By Vinnie Manginelli, PGA
The mission of the University of Southern California’s Institute for Therapeutic Golf Science (ITGS) is “to develop evidence-based, safe and effective golf programs that improve health and wellness among older adults, persons with disability and diseases and underrepresented groups—for example, cancer survivors, veterans and underprivileged communities.”
In the institute’s Position Statement, they state: “Evidence suggests that golf is a comprehensive, multimodal mind-body activity that improves health and preserves functional independence. Regular participation is likely to enhance cardiovascular fitness, muscular endurance, power production, flexibility, balance, cognitive function, social engagement and overall quality of life.”
“The USC Institute for Therapeutic Golf Science is part of the Division of Biokinesiology and Physical Therapy,” says Guanrong “Garry” Cai, a USC Ph.D. candidate, who has been a senior associate of the institute since 2018. “Our team is a small group of dedicated investigators, led by Dr. George Salem, Ph.D.”
Cai is also the project manager for the GREENS study—Golf Recreational Exercise for Enhanced Survivorship (in Prostate Cancer Survivors). Through this study, Cai seeks to prove that “exercise can mitigate the host of physical, psychosocial and cognitive symptoms that prostate cancer survivors, especially those with a history of hormone therapy, encounter and can lower the risk of cancer reoccurrence.”
Cai reports that while only about 12 percent of prostate cancer survivors meet the American College of Sports Medicine’s recommended level of exercise, older adults and veterans in the institute’s previous golf intervention studies had attendance rates greater than 90 percent, suggesting that therapeutic golf programs are engaging and adherent. In addition, Cai promotes golf as a suitable activity for these individuals, as it is a “multimodal recreational activity that combines physical activities and cognitive tasks in an outdoor green and social environment.”
Those of us in the industry, especially we PGA of America Golf Professionals, have always lauded the ancillary social and overall health benefits of golf for our youth and seniors—Cai and his team are proving this notion through their extensive research.
Cai is processing the data he collected to publish in peer-reviewed journals, and is due to defend his dissertation this month! We will have more about Cai’s GREENS study in the new year.
With aging, disease and disability being causes and results of reduced cardiovascular activity, as are physical attributes such as flexibility, strength, endurance, power, reaction time, balance, mobility, cognition and psychosocial well being—all traits we discuss in this publication monthly—increased activity can reduce the risk of falls, depressive symptoms and anxiety and improve one’s quality of life as we age.
The ITGS attributes golf’s physical walking, powerful swing action, putting precision and multiple changes in body position as integral facets that benefit one’s health and physical stature. Combined with the planning, strategies and mental aspects of the game, “golf can improve mental capabilities, including inhibition, attention, processing, speed and fluid cognition—all of which decline with advancing age and disability.”
Previous ITGS studies that speak to these insights include the Golf for Healthy Aging Study (GHA)—Dr. Kiran Kanwar, Ph.D. Project Manager, and the Golf Intervention for Veterans Exercise Study (GIVE)—Dr. Andrea Du Bois, Ph.D. Project Manager.
The Golf for Healthy Aging Study “examined a 10-week golf intervention program designed for ambulatory older adults (age 60-80).” The study was done in collaboration with the Monterey Park Golf Club in Los Angeles and utilized the services of a PGA of America Golf Professional whose lesson roster regularly includes seniors new to golf. This study was funded by the R&A.
According to the study details on the ITGS website, its primary aims were:
1. To enroll a sample of 15 healthy, ambulatory, older adults between 60 and 80 who did not currently play golf into a 10-week golf program designed for seniors.
2. To examine the efficacy (change in walking biomechanics, strength, flexibility, functional performance, balance, cognition and quality of life) of the golf program.
3. To examine the adherence and safety (report adverse events) of the 10-week program.
The Golf Intervention for Veterans Exercise Study “investigated the feasibility, adherence, efficacy and safety of a 12-week golf program designed for ambulatory older adult veterans from 60-80 years of age. This study was conducted in collaboration with the West Los Angeles Veterans Administration’s Heroes Golf Course and again utilized the services of PGA of America Golf Professional instructors and coaches.
In both the GHA and GIVE studies, the research team proved that partnerships of exercise professionals, PGA of America Golf Professionals and local public golf courses can facilitate feasible programs for older adults with high safety and high adherence. In addition, these programs saw the participants improve in lower body strength and power, balance, agility, walking speed, dual-task ability, memory, attention and psychosocial wellbeing. These results were measured with validated assessments and have been published in five separate peer-reviewed journal articles.
The GREENS study is building on these foundations by taking an intentionally designed golf program to the cancer survivor population. The scientific process may be complex, but the results and their practical applications are limitless. Golf is a captivating game enjoyed by millions in many different ways, which is why it is easy to integrate medical and exercise science principles into the sport to promote therapeutic effects for groups with different needs.
In today’s world, where mind-body health and human interactions are more important than ever, golf professionals should realize this ‘secret’ super power they have to help change lives and solve societal issues.
To better understand the purpose and mission of Cai and his colleagues, watch the following discussion on the Mind & Body Benefits of Recreational Exercise.
As this piece is being written, Dr. Salem has just recently retired, and Cai is in talks to assume those elevated duties. As mentioned, his countless hours of research on the GREENS study culminate this month. So with all that on his plate, we will be eager to learn more about the study, the status of his dissertation and the future roles he will take on at the ITGS.
“These studies always depend upon the funding we receive,” Cai explains, “so when we have the funds and interested parties eager to research these vital topics, we hope to keep the ITGS operating consistently and sharing the important data we uncover.”
He continues, “The public health issues discussed here and in our research are what we’re seeking to bring to the forefront in the golf industry. We want to highlight the benefits of using golf as a great therapeutic tool.”
In addition to The R&A, other contributors over the years include Semper Scientific Expert Consulting, Generation Golf, Bandini Foundation, Flightscope, Movement Performance Institute, the USC Division of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy and numerous individuals who’ve given through crowdfunding projects.
Check out the ITGS website for details of their work and for the donation link if you would like to contribute.
