Back Pain Back To Exercise Group Starting This Monday

In this episode of the podcast, we cover quite a few topics, with a real emphasis on rebuilding confidence. I speak about my time in Argentina, my ACL tear and how an experience with Taylor Swift helped me build a better path going forward. I also speak on the role confidence needs to play in your rehab and how your response to rehab can dictate if you'll be successful or not.

Back Pain Back To Exercise Group Starting This Monday 6th Of January -- Click here to join

Check out when the next is too!

Music by Dean Kenny

In this podcast episode, I reflect on the past year, sharing highlights from my time in Brazil, Saudi Arabia, and Ireland. I discuss my journey back to sports after an ACL injury, including taking a non-surgical approach, the lessons learned, challenges faced, and the positives gained. Finally, I explore the year in greater detail using 9 reflection questions to uncover valuable insights.

**Join our next group of the Back Pain Back To Exercise Program: Click here

• • London: A quick visit.
  • Saudi Arabia: Exploring culture and traditions.
  • Brazil: Rio, Carnival, and Floripa’s unique energy.
  • Ireland

Lessons from ACL Recovery - 23:00

• • The mental and physical battles.
  • Strategies that worked and mistakes I’d avoid in hindsight.
  • How setting a clear goal helped me push through setbacks.

Reflection Questions: 48:45

• • Question #1: What made me happiest this year?
  • Question #2: What made me unhappy this year?
  • Question #3: What was the biggest lesson I learned this year?
  • Question #4: What do I wish I had done more of this year?
  • Question #5: What do I want to do less of next year?
  • Question #6: What was my biggest success this year?
  • Question #7: When was a moment I failed this year?
  • Question #8: What is something I want to learn next year?
  • Question #9: What is my favorite way to refuel?

Has My Philosophy Changed: 1:13:30

**Join our next group of the Back Pain Back To Exercise Program: Click here 

In this episode of the podcast, we speak on progress, and how we need to avoid attaching to only physical progress when we're trying to overcome an injury. Being too hard on yourself because you don't see the physical progress in the time you want can be a downfall for some. Here we talk on other forms to help you stay disciplined, focused and on track.

Understand The Root Cause Of Chronic & Persistent Pain. Get yhe free guide now —> https://tr.ee/rikk2JLQ6m

Follow Robbiecassidy_ on IG & Youtube

In this episode of the podcast I was delighted to welcome on sports scientist, strength & conditioning coach and PhD candidate David Nolan (@SynapsePerformance).

David is currently completing his PhD on sex differences and adaptations to exercise, with a focus mostly around the female athlete.

In this podcast we discuss the differences in sporting demands for male & female athletes, the effect of the menstrual cycle & hormonal contraceptives on performance and programming for female athletes.

We also explore transgender populations in competitive sport, ethical considerations around inclusivity & fairness as well as are the Olympic Committees (IOC) requirements for the inclusion of transgender athletes sufficient based on current research.

In the episode of the podcast I was delighted to bring on close friend, personal trainer & coach Bryan McInerney. Bryan is one of the best coaches I've ever worked with and brings a unique perspective to the world of health & fitness.

We discuss overcoming his own significant obstacles and how this has affected his approach & mindset to training. We also dive deep into self awareness, community & how your relationships alter your perspective.

Bryan also talks about overcoming cancer, rowing the length of Ireland in a month and competing in the national fitness games in the eye opening episode.

In this episode of the podcast we look at something that is very common in sporting populations - how do you manage an injury while still trying to perform in season?

We discuss the main mistakes made by many athletes in season, that either cause their issues to continue flaring up, get worse or hold them back from performing their best.

We explore how to manage energy expenditure better in games & training sessions as well as improving recovery, focusing on specific gameplay, managing load and working on competition strategy.

If you are currently managing an injury while still training, this episode is for you.

In this episode of the podcast I was delighted to welcome on Killian Malone to speak about coaching in the GAA.

Killian is a personal trainer, primary school teacher & inter-county coach. He provides his unique insight into skills development, coaching & game analysis.

We speak on why it's important as a coach to build good relationships in a team sport. We also explore planning & structuring training sessions, off the ball movement, game management & more.

In this episode of the podcast we look at muscle tightness. Often I hear clients complain that they always feel tight, restricted & sore. Understanding the signs your body is trying to give you is huge when trying to get the best out of yourself.

