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THERAPY Crown Rice wasn’t feeling too good about himself. Like many men his age, he was slightly overweight and had to confront the everyday aches and pains of aging. And like many of his fellow veterans, the 68-year-old retired U.S. Army Specialist, who completed one tour of duty in Vietnam, was dealing with the long-lasting mental effects of combat. “I was just down and out,” explains Rice, who came across a flyer looking for volunteers for a new study investigating the effects of playing golf on the physical, psychosocial and cognitive health of older war veterans. “I thought, let me try golfing, maybe that will just help me with my morale,” he says. The program, a 12-week intervention run by associate professor George Salem, pairs up veterans with a PGA professional for small-group golf lessons. “I was really enthusiastic about learning something again, like a little boy trying to learn how to ride his bicycle,” Rice explains, with a laugh. Rice was one of the study’s first two participants, with another four currently being recruited. As part of their investigation, researchers are assessing differences in participants’ agility, cardiovascular endurance, balance, hip muscle performance, grip strength and more as a result of the intervention. Salem and his team hope to use this collected information to examine the feasibility, compliance and safety of the golf program, with hopes that their data will eventually lead to the development of senior golf fitness programs. Golf is an ideal comprehensive exercise activity for seniors, Salem explains. It fosters socialization, is likely to be adhered to and improves concentration and quality of life. Salem hopes his study leads to a greater understanding of these benefits. After completing the program, Rice says he feels much more serene and mentally focused. He also says he gets around the course a little easier than he used to. “The study gave me motivation,” he adds. “In fact, I’m going to start going to the gym and try to lose some weight.” Learn more about the study or donate by visiting pt.usc.edu/GolfScience/
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