Dr. Ryan Gutz

TPI Certified Golf Expert

Dr. Gutz is a TPI Certified Expert from the Titleist Performance Institute (TPI), the world’s leading educational organization studying how to improve player performance and reduce injury related to the golf swing. Since 2003, TPI has been studying golfers of all levels of fitness and ability revealing the most efficient and safest way to swing a golf club.

TPI Medical Certification teaches golf-specific injury assessment and rehabilitation techniques. TPI describes golf fitness this way:

“It’s about being fit to play the game at an individual’s highest level and doing so without causing injury. It’s about understanding how a body’s limitations can influence the golf swing and how to address those limitations through the proper channels; whether it’s through swing instruction, physical rehabilitation or strength and conditioning exercise. It’s about understanding the latest technology and how that technology can be implemented to increase performance.”

Does Golfing Cause You Back Pain?

Lower back pain is a common problem with golfers and is related to both fitness and how you swing your club. If you get pain from golfing Dr. Gutz can perform a TPI Certified golf swing assessment to determine the cause of your pain. This evaluation is based on a 16-point physical screening process along with a video evaluation of your golf swing that takes about 30 minutes. With this information, Dr. Gutz can help you correct your golf swing and regain the mobility and strength needed to play better, pain free golf.

“Not only does my lower back not hurt when I play, my handicap as lowered by 6 strokes over the last 8 months. I play to a 10 handicap thanks to my care with Dr. Gutz. ” Ron P.

Looking to Shave Strokes Off Your Game?

The 16-point physical screen will identify flexibility issues and resultant weaknesses that prevent you from consistently going low. It’s all about distance and accuracy and both are directly related to ball striking. Find a way to strike the ball with better consistency and your scores will drop. As a TPI certified physician, Dr. Gutz will find the limitations in your body that prevent you from improving your game. If you have a swing coach that you really like, he will coordinate with them on how to improve your game. The Titleist Performance Institute has been around since 1993 with thousands of professional golfers using their strategies to consistently play better. Life’s too short to play mediocre golf!

Getting Started

Your first appointment includes a 16-point TPI movement assessment to reveal any mobility and/or motor control deficits. Then, a chiropractic joint evaluation is performed to find additional movement limitations that can cause you pain or inhibit a proper golf swing. If a golfer fails the initial screening it means their impairments may be leading to an inefficiency in the kinematic sequence of their golf swing that leads to poor performance and pain.

Depending on our findings and your goals, Dr. Gutz will design an in-office and home treatment plan to address both your flexibility and strength/motor control challenges. People’s treatment plans can include a combination of:

low back pain

Chiropractic Adjustments

Most golfers don’t know that a chiropractic physician cofounded the Titleist Performance Institute and developed the TPI golf swing assessment examination. It is well understood that joint mobility is critical for normal body mechanics and strength. Stretching and strengthening muscles around poor joint mechanics offers limited success. Traveling with the PGA Tour to every event are chiropractic doctors providing care for professional golfers. Proper joint movement is essential for a balanced and powerful golf swing. Dr. Gutz is a chiropractic doctor and a TPI-certified physician.

Muscle Soft Tissue Therapy

The skeletal system is surrounded by soft tissues like muscles, tendons, and fascia. Restrictions in the soft tissues can cause pain and/or promote limitations in movement needed for a proper golf swing. Myofascial release techniques and physician-assisted stretching are often necessary to allow the body to rotate properly through a swing. Restrictions in the fascial tissue can alter your golf swing and make it difficult to play without pain or strike the ball consistently.

Golf Specific Strengthening

Everyone knows that strength is important for a powerful golf swing and increased distance. Strengthening around poor body mechanics reinforces those bad patterns and interferes with consistency. Once the joints and soft tissues are working properly, golf-specific strengthening will lower both your scores and your predisposition for injury. This work is ongoing and should be done at home to maintain your gains.

COVID-19
Graham Rehab and Wellness is fully open and able to resume all care including emergency and routine treatments. We are following all WSHD, CDC, and WSCA guidelines to ensure the safety of our staff and patients. Should you experience cold or flu like symptoms, or are running a fever we kindly ask that you remain home. A list of Covid-19 resources is available here.

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