The effects of wearing myofascial meridian stimulation banding during integrated golf functional fitness training on the golf swing in adolescents with developmental disabilities

Objective: This study aimed to examine the effects of golf-integrated functional fitness training with or without myofascial meridian-stimulating banding wear on golf swing performance in adolescents with developmental disabilities. Design: Quasi-experimental design Methods: Eleven female adolescents with developmental disabilities (aged 13–17 years) residing in a state-supported facility were randomly assigned to either a banding wear group (n = 6) or a non-wearing group (n = 5). Both groups participated in a 16-week golf-integrated functional fitness training program. Swing performance was assessed using the SG Screen Golf Korea system, which measured driving distance, ball speed, left–right angle, and up–down angle. Before testing, participants performed 10 minutes of stretching and 10 practice swings, followed by 10 swings with a 7-iron, with average values used for analysis. Results: After a golf-integrated functional fitness program, the myofascial banding-wear group demonstrated significant within-group improvements in swing distance and ball speed, while the non-banding group showed a significant increase in swing distance (p＜0.05). However, no between-group differences were observed for swing distance or ball speed (p＞0.05). In addition, left–right and up–down swing angles did not show significant changes in either group (p＞0.05). Conclusions: These findings indicate that golf-integrated functional fitness training can enhance swing performance in adolescents with developmental disabilities. Moreover, the additional use of myofascial meridian-stimulating banding wear may support balance, intermuscular coordination, and directional control during the swing, suggesting its potential as a complementary aid for optimizing golf performance in this population.