Golf Performance Program

Several TAI therapists are TPI Certified Golf Fitness Instructors through the Titleist Performance Institute (TPI). TPI is a PGA and LPGA approved golf specific training program.  Clients who visit one of our instructors for a golf performance assessment go through, among other things, a biomechanical evaluation and develop of a custom exercise program to optimize swing results while minimizing risk of injury.

Our instructors are physical therapists and avid golfers so they not only have an interest in the sport, but an expertise in evaluating and treating biomechanical injuries and issues. Jeff Houser, DPT – a therapist at our Seattle Physical Therapy clinic and one of our TPI instructors – has highlighted some of the program’s features:

• Initial evaluation (60-minute scheduled appointment) of your physical ability as it relates to the golf swing. This 13-point physical evaluation allows the instructor to identify potential weaknesses or mobility limitations that can create erroneous swing patterns, which could be detrimental to your body. This evaluation is both for the golfer in pain, as well as the non-painful golfer who wants to maximize his or her potential by increasing their swing efficiency.

• Videotaping of your swing to identify major swing errors that may be creating your pain. There is also the option of working with a golf professional (through TPI) for a more complete diagnosis of swing faults and ideal corrections.

• Development of a Golf Performance Fitness Program. This is another 60-minute appointment where the therapist instructor and client review the findings from the above to then develop a specific exercise program to address weaknesses or mobility restrictions.

• Access to MyTPI.com, a site where you can view your swing, your personalized exercise program, and all progressions that are made, as well as get tips from the leaders in golf fitness at the Titleist Performance Institute. This is a home based program that will usually run over the course of 16 weeks.

More information on this golf performance program and other tips for active golfers will be found in the upcoming edition of Therapeutic Outlook, TAI’s bi-annual magazine that covers issues in PT, health, and wellness. You can receive your free issues in hard copy or via email. Thanks for reading!

Fairwood Physical Therapy and the GRAVITY SYSTEM®

General wellness programming is an exciting trend in outpatient physical therapy nowadays. Well designed and executed programs can not only draw new potential patients to a clinic, but can also keep patients healthy and active in the clinic even after therapy discharge. Several of our practices have endeavored upon various wellness and fitness programs in the last few years. In July 2007, our Fairwood Physical Therapy clinic in Renton, WA began offering GRAVITY classes. I recently connected with Jeannette Baker, NASM, CPT, a personal trainer who teaches the classes at Fairwood PT and asked her to explain the GRAVITY program and share some of its successes…

Lori: How does the GRAVITY program work?

Jeannette: The classes are taught mostly using a machine system called Gravity. If you’re familiar with the Total Gym that sells for home use . . . the Gravity machines are similar but a little more versatile and built for a health club/physical therapy environment. You can read more about the system on their website. The classes work using your muscles to lift a variable portion of your body weight and focus a lot on core strength as we build muscle strength, cardio endurance, and flexibility. During the course of the classes we also do some complementary exercises off of the machines to work on balance and core strength as well. Sometimes the classes are a total body workout and sometimes we spend a session focusing on a specific area of the body. I try to tailor the classes to each participant.

Lori: How many people at a time participate in a GRAVITY class?

Jeannette: We have a maximum of 4 participants in any given session so there is LOTS of one-on-one attention. The small classes also allow the participants to get to know one-another and have lots of fun! I have some clients that have been with me for 4 sessions now and thoroughly love the program!  The other instructors and I are constantly working to find new and fun things to do with the classes on the machines so that we don’t get bored too

Lori: So how long is a session?

Jeannette: We have our program structured in 10-week sessions – either coming twice a week for 30 minutes each time or once a week for an hour. We also do offer drop-in sessions (as space allows) but the pre-requisite for that is either having gone through our program once already or having a personal training session first with me on the machines so that you know the ins and outs of the machines (working on them, adjusting the machines, knowing some of the moves, etc) when you drop in. I also do individual personal training sessions with people. The group classes are offered in the early morning hours, evening hours, and on the weekends.

Lori: What benefit have you seen this program have on the participants? and for the clinic?

Jeannette: The initial measurable benefit that I have seen from the clients is their drop in body calculation figures . . . body fat, measurements, weight, blood pressure, etc. (All are measured at the start and end of each 10-week program – we’ve seen some amazing changes!) But far more impacting than those numbers has been the increase in self esteem that I have seen in each client.  At the start of the program many of the clients are pretty quiet and timid about the exercises and the levels that they push themselves. However, after they get through a few weeks of classes, a few “test days”, and some “workout pains”. . . they start to see their hard work pay off and become hungry for more and learn to enjoy the journey along the way. They learn how to push themselves appropriately, how to deal with and overcome minor setbacks in their program, and become proud and confident about the person they are. Just this last weekend I had a client come off the machine with a grin ear-to-ear after doing a set of pull-ups at an incline level 8 (the machines progress from level 1-8). She told me the first week she doubted that she would ever be able to even accomplish the exercise on a level 3; and now in her second session she has already made it to level 8! She then giggled and said “I know you’ll find a new way to challenge me on it though!” The clients also use the time we have together as a basis for a change in their overall lifestyle. We help the clients develop short and long-term goals at the start of their time with us. Many choose to adopt additional workout activities or healthy eating patterns in addition to our program to help them reach that goal. We provide knowledge and support to help them meet their goals.

