Stryker Corporation Enters Marketing Relationship With The PGA TOUR

MAHWAH, N.J., March 3, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Stryker Corporation's Orthopaedics Division and the PGA TOUR announced today a new marketing relationship that designates Stryker as the "Official Joint Replacement Products of the PGA TOUR and Champions Tour." The agreement advances Stryker's commitment to the health and well-being of joint pain sufferers, and will feature opportunities for golf fans to learn about Stryker products and how they may help them regain mobility and return to their everyday activities.

The centerpiece of Stryker's on-site tournament presence will be a "joint health" destination designed to educate tournament attendees about hip and knee treatment options. This destination, called The Stryker Mobility Zone, will appear across the country at key PGA TOUR and Champions Tour events in 2014. It will make its debut at the World Golf Championships-Cadillac Championship March 6-9 in Doral, Fla.

"We are excited to partner with the PGA TOUR to educate golf fans about joint health," says Bill Huffnagle, President, Reconstructive Division, Stryker. "In the United States, both hip and knee replacement rates have nearly doubled since 2000, and those who choose this option do so with the goal of being able to get back to doing the things they love. At Stryker, we are working to educate joint pain sufferers that leading more satisfying lives is within their reach."

The Stryker Mobility Zone will feature:

• Orthopedic surgeons who will interact with fans and provide education and joint health assessments.
• A fan engagement area featuring a Putting Challenge and the chance to meet Champions Tour members Fred Funk and Hal Sutton.
• Information about the Fisher House Foundation, a network of homes built on the grounds of major military and Veterans Affairs medical centers where military and veterans' families can stay for free while a family member receives medical treatment. Both Fred Funk's and Hal Sutton's hats will be available for sale on-site with all proceeds benefiting Fisher House Foundation.

"Stryker is an innovative leader in the field of joint replacements, an area that has impacted members on the PGA TOUR and Champions Tour as well as many TOUR fans," says PGA TOUR Chief Marketing Officer Jay Monahan. "We are excited to announce this relationship and to work with Stryker to help educate fans through the Stryker Mobility Zone at tournaments."

Funk and Sutton, who have undergone joint replacement procedures with Stryker products, will serve as ambassadors for this relationship and are working with Stryker to share their experiences.

Sutton, whose 14 PGA TOUR victories include the 1983 PGA Championship and THE PLAYERS Championship in 1983 and 2000, has been a Stryker brand ambassador since last year. In 2012, at age 54, after speaking with his doctor and learning about the differences in hip replacements, Sutton made the decision to undergo a total hip replacement and received Stryker's Mobile Bearing Hip. One year later, he received a matching Stryker Mobile Bearing Hip on the right side.

Funk, a Stryker brand ambassador since 2011, is one of the most recognizable names and personalities in professional golf. During his career, which spans more than 20 years, Funk has won eight titles on the PGA TOUR, including THE PLAYERS Championship 2005, and six titles on the Champions Tour, including the 2009 U.S. Senior Open. Funk underwent total knee replacement in November 2009 and received Stryker's GetAroundKnee. He won the Regions Tradition the following season, becoming the first player ever to win a PGA TOUR-sanctioned event after total knee replacement surgery.

"I could not think of a better partner for the PGA TOUR than Stryker," says Funk. "I thought my career was over due to my knee problems. I'm grateful that's not the case and I have my career back. I'm working with Stryker to spread the word so more people can regain their mobility just like me and Hal."

About Stryker:
Stryker is one of the world's leading medical technology companies and is dedicated to helping healthcare professionals perform their jobs more efficiently while enhancing patient care. The Company offers a diverse array of innovative medical technologies, including reconstructive, medical and surgical, and neurotechnology and spine products to help people lead more active and more satisfying lives. For more information about Stryker, please visit www.stryker.com.

About PGA TOUR
The PGA TOUR is the world's premier membership organization for touring professional golfers, co-sanctioning more than 130 tournaments on the PGA TOUR, Champions Tour, Web.com Tour, NEC Series-PGA TOUR Latinoamérica, PGA TOUR Canada and PGA TOUR China.

