NIAGARA FALLS —
Frustrated golfers whose aching shoulders or backs wreak havoc on their swing, might want to consider some therapy in the off-season.
Not counseling to prevent the smashing of clubs, but physical therapy to strengthen the muscles.
Sid Penque says he won’t teach a golfer how to play, but he will teach them how to heal.
Penque is running a new program at the Advanced Care Fitness Center at 924 Main St., which involves four different levels of swing testing and evaluation with the ultimate goal of strengthening all the muscles involved and enhancing flexibility, balance, strength and endurance.
“This is golf fitness,” said Penque, a physical therapy assistant, standing among the computers, plastic greens and netting in a corner of a secondary workout room at the renovated center.
“It certainly is a specialty niche,” he said. “Everybody teaches golf lessons but nobody does golf fitness.”
Golfers come in to get their swing tested and then are provided with exercises for the off-season.
“We design an exercise program for them to use for the next three months,” Penque said, “so when golf season gets here, you are going to avoid injury.”
One of his clients has found that he is already doing better after following an exercise plan for three to four times a week for a couple of weeks. Brian Cory of Clarence has been hitting balls at area golf domes and already sees more control and strength in his swing. In addition, he has less discomfort in shoulders he overused in a youth filled with baseball games.
“I haven't had any pain in my shoulders since I started the exercises Sid prescribed,” he said. “I’m pretty stoked about that.”
The program costs about $125 for the evaluation, including a three-month re-evaluation to determine progress. For $225, a three-month gym membership is included. And, even though there won’t be any golf lessons involved, scores will most likely fall.
“I don’t care how they play,” said Sid, adding “we certainly will improve their game.”
Contact Features Editor Michele DeLuca at 282-2311, ext. 2263.
Features
Related Photos
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Sid Penque, left, and Jake Porsch, right, demonstrate the Dynamic Balance System used to provide real-time computer assisted feedback by monitoring a client's golf swing performance. Advanced Care, on Main Street, uses the data to map out a plan to improve their motion with physical therapy. Photo by James Neiss
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Advanced Care on Main Street, uses the Dynamic Balance System to provide real-time computer assisted feedback by monitoring a client's golf swing performance. The data helps map out a plan to improve their motion with physical therapy. Photo by James Neiss
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James Neiss/staff photographerNiagara Falls, NY - Advanced Care on Main Street, uses the Dynamic Balance System to provide real-time computer assisted feedback by monitoring a client's golf swing performance. The data helps map out a plan to improve their motion with physical therapy.
Golf therapist readies clients for the links
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