Investigating golfers' return to the sport after joint replacement surgery

Golfing After Orthopaedic Surgery: a Longitudinal Follow-up (GOLF) Project

Observational Hospital for Special Surgery, New York · NCT05675618

This study looks at how well golfers can return to playing after having hip, knee, or shoulder surgery to see how their recovery goes over the first year.

Quick facts

Study typeObservational
Enrollment432 (estimated)
Ages18 Years and up
SexAll
SponsorHospital for Special Surgery, New York Academic / other
Locations2 sites (New York, New York and 1 other locations)
Trial IDNCT05675618 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

The GOLF study is a multicenter, prospective investigation focused on golfers who undergo hip, knee, or shoulder arthroplasty. It aims to assess the prevalence and level of golfers' return to the sport at various postoperative intervals: 6 weeks, 3 months, 6 months, and 12 months. Participants, who are active golfers and have a desire to return to golf, will be recruited from outpatient and pre-assessment clinics and will receive information about the study prior to their surgery. This prospective approach is designed to provide a clearer understanding of the recovery process compared to previous retrospective studies.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates are golfers aged 18 and older who are scheduled for specific joint replacement surgeries and wish to return to golfing postoperatively.

Not a fit: Patients who do not wish to return to golf after surgery or have medical conditions that impair their ability to play golf may not benefit from this study.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this study could provide valuable insights into the recovery process for golfers after joint replacement, potentially improving rehabilitation protocols.

How similar studies have performed: Previous studies have primarily reported on return to golf retrospectively, making this prospective approach novel and potentially more informative.

Eligibility criteria

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

* Age 18+ years
* A self-reported golfer
* Able to consent to treatment
* Indicated for one of the following surgical procedures: total hip arthroplasty, hip resurfacing, revision hip arthroplasty, total knee arthroplasty, unicompartmental knee arthroplasty, revision knee arthroplasty, total shoulder arthroplasty, reverse shoulder arthroplasty, shoulder resurfacing arthroplasty, revision shoulder arthroplasty

Exclusion Criteria:

* Inability to complete follow-up questionnaires
* Declining operative management
* No desire to return to golf postoperatively
* Medical problem that affects the patient's ability to play golf (e.g., angina, shortness of breath, etc.)

Where this trial is running

New York, New York and 1 other locations

Study contacts

How to participate

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.
Conditions Hip OsteoarthritisKnee OsteoarthritisShoulder Osteoarthritisreturn to golf, arthroplasty
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.