Monroeville chiropractor to help athletes, caddies in Senior Open

A Monroeville chiropractor will be part of a volunteer team of professionals ready to treat players and caddies of the 42nd U.S. Senior Open.

Brent Shealer, 44, of Gibsonia plans to shut down his practice along Northern Pike for about a week as he heads out to Saucon Valley Country Club in Bethlehem for the championship tournament, scheduled for June 23-26.

He will be among 28 other members of a recovery team including physical therapists, massage therapists, chiropractors, athletic trainers and those trained on specialized healing equipment. Many of the professionals are from Pennsylvania.

Shealer said he is excited about the opportunity to work on athletes again.

“I grew up playing golf, and I watch golf on TV,” he said. “I do pride myself in not getting starstruck around some of these guys. It’s really interested to me taking care of athletes. Being around that type of stuff very much interests me.”

Shealer has been a chiropractor for a little more than 20 years. He had a practice at Penn Center in Wilkins for about 18 years before moving to the plaza where McGinnis Sisters Special Food Stores used to be, off Route 48.

He has a national sports certification from the American Board of Chiropractic Sports Physicians.

Shealer worked at the Lake Placid Olympic Center in 2015 with bobsled and luge athletes. He has also worked in similar sports medicine capacities in the Pittsburgh region, and he volunteered to help at the U.S. Open at Pebble Beach in 2019.

“It’s quite remarkable being behind the scenes of a major event like that,” Shealer said.

The group he as involved with at the time was called the wellness team. Members would consult with clients and make sure they got the specific treatment they needed.

Each person would put in about a four- or five-hour shift, and then have a chance to watch the tournament and mingle with people.

Shealer said he did work on some athletes, but could not name names and cited privacy rules.

“The caddies get beat up pretty bad lugging those bags around, and they need it just as much as the players,” he said. “These pro golfers, taking care of them, it’s different. But it’s not a lot different than taking care of the weekend warrior who plays out here at Meadowink (Golf Course) in Murrysville. The golf swing is the golf swing.

“They’re probably a little bit more in shape than Bob Smith who lives up the road and just plays once a week at Meadowink, but the golf swing puts a lot of strain and problems on people. That’s kind of where it is.”

Shealer said he had hoped to return the past few years, but those plans were dashed because the pandemic.

He grew up in Central Pennsylvania and graduated from Philipsburg-Osceola School District in 1996. He was part of the golf team in high school and still plays on occasion.

Shealer said he became interested in becoming a chiropractor after seeking treatment for a sports injury when he was about 10.

“I hurt myself playing basketball,” he said. “My mom took me to a chiropractor, and it worked. I just kept going all through school and always went periodically and consistently. I golfed and played baseball and stuff in high school. I just started taking interest in it. I saw how much it helped me and my family, and saw how much it helped people in the waiting room every time I went.”

Shealer studied at Penn State before going to Sherman College of Chiropractic in Spartanburg County, S.C.

He became a chiropractor in 2001. He said the most common ailments he treats involve the mid to upper neck and headaches mostly caused by sitting too long.

This year marks the eighth Senior Open in Bethlehem. The last occasion was in 2000.

Just under 2,000 volunteers are expected to help out throughout the event.

A field of 156 players will be cut down to the low 60 players and ties after two rounds. A champion is usually crowned after four rounds. Participants need to be at least 50 years old to play.

“I do think the community is excited about it,” said Hank Thompson, senior director of the tournament. “I do think the number of players eligible from an age perspective, whether it’s Ernie Els or Jim Furyk.

“I think a lot of people have some name recognition they can look to. I do think it’s something that’s very positive and we’re looking forward to seeing some good crowds over the week.”

The recovery team is led by Dr. Jeff Poplarski of Amityville, N.Y. Thompson said those volunteers provide assistance in addition to the other medical services the PGA Tour Champions provides.

“It gives them an opportunity, especially caddies, who a lot of times don’t have access to this type of assistance,” Thompson said. “It allows them to come in and have an opportunity to get treatment for any ailments or what have you after a long day on the golf course, or preparing to play with their players. It’s an opportunity for them to take care of themselves and be seen by different practices or different focuses.”

More information about the U.S. Senior Open is available at pgatour.com. The tournament will be broadcast on the Golf Channel as well as other outlets. Check local listings for details.