Inform Performance – Details, episodes & analysis

Episode 154: Ben Ashworth chats to Dr Edel Fanning, BSc, MSc, PhD. Edel is a chartered physiotherapist and leads the upper limb rehabilitation service at the Sports Surgery Clinic, Dublin. Prior to working in Dublin, she worked as a Clinical Specialist Physiotherapist in the UK National Health Service. She has a keen interest in shoulder biomechanics, the sporting shoulder and injury prevention and has worked with elite athletes from a wide range of sporting disciplines. She completed her PhD at the University College Cork investigating the use of return to play criteria post glenohumeral joint stabilisation. Her work explores the role of 3D biomechanics and the use of novel upper limb functional tests in assisting return to play decision making post shoulder reconstruction in contact athletes. 

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Topics Discussed 

• The Role of Isokinetic Testing in Shoulder Rehabilitation
• Objective Markers for Return to Play in Shoulder Rehabilitation
• Go-To Exercises for Shoulder Rehabilitation
• The Role of Psychological Readiness and Confidence

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Where you can find Eden:

• LinkedIn
• X (Twitter)

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Sponsors

Hytro: The world’s leading Blood Flow Restriction (BFR) wearable, designed to accelerate recovery and maximise athletic potential using Hytro BFR for Professional Sport.

TeamBuildr: A platform for any coach in any setting. Every day, thousands of coaches log into TeamBuildr to write training programs, build questionnaires and access athlete and client performance data. Teambuildr is a complete platform. Whether you're building your own programming, looking to create custom reports or give athletes a tool for accountability, they've built it out.

Output Sports: is a faster, cheaper and more efficient way to test, analyze, report and program athletic performance - all in a single platform and sensor. Provide comprehensive performance evaluations with 200+ assessments spanning VBT, strength, power and movement. Validated by 10+ years of scientific research. 

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Where to find Athletic Shoulder

• Website
• Podcast

Episode 153: Dr Andy McDonald chats to Simon Harries. Simon holds PhD and is the Head of Strength & Conditioning at the NSW Institute of Sport and has also worked at GSW Giants, Australian Rugby and Newcastle Knights. In this episode Andy & Simon discuss the opportunities available for coaches working in rehab roles, how to blend S&C and physio in rehab and his approach to return-to-running. 

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Topics Discussed 

• Rehabilitation Roles 
• Delineation of Roles and Collaboration
• Planning the Return to Running
• Starting with a Technical Approach
• Incorporating Drills to Improve Running Technique

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Where you can find Simon:

• LinkedIn

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Sponsors

VALD Performance, makers of the Nordbord, Forceframe, ForeDecks and HumanTrak. VALD Performance systems are built with the high-performance practitioner in mind, translating traditionally lab-based technologies into engaging, quick, easy-to-use tools for daily testing, monitoring and training

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Remaker: The Portable Strength Tracking Ecosystem. Remaker provides real-time insights to optimise your performance, making even the smallest improvements in your strength training visible in an engaging and powerful format. Remakers integrate seamlessly with the exercise equipment you already use, and the app provides meaningful metrics for every rep, of every set, of every exercise.

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Hytro: The world’s leading Blood Flow Restriction (BFR) wearable, designed to accelerate recovery and maximise athletic potential using Hytro BFR for Professional Sport.

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Where to Find Us

Keep up to date with everything that is going on with the podcast by following Inform Performance on:

• Instagram
• Twitter
• Our Website

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Our Team

• Andy McDonald
• Ben Ashworth
• Alistair McKenzie
• Dylan Carmody

Episode 144: Dr Andy McDonald chats to David Grey a Rehab Coach based in Ireland. David regularly rehabs some of the the best athletes in the world, and he has delivered workshops and seminars internationally regularly consults with top Coaches & Therapists to help them get even better results with their own clients. In this conversation David and Andy discuss Davids movement based approach to assessing and training the foot, ankle and achilles complex. 

