Movement Podcast

Gray Cook and Dr. Lee Burton
  • 5.0 (1)
  • Fitness
  • Twice monthly

Human movement is complex, fascinating, and affects us all. Our hosts, Gray Cook and Dr. Lee Burton, have dedicated their lives to understanding movement and have trained thousands of fitness and healthcare professionals worldwide with their holistic philosophy and approach. Listen as they discuss topics, speak with other industry experts, answer questions & give practical advice on how you can optimize the human body to be the best it can be.

  1. 1 day ago

    Gray Cook on FMS, Movement Screening & What People Get Wrong

    In this episode of the Movement Podcast, Gray Cook and Lee Burton answer some of the most common questions they have received about Functional Movement Systems, the Functional Movement Screen, movement assessment, research criticism, SFMA, corrective exercise, and where the future of movement screening is headed. The conversation starts with a simple question: What is the FMS? Gray and Lee explain that the FMS is more than a set of movements. It is part of a systematic way of looking at movement so professionals can make better decisions. Like an eye chart for movement, the screen helps determine what a person can do, what they cannot do, and whether movement creates pain. From there, they address some of the biggest misconceptions around the Functional Movement Screen, including the idea that it is only about finding problems, that it is too conservative, or that the research says it does not matter. They also discuss why screening is not the same as assessment, how the SFMA helps professionals go deeper when pain is present, and why the goal is not to explain every test on the front end, but to create awareness and communicate the findings in a way that is personal and actionable. This episode also looks ahead to the future of movement screening, including AI, computer vision, insurance reimbursement, wearable data, decision trees, and the need to avoid turning movement analysis into another generic exercise prescription. Topics include: What the FMS is and how to explain it The “eye chart for movement” analogy Screening, testing, and assessment What the FMS can and cannot tell you Common criticisms and misconceptions Why the FMS is not just about red flags How to communicate findings to clients and athletes Why pain changes the decision tree When to use the SFMA How breakouts help identify the root of the problem Why test/retest matters How to build confidence using the system The future of FMS, AI, computer vision, and decision support The key takeaway: movement screening is not about labeling someone as broken. It is about identifying the most important movement information so the next recommendation is safer, smarter, and more specific to the person in front of you. Learn more about Functional Movement Systems: https://www.functionalmovement.com/ Functional Movement Systems YouTube Facebook Instagram X (Twitter) Subscribe to the FMS Newsletter

  2. 30 Jul

    Running, Movement Screens, & Elite Athlete Readiness with Dr. Todd Arnold

    In this episode of the Movement Podcast, Gray Cook and Lee Burton are joined by Dr. Todd Arnold, a board-certified sports medicine physician with more than two decades of experience caring for athletes at every level — from high school and collegiate sports to NCAA Championships, World Championships, and elite international competition. Dr. Arnold serves as the medical officer for elite athlete healthcare for USA Track & Field, where his role is not simply to react to injuries, but to help athletes stay healthy enough to train, compete, and perform when it matters most. This conversation explores how movement assessment fits into modern sports medicine and why runners need more than mileage, strength, or biomechanics alone. Dr. Arnold shares how he uses movement screening, Y Balance, table exams, biomechanics, recovery conversations, and individual baselines to better understand each athlete’s state of readiness. The discussion covers: Why sports medicine needs to move from reactive to proactive care How Dr. Arnold applies movement systems with elite runners Why every runner needs an individual baseline The three things Dr. Arnold does not want to miss in runners Ankle dorsiflexion asymmetry Glute sequencing and timing Thoracic extension Why running is repetitive, predictable, and demanding How movement screens help create athlete buy-in Why table exams still matter How Faber and Thomas testing relate to running mechanics The relationship between movement readiness and wearable data Why recovery may be the biggest mistake many runners make How coaches, clinicians, sports psychologists, dietitians, and biomechanics teams can use movement as a shared language The key takeaway: running performance is not just about training harder. It is about understanding whether the athlete is ready to absorb, adapt, and repeat the work. Learn more about Functional Movement Systems: https://www.functionalmovement.com/ Functional Movement Systems YouTube Facebook Instagram X (Twitter) Subscribe to the FMS Newsletter

