Pacey Performance Podcast

Jake Tuura, an expert in tendon training and former college strength coach, shares his journey from battling jumper's knee to mastering tendon health. He explains how tendons, crucial for athletic performance, benefit from focused training like heavy lifting and isometric exercises. Jake highlights the significance of early physical activity for tendon development and addresses the rising Achilles rupture rates in athletes, advocating for tailored training programs. His insights provide a potent blend of science and practical advice for injury prevention and performance enhancement.

In this episode of the Pacey Performance Podcast, Steph Mock Grubbs and Ryan Grubbs discuss their experiences transitioning across different sports, levels, and job roles within elite performance environments. Their journey from college athletics to professional sports highlights the evolution of roles in strength & conditioning, rehab, and sports science. Steph, now with the Houston Astros, and Ryan, working with the Houston Texans, explain how reconditioning bridges the gap between rehab and performance training, ensuring athletes return to play at optimal levels. They emphasize the importance of adapting training methodologies, particularly in baseball, where athlete workload and season length pose unique challenges. A key theme of their discussion is the shift from being generalists to specialists, requiring continuous upskilling in rehab, load management, and performance programming. The integration of strength, rehab, and reconditioning teams in professional sports enables collaboration and efficiency in managing injury risk and athlete development. The episode also covers balancing athlete health with team needs, using objective performance data to inform return-to-play decisions, and navigating career transitions in elite sport. They stress the importance of mentorship, research, and relationship-building in making successful career moves. Finally, they discuss challenges in balancing professional careers with personal relationships, emphasizing adaptability, teamwork, and continuous learning in both career growth and life. Their insights provide valuable lessons for practitioners looking to evolve within high-performance environments while maintaining long-term career sustainability. Main talking points: Reconditioning bridges rehab and performance training. Transitioning from college to pro sports requires adaptation. Balancing athlete health with team performance needs. Eccentric training is key in injury prevention. Collaboration between strength, rehab, and reconditioning teams. Athlete workload management is crucial in long seasons. Individualized return-to-play plans improve performance outcomes. Generalist to specialist career shifts require upskilling. Mentorship and networking help career transitions. Objective performance data informs return-to-play decisions. Professional careers impact personal relationships significantly. Continuous learning and adaptability drive career growth.

In this episode of the Pacey Performance Podcast, Molly Binetti, Director of Women’s Basketball Performance at the University of South Carolina, discusses the transformation of the women’s basketball program under Coach Dawn Staley. With two national championships and record-breaking attendance, the program exemplifies success through holistic athlete development, individualized training, and strong relationships. Molly emphasizes the importance of blending skill development with athleticism, focusing on movement quality and creating engaging training environments. By fostering autonomy and incorporating athlete feedback, the program builds trust and enhances player engagement. Individualized training allows athletes to choose exercises that suit their preferences while targeting specific performance outcomes. Prioritizing athlete health has been crucial to the program’s success, with a player availability rate exceeding 98% over seven years. Flexibility in training and open communication among staff ensures that recovery and performance are balanced without overtraining. Informal assessments, including sprint testing and jump evaluations, are used to tailor programs and address individual needs. Molly highlights the value of variation in training to prepare athletes for the unpredictability of competition. Machines like the leg press are used to strengthen lower bodies safely while preserving skill development. Distinct positional needs, such as conditioning for guards and strength for post players, are addressed to optimize on-court performance. By combining holistic athlete development, data-driven insights, and a collaborative approach, South Carolina’s program continues to set a benchmark for excellence in women’s basketball. Main talking points: Holistic development for athlete performance and growth Blending skill development with athleticism Athlete autonomy through feedback and engagement Informal assessments to tailor individual training programs Variation in training for adaptability and resilience Using adaptation as the driver for exercise selection Positional needs for guards and post players Movement quality over just strength and power Setting benchmarks for excellence in women’s basketball programs

Join experts Matthew Bourne, a sports science guru on hamstring injury prevention, Nick Court, a strength coach for elite football players, and Johan Lahti, a researcher dissecting injury risk factors. They discuss the importance of individualized training and eccentric conditioning, spotlighting the Nordic hamstring exercise. The trio also emphasizes the critical roles of proper sprint mechanics and strength asymmetries. Innovative training strategies and personalized rehabilitation plans are also vital topics, all aimed at reducing the prevalence of hamstring injuries in sports.

Charlie Faulkner, the first team physical performance coach for Manchester City Women's, dives into the intricacies of deceleration and change of direction. He shares insights on profiling athletes' movement capabilities using tools like the modified 505 test and the CMAS scoring system. Emphasizing individualized training, Charlie discusses how tailored exercises, such as kettlebell swings, target specific muscle adaptations for improved performance. He also highlights the importance of understanding biomechanics to minimize injury risks and enhance athletic efficiency in dynamic sports.

Angus Ross, an elite strength coach specializing in eccentric training, dives into the crucial role of eccentric methods in enhancing athletic performance. He explains how this training promotes muscle fiber adaptations, crucial for speed and power. Angus highlights innovative tools like flywheel systems for controlled eccentric loading and the importance of individualized training approaches. He cautions against over-reliance on techniques for younger athletes, advocating for a balanced method that incorporates foundational strength to optimize athletic development.

In this episode of the Pacey Performance Podcast, Rob is speaking to Bryan Heiderscheit, Fearghal Kerin and Emidio Pacecca. The topic of this conversation is all around MRI and its use in athlete performance profiling. MRI scans are usually thought of an expensive tool that is used when an athlete gets injured. But in this episode we break down those barriers and disciver how they can be used, through technology like Springbok Analytics, in other ways to improve performance and mitigate injury risk with healthy athletes. First we discuss MRI and what it actually is. Bryan gives us some great examples of where it can be used and why. Fearghal and Emidio then give us some amazing insights from the world of elite sport on how MRI scans are actually being used. But most importantly, they give us the real key information which is what we do with the information once we have it. If you're trying to reduce injury risk and optimise performance, check out this episode.

Alex Natera, an expert in isometric training, joins researchers Danny Lum and Matt Taberner for an insightful discussion on the application of isometric exercises in sports performance and rehabilitation. They explore how isometric training enhances muscle stiffness, tendon adaptation, and aids in recovery while preventing injuries. The trio emphasizes customizing isometric programming for individual athlete needs, and integrating it with plyometrics to maximize performance. They also highlight the importance of accurate assessments and innovative tools to optimize training effectiveness.

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.