The Rethinking Rehab Podcast

In this episode, I sit down with Trevor Rappa from Resilient Performance PT to talk all things return to sport, especially in the mid to end stages of rehab. We get into the weeds on movement strategies and change of direction.  Trevor breaks down how he builds progressions, why most athletes are underprepared, and how reactive drills may lead to better outcomes than pre-planned ones. We also touch on the realities of the cash-based model, the value of mentorship, and the importance of developing a movement model to guide your coaching eye. If you work with athletes, this one's packed with gems.   Clinical Athlete Community FB Group: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1EhEyjThTU/

Welcome back, friends!   In this episode, I'm joined by Kelsey Fuller and Hannah Dvorak, two PTs that I met as students and walked alongside as they searched for their first job and ultimately walked away from those jobs. They share about their journey, from being diligent in their initial job search to being patient in the middle of their first job when things got hard to finally finding the courage to quit.   Knowing when to walk away is incredibly hard, but I know you'll be encouraged by both of their stories.     Enjoy!   Clinical Athlete FB Community Group: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/18P7Rokmmt/

Welcome back, friends! In this episode, I'm joined by Matt McInnes Watson, the founder of PlusPlyos, to dive deep into all things plyometrics.  Matt is a high jumper turned coach and now educator, where he aims to make plyometrics more approachable by providing simple, scalable frameworks for athletes and clinicians.  He shares his ideas behind plyometric progressions, as well as misconceptions he's experienced in the rehab space.  Whether you're a clinician or coach, this episode will give you something to chew on this week!   Clinical Athlete FB Community: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/16KdKx62Ne/

Welcome back friends! In this episode, I sit down with Erin Kelly-Sullivan, who began her career as a physical therapist and then pivoted into the world of branding and design. Erin shares her journey of realizing early in her PT career that clinical practice wasn't the right fit and how she navigated the uncertainty of what to do next. We dive into her transition to branding, the struggles of leaving an identity behind, and the lessons she's learned about building a business that aligns with who she is. Whether you're feeling stuck in your career or just love hearing stories of reinvention, this episode is full of honest insights and encouragement to rethink traditional career paths. Enjoy!!   Clinical Athlete Community FB Group: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/18m1sb85Bd/

In this episode I sit down and chat with Rich Willy, a leading expert in running-related injuries and bone stress injuries. We dive deep into the complexities of bone loading, the evolving role of biomechanics in injury risk, and the practical application of strength training and plyometrics for athletes. Rich shares invaluable insights on mentorship, professional growth, and the importance of bridging research with clinical practice. If you're looking to refine your approach to treating endurance and court sport athletes—or just want to learn from one of the best in the field—this episode is packed with takeaways!   Clinical Athlete Community FB Group: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/18V5sL1gWc/

On this episode, I sit down with Natasha Barnes, a chiropractor who specializes in working with climbing athletes. Natasha shares her journey from being an elite climber to navigating chiropractic school, where she was motivated to develop a more evidence-based, exercise-focused approach to rehab as an independent practitioner. We dive into how her treatment philosophy has evolved, the challenges of shifting patient expectations, and the unique considerations of working with climbers—especially around strength training and injury management. Natasha also talks about her transition to a fully remote practice, the power of communication in rehab, and why sometimes the best intervention is simply reassurance.   Clinical Athlete Community FB Group: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1BUtQPAyBT/

In this episode I chat with Abby Gordon, a sports physical therapist at Seattle Children's, about her career journey from working with the WNBA's Seattle Storm to treating pediatric sports injuries and chronic pain. She reflects on how her approach to patient care has changed, the unique challenges of professional sports medicine, and the critical role of addressing holistic factors like sleep, nutrition, and mental health in treatment.  Abby also discusses her transition into teaching and shares valuable insights on supporting women's sports and fostering resilience in patients.   Clinical Athlete FB Community Group: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/N4aVRrUSx8cNnEjw/

In this episode, I sit down with Missy Mitchell-Mcbeth, a seasoned strength and conditioning coach with a wealth of experience in both coaching and consulting. We dive into how her thought process has changed in relation to plyometrics, conditioning, and the art of coaching. Missy shares insightful perspectives on building relationships with sport coaches, shaping athletes' long-term development, and navigating the challenges of modern sports demands. Whether you're a coach or PT, there's so much to take away from this conversation.   Clinical Athlete FB Community: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/NcXkxAfDRU7chP6d/

