Exploring the effect of adaptive golf on physical and psychosocial health outcomes after injury or acquired disability: A pre-post intervention study

Problem: Adaptive sports can lead to positive health and rehabilitation outcomes for individuals with disabilities (Isidoro-Cabañas et al., 2023). In adaptive golf research, there is a lack of assessment of physical and psychosocial health outcomes and understanding of the overall rehabilitation implications. Objective: This capstone project aims to address the gap in research regarding the health and rehabilitation implications of adaptive golf by exploring its effect on physical and psychosocial health outcomes for individuals after an injury or acquired disability. ACOTE Area: To satisfy requirements for the occupational therapy doctoral capstone by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE), this project aims to provide comprehensive exposure to the following area of occupational therapy: research skills (Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education, 2023). Methods: The study topic was identified through an extensive literature review and a formal needs assessment. A pre-post intervention study with dose-response methodology was conducted in which the sample (n=3) participated in adaptive golf in varying doses over 12 weeks. An array of health outcomes was assessed before and after the intervention through various occupational therapy-based outcome measures, and the data were analyzed with the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS). Results: The study found statistically significant differences in range of motion, strength, and occupational performance after the intervention. Additionally, 100% of the sample strongly agreed that they were satisfied with the impact of adaptive golf on their physical and psychosocial health. Conclusions and Relevance: Adaptive golf can positively impact health, rehabilitation, and overall well-being. Participation in adaptive golf should be promoted, given the valuable impact it can have for individuals with acquired disabilities across various domains of health and rehabilitation.