The Sports MAP Network – Details, episodes & analysis

In this episode, Dr Daniel Cobian discusses all things running post ACL reconstruction, specifically the research that he and the team at the University of Wisconsin have been looking at regarding running biomechanics changes in post-surgical recovery. How pervasive they are, how we can detect them in the clinical setting, their clinical relevance, and how we can tailor our rehab to address these changes with our athletes. Dr Cobian is an associate professor in the department of orthopedics and rehabilitation at the University of Wisconsin, a faculty member in their doctor of physical therapy program, a research scientist in their athletic performance lab, and works clinically with their student athletes. He has been at the University of Wisconsin for the past 10 years, since completing his PhD from the University of Iowa, focusing on neuromuscular function following knee injury and surgery. Topics: What changes in running biomechanics are observed in athletes after ACL reconstruction and how long post-surgery do these changes last? What are the implications of the athlete continuing to run with these altered biomechanics? How can we assess and detect these changes in a clinical setting without access to expensive 3D motion capture and biomechanical analysis equipment? What are the likely causes of these biomechanical changes? How can we tailor post-surgical rehabilitation to target these changes? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uaYNynwvAqQ References: Cobian, D. G., Joachim, M. R., Cornelius, J. R., Knurr, K. A., & Heiderscheit, B. C. (2025). Quadriceps Rate of Torque Development Is More Impaired Than Strength 4 to 12 Months Post-ACLR in Collegiate Athletes. Sports Health, 19417381251395745.  Knurr, K. A., Cobian, D. G., Kliethermes, S. A., Joachim, M. R., & Heiderscheit, B. C. (2025). Influence of Running Speed and Time Postoperatively on Lower Extremity Work in Collegiate Athletes after Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction. Medicine and science in sports and exercise, 57(8), 1626–1635.  Knurr, K. A., Kliethermes, S. A., Stiffler-Joachim, M. R., Cobian, D. G., Baer, G. S., & Heiderscheit, B. C. (2021). Running Biomechanics Before Injury and 1 Year After Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction in Division I Collegiate Athletes. The American journal of sports medicine, 49(10), 2607–2614.  Knurr, K. A., Cobian, D. G., Kliethermes, S. A., Stiffler-Joachim, M. R., & Heiderscheit, B. C. (2023). The Influence of Quadriceps Strength and Rate of Torque Development on the Recovery of Knee Biomechanics During Running After Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction. The American journal of sports medicine, 51(12), 3171–3178. 

Katie Davies is a highly experienced neurophysiotherapist and Director of the Neuro Rehabilitation Group with a particular interest in concussion management and treatment. Katie holds an honorary appointment at the Murdoch Children's Research Institute (MCRI) as Physiotherapy Lead within a multidisciplinary team researching the management of persisting concussion symptoms in children.  Kaite also holds an honorary position at the Turner Institute for Brain and Mental Health at Monash University, where she serves as Physiotherapy Lead on the iRecover study — a research program investigating concussion recovery in adults. Topics: How Katie became interested in concussion What is the role of a physiotherapist in the management of the rehabilitation of concussion? How to advise on graded exposure of exercise the four key systems. What are the recommendations we can educate athletes or families for that immediate period (24-48 hours) post-concussion? When and when not should manual therapy be utilised? How important is neck strength to concussion? When should we assess the autonomic, visual and vestibular system When and who to refer to for non-responding cases. When is an athlete ready to return to play and what compliance should be considered? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n3lbWpeC3tw Refences AIS Concussion Guidelines  Vicki Anderson Concussion Podcast Anne Mucha VOMS Screening

Ian Gatt is a highly experienced sports physiotherapist with over 25 years in elite performance environments. He spent a significant portion of his career leading the multidisciplinary services for the Great Britain Boxing Programme, supporting athletes through major international events, including multiple Olympic and Commonwealth Games. Ian is recognised as an Upper Limb Injury Specialist with the UK Sports Institute (UKSI), where he provides expert advisory support to Olympic and Paralympic sports.  Ian is the current head of physiotherapy at Inspire Institute of Sport We explore three of the most common combat sport wrist injuries and expand on some of the key management principles, including: TFCC Injuries The Palmer Classification for TFCC injuries  Why the location of the injury matters How diagnosis and function provide you with prognostic indicators  When surgery may be indicated Scaphoid fractures and the importance of not missing them in your assessment.  The importance of the site of fracture (Proximal, waist or distal) Preferred imaging modality  When to refer for orthopaedic input Scapholunate ligament injuries & instability How to assess for and manage optimally  Key tools to be objective during a rehab process.  Strength training around the wrist https://youtu.be/6sqhoawyrbo

