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 both an editor and a member of the certification committee for ACSM and served in the same capacities for the American Council on Exercise (ACE). He was the State Director for Colorado with the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA), and 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 of the Colorado American Heart Association and the American Diabetes Association.
Wolkodoff 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’s sport science program. He also works with athletes, novices, and athletes with special needs, including those with medical conditions that cause physiological impairments. He pioneered forward-technology testing and training interventions for recreational exercisers and professional athletes. As Professional Education Director for the ProRehab & Fitness Center, he introduced and trained staff on new therapy, wellness, and fitness modalities.
He 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 individualized exercise programs. He performed these services for various professional athletes, including members of the Denver Nuggets of the NBA. His expertise includes strength and conditioning applications, recovery & restoration, energy system training and measurement, flexibility and mobility, cognitive/sports vision measures, and coordination measurement and strategies. He has additional expertise in orthotics fabrication and footwear management for both health and performance.
He has conducted design and validation research on strength, aerobic, and flexibility equipment for several prominent manufacturers in the industry. Because of his knowledge of equipment variables, intervening medical conditions, trends, and specific market needs, he has designed and implemented 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. His lab rivals many universities with an expansive set of tools for health and performance improvement.
Other focus projects have included fitness/health tracker projections, fitness/wellness usage trends, effects of restoration programs, and cognitive and sports vision interventions. He has published studies investigating the mind/body health connection, health improvements for women and men over 50, cognitive improvements, health strategies, and overall exercise.
He has consulted with Nike, StarTrac, Reebok, Nautilus, Cybex, York Barbell, Bergamet, Omron, True Fitness, MedGraphics, Fuel for Thought, BodyCraft, FitterFirst, SensorMedics, and numerous other health/performance/fitness entities.
He has contributed articles and interviews to USA Today, National Geographic, 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.
