Leading Edge Physical Therapy

Leading Edge Physical Therapy A new model of physical therapy. No insurance. No authorizations.
(1)

04/08/2026

Anyone looking to increase distance needs to understand how to use the ground to their advantage. A powerful golf swing comes from pushing into the ground and then harnessing the force that the ground sends back.

These are ground reaction forces and this is how you should be using them:

1. Trail Side - As you transition from the top of your backswing, your trail leg should be pushing laterally towards your lead side. Pressure is on the inside portion of your trail foot.

2. Lead Side - You should be pushing the ball of your lead foot into the ground as if you’re pushing the gas pedal. This force will automatically create rotation of your lead side.

When both legs are working simultaneously, you will create a powerful, rotational force that will increase distance and improve ball striking.

Comment ‘GOLF’ to learn more about how a Golf Movement Analysis can identify mobility, strength or stability deficits that may be negatively affecting your swing or be a direct cause of pain when playing.

One of the most misunderstood concepts around the golf swing is weight transfer. Many golfers are so afraid to sway or s...
04/01/2026

One of the most misunderstood concepts around the golf swing is weight transfer.

Many golfers are so afraid to sway or slide that they limit any and all lateral movement in the swing. In reality, we NEED to shift bodyweight toward the trail side so that we then have weight to shift toward the ball in the downswing.

Without it, you may end up in a reverse spine angle at the top of your backswing or hanging back in the downswing. Both WILL result in inconsistent ball striking and CAN lead to low back pain.

Try these exercises and drills to get used to shifting weight laterally in the swing:

1. Helicopter Backswing - I swear this is not a riddle. Your job is to get your left hand to touch your right hand without moving your right hand. This will train you to properly load your trail side in the backswing.

2. Reach Over the Fence - This is another way to achieve the feel of loading your trail side. Get your trail hip as close to the object as possible without touching it; then stay there while you extend your arms away from you. Harder than it looks!

3. Kettlebell Lateral Swings - Learn how to use your lower body more efficiently and create separation of upper and lower body. You should notice that you have to get your hips moving ahead of your shoulders to effortlessly swing the weight.

4. Lateral Lunge to Single Leg Balance - Not only will this strengthen your hips and quads, but it will teach you to control the weight transfer and not end up sliding through impact.

5. Pivot and Post - One of my favorites to incorporate all of the above movements into the golf swing. At the end of the movement, you should feel 70-80% of your body weight on the lead side (just like @ impact!).

If you feel like you have difficulty properly transferring weight in your swing, comment “GOLF” to learn more about how my Golf Movement Analysis can identify limited mobility or areas of instability that are negatively affecting your golf swing!

Low back pain is, by far, the most common ailment amongst golfers of ALL ages and abilities. What surprises most people,...
03/25/2026

Low back pain is, by far, the most common ailment amongst golfers of ALL ages and abilities. What surprises most people, though, is that your low back is typically the victim and not the cause!

When the thoracic spine (aka mid back) and/or hips are not rotating well, our body will automatically try to find rotational motion from somewhere else - your lower back will almost always take the hit.

Eventually, this altered movement pattern will result in inflammation and pain.

These 4 mobility exercises are a good place to start if you’ve been dealing with low back pain during or after you play. As always, never force motion beyond your comfort level - listen to your body!

1. Thoracic Extension on Foam Roll - Support your head with your hands and engage your core to lock your pelvis in place. Slowly lean your upper body backward over the foam roll as far as comfortable. Be sure to hit all the levels of your mid/upper back.

2. Open Book Stretch - Keep your knees on the ground while you rotate your upper body as far as comfortable. If you can’t keep your front knee on the floor, you can place a yoga block or foam roll under it to lessen the tension in the lower body.

3. Trunk Rotation Sidebend - With your hands behind your head, rotate your upper body as far as possible to one side. When you reach your limit, slowly bend your trunk to the side and then rotate a little further. Continue until you max out your motion.