We discuss what is the underlying cause of tightness, how you may be contributing to it as well as what your body is trying to tell you.

We also explore different solutions to the problem, look at some important aspects you may be missing as well as how the subconscious plays a role.

In this episode of the podcast we dive into ankle rehabilitation. If you've ever sprained an ankle before, or find it happens to you often, this episode is for you.

The ankle is one of the most common injuries in field sports today. Yet I often find people making similar mistakes that can actually delay their return to play after one of these injuries.

In this episode we explore different techniques & ideas to build strength & tolerance in the ankle. We also discuss common mistakes made as well as a few handy tips you can use to get you back to activity faster.

In this episode of the podcast I discuss how you can fit more mobility work into your day. 

Many often lose out on the benefits of mobility training as they don't prioritise it enough. This episode actually stems off the back of a conversation I had with a client recently. 

We speak on when is the best time to do your mobility sessions, why do some find it so difficult to fit it into their day, as well as a few tips & tricks you can use to incorporate more mobility work into your life.

Check it out today!

In this episode of the podcast we look at warm-ups.

Often a lot of athletes & teams make the same mistakes when it comes to warm-ups. Doing too much or too little, not focusing on the right things as well as including exercises not that effective and where time could be better spent.

We explore are warmups important in sports, what common problems do I see with field sport athletes as well as with runners when warming up, before discussing some ideas on how best to structure a warm-up.

Some other topics we discussed were:

- Are activation bands useful in a warm-up?

- Should you be foam rolling before a training session?

- What is PAP & how to use it to improve performance? 

In this episode of the podcast we look at the importance of managing load during a competitive season.

This is intended to help athletes of all sports get a better understanding of planning training cycles as well as when to include recovery days & weeks.

We discuss why it is essential to monitor load in season for GAA players, runners & other athletes.

We also assess what contributes to your weekly load, before talking through different tactics & strategies to help keep you perform at your best all year.

In this episode of the podcast we discuss the transition from injury back into training within the context of getting back before competition / championship.

So many of us get caught with reinjuring the same area when we get back into training. We cover why this is an issue with many athletes, what contributes to it as well as how to mitigate the risk.

We also discuss different tactics to getting back to play safely, while not missing out on too much training.

In this episode of the podcast, we look at the subtleties of a chronic injury and how these can still hinder your recovery even if you're doing everything right.

When you've been dealing with the same issue for a long time there will always be an element of adaptive/learned behaviour associated with it. If you don't address this in your rehab journey, you'll find the issue will continue to reoccur.

Follow Robbiecassidy_ on Instagram & YouTube.

Understand The Root Cause Of Chronic & Persistent Pain —> https://tr.ee/rikk2JLQ6m 

In this episode of the podcast I am delighted to welcome on Andrew Shevlin (@ThatGingerGuy__) a PT & nutritionist out of Manchester.

We dive deep into the mindset behind managing body composition, what shifts are made before someone make consistent change as well as some of the biggest misconceptions around body composition training.

Andrew discusses why he looks at client problems & barriers from a different point of view, how personal experience has given him a unique perspective on each individuals situation as well as his own approach to coaching.

In this episode of the podcast I was delighted to welcome on Lorcan Daly, a PhD Candidate from the Technological University of the Shannon. 

Lorcan focus has been around markers of fatigue in field sport athletes as well as recovery protocols in GAA.

In this episode we dive deep into the effects of training vs games on the body, how long does it take to recover after a game, what factors affect this, what are effective recovery strategies for GAA players & how in season training should structured.

Lorcan has a wealth of knowledge around managing load in field sports athletes and showed it all here.

This podcast is packed with nuggets of information!

In this episode of the podcast I was delighted to welcome Siobhan O'Hagan (@Siobh.ohagan) onto the podcast for a wide ranging chat around values, perspective, nutrition, training & books.

We also discuss the psychology & thought patterns around dieting, weight loss, building a lifestyle & coaching.

Siobhan goes into detail on her experience working as an online coach, her training at the minute and her plans in future. 

The topic of values comes up consistently here as Siobhan discusses how she decides how to build the life that she wants.

In this episode of the podcast I was delighted to welcome on Dr. Colm Doody, a PhD researcher out of N.U.I Galway to chat about resilience, coping strategies & mindset.

In this wide ranging conversation we explore the idea of dynamic resilience.

