Episode 47: Efficacy of Recovery Tools with Guest Dr. Andrew Fix

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Jan 26, 2026

Dr. Andrew Fix, a physical therapist and orthopedic clinical specialist who works extensively with runners and endurance athletes, joins to unpack recovery tools and common missteps. He discusses which tools offer mainly short-term relief, why basics like sleep and nutrition matter more, the pros and cons of cold plunges versus saunas, when to seek professional care, and practical, evidence-based recovery choices.

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ANECDOTE

Early Injuries Led To A PT Career

Andrew Fix first considered PT after injuries in eighth grade and high school that required rehab and missed sport time.
Those early experiences drove him to pursue an orthopedic residency and a decade-long PT career focused on runners and endurance athletes.

INSIGHT

Tools Give Short-Term Effects

Recovery gadgets create transient effects but rarely produce lasting change by themselves.
Long-term improvements come from sleep, stress management, nutrition, hydration, and training, not single tools.

ADVICE

Prioritize Foundations Over Gadgets

Prioritize sleep, nutrition, and stress management before spending heavily on recovery gadgets.
Use tools sparingly and only to complement, not replace, those foundational recovery habits.

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In this episode of ‘All Things Endurance Podcast,’ host, Rick Prince chats with Dr. Andrew Fix, a physical therapist and orthopedic clinical specialist. Rick and Dr. Fix discuss the efficacy of recovery tools, as well as the basics of recovery and common mistakes he sees endurance athletes make.

Below are the specific areas that Rick and Dr. Fix chat about during this episode:

1. Could you tell our listeners a bit more about yourself?

2. There are near endless recovery tools available today including foam rollers, percussion guns and compression boots… to name just a few. From a macro point of view, do you think that tools have long term effects, or is the benefit more from an acute standpoint?

3. Do you think that a lot of athletes forget about the basics of recovery (i.e., sleep, rest days, eating well, etc…) and instead focus on recovery tools?

4. What is the science behind cold plunges and saunas, as there seems to be conflicting information about the efficacy of them.

5. Do you think a lot of athletes try to ‘self-treat’ injuries/niggles with recovery modalities versus seeing a professional such as a PT?

6. While I’m sure that it’s largely individually-based, if an athlete was going to purchase three recovery tools, are there three that you would say that provide the most value?

7. What are the top mistakes that you see athletes make with respect to recovery?

8. What are some recovery myths/protocols that athletes are still using today that don’t have the evidence to support their utilization?

9. Lastly, as the body functions as a systemic point of view, do you often see athletes self-treating a particular body part with a recovery modality that likely isn’t the root cause of the pain/discomfort? What would your advice for these individuals?

To learn more about Dr. Fix’s practice, please visit:

www.physioroomco.com

For $75 off a UESCA certification, use code ATE75