In this episode, I sit down with Chelsea Ortega to discuss her role as the Director of Health and Performance for the LA Sparks and how she juggles professional demands with life as a mom. Chelsea shares insights on managing time, building systems for athlete care, and embracing the challenges of her dual roles. Her story offers practical advice and perspective for anyone balancing family and career.  Chelsea is a wealth of knowledge and experience and I couldn't be more excited to share this conversation with her.   Clinical Athlete FB Community: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/ngiHNLnhr1Lqv9LY/

In this episode of Rethinking Rehab, I sit down with Sean Harris, a physical therapist and entrepreneur, to talk about his journey from working in a hospital system to running a large gym, clinic, and private research lab in Houston. Sean shares how having a strong vision helped him make tough decisions and grow his business, even during challenging times. We dive into lessons he's learned about leadership, building problem-solving teams, and balancing work with personal fulfillment.  Whether you're into business, leadership, or just looking to grow as a clinician, there's so much to take away from this conversation!     Clinical Athlete FB Group: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/ye527iLx1cxaQHDH/

In this episode, I chat with Maggie Bryant, whose journey I've personally been inspired by over the years.  I've always appreciated how honest she is in conversations about life as a PT in the NBA - the really cool parts, but also the hard and challenging parts that you don't see online.  She currently serves as the President of Performance, Health, and Wellness for the LA Clippers.  Maggie shares about her journey leading up to her current role and how her skillset has evolved as she's taken on more leadership and management responsibilities.   Clinical Athlete FB Community: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/kX2rFYBgAFWUSoE5/  

Hey friends! In this episode, I chat with a great human I met through a book club a few years back.  Dominick Walker is the Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach for Mississippi State's Men's Basketball program.  Like most of us, he's been inudated with so many methods and thought processes, all which promise better results than the "other."  Ultimately he's found value in simplifying his approach by staying true to foundational principles.  Dominick shares about the importance of balancing an authoritative and supportive influence when training his guys.  Stay tuned to the very end for some incredible book recommendations!   Clinical Athlete Community FB group: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/JoZxG5Z5bLC4MXpL/

Hey friends!  Super excited to share this conversation I had with Alex Hubelbank.  Alex wears multiple hats as a performance physical therapist, strength coach and athletic trainer. We dive into her role as an NBA Consultant, discussing the challenges of maintaining effective communication, adapting rehab techniques, and the role of manual therapy in high-stakes environments.  Lastly, we chat about the evolving nature of career goals and the ever so elusive idea of work-life balance. Enjoy   Clinical Athlete FB Community: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/4trL5WYUC4h5axGq/  

Hey friends!   Super pumped to share this conversation I had with Ramsey Nijem, the Director of Performance for the University of Kansas Men's Basketball team.  Ramsey shares why he decided to leave the NBA for an opportunity in Division 1 basketball.  We also delve into the complexities of injury prediction and the critical role of community support for strength coaches. Enjoy!   Clinical Athlete FB Community: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/bsPN9w8h1Z4JHqiu/

Hey friends! On this episode I sit down and chat with Dano Norceide, a Physical Therapist and Athletic Trainer with the Arizona Cardinals. During the first half of our conversation Dano shares the detailed version of his journey to the NFL, including the challenges he's faced.  The second half of our chat highlights how Dano's approach to athlete care has changed.  Dano emphasizes the importance of flexibility in treatment approaches and the value of soft skills, networking, and continuous learning in professional settings. The conversation highlights the nuanced nature of working with elite athletes and the evolving practices in sports rehabilitation. Enjoy!   Clinical Athlete FB Group: https://www.facebook.com/share/yLL9xpXUgPKY4SXW/

Hey friends! On this episode I catch up with my good friend and former coworker, Justin Tallard, who now works with the Philadelphia Phillies as a Minor League Rehab Coordinator.  We chat about the importance of his mentorship and networking early on in his career, as well as what he's learned during his transition from working in an outpatient sports clinic to professional baseball.     Clinical Athlete FB Community: https://www.facebook.com/share/DSgRBPKC2Btd4eMU/  

Hey friends! Welcome back to episode #50! WOW. I'm stoked to share this conversation I had with Lindsay Gately, a PT-AT with the Washington Commanders.  We chat about her journey into the NFL, wearing both PT and AT hats, working within multi-disciplinary high-performance sports medicine team, navigating the conversation around achilles tendon ruptures, and so much more. CALU FB Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/calucommunity/