Topics Discussed 

• Training Considerations for the Foot & Ankle
• Importance of Hip Extension and Positive Shin Angle
• The Connection Between Foot and Hip
• Movement Competency in Achilles Function
• The Importance of Movement Coaching

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Where you can find David:

• Instagram
• Youtube
• Website

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Sponsors

VALD Performance, makers of the Nordbord, Forceframe, ForeDecks and HumanTrak. VALD Performance systems are built with the high-performance practitioner in mind, translating traditionally lab-based technologies into engaging, quick, easy-to-use tools for daily testing, monitoring and training

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TeamBuildr: A platform for any coach in any setting. Every day, thousands of coaches log into TeamBuildr to write training programs, build questionnaires and access athlete and client performance data. Teambuildr is a complete platform. Whether you're building your own programming, looking to create custom reports or give athletes a tool for accountability, they've built it out.

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Where to Find Us

Keep up to date with everything that is going on with the podcast by following Inform Performance on:

• Instagram
• Twitter
• Our Website

-

Our Team

• Andy McDonald
• Ben Ashworth
• Alistair McKenzie
• Dylan Carmody

Episode 56: Andy McDonald chats Jesse Elis the Director of Health and Performance at the Portland Trail Blazers NBA team. Jesse is a PT with a background in professional tennis in the WTA and was formerly the Director of Physical Therapy at EXOS. In addition to this he is also the co-owner of Phoenix Manual Therapy. This conversation with Jesse is focused around communication, collaboration and biomechanics through Jesse's broad knowledge and appreciation for performance, leadership and sports medicine. 

In this episode Andy and Jesse discuss:

• Jesse’s background
• Current role at the Trail Blazers 
• Communicating with players as a PT 
• Communicating with management 
• Risk management 
• PT S&C’ collaboration
• Communicating diagnosis with S&C’s
• Biomechanics 

Where you can find Jesse:

• Phoenix Manual Therapy
• Instagram
• LinkedIn

Sponsor

Inform Performance is sponsored by VALD Performance, makers of the Nordbord, Forceframe, ForeDecks and HumanTrak. VALD Performance systems are built with the high-performance practitioner in mind, translating traditionally lab-based technologies into engaging, quick, easy-to-use tools for daily testing, monitoring and training

Keep up to date with everything that is going on with the podcast by following Inform Performance on:

• Instagram
• Twitter
• Our Website

Our Team

• Andy McDonald
• Ben Ashworth

Episode 55: Andy McDonald chats to Sérgio T Fonseca. Sérgio is from a clinical background originally and currently works at the Department of Physical Therapy of the University Federal de Minas Gerais, Brazil. Sérgio teaches and advises in the areas of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Sciences. His main research focus is on human movement, applying concepts of ecological approach and dynamical systems to human perception and action. This episode will focus on the philosophy of patient or athlete management as it relates to his work on systems. 

In this episode Andy and Sérgio discuss:

• • Sérgio's background 
  • Reductionism, complicated and complex systems 
  • Equifinality 
  • Evidence based practise
  • Synergetic’s
  • Evaluating your own systems 

Where you can find Sérgio:

• Research Gate
• UFMG

Sponsor

Inform Performance is sponsored by VALD Performance, makers of the Nordbord, Forceframe, ForeDecks and HumanTrak. VALD Performance systems are built with the high-performance practitioner in mind, translating traditionally lab-based technologies into engaging, quick, easy-to-use tools for daily testing, monitoring and training

Keep up to date with everything that is going on with the podcast by following Inform Performance on:

• Instagram
• Twitter
• Our Website

Our Team

• Andy McDonald
• Ben Ashworth

Episode 54: Andy McDonald chats to Mike Friday USA Rugby Mens 7's Head Coach. Mike began his sporting career as a player transitioning from the amateur rugby years into the professional era, before becoming renowned as a coach. He has enjoyed multiple coaching roles across the UK, Kenya and more recently USA. In this episode with Mike we will discuss his journey from player to coach and pick out some of the key lessons he has learnt along the way. 