4. Hip Opener Progression - Start in a reclined position and slowly rock your legs from side to side trying to get your knees down to the floor. As your mobility improves, you can make this more difficult by bringing your upper body more vertical.

Once your mobility has improved, it is imperative that you work with a golf progressional to learn how to properly integrate your new found motion into your golf swing.

Comment “LOW BACK” to learn more about how my Golf Movement Analysis can identify areas of limited mobility that could lead to pain or inconsistencies on the course.

Welcome to the first edition of “Fore! Your Body”. This will be a recurring series every Wednesday focusing on ways to i...
03/18/2026

Welcome to the first edition of “Fore! Your Body”. This will be a recurring series every Wednesday focusing on ways to improve your golf swing by addressing the most important piece of golf equipment…YOUR BODY! 💪

The key to effortless power in your swing is proper dissociation of your upper and lower body. If you can’t rotate your lower body separately from the upper, you are losing TONS of yardage off the tee.

To create the “X Factor” stretch that the pros have mastered, you MUST get your hips moving toward the ball BEFORE your upper body.

Your arms should be the last thing to start moving in your downswing. Not the first…

These 4 exercises are designed to teach your body how to move and then build strength/power with that movement:

1. Pelvic Rotations in Golf Posture - Start by supporting your upper body to focus on solely rotating the lower body. As this gets easier, take the support away.

2. Dissociation Drill - Anchor your arms to the wall and then work on rotating your hips toward the ball. Embrace the stretch and “uncoiling” feel!

3. Ball Slam Behind - Now we start building strength into the move. The force should come from your body rotating and NOT just your arms throwing the ball down. Oh, and please be sure your med ball doesn’t bounce! 🤕

4. Rotational Box Jump - Time for some speed and power! Lead with your lower body and explode off the ground.

If you want to know if these types of exercises are the key to unlocking YOUR potential, contact me to schedule a Golf Movement Analysis. I will help you devise a plan made specifically for YOU! ⛳️🏌️

Comment “POWER” to learn more. 👊

Today marks 3 years since I made the decision to commit full-time to building Leading Edge Physical Therapy! 🎉It was def...
03/11/2026

Today marks 3 years since I made the decision to commit full-time to building Leading Edge Physical Therapy! 🎉

It was definitely scary to jump into the world of self-employment but I would do it 1000x over.

Not only do I get to build relationships with so many amazing clients and fellow business owners, but I also get to be present for my family.

School drop offs/pickups, swim lessons, gymnastics classes, soon to be tee ball practices…the fact that I get to be a part of these moments for my kids is priceless!

As I head into year 4, my goal is to further establish Leading Edge as the premier rehab and performance facility for golfers in the mid-Valley. ⛳️🏌️

There are some exciting things happening behind the scenes and I can’t wait for the day when I can share these developments with the community. 🤫

In the meantime, stay tuned for a weekly series that will be posted on Wednesdays, focusing on golf performance and injury prevention!

Ali Virtue, owner of Parkside Nutrition, is a functional medicine nutritionist. She works 1-on-1 with clients and small ...
01/29/2026

Ali Virtue, owner of Parkside Nutrition, is a functional medicine nutritionist. She works 1-on-1 with clients and small groups to help people reach a sustainable healthy weight, improve their gut health and their relationship with food. She has over 9 years experience working in this field from clinic settings to working 1-on-1 with people. No plan is the same; she tailors all her recommendations to meet that person’s needs and current stage in life. Ali has a Master’s in Human Nutrition & Functional Medicine plus multiple other nutrition coaching and therapy certifications. She started Parkside Nutrition because she didn’t see a business model that she thought did ENOUGH to meet clients needs for best results.

At the Health and Wellness Summit, she will be providing very practical strategies for you to use immediately to improve your daily healthy habits.

Don’t miss this opportunity to deepen your understanding of practical, effective nutrition strategies that will also make all the other healthy habits 10x easier. Hope to see you there!

DM to save your spot!

