Chicago-based Midwest Orthopaedics Minimally Invasive Spine Institute at Rush and Oak Brook, Ill-based Athletico Golf are conducting a return-to-play study for golfers needing spine surgery due to back or neck pain.
Here are four things to know:
1. Spine surgeons Kern Singh, MD, and Frank Phillips, MD, will lead the study alongside Joe Estes, PT, DPT, of Athletico.
2. The study will analyze three-dimensional motion to evaluate a golfer's game before and after spine surgery.
3. Athletico's Golf Performance Center staff will evaluate a participant's swing, strength and flexibility.
4. The researchers will analyze patients before surgery, six weeks post-surgery, three months post-surgery and six months post-surgery.
"Having such detailed information will allow us to define expectations following surgery, as well as protocols for safe return to play," said Dr. Singh.