Multiple Cervical Spinous Process Fractures in a Novice Golf Player

Avulsion of spinous process, also called Clay-shoveler's fracture, is most prevalent among those engaged in hard physical labor. To the best of the author's knowledge, only one case of multiple spinous process fractures of the upper thoracic spine in a novice golfer has been reported. A 45-year-old female presented with intractable posterior neck pain. The patient experienced a sharp, sudden pain on the neck while swinging a golf club, immediately after the club head struck the ground. Dynamic cervical radiographic findings were C6 and C7 spinous process fractures. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed C6 and C7 spinous process fractures without spinal cord pathology. The patient was treated with pain medications and cervical bracing. The patient's pain gradually improved. The injury mechanism was speculated to be similar to Clay-shoveler's fracture. Lower cervical spinous process fractures can be associated with a golf swing. If the patient complains of long lasting neck pain and has a history of golf activity, further study should be conducted to rule out lower cervical spinous fracture.

Partial Tear of Pronator Teres Muscle in Amateur Golfer: A Case Report / 대한스포츠의학회지

Golf is low demanded activity and becoming more popular. But it often occur problems in back, shoulder, elbow and wrist. Golf injuries in professional golfer are related overuse and frequency, while in amateur are related wrong swing technique. Also muscle activities in swing are different between professional and amateur. We report partial tear of pronator teres in middle aged amateur golfer with literatures.

Characteristics of Pain in Professional Golfers Who Visited a Mobile Medical Clinic during the Season

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the distribution of pain and its characteristics reported by professional golfers during playing season. METHOD: From April 2006 to August 2007, we operated a mobile clinic equipped with a physical therapy unit during the professional golf competition. For professional golfers who had visited the clinic during this period of time, we investigated distribution of pain and its characteristics through interviews and medical records. RESULTS: A total of 118 professional golfers visited the mobile clinic during the service period. The analysis of pain distribution showed that spine (56.3%) including low back, cervical, thoracic spine was the most common area of pain complaints, followed by upper extremity (33.1%), lower extremity (9.1%) in order. Based on the detailed anatomical distribution, low back was the most common pain site (22.5%). In case of the upper extremity pain group, left side pain was more prevalent than that of right side. Compared with spine pain group, upper extremity pain group was significantly older and also had more professional career (p<0.05). This implies that upper extremity injury may relatively caused from repetitive stress of golf swing. CONCLUSION: The results imply that golf imposes a relatively high burden on spine and upper extremity in professional golfers.