Luke Fitzpatrick, the Head of Data Science at VALD, dives into the world of data science in sports technology. He highlights the critical role of data quality and security in enhancing athletic performance. Fascinating insights on strength development in adolescents are shared, alongside a comparison of NFL players' strengths to the general population. Luke discusses the innovative approach to retrieving and visualizing normative data, ensuring athletes can effectively benchmark their performance against peers. Collaboration with experts ensures the credibility of the data provided to clients.

In this episode of the Pacey Performance Podcast, Rob is speaking to Rehabilitation Coordinator at PSV Eindhoven, Nick van der Horst. Nick shares his journey from aspiring footballer to sports physiotherapist, where he now focuses on rehabilitation at PSV Eindhoven.  Nick advocates for preseason screenings that assess isometric strength, mobility, and contralateral limb function to identify individual risks. He also highlights the importance of iliopsoas mobility for hamstring flexibility and sprint performance. Tailored training strategies and post-game eccentric exercises also play a key role in preventing injuries. Nick emphasizes individualized approaches in both prevention and rehabilitation. Mini-dosing and eccentric training in fatigued states, along with structured recovery phases, help build resilience and reduce injury risk. He also stresses the importance of avoiding ineffective methods like cupping and dry needling in favor of mobility and flexibility work for better energy transfer during athletic performance. Nick stresses that personalized strategies, including eccentric exercises and load management, alongside strong communication with players, are key to reducing hamstring injuries in athletes. Main talking points: • Eccentric strength training crucial for injury prevention • Personalize load management to each athlete's needs • Conduct preseason screenings for hamstring injury risks • Focus on iliopsoas mobility for sprint performance • Tailor training strategies to individual player profiles • Use post-game eccentric exercises for recovery • Apply mini-dosing in fatigued states for injury prevention • Strengthen pelvic mobility for energy transfer efficiency.

In this episode of the Pacey Performance Podcast, Johan Lahti discusses the complexities of assessing sprint technique in relation to hamstring injury risk. While technology has made sprint assessment more accessible, measuring its impact on injury risk remains challenging, and Johan questions whether it's always worth the effort. However, he emphasizes the importance of focusing on key aspects of technique, such as minimizing time under tension and analyzing movement patterns like overstriding or increased hip flexion, which can lead to hamstring issues. Johan highlights that sprint assessments should consider the entire movement cycle, as isolated 2D assessments may miss critical factors like pelvic movement. He notes that technique assessments do not always predict performance or injury risk accurately, stressing the need to address both movement patterns and physical strength. Strengthening key muscle groups, especially the glutes and hamstrings, is vital for maintaining sprint technique, particularly under fatigue, which can help reduce injury risk. He also discusses the rising prevalence of hamstring injuries due to increased high-speed sprinting in professional sports. He advocates for teaching sustainable sprint techniques to young athletes to develop overall athleticism and prevent future injuries. Force-velocity profiling is also mentioned as a valuable tool for identifying athletes' strengths and weaknesses in sprinting. While assessing sprint technique is valuable, it must be done holistically and integrated with strength training to minimize hamstring injury risk and improve performance. Main talking points: • Focus on key aspects of sprint technique • Minimize time under tension during sprinting • Analyze entire movement cycle for injury risk • Address overstriding and increased hip flexion • Assess sprint technique in a fatigued states • Teach sustainable sprint techniques to young athletes • Develop strength and movement variability early • Train sprint form to reduce hamstring strain • Incorporate sprint assessments with strength training

Charlie Pedlar, a Professor in Sport and Exercise Science, sheds light on the unique health needs of female athletes. He discusses the significant impact of menstrual cycles on performance, advocating for tailored training plans. Charlie highlights the prevalence of iron deficiency and its detrimental effects, urging closer monitoring among female athletes. The conversation addresses common misconceptions about female health and the importance of individualized strategies for training, nutrition, and overall well-being.

Alan Murdoch, an expert in rehabilitation and movement assessment, shares his insights on a 'fast to fit' approach in rehab. He emphasizes the importance of prioritizing movement assessments over traditional tests, fostering a strong coaching eye for better outcomes. The discussion highlights innovative frameworks like the Compass Protocol, focusing on high-intensity actions to speed up recovery. Alan critiques conventional rehab methods and showcases dynamic warm-ups and tailored drills, ensuring athletes return to peak performance efficiently.

n this podcast, Kasper Thornton, Group Director of Human Performance at Right to Dream, discusses the complexities and strategies involved in leading a performance department across multiple clubs. He emphasizes a "person-first" approach, where selecting candidates based on mindset, values, and team fit is prioritized over mere technical skills. This approach is crucial in developing a cohesive and effective performance department across multiple clubs, each with its unique culture and challenges. Kasper shares his journey from a physiotherapist to his current leadership role, highlighting the growth of his organization from a small Danish club to a multinational operation with branches in Ghana, Egypt, and San Diego. A significant focus is on building top-notch facilities and developing talent, particularly in the soccer academies associated with these clubs. He outlines the challenges of recruiting and onboarding personnel across different time zones and cultures, stressing the importance of soft skills and cultural fit in building a successful team. Kasper also discusses the need for an overarching strategy that aligns all clubs within the ownership group, while respecting their individual identities and operational contexts. The recruitment process is streamlined with the help of recruitment agencies, and a grading system is used to ensure the best candidates are selected. Regular staff meetings and global collaboration are key to maintaining alignment and driving continuous improvement within the department. Overall, the podcast provides valuable insights into the strategic and operational aspects of leading a performance department in a multi-club ownership structure, with a focus on people, culture, and continuous development. Main talking points: Prioritise a person-first approach in recruitment. Focus on mindset and values in candidates. Align clubs with an overarching performance strategy. Adapt recruitment to different cultures and contexts. Emphasize soft skills over hard skills. Encourage global collaboration across all clubs. Plan for internal succession and staff development.

Fearghal Kerin, a Rehabilitation Physiotherapist at Chelsea Football Club with a PhD in hamstring injuries, shares invaluable insights on managing T-junction injuries. He discusses the changing dynamics of hamstring injuries, particularly the importance of location-specific rehabilitation strategies. Fearghal emphasizes the need for high-intensity conditioning exercises over traditional low-level resistance workouts. He highlights the significance of a thorough rehabilitation process, ensuring all signs of injury are resolved before athletes return to play, minimizing the risk of reinjury.

Gerard McMahon, an expert challenging conventional beliefs about activation exercises, joins the discussion on their role in sports performance. He argues that these exercises often fall short in enhancing muscle activation for healthy athletes. Instead, he highlights their potential value in rehabilitation. McMahon critiques EMG technology for its inaccuracies in measuring muscle signals, suggesting that traditional activation methods may not prepare athletes effectively for high-intensity activities. He advocates for a shift towards functional training to better mimic actual movement patterns.

Experts in Blood Flow Restriction (BFR) training discuss its vital role in athlete recovery, highlighting its versatility and integration with other modalities. BFR's benefits include improving nutrient intake, muscle recovery, and reducing muscle fatigue. Positive results from BFR use in various sports, male individuals, and during workouts are shared. Combining BFR with ice bath therapy enhances recovery, making it a cost-effective and popular recovery method among athletes.

Sports Scientist Rob Delves from Melbourne Storm discusses the shift towards PowerBI for data analysis and visualization in sports science. He highlights the efficiency of PowerBI over Excel, emphasizing the benefits of streamlined data management, visualization capabilities, and automation for coaches. Rob also touches on the challenges of collecting subjective athlete data and the user-friendly transition from Excel to PowerBI.