As men age, lowering our blood pressure, cholesterol and blood glucose becomes more important as our individual risk of cardiovascular disease increases.
Whilst many exercises, diets and lifestyle modifications are promoted by experts and lay people alike for reducing our chronic disease risk, but what if a golf prescription formed part of your health care plan?
What if a Medicare rebate existed for golf club memberships, or we introduced new population groups to the game of golf due to its positive cardiovascular properties?
Now I haven’t played a round of golf for over 10-years, but after reading the article below- I will hopefully change that!
Sports scientists from the University of Eastern Finland have published research comparing the cardiovascular effects of playing a round of golf to walking.
The researchers measured blood pressure, cholesterol and blood glucose levels to see which activity has greater measurable effects on older adult participants. It’s a fascinating read, and a summary of the study design and results are described below.
Study Aim
This study investigated whether a single bout of three different types of aerobic exercise (AE) in terms of intensity, duration and energy expenditure (Golf, Nordic Walking or Walking) affects the following cardiometabolic markers:
- Systolic Blood Pressure (sBP)
- Diastolic Blood Pressure (dBP)
- Blood Glucose (BG)
- Lipid levels such as: total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TGs), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and high-density lipo- protein cholesterol (HDL-C).
Golf Study Participants
A total of 25 participants (16 male and 9 female) were enrolled in this randomised cross-over experimental study. The inclusion criteria for this study were:
- Male or female, aged 65-years or older.
- BMI <35kg/m2
- Currently playing a minimum of 18-holes of golf per week, with a golf handicap ≤ 36.
Golf Study Design
This research study was designed as a 5-day randomised cross- over study. Healthy older golfers (n=25) completed three different exercise trials in a real-life environment, in random order and at a self-selected pace.
The participants were randomised into 3 groups. Over a two-week period, they completed 3 set aerobic exercise activities. The order of activities was then switched on week two.
These three activities were:
- 18-hole round of golf (day 1)
- 6 km Nordic Walk (day 3)
- 6km walk (day 5)
The participants fasted overnight (10 hours) so that accurate blood glucose measurements could be collected in the morning before any AE were commenced.
Vital signs measurements (including blood pressure, HR) and blood pathology were collected before and after AE activities.
Golf Study Results
Acute responses to exercise-specific outcomes:
Golf was demonstrated in this study to be a ‘more effective exercise than Nordic walking or walking based on energy expenditure, total steps taken and distance’.
The step count on average for golf was higher (13446) compared to Nordic walking (7090) and walking (6866).
No significant differences were seen between Nordic walking and walking.
Acute responses to blood glucose and blood lipids:
Golf had a more positive effect on TGs and HDL-C, than Nordic walking or walking.
Golf also had a more positive effect on blood glucose compared with walking. Interestingly, it was found that golf seems to have a longer effect on TC compared with Nordic walking and walking (despite golf being of lower intensity than either).
Acute responses to blood pressure:
All three exercise disciplines reduced systolic blood pressure (sBP).
Nordic walking and walking (but not golf) also reduced diastolic blood pressure (dBP).
Golf Study Conclusion
The researchers concluded this interesting study by noting that all 3 exercise activities had positive effects on the cardiovascular profile of the participants.
They reported, ‘the lower exercise intensity of golf compared with Nordic walking and walking, the longer duration and higher total energy expenditure involved in playing golf seem to positively affect lipid profile and glucose metabolism’.
‘These age-appropriate AEs can be recommended to healthy older adults as a form of health-enhancing physical activity to prevent CVDs and can also be used as a treatment strategy to improve cardiometabolic health among those who already have a CVD’.
Expert Opinion: Devlin Higgins, Accredited Exercise Physiologist
The outcomes of this study make sense from a physiological point of view. The combination of pulling a weighted trolley full of golf clubs while regularly walking for 18 holes, in addition to the repeated upper body and lower body muscle exertion required to power a golf swing, result in a well-rounded aerobic workout with elements of strength and power training that are excellent for health outcomes.
An added bonus is the psycho-social health benefits of golf done in a group, creating a natural holistic environment to enhance health outcomes, as demonstrated by this study.
The value of subsidised sports memberships as part of a prescribed health management plan should be considered and could have potential to relieve the burden on our healthcare system.
GP’s often organise GP management plans for Medicare subsidised sessions with a clinical exercise physiologist for people that require exercise as part of their health management; but subsidised memberships to sport clubs such as golf would likely enhance self-management and independence for people in the community.