Dr. Doody talks through his recent research project with the Irish Defence Forces where they assessed whether a structured resilience program focused on improving ability to tolerate multiple stressors would be beneficial or effective.

We also explore how to train & improve your resilience, mindset around training & overcoming difficulties, different coping strategies and much more.

In this episode of the podcast we discuss environment & community.

This is something I'm always interested in chatting about as I feel many of us are not aware how the things around us have an affect on our thought patterns, attitudes & goals.

We explore how this may affect your pain levels, whether you decide to get surgery, recovery times and the severity of injury you suffer.

We also speak on whether your community is having a positive or negative impact on your life, when you need to reasses  as well as how you can improve it.

In this episode of the podcast we look at morning routines. With many top performers we often see them talking about their routines & habits. Consistent habits are key to success in any domain, yet many of us find it difficult to implement these on a daily basis.

We explore if morning routines are actually important, can they help us during the day or do they just contribute to a small part of the puzzle. 

We also discuss different routines I implement myself and with clients to help get the most out of the morning and promote a positive attitude towards the day.

In this episode of the podcast we discuss the different tricks people play on themselves consciously & subconsciously that cause them to fall at the same hurdles consistently.

We asses it from a rehab perspective & from a life perspective.

We also explore certain tricks people will play to give themselves excuses when crunch time comes.

As well as how this may manifest in the body as pain or injury.

Lastly we speak on different solutions to the problems at hand as well as how to become more aware of these issues to tackles them before they crop up.

In this episode of the podcast we discuss the use & misuse of medical imaging in a healthcare setting, especially around recurring pain or injury.

We look at when an MRI or X-ray may be the best option for your situation, as well as when it could be harmful to your recovery.

We explore the use for knee, hip & shoulder injuries specifically.

As well as should they be an option for long standing back pain or is it even necessary for possible cartilage issues?

We also discuss what to expect when getting certain scans, what you need to worry about and what is not generally an issue.

In this episode of the podcast I was delighted to welcome back performance nutritionist Mike Nicholsen (@Mikenicho) for a Q&A on sports nutrition.

In this wide ranging podcast we cover many topics such as nutrition timing for improved performance during an event, key nutritional strategies for vegan / vegetarians, beta alanine supplementation & creatine supplementation.

We also discuss nutrition for inflammation & flare-ups, fuelling for endurance & ultra endurance events as well as recovery nutrition.

In this episode of the podcast we look at posture. We often hear about the effect of certain postures on our body whether that be rounded shoulders, slumped at a desk or a forward head posture.

There is always going to be different opinions on what's best, so in this podcast I want to chat more on principals of your body and how these are expressed through posture.

I discuss why posture is thought to be an issue, what affects your posture, as well as when is it a problem & when should you look to change it.

This week I was delighted to welcome on Darragh Clancy (@Darragh_coachclancy), an online fitness coach, to discuss common weight loss mistakes and the importance of accurate information and fundamental principles.

Robbie and Darragh speak on reframing obstacles as growth opportunities, the mind-body connection, and the importance of education and learning. They also discuss reverse planning and maintaining goals, underscoring the importance of mindset, discipline, education, and long-term planning in fitness success.

Take our free Athlete Injury Assessment to figure out where you are going wrong in your training ---> https://robert-g9ydgyym.scoreapp.com

Follow Robbiecassidy_ on Instagram & YouTube.

In this episode of the podcast we look at why it's important to assess & test mindset in a rehab context. Mindset is something I feel is often overlooked during rehab. 

Many of us fall into the same thought patterns causing us to run into the same barriers during rehab phases.

We explore what common thought patterns I've noticed in clients with long term injuries as well as how specifically they may affect a person.

We also discuss why & when do these become an issue as well as what's the solution or how can you work on it.

In this episode of the podcast we discuss optimising your recovery after a high volume block of training.

When it comes to planning out recovery days many are either doing too little or too much.

We explore where most people fail when it comes to recovery, should you change the way you look at recovery if it is a higher volume block as well as how to structure your recovery sessions after multiple high weeks of training.

In this episode of the podcast we explore when its time to plan a rest day or deload week. The body often shows signs that it's time to pull back well before an overuse injury occurs.

Getting an understanding of these signs & symptoms can put you in a position to reduce your risk & improve your performance.

We discuss what causes the body to break down, where most people lack understanding as well as when is the right time to include extra recovery day or add a deload week.