Hey, friends! Olivia Abdoo and I chat about her career path leading up to her job with the UFC.  We talk about what she gained through her residency and fellowship experiences.  We also chat about some of her clinical challenges and a few strategies she uses with her fighters to maintain buy in.  Finally, Olivia shares how she's matured in her responses to other people relative to the beginning of her career. Enjoy!   CALU Community FB Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/calucommunity/ 

Welcome back, friends!   Excited to share this chat I had with Ben Brewster, a pitching coach and co-founder of Tread Athletics, a holistic coaching facility for baseball athletes in North Carolina.  Ben shared a thread on X titled, “The Problem with Interval Throwing Programs,” which caught my attention and acted as the springboard for this conversation.  We also chat about his training philosophy and have a candid conversation about what PTs can be doing differently to better support these athletes. Twitter thread: https://twitter.com/TreadAthletics/status/1715090842296234240 CALU FB Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/calucommunity/

Hey friends!   Scot Morrison is a physical therapist, strength coach, and educator who currently works in special operations.  Scot has a special interest in clinical decision making and managing uncertainty in clinical practice.  We also cover the importance of understanding what you're actually measuring when you perform objective testing.  Finally, we wrap up the conversation talking about the relationship between constraints and exercise dosage.   Enjoy! CALU FB Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/calucommunity/

Hey, friends! I'd love to introduce you to my friend and old co-worker Thornton Johnson.  He has transitioned out of the clinic to a fully remote role where he works as a medical writer for Smith and Nephew, a medical technology company.  Thornton works as an evidence evaluation specialist within their sports and orthopedics department, where he gets to marry his clinical understanding of post-operative rehab with his love for reading research, all while collaborating with engineers and product developers. The coolest part?  You don't need a PhD to do this job!  Don't sleep on “PT-adjacent jobs” if you're feeling burned out from patient care. CALU FB Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/calucommunity/

Welcome back, friends! Super excited to share this chat with you.  This is the “how not to get duped by research” episode.  We talk about impact factor, predatory journals, research designs, p-value, effect size, etc. Buckle up.     CALU FB Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/calucommunity/ Connect with our PT Inquest friends! Instagram: @ptinquest Website: PTInquest.com

Welcome back, friends! Emily (aka Injury RD) works as a registered dietician who is passionate about equipping and educating injured athletes.  Emily shares subtle signs and questions that healthcare providers can ask to get a more in-depth understanding of their athletes' nutritional beliefs and values. Soon Emily will be launching her Feed the Quad program, geared toward busy athletes looking to support their ACL rehab with a solid nutrition program.  If you work with this population and are looking for a great resource for yourself or your athlete, look no further! Stay tuned until the very end for some good resources!   Resources mentioned: Feed the Quad More Info + Sign Up: https://injuryrd.com/course Articles Mentioned: Ep 44 Resources CALU Community FB Page: https://www.facebook.com/groups/calucommunity/   

Welcome back, friends! If you don't know Laura Opstedal you should!  Laura is a physical therapist and owns Build Physio in Bozeman, MT.  We chat about her practice model, clinic philosophy, and how she's changed her approach with quad tendon ACLRs. I hope you enjoy!       CALU FB Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/calucommunity  

Welcome back, friends!   In this episode I sit down with Sean Harris and Kasey Hankins, who co-founded the Ignite Clinical Institute. We talk about the benefits and drawbacks of various modes of continuing education, the importance of making mistakes, pursuing excellence in community through mentorship, identifying which courses to take, and more details about their own continuing education vision. Whether you identify as a mentor or a mentee this conversation is made for you!     CALU FB Page: https://www.facebook.com/groups/calucommunity/

Welcome back, friends!   Excited to share this conversation I had with Erik Meira.  We talk about his love for teaching and how his approach to movement re-education has evolved over the years.  Additionally, we chat about how his thought process on patient-reported outcomes and knee valgus has changed.  I hope you enjoy this as much as I did.     FB CALU Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/calucommunity

Welcome back, friends!   If there's a con-ed course, Shaun has taken it.  He quickly realized that most weekend courses and certification systems don't do a great job of bridging the gap between the content and high performance.  Shaun is passionate about two things when it comes to controversial topics in rehab like the ribcage and respiration: 1) giving it more context and 2) helping clinicians connect the dots between these topics and performance so they don't “throw the baby out with the bath water.” CALU FB Page: https://www.facebook.com/groups/calucommunity/