The PGA TOUR's mission is to entertain and inspire its fans, deliver substantial value to its partners, create outlets for volunteers to give back, generate significant charitable and economic impact in the communities in which it plays, and provide financial opportunities for TOUR players.

Worldwide, PGA TOUR tournaments are broadcast to more than 1 billion households in 225 countries and territories in 32 languages. Virtually all tournaments are organized as non-profit organizations in order to maximize charitable giving. In 2013, tournaments across all Tours generated more than $133 million for local and national charitable organizations and in early 2014 the TOUR's all-time charitable contributions surpassed $2 billion.

The PGA TOUR's web site is PGATOUR.COM, the No. 1 site in golf, and the organization is headquartered in Ponte Vedra Beach, FL.

Important Information
Total knee replacement is intended for use in individuals with joint disease resulting from degenerative, rheumatoid and post-traumatic arthritis, and for moderate deformity of the knee. Knee replacement surgery is not appropriate for patients with certain types of infections, any mental or neuromuscular disorder which would create an unacceptable risk of prosthesis instability, prosthesis fixation failure or complications in postoperative care, compromised bone stock, skeletal immaturity, severe instability of the knee, or excessive body weight.

As with any surgery, knee replacement surgery has serious risks which include, but are not limited to, peripheral neuropathies (nerve damage), circulatory compromise (including deep vein thrombosis (blood clots in the legs)), genitourinary disorders (including kidney failure), gastrointestinal disorders (including paralytic ileus (loss of intestinal digestive movement)), vascular disorders (including thrombus (blood clots), blood loss, or changes in blood pressure or heart rhythm), bronchopulmonary disorders (including emboli, stroke or pneumonia), heart attack, and death.

Implant related risks which may lead to a revision include dislocation, loosening, fracture, nerve damage, heterotopic bone formation (abnormal bone growth in tissue), wear of the implant, metal sensitivity, soft tissue imbalance, osteolysis (localized progressive bone loss), and reaction to particle debris. The information presented is for educational purposes only. Knee implants may not provide the same feel or performance characteristics experienced with a normal healthy joint. Speak to your doctor to decide if joint replacement surgery is appropriate for you. Individual results vary and not all patients will return to the same activity level. The lifetime of any device is limited and depends on several factors like weight and activity level. Your doctor will help counsel you about strategies to potentially prolong the lifetime of the device, including avoiding high-impact activities, such as running, as well as maintaining a healthy weight. Ask your doctor if the GetAroundKnee is right for you.

Total hip replacement is indicated for joint disease resulting from degenerative, rheumatoid, avascular necrosis and correction of functional deformity. Contra-Indications: It is not indicated for those with infection, compromised bone stock, skeletal immaturity, mental or neuromuscular disease and obesity. Common Side Effects of Hip Replacement Surgery: Like any surgery hip replacement surgery has risks which include but are not limited to: bone fracture, bone loss, change in the length of the treated leg, pain, hip stiffness, excessive bleeding, hip joint fusion, nerve damage, infection, blood clots, amputation, heart attack, pneumonia, decrease of bone mass. Implant related risks which may lead to a revision of the hip implant include wear of the implant, reaction to particle debris, dislocation, fracture, loosening, audible sounds during motion and metal sensitivity. The information presented is for educational purposes only. Speak to your doctor to decide if joint replacement surgery is right for you. Individual results vary and not all patients will receive the same postoperative activity level. The lifetime of a joint replacement is not infinite and varies with each individual. Your doctor will help counsel you about how to best maintain your activities in order to potentially prolong the lifetime of the device. Such strategies include not engaging in high-impact activities, such as running, as well as maintaining a healthy weight. Stryker Corporation or its divisions or other corporate affiliated entities own, use or have applied for the following trademarks or service marks: Stryker, Stryker Orthopaedics, Trident, X3. All other trademarks are trademarks of their respective owners or holders.

SOURCE Stryker; PGA TOUR