Neil Wolkodoff, PhD, Medical Program Director
Neil Wolkodoff, Ph.D., holds certifications from the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM: Health Fitness Director and Exercise Physiologist). He was an editor and a member of the certification committee for ACSM and served in the same capacities for the American Council on Exercise (ACE). A former member of the certification committee for the National Strength and Conditioning Association ( NSCA), he was also the State Director for Colorado. He was twice honored as State Director of The Year by NSCA. His EnergyZone® high-intensity interval training program was awarded the prestigious Nova 7 Award at the IHRSA international conference as the best exercise testing and training innovation. He has presented at IHRSA, SCW, NSCA, ACSM, IDEA, ACE, and other international conferences and research meetings. He was a past member of the Colorado Governor’s Council on Fitness and a committee and board member for the Colorado American Heart Association and American Diabetes Association.
He has trained NFL, NHL, MLB, PGA, LPGA, and Olympic athletes for over 25 years. Wolkodoff has coached both alpine and cross country skiing, and served as an initial consultant to the U.S. Freestyle Ski Team. He also works with athletes, novices, and special needs athletes, including those with medical conditions that cause physiological impairments. He pioneered forward-technology testing and training interventions for recreational exercisers and professional athletes.
Wolkodoff has developed unique tools for cognition, visual, and coordination performance for both athletic and health improvement. He is a recognized expert in applying gas exchange and energy system testing (VO2 Max/AT/Lactate Threshold) to assess and design individual levels of exercise. He performed these services with various professional athletes, including the Denver Nuggets of the NBA. His expertise includes strength and conditioning applications, energy system training and measurement, flexibility and mobility, and cognitive/sports vision and coordination measurement and strategies.
He has performed design and validation research in strength, aerobic, and flexibility equipment for several prominent equipment manufacturers in the industry. Because of his knowledge of equipment variables, intervening medical conditions, trends, and specific market needs, he has designed and implemented many wellness/fitness centers for golf clubs and resorts.
Research performed by Wolkodoff spans a broad spectrum of health and performance metrics. Specific independent research projects/examples include energy expenditure measurement in both exercise and sports, strength and body composition improvements from various regimes and nutritional programs/supplements. Other focus projects have included fitness/health tracker projections, fitness/wellness usage trends, cognitive and sports vision results from multiple supplements and training programs, and health improvements for women and men over 50 combining nutritional modifications and exercise.
He has contributed articles and interviews to Men’s Fitness, Golf Tips, Golf Magazine, Golf Digest, Shape, American Health, the New York Times, the Washington Post, and golf.com, among others. He was a past book review editor and columnist for Fitness Management Magazine. He has authored five books, including Physical Skiing, Core Powered Golf, Physical Golf, and Body Logic.