Dr. Keith Baar is a professor and the head of the Functional Molecular Biology Laboratory at the University of California, Davis. He has a PhD in Physiology and Biophysics.  Keith has dedicated his career to the study of muscle development and adaptation. His research focuses on understanding the molecular mechanisms behind muscle growth, repair, and the maintenance of muscle mass and function. In this episode, we chat with Keith about: Keith's background The theory of tendon stiffness relative to muscle strength and risk factors Benefits of measuring RFD as a measure of fatigue. Stress shielding and the influence of creep. How Isometric training can be used to load the tendon lesion. Can we apply this method of training for Injury prevention with respect to Achilles tendon ruptures? Why and when to choose yielding and overcoming isometrics in rehabilitation. Optimal loading for Patella tendinopathy. Ramping isometrics for Biceps Femoris IMT strain injuries. Dietary intake recommendations to complement your loading. And more! READ: Minimizing Injury and Maximizing Return to Play: Lessons from Engineered Ligaments  READ: Using load to improve tendon/ligament tissue engineering and develop novel treatments for tendinopathy WATCH this episode on our YouTube channel

Michael is a Senior Sports and MSK physiotherapist working at UPMC Sports Medicine. He has extensive experience in elite sport and has a keen clinical interest in lower limb muscle injury rehabilitation. Michael is also undertaking research investigating outcomes after hamstring tendon injury by undertaking a professional doctorate through the University of Limerick in Innovation and Human Performance at City Football.   We chat extensively with Michael about: - Michael’s career to date, his interest in hamstring injuries and how we can use the findings of his systematic review. - Michael provides a case scenario of a 3c Biceps Femoris Hamstring injury. - The thought process behind the diagnosis and prognosis - Surgical / non-surgical decision making. - Potential contributing factors to the hamstring injury - Early loading to optimise healing and avoid high strain early in the rehab process. - Addressing hamstring stiffness and hypertrophy of the Biceps Femoris - Combining mid stage field and gym-based rehabilitation - Return to play process ____   Some of the links Michael mentioned in this episode can be found here: Time to return to play and reinjury rate of hamstring injuries with and without intramuscular tendon involvement: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Other resources mentioned, such as the Maeo article, can be found in our Hamstring resources guide WATCH this episode on our YouTube channel here

In this episode of the How I Rehab podcast we chat with David Power, physiotherapist at the renowned Aspetar rehab centre in Qatar. David previously worked as Athletic Performance & Return to Play Coach at Munster Rugby & physiotherapist and rehabilitation coordinator at Leicester Tigers Rugby Club in the UK. He is also a PhD researcher at University of Limerick, exploring loading strategies, pain-threshold rehabilitation and adaptations in the area of acute muscle injury rehabilitation. In this episode, we chat with David about: Learn about David’s background and his PhD What is pain threshold rehabilitation? How important is optimising loading to the injured tissue with respect to muscle re-injury? What has developed in David’s approach to rehabilitation since his case study was published 5 years ago? What are low-jerk isometrics and why might they be beneficial? What are long yielding isometrics and how and why does David use them? What is the difference between yielding and overcoming isometrics? What is a quasi-isometric? When does David recommend using these in the rehabilitation progression? When might we look to use isometrics with caution in a rehab or performance program? David's Case Study Paper: https://tinyurl.com/5e9vdcas WATCH this episode on our YouTube channel

