19% less PSI bar pressure in the Spine with "Setup Engineering" golf clubs.
Intensive planning and preparations took over a year for Dr Thomas Hoogland, in cooperation with the Mammendorfer Institute, to develop a sterile sensor for the purpose of measuring the bar pressure within the intervertebral discs. In July, 2006, in a truly unique experiment, the PSI (pounds per square inch) pressure within the intervertebral disc was measured live on Golf Professional Jody Morris.
In the sterile operating theatre of the Alpha Clinic in Munich, the two specially developed pressure sensors with a diameter of 1,45mm were surgically implanted in the centre of the intervertebral discs, L4-L5 and L5-S1, of 53 year old Jody Morris, PGA Golf Professional and co- founder of the company "MTM-GOLF" (Made To Measure - Golf)
The first measurements were received whilst still in the operating theatre, after which measurements were recorded from various everyday activities, as well as chiropractic exercises and several physical training and exercise methods. The next destination was the golf course.
To receive enough relevant data 5 shots were hit with a "Custom Fitted" 7 iron and also with a "Setup Engineered" 7 iron. The recorded data showed that the anatomically proportioned "Setup Engineered" 7 iron reduced PSI pressure in the intervertebral disc L5 ? S1 by 19% in comparison to the "Custom Fitted" 7 iron
Following the experiment Dr Thomas Hoogland stated:
"Golfers can reduce the negative forces to the spine and discs by as much as 20% by using Setup Engineered golf clubs. I can only recommend that golfers play with golf clubs that are proportioned to their individual anatomical dimensions."
Further tests showed no significant difference between golf bags carried with one strap compared with the rucksack style strap. The rucksack style strap encourages a more bent forwards position of the upper body to compensate for weight of the golf bag which disproportionately increases the forces to the discs. One strap creates a one sided force which can lead to poor posture and increased tiredness, and therefore, increases the risk of injury. A golf-trolley on the other hand reduced strain to the discs significantly, independent of whether the trolley was being pushed or pulled.