  3. 16 Jul

    GORUCK Founder Jason McCarthy on Sustainable Toughness

    In this episode of the Movement Podcast, Gray Cook sits down with Jason McCarthy, founder and CEO of GORUCK, former Green Beret, and one of the leading voices behind the modern rucking movement. Jason and Emily McCarthy started GORUCK in 2008 while Jason was serving in Special Forces and Emily was working with the CIA. Their original goal was to build a rucksack to life-or-death quality standards—gear capable of performing in demanding environments around the world. What began as a rucksack company has grown into a larger movement built around gear, training, events, GORUCK Clubs, teamwork, service, and the belief that ordinary people are capable of extraordinary things. In this conversation, Gray and Jason explore the deeper lessons behind rucking and military physical culture, including the difference between productive discomfort and unnecessary damage, why running has often been overemphasized in demanding training environments, and how readiness should guide the way we prepare for challenging work. They also discuss: • Jason’s path into Special Forces after September 11 • How GORUCK grew from an idea into a global rucking community • The Green Beret mission of working by, with, and through others • Why rucking is foundational to military preparation • The difference between pain and productive discomfort • Why overtraining can become an ego problem • Tendon health, connective tissue, and sustainable strength • The role of yoga, mobility, and breathing in high-intensity cultures • Why risk and readiness should be evaluated separately • How movement screening can reveal hidden physical vulnerabilities • Rucking as a lifelong health and fitness practice • Why children naturally run, jump, carry, and climb • Health span, service, and staying capable for life This conversation is about more than backpacks or workouts. It is about building a physical culture that challenges people while helping them stay capable, resilient, connected, and ready for the long term. Learn more about the GORUCK story: https://www.goruck.com/pages/about-goruck Explore GORUCK: https://www.goruck.com/ Learn more about Functional Movement Systems: https://www.functionalmovement.com/ Functional Movement Systems YouTube Facebook Instagram X (Twitter) Subscribe to the FMS Newsletter

  4. 2 Jul

    Gray Cook on Progressing Movement the Right Way

    Progressing an exercise sounds simple: make it harder, add load, increase reps, or move to a more challenging variation. But in rehab, performance, and corrective exercise, progression is not always that straightforward. In this episode of the Movement Podcast, Gray Cook and Lee Burton discuss how to think through exercise progression and regression using movement baselines, postural positions, neurodevelopmental sequencing, and real-time feedback. They break down why a person may need to move backward before moving forward, how supported, suspended, stacked, and standing spine positions create a roadmap for exercise selection, and why the goal is not always to coach harder — sometimes it is to change the posture, reduce the task, and let the person become more aware. This conversation also explores: Why movement changes from day to day How corrective exercise can become a personal “movement floss” Why regression is often the key to better progression How to use supported, quadruped, kneeling, and standing positions Why bird dog, rolling, bridging, half kneeling, and get-ups matter How to know when an exercise is too hard or too easy Why fast responders and slow responders need different strategies How to bake corrective work into a real training program The key message: progression should not be random. It should be guided by the person’s movement baseline, their response to the exercise, and whether the drill creates a manageable friction point that helps them improve. Whiteboard Talk https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xImFU1GuzaQ Corrective Strategies Bundle: https://functionalmovement.com/Store/261/corrective_strategies_bundle Quick Screen + Corrective Strategies Bundle: https://functionalmovement.com/Store/1287/quick_screen__corrective_strategies_bundle Functional Movement Systems YouTube Facebook Instagram X (Twitter) Subscribe to the FMS Newsletter

  5. 18 Jun

    The Performance Pyramid: Movement, Capacity & Skill

    Performance is not just about strength, power, conditioning, or sport-specific skill. In this episode of the Movement Podcast, Gray Cook and Lee Burton revisit one of the foundational ideas behind Functional Movement Systems: the performance pyramid. At the base is movement. Above that is performance. At the top is skill. The conversation explores why performance cannot be understood by looking at one test, one lift, one movement, or one sport-specific task in isolation. Before asking how to improve power, speed, conditioning, or workload, we need to understand whether the body has the fundamental movement and capacity to support it. Gray and Lee discuss the difference between movement screening and performance testing, why the overhead deep squat alone is not enough, and how capacity tests like motor control, carries, jumps, and impact control can help identify hidden energy leaks. They also break down why athletes, workers, and active adults often chase the obvious goal — more power, more endurance, more strength — when the real opportunity may be found in movement quality, postural control, asymmetry, or foundational capacity. This episode is a practical look at how to stop guessing, test more systematically, and make better recommendations for the person in front of you. Learn more about Functional Movement Systems: https://www.functionalmovement.com/ Functional Movement Systems YouTube Facebook Instagram X (Twitter) Subscribe to the FMS Newsletter

