

Inform Performance
Andy McDonald
The Inform Perform Podcast is an industry show focussed on Sports Performance and Sports Medicine. The show interviews thought leaders and professionals that support elite athletes and teams. The aim of the show is to deconstruct the strategies and philosophies the guests utilise in their working environment or area of expertise. Featured guests have worked across the NBA, NFL, MLB, F1, World title Boxing, EPL and more.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Aug 28, 2023 • 59min
Research Unpacked: Tyler Yearby - Ecological Dynamics
Former Running Backs coach Tyler Yearby discusses ecological dynamics in sports coaching, emphasizing a learning-centered approach, shared language with athletes, and creating technical drills based on movement SWOT analysis. He explores the application of ecological dynamics in American football practice design and movement skill acquisition, highlighting the interconnected nature of perception, cognition, and action for improved performance. The podcast also delves into embracing the present moment, Bayesian thought processes in movement learning, and collaboration among professionals for effective rehabilitation and sports performance.

Aug 21, 2023 • 48min
How a Tech Layer Under a Players Insole/Foot In Real Environments Can Inform Rehab & Performance (Andrew Gray, Phil Graham-Smith & Daryl Carter)
Andrew Gray, Chief Analytics Officer at SportsCientia, shares insights into emerging technologies for gait analysis. Phil Graham-Smith, Head of Biomechanics at Aspire Academy, and Daryl Carter, Physiotherapist at Leeds United, delve into the innovative use of tech beneath shoe insoles to optimize performance and rehab. They discuss the transition from lab tests to real-world applications, the complexities of assessing hamstring injuries, and the integration of AI for detailed biomechanical insights, highlighting how technology can revolutionize athlete recovery and performance.

Aug 14, 2023 • 40min
Claire Robertson - Managing Patellofemoral Pain in Athletes (Consultant Physiotherapist)
Episode 123: Dr Andy McDonald chats to Physiotherapist Claire Robertson. Claire has worked in the NHS, academia and private practice, and currently runs a specialist patellofemoral clinic at Wimbledon Clinics spending an hour per patient and liaising closely with their treating clinician. Claire is also the physiotherapist for the Warren Smith ski academy. Claire has lectured internationally and has many research papers and editorials published in internationally peer-reviewed journals. She is also a reviewer herself for Physiotherapy Research International, Physical Therapy in Sport, Clinical Anatomy and Physiotherapy. Claire runs her own post-graduate course on patellofemoral problems for physiotherapists.
Topics Discussed
Diagnosing patellofemoral pain
Early rehab of PFP
How strong is strong enough
Return-to-running for patellofemoral pain
Where you can find Claire:
Linkedin
Facebook
Twitter
Sponsors
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
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HUMAC NORM by CSMI - A solution for measuring and improving human performance in the clinic, athletic training room, and research laboratory. In one machine, you’ll get 22 isolated-joint movement patterns, 4 resistance modes (isokinetic, isotonic, isometric, and passive), and numerous reports to meet the measurement and exercise needs of today’s clinicians and researchers.
Where to Find Us
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
Alistair McKenzie
Dylan Carmody

Aug 7, 2023 • 43min
Ciara Burgi - Houston Texans Return-to-Play Philosophy (Return to Performance Lead Houston Texans NFL)
Episode 122: Dr Andy McDonald chats to Physical Therapist Ciara Burgi PT DPT SCS OCS, FAAOMPT CSCS. Ciara is a Duke educated PT who has continued her professional training at Houston Methodist Sugar Land Hospital and Australian Catholic University prior to working at the Houston Texans NFL team, where she has been since 2020.
Topics Discussed
Should Physical Therapists do sport residencies?
How the Texans department is philosophically organised
How Physios and S&C Coaches can collaborate effectively
Houston Texans rehab process for ACL & hamstring RTP examples
Where you can find Ciara:
Linkedin
Twitter
Sponsors
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
-
HUMAC NORM by CSMI - A solution for measuring and improving human performance in the clinic, athletic training room, and research laboratory. In one machine, you’ll get 22 isolated-joint movement patterns, 4 resistance modes (isokinetic, isotonic, isometric, and passive), and numerous reports to meet the measurement and exercise needs of today’s clinicians and researchers.
Where to Find Us
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
Alistair McKenzie
Dylan Carmody

Jul 30, 2023 • 56min
Nick Kane - Hamstring Rehab For Field Sports (Head Physiotherapist at Essendon Football Club & Managing Director of the Sports MAP Network)
Episode 121: Dr Andy McDonald chats to Physiotherapist Nick Kane. Nick is the founder & Managing Director of the Sports MAP Network as well as Head Physiotherapist at Essendon Football Club. He is a Sports & Exercise Physiotherapist having completed a Masters in Sports Physiotherapy from La Trobe University. He completed is undergraduate Physiotherapy degree at Notre Dame University in Fremantle. Nick excels in working with sporting injuries and rehabilitation with a particular interest in troublesome hip & groin pain, recurrent hamstring injuries, tendon pain & post surgical rehab.
Topics Discussed
Physical demands of AFL
Structure of performance teams in AFL
Key steps planning a hamstring muscle injury rehab
Progressing return-to-running with hamstring injuries
How to monitor hamstrings post injury
How to problem solve tough cases as a Physio
Where you can find Nick:
Sportsmap
Linkedin
Twitter
Sponsors
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
-
HUMAC NORM by CSMI - A solution for measuring and improving human performance in the clinic, athletic training room, and research laboratory. In one machine, you’ll get 22 isolated-joint movement patterns, 4 resistance modes (isokinetic, isotonic, isometric, and passive), and numerous reports to meet the measurement and exercise needs of today’s clinicians and researchers.
Where to Find Us
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
Alistair McKenzie
Dylan Carmody