In this episode of the podcast we look at sleep. Many people make the same mistakes when it comes to sleep and even more struggle with the same issues around sleep.

In here I focus on improving sleep quantity & quality. I also break down the three main issues I see clients struggle with around sleep.

Including how to stop overthinking in bed, how to sleep through the night & avoid waking up repeatedly, as well as improving quality of sleep so that you feel refreshed every morning.

I go into detail on the strategies I use with clients and aim to equip you with the tactics to get better sleep.

If you've trouble sleeping this ones for you.

In this episode of the podcast we look at the use of yoga as an injury prevention method in sports.

Yoga is something I often see people start to incorporate more with the hope of mitigating injuries, especially in GAA & running.

We explore why yoga is thought to be an effective method and should it be incorporated in season or in the off season to help reduce risk of injury during performance.

We also discuss what else you can do to reduce injury risk in season.

In this episode of the podcast we discuss the common myths associated with mobility training & aim to debunk them.

With mobility training, as well as any other form of health practice, there are always going to be quick fixes and headlines that catch attention. 

We explore perfect posture, flat feet, recovery practices, foam rolling, massage & the mindset that drives these issues.

If you are into mobility training, this episode is for you!

In this episode of the podcast I discuss all things shoulder injury & shoulder dislocation. With a injury that is as traumatic as a shoulder dislocation we often see a stack of mental, as well as physical barriers to returning to contact sports.

If these are not addressed in the rehab phase it can be difficult to really overcome your injury, as well as get back playing at a level you want.

In this episode I discuss why dislocations stop people returning to sport, some of the biggest problems I see in the rehab of a shoulder dislocation as well as how to get back to sport safely & effectively.

In this episode of the podcast I speak on functional goals. Functional is a word often attached to random exercises on social media these days, however, this is not what I am going to talk about.

I speak on why people often fail with their rehab, why we can't rely on feeling alone as well as what functional actually means and how can we incorporate it into our plans.

Have you been trying to get over the same injury for years?

This one is for you.

In this episode of the podcast we discuss different tactics used to create sustainable habits.

Creating habits can be difficult at times as many make the same mistakes over & over. By understanding where you fall down as well as what you can do to fix it, you give yourself a better chance of creating a strong habit..

In this episode I discuss many of the mistakes made, how to create less friction as well as what has worked with my own clients in the past.

In this episode of the podcast we look at neck issues. Have you ever felt your neck getting tight & sore while sitting at a desk or after a training session.

We explore why necks specifically are an issue, what to look out for as well as what you can do to improve it. We also assess some of the mindset factors that need to be addressed before we can make change.

Finally we speak on what you can do to tackle and improve your neck issues.

In this episode of the podcast, we look at structuring your training programs around your life and age. As we get older it's very clear that other things take priority ahead of our training and sports.

We focus on work, relationships & family but that doesn't have to come at the cost of our health & fitness. Here we speak about structuring training blocks, planning your weeks, working around events and how to keep consistent.

Take our free Athlete Injury Assessment to figure out where you are going wrong in your training ---> https://robert-g9ydgyym.scoreapp.com 

Follow Robbiecassidy_ on Instagram & YouTube.

In this episode of the podcast we look at breathing and how you can use breathing to your advantage to help you get into and out of a stressed alert state.

We explore what is stress and stress management, why we need to understand it before we take control of it.

We speak on why breathing is important in helping you manage stress as well as how you can utilise it in your daily life.

In this episode of the podcast I was delighted to welcome sports nutritionist Mike Nicholson (@Mikenicho) onto the podcast to discuss different aspects of performance nutrition.

We explore the use & effectiveness of creatine, different fuelling strategies for field & endurance athletes, fasted training, optimising meal timing as well as meal prep for performance.

This episode is jam packed with practical, actionable information for any athlete interested in taking their performance to the next level.

In this episode of the podcast we focus on preseason training. As every sports preseason is going to be slightly different, for this episode I mostly focus on principals of preseason.

We explore why preseason training is important for sports, the main problems I often see with clients as well as what you could focus on this preseason.

We speak on gym training, prehab, body comp & mobility training.

If you are getting back into sport after the new year this one is for you.

In this episode of the podcast as requested on Instagram, I discuss my own path, my education, philosophy around health and thought patterns around training, injuries & rehab.