In this episode Andy and Mike discuss:

• Mike’s playing career 
• Athlete retirement transitions
• Effects of Covid on Rugby 
• Current state of World Rugby 7’s
• Mike’s coaching background
• Role at USA Rugby Sevens 
• Working for Kenyan 7’s
• Lessons learnt coaching in different cultures
• Sharing medical information with coaches

Where you can find Mike:

• Twitter
• Instagram
• LinkedIn

Tendon Research Survey

The aim of this survey of physiotherapists is to identify criteria for diagnosis of tendinopathy. This study aims to establish the key clinical questions and tests physiotherapists use during clinical examination of Achilles tendinopathy. Establishing a set of clinical questions and objective measures for Achilles tendinopathy will allow the validity of these criteria to be investigated in future projects. 

Sponsor

Inform Performance is sponsored by VALD Performance, makers of the Nordbord, Forceframe, ForeDecks and HumanTrak. VALD Performance systems are built with the high-performance practitioner in mind, translating traditionally lab-based technologies into engaging, quick, easy-to-use tools for daily testing, monitoring and training

Keep up to date with everything that is going on with the podcast by following Inform Performance on:

• Instagram
• Twitter
• Our Website

Our Team

• Andy McDonald
• Ben Ashworth

Episode 53: Andy McDonald chats to Jarrod Antflick a Consultant Sports Physiotherapist in elite sport. Jarrod is the founder of Total Performance and has been working in elite sport for over 15 years as a consultant Sports Physiotherapist. His work resides in the UK consulting to teams in the English Premiere League and Premiership Rugby, and to NBA teams in the USA. Jarrrod also works as consultant physiotherapist at The Fortius Clinic London, as a specialist in tendinopathy undertaking research in the management and diagnosis of tendinopathy. In addition to this his expertise expands to profiling and motion analysis through biomechanical screening utilising IMU data and triaxial force platforms to provides context into how human force is produced. This conversation with Jarrod focusses on his approach to managing tendons in both a clinical and high performance context. 

In this episode Andy and Jarrod discuss:

• His background or interest in tendons 
• Optimal tendon function 
• Assessing tendons 
• Risk factors 
• Ultrasound Tissue Characterisation (UTC)
• Using kinematics and kinetics to solve problems 
• RTP criteria for tendons

Where you can find Jarrod:

• Twitter
• LinkedIn
• Total Performance
• Fortius Clinic
• Complete Physio

Tendon Research Survey

The aim of this survey of physiotherapists is to identify criteria for diagnosis of tendinopathy. This study aims to establish the key clinical questions and tests physiotherapists use during clinical examination of Achilles tendinopathy. Establishing a set of clinical questions and objective measures for Achilles tendinopathy will allow the validity of these criteria to be investigated in future projects. 

Sponsor

Inform Performance is sponsored by VALD Performance, makers of the Nordbord, Forceframe, ForeDecks and HumanTrak. VALD Performance systems are built with the high-performance practitioner in mind, translating traditionally lab-based technologies into engaging, quick, easy-to-use tools for daily testing, monitoring and training

Keep up to date with everything that is going on with the podcast by following Inform Performance on:

• Instagram
• Twitter
• Our Website

Our Team

• Andy McDonald
• Ben Ashworth

Episode 52: Andy McDonald chats to James Moore the Co-Founder of the Health Development & Performance Network (HDPN). James also currently holds the position of Clinical Director of Sports & Exercise Medicine at the Centre for Health & Human Performance (CHHP). One of the highlights of James’ career, to date, was to be awarded the Deputy Chef de Mission Performance Service for Team GB at the Rio2016 Olympic Games. He has previously held titles such as Head for Performance for TeamGB, Manager for the Intensive Rehabilitation Unit for the British Olympic Association (BOA), Head of Medical at Saracens RFC, Consultant Clinical Lead Physiotherapist for UK Athletics for two Olympic cycles(Beijing & London), Consultant Physiotherapist for the RFU to the England Men’s Senior team in preparation for RWC2011 and Medical team leader for Gloucester County Cricket Club. James has worked with multiple sports throughout the UK, USA and Australia at the highest level and has expertise on hip & groin as well as hamstring injuries.  

