Making sense of movement differences in junior golfers

A difference is a finding, not a forecast

A movement or force difference between sides can be worth recording. It does not, on its own, establish that a junior golfer will be injured or needs a specific treatment.

A systematic review of inter-limb asymmetry thresholds found that commonly used thresholds often lacked an adequate evidence basis. That supports caution about treating an arbitrary percentage as a universal clinical rule. Read the review.

Make comparisons useful

The task, testing conditions, familiarity with the movement, and recent activity matter when comparing measurements. For developing athletes, growth and changes in training also help explain why a result may differ over time.

The assessment should record the relevant context instead of turning one result into a high-risk label.

Keep the athlete at the center

A junior assessment begins with the player’s goals, relevant history, and current activities. Parent or guardian participation and consent requirements are arranged before the visit. Findings and recommendations should be understandable to the family.

Any sharing with a coach or another clinician needs an appropriate authorization process. A useful baseline is part of a conversation, not a recruiting claim or a promise of an injury-free season.

Learn about junior assessments.