I speak on my experiences and what led me to going down the path I'm on, my thoughts around mobility training and my interests outside of training.

I explore the different resources that helped me along the way and try to give you a better understanding of how you can look at your own health & fitness going forward. 

In this episode of the podcast I discuss the management of a medial epicondyle tendinopathy also known as Golfers elbow.

This condition is commonly suffered by wrestlers, BJJ athletes, throwing athletes & golfers. It is an overuse injury associated with repeated gripping, swinging & throwing.

We explore the difference between golfers & tennis elbow, how it develops as well as what you can do to improve it.

In this episode of the podcast I discuss overuse injuries. Overuse injuries are extremely common in endurance and field sports (e.g. tendinopathies, stress fractures). In general there are specific patterns & stages to how these injuries develop.

Understanding these patterns give you the chance to reduce your risk of injury in future.

I discuss what an overuse injury is, common types, risk factors, the stages & patterns as well as how to manage and improve them.

This episode is jam packed with practical information and will be one to refer back to in future.

In this episode of the podcast I discuss flat feet or fallen arches. Fallen arches, flat feet or over pronation are all names given to a foot that has collapsed on the inside arch.

Many attribute this to being the cause of their knee, hip, back or even shoulder pain in some instances, as they feel the mechanical "kink" in the chain has resulted in problems further up.

In this episode of the podcast I discuss why they are an issue, do you need to worry about it, what not to do with them as well as how to work on them.

In this episode of the podcast I was delighted to sit down & chat with one of my closest friends Eoin Dobbin (@eoindobbincoaching) to discuss all things travel, routine and getting a better understanding of oneself in different environments.

This is our second episode of the free run podcast where we just sit down & chat. Definitely one of my favourite forms of podcast and love doing them with this man.

In this episode of the podcast I was delighted to welcome Gary O'Daly (@Gaz_Gaelic_Guide) onto the podcast to sit back & talk about stories from playing GAA, his involvement in TG4's underdogs series, in-season & off-season training to injury prevention & rehab.

Gary is a personal trainer with a focus around GAA training. He brought a great energy & good stories to the podcast, speaking on previous experiences, lessons learned in GAA & regrets.

In this episode of the podcast we take a look at if & how the language you use may be affecting your health & wellbeing. Language & beliefs are two common topics I speak about with all of my clients.

If you become more aware of how you speak to yourself & others about your body, many times you'll notice a negative connotation, especially after injury. 

We explore why language is important in a rehab setting, main issues commonly seen as well as what is the solution.

Take our Injury-Free Athlete Assessment Now to understand what you need to focus on as you age, click here --> https://robert-g9ydgyym.scoreapp.com/ 

In this podcast, we discuss how to approach training as a maturing athlete. The common goal we face as we age is to be able to train consistently without running into multiple injuries and setbacks along the way.

Injuries are inevitable, especially as we delve into the arena of competitive sports when things become much more chaotic. 

Is there a way to reduce the risk of injury as we age?

How should we structure our training sessions to be able to make consistent gains all the while reducing our risk of injury?

And, what do we do about past injuries? Is there a way to overcome them for good?

Click here to take the assessment -->  https://robert-g9ydgyym.scoreapp.com/ 

Instagram: Robbiecassidy_

Music by Dean Kenny

In this episode of the podcast we look at fixing lower back tightness. This has to be the most common complaint I hear from people, clients or otherwise.

I wanted to give a different perspective in this episode so I decided to look at it from a few different angles as to why different people may struggle with this common issue.

We explore why so many struggle with this back tightness, why back pain has become such an issue in society today, how beliefs play such a pivotal role as well as what you can do to improve it.

In this episode of the podcast I discuss managing osteoarthritis (OA). OA is a common condition suffered by many today. It's more common as we age, however it can be managed effectively if the right course is taken. 

I explore common problems people with OA struggle with, as well as lifestyle factors that increase risk as well as exacerbate symptoms. I also discuss how to manage OA to reduce wear & tear, promote circulation in the joint and improve pain.

In this episode of the podcast I discuss getting back into sport after being out for a while due to injury or a hiatus. The fear of returning to sport can be overwhelming for some. So much so that many never really get back doing what they love due to a lack of confidence, or fear of reinjury.

In this episode of the podcast I give you an insight into what you need to focus on when returning to sport, the main issues & limiting beliefs I see with clients when getting back as well as how to overcome them.