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News — A novel study at HSS Florida, the West Palm Beach location of Hospital for Special Surgery, is utilizing a high-tech golf simulator to evaluate players with arthritis both before and after joint replacement surgery.

The study is recruiting patients with knee, hip or shoulder arthritis to determine how the disease affects club swing and other components of the golf game. Participants will be assessed again following joint replacement and subsequent rehabilitation to determine the effect of surgery on their ability to play golf.

“High-end golf simulators have optically enhanced radar tracking technology that provides a considerable amount of data in terms of golf swing, ball launch and ball flight,” explains , director of the shoulder division and co-medical director at HSS Florida, and the study’s principal investigator. “Our simulator employs advanced technology and complex algorithms to deliver a realistic and immersive virtual golf experience.”

The researchers will use the simulator in combination with a highly sophisticated system for motion analysis known as DARI that uses high-speed cameras to capture the golfer’s movements from multiple angles. “We will perform motion analysis of the torso, shoulder, elbow, hip and knee while simultaneously looking at vital information provided by the golf simulator such as ball spin, distance, trajectory and smash factor,” Dr. Simovitch explains.

Rodger Hess, an avid golfer and one of Dr. Simovitch’s patients, had shoulder replacement surgery last month to relieve painful arthritis. The 86-year-old Jupiter resident, who has been playing golf since he was a teenager and continued to play up until his surgery, said he found the study interesting. So, a few days before his left shoulder replacement, he played virtual golf on the simulator and data was collected.

“I’m curious to see what my range of motion is after my recovery compared to before the surgery,” Mr. Hess says. “Maybe I’ll be able to turn my body more, and it will improve.” Since shoulder replacement surgery entails months of physical therapy and healing, Mr. Hess is scheduled to be back on the golf simulator in May.

The HSS Florida study aims to follow up to 300 patients over two years to monitor their progress. Dr. Simovitch notes that down the road, their findings could lead to changes in rehabilitation to maximize outcomes for golfers after joint replacement or even lead to modifications in how the surgery is performed.

Outside of the study, HSS Rehabilitation and Performance facilities in New York City and Florida use their golf simulators to help devoted players get back in the game after an injury or surgery. The objective information it provides can be a valuable supplement to the doctor’s recommendations and rehab program developed by a physical therapist or exercise physiologist.  

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About HSS

HSS is the world’s leading academic medical center focused on musculoskeletal health. At its core is Hospital for Special Surgery, nationally ranked No. 1 in orthopedics (for the 15th consecutive year), No. 3 in rheumatology by U.S. 麻豆传媒 & World Report (2024-2025), and the best pediatric orthopedic hospital in NY, NJ and CT by U.S. 麻豆传媒 & World Report “Best Children’s Hospitals” list (2024-2025). In a survey of medical professionals in more than 20 countries by 麻豆传媒week, HSS is ranked world #1 in orthopedics for a fifth consecutive year (2025). Founded in 1863, the Hospital has the lowest readmission rates in the nation for orthopedics, and among the lowest infection and complication rates. HSS was the first in New York State to receive Magnet Recognition for Excellence in Nursing Service from the American Nurses Credentialing Center five consecutive times. An affiliate of Weill Cornell Medical College, HSS has a main campus in New York City and facilities in New Jersey, Connecticut and in the Long Island and Westchester County regions of New York State, as well as in Florida. In addition to patient care, HSS leads the field in research, innovation and education. The HSS Research Institute comprises 20 laboratories and 300 staff members focused on leading the advancement of musculoskeletal health through prevention of degeneration, tissue repair and tissue regeneration. In addition, more than 200 HSS clinical investigators are working to improve patient outcomes through better ways to prevent, diagnose, and treat orthopedic, rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases. The HSS Innovation Institute works to realize the potential of new drugs, therapeutics and devices. The HSS Education Institute is a trusted leader in advancing musculoskeletal knowledge and research for physicians, nurses, allied health professionals, academic trainees, and consumers in more than 165 countries. The institution is collaborating with medical centers and other organizations to advance the quality and value of musculoskeletal care and to make world-class HSS care more widely accessible nationally and internationally. www.hss.edu.