Energy expenditure and sex differences of golf playing

Abstract

This file was dowloaded from the institutional repository Brage NIH -brage.bibsys.no/nih Zunzer, S. C., von Duvillard, S., Tschakert, G., Mangus, B., Hofmann, P. (2013). Energy expenditure and sex differences of golf playing. Energy expenditure and sex differences in golf 2 AbstractThe purpose of the study was to assess the golf walking intensity and energy expenditure (EE) in a large heterogeneous group of healthy men and women of varying age and golf handicap, playing and walking one round of either 9 or 18-holes of golf on 2 hilly and 2 flat 18-hole championship courses. Forty-two males and 24 females completed an incremental cycle-ergometer exercise test to determine exercise performance markers.The heart rate (HR), duration, distance, walking speed, ascent and descent were measured via a GPS/HR monitor during the game. When playing 9 or 18-holes of golf, independent of the golf course design, the average HR was not significantly different between men vs. women or the subgroups and the intensities were light (<3 METs). The total EE of all subjects was not significant for hilly (834±344 kcal) vs. flat courses (833±295 kcal) whereas male players (926±292 kcal) expended significantly greater EE than female players (556±180 kcal). Playing golf is suggested to yield in health benefits due to the high volume of physical activity although the intensity was well below the recommended limits. Golf may have other health related benefits that may be unrelated to the lower intensity level of the activity.

The relationships between golf and health: a scoping review

“…Studies quantifying golf by Metabolic Equivalent of Task (MET) value generally agree it offers moderate intensity aerobic activity,36 38–46 although with a wide range of MET values quoted (2.5–8.0) some studies classify it as low intensity47 48 or high intensity 4950 The mean of the range of estimates is 4.5 METs.…”

“…42 43 47–49 51–53 56–59 Golfers walking 18 holes take between 11 245 and 16 66736 49 60 61 steps, walking 4–8 miles,36 48 49 51 57 60 62 while those playing and riding a golf cart accrue 6280 steps61 or just under 4 miles 51. There is poor agreement in the literature assessing intensity of golf by heart rate, with a majority classifying golf as low intensity,47 58 63–65 but others quantifying it as moderate to high intensity 3657 66 67…”

“…Time playing golf without riding a golf cart is non-sedentary time,36 38–45 47–49 and although golfers riding a golf cart do gain some health-enhancing physical activity, golfers walking the course gain more.…”

Evaluating of the Axivity accelerometers algorithm in measurement of physical activity intensity in boys and girls

“…There are limited studies which have compared the MET in boys and girls but this result is broadly consistent with other studies which comparing the energy expenditure and METs in male and females during different activities. For example a study result by Zunzer et al (2013) showed that male golf players had significantly higher energy expenditure and MET rather than female participants. 41 Based on the evidence and current study MET result, we expected girls to have a lower physical activity intensity during per shuttle run lap but accelerometer data showed that female participants had a significantly higher SVM gs rather than boys per shuttle run level.…”

“…For example a study result by Zunzer et al (2013) showed that male golf players had significantly higher energy expenditure and MET rather than female participants. 41 Based on the evidence and current study MET result, we expected girls to have a lower physical activity intensity during per shuttle run lap but accelerometer data showed that female participants had a significantly higher SVM gs rather than boys per shuttle run level. It might be because of the running economy or lower coordination level in girls.…”