As for the benefits to the clinic, the program creates more opportunities for the clinic to touch the community and promote healthy and active lifestyles. The classes are also quite often a bridge for clients between physical therapy (as a patient) and a safe new workout lifestyle. Clients who join the program feel that they are still in the safe and supportive environment of the physical therapy office that they have become familiar with, but are learning how to help themselves stay healthy on their own. I am able to provide my background knowledge from my personal training certification as well as interact with the therapists in the clinic to design a safe and effective program for the individuals. Some PT patients have witnessed the fun classes happening during their treatment times and have also been excited to work through their PT time and be released to join in the program – hopefully providing a good goal to help motivate their progress as well.

Jeannette Baker and two GRAVITY clients

Get out there and GET MOVING

It was a later start than normal, but significant snow has finally fallen in the mountains here in the Pacific Northwest and that means the skiers and snowboarders are heading to the slopes in big numbers.  I have noticed a few more people running and cycling in my neighborhood in the last few days.  The gym seems a little more crowded and the people a little more committed to their routine.  Guess it’s always at the approach of a new year that we reassess- or establish - our physical and mental goals.  Exercise and healthy lifestyle choices usually top that goal list. 

Therapeutic Associates is committed to seeing its patients achieve the best physical health that life can offer.  For most, that means guidance through and to appropriate movement.  In fact, over the past year we have adopted the tagline “Get Moving” to motivate all of us - regardless of age, size, or ability –  to get healthy and active.  PTs are musculoskeletal experts.  As such, our therapists write articles on many topics, including exercise and other wellness tips, for our own publications and for journals, magazines, and other pieces distributed nationwide.  I thought it would be fun and appropriate this time of year to pull out the below article and share it with all of you.  After all, who couldn’t use a good reminder of just how important those core muscles are to our total-body strength?!  Thanks to authors Jennifer Lesko, PT, and Director of TAI-Queen Anne Physical Therapy and Erica Clark, PT, Director of TAI-West Seattle Physical Therapy.  For more tips and information, check out TAI’s bi-annual magazine, Therapeutic Outlook.  Let’s all get out and get moving! 

Core Stabilization for Winter Sports

Core stabilization exercises are defined as exercises that recruit one or more large muscle areas and involve two or more primary joints. Stabilization of the core involves the abdominals, lower back, upper legs, and the pelvic floor. Benefits of core stabilization include improvement in posture and balance, increased strength and agility, and enhanced athletic performance. A strong core can make all other forms of exercise more effective. Below are some examples of core stabilization exercises.

Exercise 1: DEAD BUG: Start by lying on your back with knees bent, feet on the floor, and both arms straight to the ceiling. Find your neutral spine and tighten your lower abs. Keeping your back relatively tight to the floor (don ‘t let your back arch), raise your opposite arm and leg as shown. Alternate back and forth. Try to do 10 repetitions, but if you are unable to keep your abs tight or if you lose your neutral spine, stop.

BRIDGING: With knees bent and hands on the ground, find your neutral spine and tighten your abs. Keeping your pelvis totally still, extend your hips lifting your bum off the ground. Hold for 5 seconds, then lower, keeping abs tight until you ‘re at the starting point again. Do 10 repetitions.

Exercise 2: BRIDGING WITH TINY STEPS: From the above described exercise. Keeping your pelvis totally still, lift one leg about 5 inches off the ground, alternating up to 10 repetitions. Similar to marching, it is important to have no movement of your back or pelvis. Keep your abs tight the entire time you are lifting your legs.

Exercise 3: BRIDGING WITH LEG LIFT: The body position and goals are the same as in exercise 3. There should be no pelvic movement or hip dropping. With a neutral spine and your lower abs tight, straighten one leg at the knee. Hold for 5 seconds, then lower and lift other leg.

 

Exercise 4: QUADRA-PED WITH ARM/LEG LIFTS: From a quadra-ped position (on your hands and knees), find your neutral spine and tighten your abs. Keep your back and pelvis very still. Slowly lift opposite arm and leg. Extend out as far as you can without arching your back, rotating or losing your neutral spine. Slowly lower and do the same on the other side. Imagine having a glass of water on your back that you do not want to spill.