  6. 4 Jun

    Knee Pain, ACL Risk & the Movement Patterns Behind the Problem

    Knee pain is one of the most common issues in sports, fitness, rehab, and everyday life — but the knee is rarely the only place to look. In this episode of the Movement Podcast, Gray Cook and Lee Burton break down why knee pain is often driven by what is happening above and below the joint. From ankle dorsiflexion and foot control to hip mobility, core stability, tone, alignment, and movement strategy, this conversation takes a deeper look at the systems that influence how the knee behaves. They discuss common knee issues in youth athletes, female athletes, ACL risk, patellar tracking, quad dominance, total knee replacement, and the importance of using movement screens to better understand the difference between symptoms and underlying dysfunction. The key message: before assuming the knee needs more strength, more quad work, or more isolated treatment, we need to ask better questions. Is the ankle moving well? Is the hip doing its job? Is the core providing stability? Is the person using tone, compensation, or alignment strategies that keep irritating the knee? Whether you work with athletes, active adults, rehab patients, or people trying to stay functional as they age, this episode offers a practical framework for looking at knee pain through a functional movement lens. Learn more about Functional Movement Systems: https://www.functionalmovement.com/ Functional Movement Systems YouTube Facebook Instagram X (Twitter) Subscribe to the FMS Newsletter

  7. 21 May

    Why Protocols Aren’t Enough with Gina Schatz

    In this episode of the Movement Podcast, Gray Cook sits down with Gina M. Schatz, clinician, educator, founder of The Schatz Method®, and creator of the Practitioner Mastery Program. Gina trains manual and movement practitioners to move beyond protocols and develop the clinical reasoning required for complex orthopedic cases, hypermobility, and long-term practitioner mastery. Together, Gray and Gina explore what separates protocol-driven care from true clinical reasoning. They discuss the importance of feedback loops, accurate assessment, root-cause thinking, and the ability to make clearer treatment decisions in real time. This conversation also dives into hypermobility, practitioner burnout, movement behavior versus impairment, and why the best clinicians are not just applying techniques — they are constantly asking better questions. For practitioners ready to elevate their work, this episode offers a deeper look at what it means to assess more accurately, think more critically, and develop the mastery needed for better long-term outcomes. Learn more about Gina Schatz and the Practitioner Mastery Program: https://theschatzmethod.com/practitioner-mastery-program/ Learn more about Functional Movement Systems: https://www.functionalmovement.com/ Functional Movement Systems YouTube Facebook Instagram X (Twitter) Subscribe to the FMS Newsletter

  8. 7 May

    The Missing Piece in Shoulder Rehab & Performance

    Most people train their shoulders by chasing strength, but completely miss the foundation that creates durable, pain-free movement. In this episode of the Movement Podcast, Gray Cook and Lee Burton break down why shoulder problems are so common, why shoulder pain is often more than “just a shoulder issue,” and how posture, spinal stability, reflexive control, and movement quality all influence shoulder health. They dive into: Rotator cuff function and shoulder stability Why impingement happens long before tears The importance of scapular control and posture Closed-chain vs open-chain shoulder training Why push-ups, pull-ups, carries, and Turkish get-ups matter How the neck, spine, hips, and posture affect shoulder pain The difference between strength and reflexive stability Why functional training should prioritize movement quality first If you work with athletes, rehab patients, or simply want healthier shoulders that last, this episode offers a practical framework you can apply immediately. Learn more about our Academy: https://functionalmovement.com/fmsacademy The Shoulder Pain Solutions Online Masterclass: https://functionalmovement.com/Store/1274/clinical_integration_the_shoulder_pain_solutions_online_masterclass Listen to more episodes: https://www.movementpod.com/ Functional Movement Systems YouTube Facebook Instagram X (Twitter) Subscribe to the FMS Newsletter

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About

Human movement is complex, fascinating, and affects us all. Our hosts, Gray Cook and Dr. Lee Burton, have dedicated their lives to understanding movement and have trained thousands of fitness and healthcare professionals worldwide with their holistic philosophy and approach. Listen as they discuss topics, speak with other industry experts, answer questions & give practical advice on how you can optimize the human body to be the best it can be.

Information

  • Creator
    Gray Cook and Dr. Lee Burton
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2026
  • Episodes
    108
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Movement Podcast by FMS
  • Show Website
    Movement Podcast

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