Electromyographic analysis of forearm muscles in professional and amateur golfers.

Background: No fine-wire electromyography studies have been performed to compare the activity of forearm muscles in professional golfers versus amateur golfers.

Hypothesis: The fine-wire electromyographic activity of forearm muscles differs between professional and amateur golfers during the different phases of the golf swing.

Study Design: Controlled laboratory study.

Methods: Ten male right-handed amateur golfers and 10 male right-handed professional golfers without history of elbow symptoms were tested with fine-wire electromyographic electrodes inserted into the flexor carpi radialis, pronator teres, flexor carpi ulnaris, and extensor carpi radialis brevis muscles of both forearms. Electromyographic data were synchronized with video data, and the muscle activity was expressed as a percentage of maximum manual muscle test activity for each phase of the golf swing.

Results: Compared with professional golfers, amateur golfers had more muscle activity in the pronator teres of the trail arm (right arm in a right-handed golfer) in the forward swing phase (120.9% maximum manual muscle test vs 57.4% maximum manual muscle test; P = .04) and a trend toward increased activity in the acceleration phase (104.8% maximum manual muscle test vs 53.1% maximum manual muscle test; P = .08). In contrast, professional golfers had more muscle activity in the pronator teres of the lead arm (left arm in a right-handed golfer) in the acceleration phase (88.1% maximum manual muscle test vs 36.3% maximum manual muscle test; P = .03) and a trend toward increased activity in the early follow-through phase (58.1% maximum manual muscle test vs 28.8% maximum manual muscle test; P = .06).

Conclusion: Pronator teres muscle activity in the golf swing differs significantly between professional and amateur golfers.

Clinical Relevance: Exercises with an emphasis on stretching and strengthening of the pronator teres may be useful in treating and/or preventing medial epicondylitis in amateur golfers.