In this episode Andy and James discuss: 

• James’s background 
• Muscle Injury classifications
• Communicating classifications & diagnosis 
• Communicating with radiology 
• Neuromuscular loading strategies for short & long head of Biceps Femoris 
• Adductor Magnus as a functional hamstring 
• Putting nordics in perspective 
• Torque ratios at the hip 

Where you can find James:

• Twitter
• LinkedIn
• CHHP 
• HDPN - Website 
• HDPN - Instagram
• HDPN - Twitter 

Sponsor

Inform Performance is sponsored by VALD Performance, makers of the Nordbord, Forceframe, ForeDecks and HumanTrak. VALD Performance systems are built with the high-performance practitioner in mind, translating traditionally lab-based technologies into engaging, quick, easy-to-use tools for daily testing, monitoring and training

Keep up to date with everything that is going on with the podcast by following Inform Performance on:

• Instagram
• Twitter
• Our Website

Our Team

• Andy McDonald
• Ben Ashworth

Episode 51: Andy McDonald chats to Mick Hughes a Physiotherapist and Exercise Physiologist who consults at The Melbourne Sports Medicine Centre, Collins St Melbourne. During his Physio career Mick has worked with elite junior sporting teams such as the NQ Cowboys U20s rugby league team and the Newcastle Jets National Youth League and Emerging Jets Academy soccer teams. In this episode Andy and Mick discuss ACL rehab following Mick recently presenting to England Rugby on the topic. Mick has a large following online and is a reputable educator in this space. 

In this episode Andy and Mick discuss: 

• Updates in ACL rehab
• Strength & Conditioning for ACL’s 
• Re-considering the term “Conservative Management” 
• Implementing OKC earlier
• Moon registry of ACL’s 
• Baseline performance Data 

Where you can find Nick:

• Twitter
• Instagram
• LinkedIn
• Website
• Youtube

Sponsor

Inform Performance is sponsored by VALD Performance, makers of the Nordbord, Forceframe, ForeDecks and HumanTrak. VALD Performance systems are built with the high-performance practitioner in mind, translating traditionally lab-based technologies into engaging, quick, easy-to-use tools for daily testing, monitoring and training

Keep up to date with everything that is going on with the podcast by following Inform Performance on:

• Instagram
• Twitter
• Our Website

Our Team

• Andy McDonald
• Ben Ashworth

Episode 50: Andy McDonald chats to Nick Winkelman the head of athletic performance & science for the Irish Rugby Football Union. His primary role is to oversee the delivery and development of strength & conditioning and sports science across all national (Men's and Women's XV’s and 7’s) and provincial teams (Leinster, Munster, Connacht, and Ulster). Nick was previously the director of education and training systems for EXOS (formerly Athletes' Performance), located in Phoenix, AZ. At EXOS Nick oversaw the speed and assessment component of the EXOS NFL Combine Development Program and supported many athletes across the NFL, MLB, NBA, National Sports Organizations, and Military. Nick has also completed his Ph.D. through Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions with a dissertation focus on motor skill learning and sprinting. In this episode Andy and Nick will be primarily discussing topics from his recent book - The Language of Coaching. 

In this episode Andy and Nick discuss: 

• Nicks background 
• The language of coaching 
• Discussing how rather than what 
• The coach & athlete relationship 
• Cueing 
• Understanding athletes information needs
• Monitoring language
• Moving to Ireland 

Where you can find Nick:

• LinkedIn
• Twitter 
• Instagram
• Language Of Coaching Book

Sponsor

Inform Performance is sponsored by VALD Performance, makers of the Nordbord, Forceframe, ForeDecks and HumanTrak. VALD Performance systems are built with the high-performance practitioner in mind, translating traditionally lab-based technologies into engaging, quick, easy-to-use tools for daily testing, monitoring and training

Keep up to date with everything that is going on with the podcast by following Inform Performance on:

• Instagram
• Twitter
• Our Website

Our Team

• Andy McDonald
• Ben Ashworth