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Running head: ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY FAIR

Assistive Technology Fair: Adaptive Golf Club and Glove Breanne N. Rowland Touro University Nevada

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Occupational Profile Client and Diagnosis The client is a 40 year old male who has lived in Albuquerque, New Mexico for the past 35 years. He is extremely family oriented and currently lives with his father in a single story home. The client experienced a Cerebral Vascular Accident (CVA) when he was a child, which left him with hemiplegia on the left side. The client previously worked at Lowes as a greeter. This job allowed him to reflect his great personality, sense of humor, passion for life, and extreme friendliness. He also has great communication and uses golf as a way to socially interact and meet new people. One of the clients passions in life is golfing. He has played for the past ten years and often plays with his occupational and physical therapists. He frequently engages in the game of golf as a leisure activity, socializing with his friends and father. He also loves to spend his time at the driving range. He has taken golfing lessons and participated in golfing rehabilitation programs to increase his performance. He has never participated in a competition or tournament, but hopes to in the future. The client experiences many difficulties when golfing due to his glove and grasp. He also experiences difficulties with the golf club. Recently, the client has also experienced weakness in his right hand with grasping objects, such as the golf club. This has been challenging for him because he depends on his right hand to function in everyday activities. The left side of his body is extremely weak and has increased flexion and tightness, specifically in his left hand. Currently, he receives money for occupational and physical therapy through the DD Waiver program in New Mexico. Other populations that would benefit from the use of an adapted golf glove or club are clients who have experienced a stroke, upper extremity amputation, hemiparesis, and arthritis.

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Golf may also be used as a way to increase balance, strength, quality of life, and social participation. Occupational Analysis The deficits in which the client is experiencing involves the functions of the sensory, neuromuscular-skeletal and movement-related functions. He is experiencing difficulties with functions, specifically on the left side of the body. The client is having problems with his sensory functions. He is having difficulties with visual functions, specifically his visual perceptual skills. His vision loss may also be due to the aging process and related aging problems. He is also experiencing problems with proprioceptive and vestibular functions. The client occasionally has difficulties with his body position, space, and balance. This is affecting balance, core control, and coordination when playing golf. The client is also experiencing many difficulties with his neuromusculoskeletal and movement-related functions. Due to hemiplegia on the left side, the client does not have the ability to use the left side of his body. He is also experiencing weakness in his right upper extremity. He is having complications in his joint mobility (limited range of motion), power (strength), endurance (walking and activity tolerance), and gait patterns. These have all influenced his physical endurance, aerobic capacity, and his level of fatigue. Deficits in performance skills include areas in motor and praxis skills, and sensory-perceptual skills. Purpose Adapted Golf Club and Glove The adapted golf club and golf glove were made specifically for the client. The purpose of the club and glove is to allow the client to be engaged in the game of golf. It will allow him to use golf as therapeutic rehabilitation and will permit his occupational performance to increase

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due to the specific features. It will also allow the client to participate in health promotion, rehabilitation, community re-integration, and will provide a more productive and successful way of golfing. The adapted golf club provides the client with an adjustable shaft which will allow for modification. It also provides a thicker and bigger grip, which is essential for the weakness in his right hand and grasp. It is also helpful for his vision loss. The club is also easier for him to carry and travel with. The adapted golf glove provides the client with the ability to grip onto the club with a more stable and firm grasp. This is essential for the client because of his ability to only use his right hand. It also provides additional stability to the weakness in his right hand. Features of the Equipment The features of the adapted equipment were specifically designed with the client in mind. They allow for the client to be more successful in his leisure activity of golf. The adapted golf club provides the ability to modify the length of the shaft of the golf club. The client is 411 and cannot carry multiple clubs around. Due to his vision loss, perceptual skills, and weakness in his right hand and grasp, the thickness of the grip will allow for more stability and grasp. The adapted glove will also provide more stability to the clients grip and grasp. It will allow him to hold on to the club without dropping it. This will also permit him to work on strengthening his right hand while providing more grasping capabilities. Both of these adaptive devices will allow the client to engage in a sport that he is passionate about. Literature Review According to the National Stroke Association (National Stroke Association, 2013), stroke is the fourth leading cause of death in the United States. It is also one of the leading causes of disability and long-term care in adults (National Stroke Association, 2013). In recent research, therapeutic golf rehabilitation was identified as a beneficial leisure activity that leads to