Welcome back, friends! If you are feeling stuck, uninspired, or limited in your ability to make a real impact in healthcare, then this might just be the episode for you! Frank has helped many clinicians build a career they actually enjoy. Today we chat about why he has shifted from calling for a Healthcare Revolution to a Healthcare Renaissance. Additionally, Frank shares a few thoughts on how we can be leveraging artificial intelligence in our own practices. Stay tuned to the very end for some great resources!   Honeybadger AI Training: https://honeybadger.link/AI-Masterclass   CALU FB Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/calucommunity  

Welcome back, friends!  Today I sit down with Sarah Hixon, who works as the Rehab, Fellowship and Concussion Coordinator at Wake Forest University. She also works as an Athletic Trainer with their Men's Tennis team.  Sarah and I chat about her journey into D1 athletics, as well as some of the things she learned around networking and working in this type of interdisciplinary role. https://www.facebook.com/groups/calucommunity/  

Welcome back!  This is another installment of Fireside Chats, where I bring on two guests and we chat about a particular topic.  I am so happy to share this conversation with you guys.  Keegan and Jess both bring a lot of experience to the table as they have both worked at the highest level of sport in various roles.  Definitely give them a follow on social media!   https://www.facebook.com/groups/calucommunity/

Welcome back!  Today I sit down with Megan Pomarensky, who works as an Athletic Therapist in Canada.  She shares her own story of experiencing chronic hip pain and how that had shaped her current practice, where she works with individuals to empower them in their own management of chronic pain.  We talk about the pressure to practice with complete certainty, the complicated nature of imaging and diagnoses labels and much more. I hope you enjoy! https://www.facebook.com/groups/calucommunity/

Hi friends!  Welcome back. Andy and I have grown up together in the rehab space and have shared many of the same questions over the years so this was a conversation I resonated with and I hope you do as well.  It's all about looking at the extremes of posture, respiration, manual therapy and then finding our way back to the middle.

Alright, yall!  You're invited to think about why you think the way you do.  Jarod and I chat about a variety of topics, from traditional and non-traditional clinical mentorship to social media and call out culture.   Jarod shares why it's a good thing to be questioned and we end with him sharing his evolution on the topics of manual therapy and pain science education.  Stick around to the end for some solid book recommendations! The CALU Community Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/893462204156956  

Welcome back, yall!  Today I sit down with Dr. Kennedy who I've had the pleasure of working with the last five years.  She is a primary care sports doctor who manages all of the non-op injuries we see.  Dr. Kennedy shares her thoughts on manual therapy, needling, regenerative therapies, and how important patient education, patient expectations, and patient autonomy are to her practice.   CALU Community Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/893462204156956  

Welcome back, friends!  Today I sit down with Jenny Rearick, personal trainer, gym owner, and communication and presentation skills coach to talk about her evolution around all things communication.  We talk about her communication principles, her ah-ha moment around communication within the neurodivergent community, and much more.  Give her a follow at Fit to Speak.  Enjoy!

Yall are gonna enjoy this one.  Today Kyle and I sit down and talk about his journey as a strength and conditioning coach.  If you're trying to make sense of all the three-letter acronym courses that claim to have the secret to rehab and performance, then this episode is for you!  Kyle shares his own story of getting into the weeds and what questions he now asks himself to filter through new information to determine its utility and value.  Y'all enjoy!

This one is for all my motor learning friends!  Keith Davids has spent the majority of his career in the research and application of motor learning through an ecological lens.  We cover the history of ecological dynamics and how it differs from a traditional, cognitive top-down approach. Additionally, we touch on the topics of motor control, dynamical systems, self-organization, constraints and environmental design as it relates to movement.  Enjoy!

Friends, welcome back!  Today I sit down with Stephania Bell, injury analysis for ESPN.  We chat about her path to ESPN, which includes a strong background in writing and teaching, but also a “better together mindset” that lead to unique opportunities for her.  She shares how important it is to advocate for physical therapy, not at the expense of other disciplines, but in partnership with them.  Additionally, we talk about team-based care and the future of PT.  Stay tuned to the very end for some good book recs!

Welcome back, friends!  You may know Stacie Barber as The Physio Fix on social media.  Today she hops on the mic to share her own story of rupturing (and re-rupturing) her achilles tendon and then rehabbing with her colleagues.  She shares how she had to advocate for herself and get create with her rehab when things took a step backwards.  Not only will you get to learn her story, but there's plenty of clinical gems throughout!  Enjoy!

Yall are in for a real treat with this conversation.  Nick sits down to share the evolution of his thought process as a coach and a physical therapist.  We chat about remote coaching and rehab, approaching chronic pain in athletes, working FROM a sense of self-worth rather than FOR a sense of self-worth, and the importance of community and belonging.

