Inform Performance

Episode 48: Andy McDonald chats to Adam Loiacono the Director of Rehabilitation at the Phoenix Suns NBA team. Adam has a wealth of experience and has enjoyed previous roles at Atlanta Hawks, Orlando Pride and New England Revolution. In this episode we will be discussing some of the principles behind a recent presentation that he delivered via the Altis platform.     In this episode Andy and Adam discuss:   Adam’s background in sport  Approach to performance therapy  Role at the Phoenix Suns organisation  Developing return to sport principles  Injury causation and analysis  'The bank' heuristic of MDT involvement  Technical and tactical drills    Where you can find Adam:   LinkedIn Instagram Twitter Arizona Human Performance Collaborative   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 47: Andy McDonald chats to Mike Tucker the Head Athletic Performance Coach at Villanova University Football. Mike has previously enjoyed S&C roles at San Jose State University, Clemson University, Kuztown University and North Dakota State University. This episode focusses on Mike's program and problem solving through Covid, Speed Development and 'Sprintember' a program both him and Ken Clarke have released to support coach development through September 2020.    In this episode Andy and Mike discuss:   Mikes background in collegiate sport  College Football situation during Covid-19Being better generalists The physical preparation at Villanova Football Wishlist’s  Coaching level entering collegiate sport  Speed training kinogram Sprintember    Where you can find Mike:   LinkedIn Instagram Sprintember   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 46: Andy McDonald chats to Navin Hettiarachchi the Director of Health, Wellness and Performance for the Washington Wizards at the time of recording. Navin began his career interning at the Washington Redskins NFL team, followed by spells at Sports Therapy and Rehabilitation INC and the Washington Mystics. This episode and the conversation is largely centred around Navin's holistic and broad consideration of care.    In this episode Andy and Navin discuss: Navins background and role His holistic approach to athlete care  Empathy and human factors  PRI   Where you can find Navin:   LinkedIn 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 45: Andy McDonald catches up with Elliott Clarke at Harlequins Rugby. Elliott is a Senior Rehabilitation Physiotherapist who has been with Harlequins rugby for over 5 years beginning as the Academy Physiotherapist. Prior to Quins Elliott worked within the NHS and also for Worthing RFC. In this episode Andy and Elliott discuss rehab frameworks and philosophies without shying away from technical details. In the past we've had Ed Lea (S&C) and Tom Batchelor (Sport Science) from the club and consistent with their episodes you can expect this conversation to be honest and transparent for both Elliott and Harlequins methodology.    In this episode Andy and Elliott discuss:    Elliotts background and role His Rehab Philosophy  Setting prognostic expectations Selecting frameworks amongst complexity  Reconditioning Return to running Soleus Hamstring    Where you can find Elliott:   LinkedIn 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 44: Andy McDonald catches up with Inform Performance regular Dr Matt Tuttle the Denver Nuggets Lead Sport Scientist & Physical Therapist. Matt at the time of recording is currently based inside the NBA Bubble for the closing of the 2019/20 season. We caught up with Matt to discuss his journey from clinician to his current hybrid role as a PT and combined Sport Scientist.  In this episode Andy & Matt discuss: The Bubble  Early familiarisation with sport science  New trends and questions in performance Buy-In to organisation or cultural change PT & sport science combined Cultural strategy  Monitoring culture  Vulnerability   Where you can find Matt: LinkedIn Twitter Instagram   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 43: Andy McDonald chats to Garrison Draper the Director of Performance at Philadelphia Union MLS Team. Garrison is a Sport Scientist and Strength & Conditioning Coach with a wealth of knowledge ad experience working within the MLS enjoying previous spells at Chicago Fire and Seattle Sounders. On todays show we’ll be discussing environmental stresses including altitude, weather, the effects of travel and player wellness. Alongside his role at Philadelphia Union Garrison is completing a PHD in Sports Science at Teeside University in the UK.    In this episode Andy and Garrison discuss:    Garrison’s background Staffing structure at the Union  Points on the road in the MLS Game Difficulty Scale MLS blind spots data/ performance insights  Garrisons PHD: Utilising different data types to guide training Environmental impacts on athletes   Wellness Data   Where you can find Garrison:    LinkedIn  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 42: Andy McDonald chats to Amy Arundale a Biomechanist and Physical Therapist for the Brooklyn Nets NBA team. Amy has enjoyed previous roles at Proaxis Therapy and was a post doc fellow at Linkoping University. In addition to this Amy has completed a Phd in Biomechanics at The University of Delaware and has coaching roots in soccer before becoming a Physical Therapist.    In this episode Andy & Amy discuss:   Amy’s background  Benefits of a coaching background Current role at the Brooklyn Nets  Return to play Creating drills Injury Prevention Programs Developmental considerations in rehab   Where you can find Amy:    Twitter  Instagram   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 41: Andy McDonald chats to Performance Coach and Physiotherapist Bradley Scanes. Bradley is currently the Physio and Performance Coach for Max Verstappen at Redbull Racing through Hintsa Performance. Alongside F1 Brad is a consultant to British Gymnastics and works privately. He has enjoyed previous roles at British Basketball, Southend Football Club, the NHS and lectured at the University of Essex. In this episode with Brad he provides an interesting account of the Physio role in F1, the physical demands placed upon the neck and discusses the risk v reward of interventions before competiton.  The end of episode educational content from Vald Performance this week focusses on the Eccentric Utilization Ratio.    In this episode Andy & Brad discuss:   Brad’s background  Physical Demands of F1 Role of an F1 Physiotherapist  Drivers Neck Risk v reward of treatment before performance Driver data and physiological understanding    Vald Performance Education Feature: Eccentric Utilization Ratio   Where you can find Brad:   Twitter  Instagram LinkedIn   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 40: Andy McDonald chats to Physiotherapist Alan Hazlett. Alan works at the British Olympic Intensive Rehabilitation Unit. Alan functions as a part of the English Institute of Sport , BOA and UK athletics. He has previously enjoyed roles at the English RFU, Reading Football Club and Sport Wales. This episode will focus primarily on how the Intensive Rehabilitation Unit functions to support elite athletes during injury followed by with some educational content from Vald Performance on Dynamic Strength Index.    In this episode Andy & Alan discuss:   Alan's background The British Intensive Rehabilitation Unit Communication Patient journey Evidence Based Practise    Art v Science    Vald Performance Education Feature: Dynamic Strength Index   Where you can find Alan:   Twitter  LinkedIn   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 39: Andy McDonald chats to Dr Duncan French the Vice President of Performance at the UFC Performance Institute in Las Vegas. Duncan is globally recognized as a leading expert in high-performance sport with over 20 years of experience working with elite professional and Olympic athletes. Duncan has previously enjoyed been the Director of Performance Sciences for the University of Notre Dame Athletics Department, Technical Lead for Strength & Conditioning at the English Institute of Sport and has worked three full olympic cycles for GB Basketball and Taekwondo. He has also  served as the Head of Strength & Conditioning at Newcastle United Football Club in the EPL and authored or co-authored 60 peer-reviewed scientific manuscripts and seven book chapters.    In this episode Andy & Duncan discuss:   Duncan’s background Setting up the UFCPI Understanding the fighter  Training transfer  Concurrent training  The future of the UFCPI   Where you can find Duncan:    Twitter  Instagram LinkedIn   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