a video-based motion capture system and force plates were used to compute the knee joint kinetics. Mean peak forces and moments differed significantly between the lead and trail knees, but these peak loads were not significantly affected by shoe type. Only the lead knee flexi on and internal rotation moments were significantly correlated to skil l level. The magnitude of some of the peak loads at the knee during th e golf swing approached those reached during activities prohibited unt il late-stage knee rehabilitation. We concluded the following: The typ e of shoe worn and the skill level of the golfer need not be considere d in deciding time to return to golfing; however, the leg that is reco vering from surgery or injury should be considered. The most stressful phase of the golf swing, relative to the knee, is the downswing.,Ther e is probably no ''normal'' swing; each golfer seems to possess consis tent, characteristic, patterns of knee loading.