In this episode of the How I Rehab podcast we chat with Rebecca McConville MS, RD, LDN, CSSD, CEDRD-S, a board certified sports specialist and eating disorder dietitian.  Becca has an extensive history working with team and individual  athletes across a large variety of sports including the Kansas City Chiefs. Becca is also the author of several books on RED-S and the role nutrition plays in this, not only for athletes but also active people across the lifespan.  We talk extensively about the role of nutrition in recovery and injury prevention including: Rebecca’s experience working with athletes and RED-S patients What to expect from the upcoming Fast Track the Injured Runner event in Boston  Defining RED-S and how the definition has changed over time. Signs of RED-s we should be looking for  in our athletes and patients The importance of considering nutrition and underfuelling in junior athletes for future bone health Supplementation - when and how this should be used Why ‘normal’ ranges on blood tests when looking at things such as calcium and iron may not be appropriate for  athletes How we should be supporting bone health in athletes with bone stress injuries Nutritional strategies for promoting muscle recovery including timing, type and amount of macronutrients The importance of education of the athlete around nutrition both as a recovery and preventative strategy for injury WATCH this episode on the Sports MAP YouTube channel

In this episode of the How I Rehab podcast we chat with Dr. Rich Willy, an Associate Professor at the School of Physical Therapy, University of Montana. Rich has a PhD studying patellofemoral pain and has been a clinician for over 20 years, specialising in the treatment of the injured runner. He is extensively published in running related overuse injuries and has presented to multiple elite organisations including Olympic sports medicine staff and the National Basketball Association on lower extremity injuries. We talk extensively about the management of Navicular bone stress injuries, including:  Rich’s recent career move to Ohio State University  What to expect from the upcoming Fast Track the injured runner event in Boston  Why are overuse Navicular injuries so problematic?  What are the main biomechanical loads that increase the risk of navicular BSI?  What are the key signs of navicular BSI? How and what imaging best informs our practice and decision making?  The navicular bone stress reaction (no cortical breach) management including  Offloading  Muscle loading  Return to impact loading.  Markers for a return to run- balance objective finding and are imaging findings here relevant?  Does the location of the navicular bone stress injury change our management?  Navicular bone stress classification  Surgical decision making  Surgical approaches to the Navicular stress fracture  Bone loading during rehabilitation  This episode is supported by HRIG , The Occlusion Cuff & Iron Edge WATCH this episode on the Sports MAP YouTube channel

In this episode of the How I Rehab podcast by Sports MAP we chat with Bryan Heiderscheit, a physical therapist with a doctorate in biomechanics. Bryan's research is aimed at understanding and enhancing the clinical management of orthopaedic conditions, with a particular focus on running related injuries. Byran is also Director of both UW Badger Athletic Performance, founder of UW Health Runners' Clinic and Co-director of UW Neuromuscular Biomechanics Laboratory. In this episode we talk to: Bryan’s background as a PT and now his role at Wisconsin University Find our what current research projects are underway at Wisconsin. What to expect from Bryan at the Sports MAP's upcoming event in Boston, Fast track the injury runner What is running biomechanics? How can we analyze running biomechanics without expensive technology? What does the evidence say when it comes to key running biomechanics risk factors? Once we identify mechanics that may be contributing to injury, how do we go about changing this? If making changes to running mechanics, what is the difference in doing this with the reactional runners and the elite runner? This episode is supported by HRIG , The Occlusion Cuff & Iron Edge WATCH this episode on the Sports MAP YouTube channel

In this episode of the How I Rehab podcast by Sports MAP we chat with Dr. Kevin Cronin, Assistant Professor & Lecturer in Diagnostic Imaging and MSc Ultrasound Programme Director at the University College Dublin. In 2023, Kevin completed his PhD at University College Dublin. His research assessed hamstring injuries with ultrasound in professional rugby players (Leinster Rugby). He has a keen interest in sports injuries and utilises medical ultrasound to establish a diagnosis, and also monitor tissue healing during the rehabilitation period to give the athlete the best possible chance of returning to play fit and healthy, minimising the risk of a recurrent injury. We talk to: Kevin tells us a little about his background and career journey. Kevin’s research into ‘wide view’ analysis of hamstring muscle architecture. What is muscle architecture and fascicle length? Why measures of fascicle length still need to be interpreted with some degree of caution. The benefits of using ultrasound for diagnosis of hamstring injuries. Sub classification of T junction hamstring injuries. Monitoring ‘healing’ using Ultrasound as information in the RTP process. This episode is supported by HRIG , The Occlusion Cuff & Iron Edge WATCH this episode on the Sports MAP YouTube channel