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Three-Dimensional Knee Joint Kinetics During a Golf Swing

Influences of Skill Level and Footwear

Charles J. Gatt, Jr, MD^*, Michael J. Pavol, MEng^,, Richard D. Parker, MD^* and Mark D. Grabiner, PhD^,

^* Orthopaedic Surgery, Section of Sports Medicine
Biomedical Engineering, The Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland
Biomedical Engineering Center, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio

Address correspondence and reprint requests to Mark D. Grabiner, PhD, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Wb3, The Cleveland Clinic Foundation, 9500 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44195

This study characterized knee joint kinetics during a golf swing and determined 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 from 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 flexion and internal rotation moments were significantly correlated to skill level. The magnitude of some of the peak loads at the knee during the golf swing approached those reached during activities prohibited until late-stage knee rehabilitation. We concluded the following: The type of shoe worn and the skill level of the golfer need not be considered in deciding time to return to golfing; however, the leg that is recovering from surgery or injury should be considered. The most stressful phase of the golf swing, relative to the knee, is the downswing. There is probably no "normal" swing; each golfer seems to possess consistent, characteristic, patterns of knee loading.