Matt Hennings has over 15 years of experience as a physical therapist in the sports medicine world. He is also the only ...
01/26/2026

Matt Hennings has over 15 years of experience as a physical therapist in the sports medicine world. He is also the only Level 3 certified PT in the Mid-Willamette Valley with the Titleist Performance Institute (yes, THAT Titleist!). As such, Matt has a very unique way of looking at how are bodies work - both in everyday life and on the golf course.

At this year’s Summit, Matt will be diving deep into the importance of grip strength on our ability to perform everyday tasks and compete at the highest levels on the golf course. A weak grip often leads directly to overuse injuries of the wrist, forearm and shoulder. If you have EVER experienced pain in these areas, I strongly encourage you to attend!

The event is FREE to Creekside members and only $10 to non-members.

To register, DM me or call the pro shop at 503-363-4653 x3.

Where: Creekside Golf Club (Banquet Room)
When: Saturday, 1/31/26 from 1:00-3:00pm

Rod Stanley is a Corrective Exercise Specialist with over two decades of experience transforming the lives of adults ag...
01/22/2026

Rod Stanley is a Corrective Exercise Specialist with over two decades of experience transforming the lives of adults aged 35–75. With a deep passion for helping individuals reclaim their strength, mobility, and vitality, Rod specializes in designing personalized health and fitness programs tailored to meet the unique challenges of aging, including andropause in men and perimenopausal and menopausal symptoms in women. Through a holistic approach that includes movement assessments, resistance training, and lifestyle coaching, Rod empowers clients to not only achieve their fitness goals but also create sustainable health rituals that enhance their quality of life. Rooted in a belief that health and fitness are the foundation for living fully.

At the upcoming 2026 Creekside Health and Wellness Summit, Rod will be discussing the importance of balance and stability training…both on AND off the golf course. He will highlight the essential components of every workout he designs - flexibility, balance, and strength - demonstrating how these elements are critical for both athletic performance and everyday life. Attendees will gain actionable insights on how to integrate these principles into their routines, whether they’re looking to lower their handicap, prevent injury, or simply move better in daily life. By drawing from years of expertise and real-life client transformations, Rod will inspire and educate the audience on how fitness is not just about exercise—it’s about creating a healthier, more empowered life!

Don’t miss your opportunity to learn from one of the most experienced trainers in the valley!

To register for the event, you can DM me or contact the Creekside Pro Shop 503-363-4653 ext3.

2 weeks away! Register before we sell out!DM me or contact the Creekside pro shop to register.
01/16/2026

2 weeks away! Register before we sell out!

DM me or contact the Creekside pro shop to register.

01/12/2026

Schedule your tee time at Back 9 Golf in Keizer and play in the Leading Edge PT Bay!

Keep an eye out for special offers when you’re there. Never know when they might pop up!

01/08/2026

Register before the spots are full!

This event is NOT only for golfers. Our goal is to educate the Salem community about ways to stay healthy and strong throughout all phases of life!

Join us on Saturday, Jan 31 from 1:00-3:00pm at Creekside Golf Club.

To register, DM/email me directly or contact the pro shop (503-363-5653 x3).

Matt@LeadingEdgeSalem.com

It’s that time of year again! With a new year comes the opportunity to refocus and create new goals for ourselves. Let’s...
01/02/2026

It’s that time of year again! With a new year comes the opportunity to refocus and create new goals for ourselves.

Let’s start 2026 by putting yourself first and learn about ways to lead a healthier and stronger life.

This year’s Health & Wellness Summit is designed to give you more time to interact with our expert panel.

Golfers AND non-golfers will learn a TON of valuable tips and tricks to get stronger, fuel our bodies more effectively and avoid injury 💪

Join us on Jan 31 from 1:00-3:00 in the banquet room of Creekside Golf Club. Light snack and beverages provided. Raffle giveaways!

FREE to attend for all Creekside members. Only $10 for non-members!

Contact the pro shop or DM me to register.

Address

1100 Liberty Street SE, Suite 100
Salem, OR
97302

Telephone

+15035005727

Website

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