Meet Your Saint Louis Golf Doc!

Dr. David Didlake, DPT
Sep 20, 2023
3 min read

Updated: Nov 3

picture of Dr. Didlake, physical therapist and the Saint Louis golf doc.

Dr. David Didlake, DPT

Hello, and thank you for checking out an article about me! I'm excited to share with you my story, and what brought my family and I to the great state of Missouri!

Ever since I can remember, I’ve wanted to start my own practice. Helping people has always been my passion—it’s what drew me to physical therapy in the first place. My journey really took shape in college, where I played soccer at IVC. Unfortunately, I suffered a hip injury—a labral tear—that changed the course of my athletic career. The rehab process was tough, and despite my best efforts, I wasn’t able to return to competitive play. That experience taught me firsthand how important effective rehab is, and how much it means to someone whose life is centered around movement and sport.

While soccer was my first love, golf has always held a special place in my heart—thanks to my grandfather. He introduced me to the game when I was 5, and some of my fondest memories are of us together at the driving range, at his local course, or watching golf in his office. Golf, to me, is about community, connection, and continuous improvement.

But after my hip injury, even golf became a struggle. I remember trying to hit a few balls at the range with my friends, only to be stopped by pain. It was frustrating to feel limited in something I loved, especially after letting go of my soccer career, and it gave me a new perspective on what many of my future patients would face.

I went to California State University, Fullerton (CSUF) where I worked with the cross country, women's soccer, tennis, wrestling, and baseball teams as part of the athletic training program there. I gained valuable experience rehabilitating athletes and earned my Bachelors of Science degree in Kinesiology. After graduating from CSUF, I attended Chapman University for three years where I completed my doctoral degree in Physical Therapy.

After graduating from PT school, I made it my mission to help others achieve better outcomes than I did. I dedicated myself to learning as much as I could—not just about physical therapy, but also about golf and recovery. Through advanced certifications and post-professional accomplishments, I was able to not only rehab my own hip, but actually improve my golf game beyond what I thought possible. Returning to the course pain-free, and playing better than before, reinforced my commitment to helping others do the same.

With post-graduate education in electric dry needling, manipulation, diagnostic musculoskeletal ultrasound, strength and conditioning, and 3D motion capture technology, I knew that Integrative Therapeutics was going to integrate something very different for the Saint Louis community - a winning combination of accurate evaluation and cutting edge treatments to optimize recovery, wellness, and performance.

I’m excited to bring that same level of care and expertise to our community. My hope is that this clinic becomes a place where anyone—from golfers looking to up their game to everyday individuals seeking a pain-free life—can find support, guidance, and real results.

So whether you are recovering from an injury, want to stay healthy, or need to perform at the highest level, Integrative Therapeutics "Home of the Saint Louis Golf Doc" has something to offer you.

SCHEDULE YOUR SESSION TODAY!

SCHEDULE HERE

Here's to your health and your golf game!

Dr. David Didlake, DPT

PT, Cert. SMT/DN, CSCS, Cert. TPI Medical Level 3, Dip. Osteopractic, FAAOMPT

Owner, Integrative Therapeutics "Home of the Saint Louis Golf Doc"

Follow me @theintegrativeclinic @thestlgolfdoc