Welcome back to another Fireside Chat, where I bring on two friends to chat about a particular topic.  Today Natalee Cifuentes and Pat Ford join me to share their experience of being a person of color in the rehab space.  Thank you both for telling your story honestly!

Whew!  Y'all might need a pen and paper for this one.  Frank brings a lot of wisdom and expertise to this conversation.  From getting his PhD in change of direction, to heading up a bridge program for rehabbing athletes, to his current position as the Head of Strength & Conditioning at Nicholls State University, he has a lot of great experience to pull from.  Stay tuned until the very end for some great resource recommendations!

Y'all are in for a good one!  Amy and I talk about the importance of collaborating with your athletes as they are the experts in their sport, as well as defining appropriate “safe to fail” movement boundaries throughout the rehab process.  Additionally, we talk about her PhD experience and navigating the ups and downs of confidence after Amy personally experienced a knee injury.  Stay tuned until the very end for a LinkedIn networking tip! Show notes: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30719683/

Reana Mulcahy is a physical therapist who left the profession due to burn out, assuming this would solve the issue.  Shortly after, she found herself in the exact same position when pursuing her baking business. She shares why this is and how we need to reorient our beliefs to resolve burnout as healthcare providers.  Reana now uses a neurocoaching approach to help women in healthcare overcome burnout by addressing their beliefs so they can thrive in their career.  Enjoy!

Ya'll are in for an episode of quick hitter topics - buckle up!  Mike Reinold and I sit down and cover the evolution of his thought process as it relates to the sleeper stretch, the idea of good vs. bad movement, when “red X's” and “green checkmarks” are appropriate, manual therapy and the resource that Instagram has become for people, for better or worse.  Enjoy!

Yall are in for a treat!  Jenny LaCross is a pelvic floor specialist working on her PhD.  She shares her own personal experiences in healthcare as a patient, as well as her reflections on transitioning from clinical care into research.  Jenny is my go-to gal for all things evidence-informed pelvic floor rehab.  She challenges me to give better care and I hope you walk away from this feeling similarly.  Enjoy!

Hi fam!  Meet Taylor Flanick - she currently runs her own sport chiropractic business.  She may be a familiar name as she interned with Clinical Athlete back in 2020 and helped run a lot of journal clubs and round tables during the pandemic.  Today we chat about her frustrations going through chiropractic school and navigating patient expectations now that she's practicing using a non-traditional model.  I hope you find Taylor's honest reflection as refreshing as I did!

Welcome back my friends!  This conversation got my wheels turning quite a bit!  F Scott Feil is a physical therapist, educator, and business coach. He enjoys helping others launch their own side businesses.  F Scott gives a lot of great ideas and personal anecdotes on how to create additional streams of revenue for physical therapists.  Stay tuned until the end where he shares some great resources. I hope this inspires you like it did me!

This is a special one, friends.  Today I chat with two women who I've spent 40 hours/week with for the last 3 years.  That's important to know, because these two became built in mentors for me, not just in clinic, but for my career.  I've learned so much from them about what it means to take up space as a woman in sports rehab. We talk about our own experience of being a woman in sports medicine, women in the field who've inspired us and the amazing men who've helped support us along the way.  You might get a shoutout, just sayin'! Jeni and Caitlin bring unique experiences to the table.  Jeni started out as an AT, became a PT, completed a sports residency and orthopedic manual fellowship, and currently works with elite gymnasts.  Caitlin completed an orthopedic residency, a sport manual fellowship, heads up our research lab, is working on her PhD, and currently manages the clinic I work for.  Clearly, these two have covered a lot of ground.  I hope you enjoy this conversation. Caitlin's previous episode: https://open.spotify.com/episode/4FgUFAf02zd0cRxMyNcLhE?si=mh-g5HfVTFmMVjzpjoCuMw Jeni's previous episode: https://open.spotify.com/episode/0f2WTeqa4qobARvEOMnigf?si=XVOgwpXRRLqHOB92cKzRSA  

Today I sit down with Chris Slocum, a strength coach who is passionate about working with rehab athletes.  We chat about his role in the return to play process as well as his experience collaborating with other PTs, ATs, and MDs.  Enjoy!

Pull up a seat, grab a drink and get to know one of my favorite physios, Sam Oft!  Sam has a way of bringing out the most authentic version of other people because of her own authenticity.  We chat about if we are just trading new dogma for old dogma and what professionalism even means these days.  Enjoy!