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Benefits seen for patients with knee OA who walked golf course, used golf cart
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According to a presentation at the Association of Academic Physiatrists Annual Meeting, an increase in joint inflammation was seen when patients with knee osteoarthritis walked a golf course; however, for both walking the course and the use of a motorized golf cart, there were signs of cartilage remodeling effects. The study also demonstrated a potential need to individualize golfing modes of transportation based on patient symptoms and diseases.
“Although walking the course provides the best cardiovascular benefits, in certain individuals who have significant knee pain from their osteoarthritis [OA], using a golf cart still easily fulfills the national daily physical activity guidelines,” Prakash Jayabalan MD, PhD, told Healio.com/Orthopedics.
Researchers had 10 patients with knee OA complete two 18-hole rounds of golf. For one round, patients had to walk the course. For the second round, they used a motorized golf cart. There were five control patients who only walked when they golfed the course for the two rounds. During the round, investigators measured step count, heart rate, rate of perceived exertion and pain score. At baseline, the ninth hole and the 18th hole, blood/serum was collected to test for OA biomarkers.
Investigators found a significantly higher rating of perceived exertion, step count and duration of moderate/vigorous intense activity in patients who walked the course; however, there was a slight but significant increase in pain. Both walking and use of the golf cart caused an increase in a cartilage breakdown marker from baseline to the end of the round. At the completion of the round walking the course, inflammatory markers significantly increased. Both walking and use of the golf cart significantly increased the MMP-3 and MMP-13 cartilage degradative enzymes. Investigators noted there were no biomarker changes observed in the control patients. – by Monica Jaramillo
Disclosures: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.
Reference:
Jayabalan P, et al. Acute physiological effects of walking the golf course vs. using a golf cart in subjects with knee osteoarthritis. Presented at: Association of Academic Physiatrists Annual Meeting; Feb. 19-23, 2019; Puerto Rico.