Jul 19, 2023 • 8min
#Highlight - Putting Evidence-Based-Practise In Perspective with Sue Falsone
Sue Falsone was our guest on episode #7 of the Inform Performance Podcast. Sue is the owner of Structure and Function and since we spoke to her she has become the Director of Movement and Return to Performance at the Houston Texans NFL team. This highlight clip takes an insightful segment from her episode where she discussed how to appraise what evidence-based-practise truly means and how to pragmatically include methods or tools in your practise when there is gaps in the academic literature.
Listen to the full episode here
Sponsors
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
-
HUMAC NORM by CSMI - A solution for measuring and improving human performance in the clinic, athletic training room, and research laboratory. In one machine, you’ll get 22 isolated-joint movement patterns, 4 resistance modes (isokinetic, isotonic, isometric, and passive), and numerous reports to meet the measurement and exercise needs of today’s clinicians and researchers.
-
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
Alistair McKenzie

Jul 12, 2023 • 48min
Daniel Bodkin - How & Why You Should Use Isokinetic Systems In Rehab (PT, AT & Director of clinical education for CSMi)
Episode 120: Dr Andy McDonald chats to Daniel Bodkin a Physical Therapist and Athletic Trainer. Daniel is an expert on using Isokinetic systems in rehab for testing and training athletes. Daniel is the Director of clinical education for CSMi maker of the Humac NORM Isokinetic System, Owner of ProActive Athletic Performance in Atlanta Georgia and an Associated Faculty Member for enTandem DPT. This episode focusses in its entirety on how to use Isokinetic machines during knee rehab.
Topics Discussed
Key tests on Isokinetic machines
Eccentric & Isometric testing
Testing under fatigue
RFD testing
Motor learning of force-profiling tests
Key Interventions
Removing quadriceps inhibition through ROM
Where you can find Daniel:
Instagram
Sponsors
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
-
HUMAC NORM by CSMI - A solution for measuring and improving human performance in the clinic, athletic training room, and research laboratory. In one machine, you’ll get 22 isolated-joint movement patterns, 4 resistance modes (isokinetic, isotonic, isometric, and passive), and numerous reports to meet the measurement and exercise needs of today’s clinicians and researchers.
Where to Find Us
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
Alistair McKenzie

Jun 29, 2023 • 8min
#Highlight - How to Effectively Educate & Empower Professional Athletes with Mike Reinold
Mike Reinold was our guest on episode #20 of the Inform Performance Podcast. This highlight clip takes an insightful segment from that episode where he discussed
Educating & empowering athletes
Managing Increasing complexity within our roles
Athletes taking ownership of their data
Sponsors
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
-
HUMAC NORM by CSMI - A solution for measuring and improving human performance in the clinic, athletic training room, and research laboratory. In one machine, you’ll get 22 isolated-joint movement patterns, 4 resistance modes (isokinetic, isotonic, isometric, and passive), and numerous reports to meet the measurement and exercise needs of today’s clinicians and researchers.
-
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
Alistair McKenzie

Jun 18, 2023 • 52min
Max Lankheit- Bridging The Gap Between The Front-Office & Performance Dept (Philadelphia Union MLS Head of Performance and Innovation)
Episode 119: Dr Andy McDonald chats to Max Lankheit the Head of Performance and Innovation at Philadelphia Union MLS team. Max is a highly experienced coach and leader and has worked in both coaching and leadership roles at San Jose Earthquakes MLS, Seattle Sounders FC, San Francisco Giants, Mike Boyle Strength & Conditioning, FC Nürnberg, FC St. Pauli von 1910 e.V and Exos. In this episode with Max we discuss his journey from coaching to performance management and how an MBA enabled him to bridge the gap between the front-office and the backroom at teams.
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Topics Discussed
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Why you should work as a private trainer prior before working at a team
Aligning professional development with club needs
Benefits to completing an MBA for performance practitioners
How to align your actions to team values
Strategies for change management
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Where you can find Max
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LinkedIn
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Sponsors
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
----more----
HUMAC NORM by CSMI - A solution for measuring and improving human performance in the clinic, athletic training room, and research laboratory. In one machine, you’ll get 22 isolated-joint movement patterns, 4 resistance modes (isokinetic, isotonic, isometric, and passive), and numerous reports to meet the measurement and exercise needs of today’s clinicians and researchers.
----more----
Keep up to date with everything that is going on with the podcast by following Inform Performance on:
----more----
Instagram
Twitter
Our Website
----more----
Our Team
----more----
Andy McDonald
Ben Ashworth
Alistair McKenzie

Jun 6, 2023 • 44min
Cici Murray - Technical v Physical Qualities in Sprinters (Spellman Performance Coach & More Her Speed Founder)
Episode 118: Dr Andy McDonald chats to Speed Coach Cici Murray. Cici has worked with hundreds of athletes including some of the top NFL, Olympic, and MLB athletes as a speed performance and recovery specialist over the last 3 years. She has recently trained nearly half of the projected NFL Draft 1st-round picks for the combine. Cici currently works at Spellman Performance and also runs a newsletter and resource for female coaches called "More Her Speed".
Topics Discussed
Expectations v reality working as a female coach
Assessing technical & physical qualities in sprinters
Use of technology in speed training
Relationship building with young athletes
Where you can find Cici
Instagram
More Her Speed
Sponsors
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
HUMAC NORM by CSMI - A solution for measuring and improving human performance in the clinic, athletic training room, and research laboratory. In one machine, you’ll get 22 isolated-joint movement patterns, 4 resistance modes (isokinetic, isotonic, isometric, and passive), and numerous reports to meet the measurement and exercise needs of today’s clinicians and researchers.
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
Alistair McKenzie