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opportunities to increasing self-esteem, physical activity, social interaction, and community rehabilitation. Additionally, therapeutic golf therapy has been successful in individuals who have experienced a stroke. Individuals often experience hemiplegia and sensory responses that lead to limitations in areas such as balance, functional mobility, and performance capability in all areas of occupation and all have a negative impact on an individuals quality of life (National Stroke Association, 2013). In a study, by Shatil, Ivanova, Mochizuki, & Garland, (2005), the effects of therapeutic golf rehabilitation were explored, specifically on golf performance, balance, and quality of life in individuals following a stroke. Participants were recruited based on a volunteer basis and were randomly assigned to one of two groups. The first group received therapeutic golf rehabilitation for six weeks, while the second group received six weeks of hand therapy, followed by six weeks of therapeutic golf rehabilitation. Golf performance was assessed based on the individuals wrist and club velocity, and swing arc length. The individuals balance was measured using the Berg Balance Scale, and the Chedoke-McMaster Postural Control Inventory. The individuals quality of life was assessed by the Sickness Impact Profile. Assessments were taken before, after therapeutic golf rehabilitation, and at an eight week follow up. The results concluded that golf performance, balance and quality of life improved significantly after therapeutic golf rehabilitation and were maintained at the eight week follow up. With these results in mind, therapeutic golf rehabilitation may help improve golf performance, balance, and quality of life for individuals who have experienced a stroke. In an article, by Shatil & Garland (2000), the use of muscle strengthening activities and motor relearning were identified as important factors used during therapeutic golf rehabilitation after a stroke. Quality of life and social participation were also mentioned as factors that

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continuously decrease over time following a stroke. Muscle strengthening in therapeutic golf rehabilitation often facilitates highly balanced and coordinated muscle activity. Therapeutic golf rehabilitation may offer an individual who has experienced a stroke benefits by promoting bilateral weight transference, midline weight-bearing postural control, rotation and range of motion of the shoulder girdle, trunk, and head, and hand-eye coordination. It may also increase motivation, quality of life, social participation, community-reintegration, and retraining of motor skills. Motor recovery was declared as an important goal in therapeutic golf rehabilitation. Stages were described in motor recovery referring to the levels of motor control of the individual. These stages were used as a guide for the selection of strengthening activities required for the individual during therapeutic golf rehabilitation. Each level of the strengthening stages took into account the individuals motor control level, muscle activation control, and biomechanical requirements of golf. Research has shown that therapeutic golf rehabilitation can support individuals who have experienced a stroke. It also may help increase self-esteem, physical activity, social interaction, and community rehabilitation. Using therapeutic golf rehabilitation with conjunction to therapy may also help increase an individuals muscle strength, golf performance, balance, and quality of life. Analysis Cost Analysis and Materials The materials for the adaptive golf club and golf glove were all obtained from local businesses and were affordable. The total cost of the golf glove was $24.00. The total cost of the golf club was $ 26.00. The total cost of both adaptive devices was $50.00. The Velcro was purchased at Michaels Craft Store, and the golf club was purchased at a local GoodWill store.

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The Golf glove, the walking stick, and the easy grip were all purchased at Sports Authority. The thread and needle, gorilla tape, and construction glue was previously purchased and on hand.

Golf Glove

BEFORE

AFTER

ITEM
Golf Glove Velcro (bulk) Thread and Needle Total Price: $24.00 $12.99 $10.99 Previously owned

PRICE

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Golf Club: BEFORE AFTER

ITEM
Walking Stick Golf club (used) Gorilla Tape (bulk) Easy grip Construction Glue Total Price: $26.00 $15.99 $4.00

PRICE

Previously owned $6.00 Previously owned

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Analysis of Other Products Golf Glove:

$40.00 at: http://www.achievableconc epts.us/usa_golf.htm Golf Club:

$88.00 at: http://chpsw.temple.edu/node/ 1046

$24.00 Breannes adapted Golf glove

$59.95 at: http://www.uprightgolf.com

$89.95 at: http://www.pickupputter.com/

$26.00 Breannes adapted Golf club

Resources Available There are multiple resources available to individuals who would like to learn more about adaptive golf equipment, therapeutic golf rehabilitation programs, and playing golf after experiencing a stroke, or other life changing events. These include: National Alliance for Accessible Golf o www.accessgolf.org

Modified form of golf. The rules are simplified to aid in ease of learning and playing golf. o www.snaggolf.com

Modifications for rules to the game of golf for golfers with disabilities.

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o http://www.usga.org/rules/disabilities/Modification-To-The-Rules-Of-Golf-ForGolfers-With-Disabilities/ Adjustable golf clubs for use by golfers with disabilities o www.golf-country.com/adaptive_golf/Adaptive_Golf_Club.htm Increasing awareness of inclusion of people with disabilities in leisure activities. o http://www.indiana.edu/~nca/monographs/10golf.shtml Adapted gold equipment o http://www.forehope.org/why/adaptive_equipment.html

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References American Occupational Therapy Association (2008). Occupational therapy practice framework: Domain and Process (2nd ed.). Baltimore, MD: AOTA Press. National Stroke Association. (2013). Stroke 101 fact sheet. Retrieved from http://www.stroke.org/site/DocServer/STROKE101_2009.pdf?docID=4541 Shatil, S., Ivanova, T., Mochizuki, G., & Garland, S. (2005). Effects of therapeutic golf rehabilitation on golf performance, balance, and quality of life in individuals following stroke: pilot study. Physiotherapy Canada, 57(2), 101-112. Shatil, S., & Garland, S. (2000). Strengthening in a therapeutic golf program for individuals following stroke. Topics In Geriatric Rehabilitation, 15(3), 83-94.