The Rehab Runway: From the Treatment Room to the Track

Luke Nelson

"The Rehab Runway: From the Treatment Room to the Track" is your go-to podcast for injury recovery and running performance. Hosted by Luke Nelson, Sports & Exercise Chiropractor, running coach, and strength coach, it helps runners recover smarter and perform stronger, while giving health pros practical, evidence-based insights. From Achilles tendinopathy to return-to-run protocols, Luke shares strategies to get athletes moving well and performing their best.

  1. Jul 13

    Tibial Bone Stress Injuries: What Every Runner and Clinician Needs to Know | Beau Tyrrell

    ibial bone stress injuries are one of the most frustrating injuries a runner can face. They can derail training for months, recur if managed poorly, and are often mistaken for "shin splints" in the early stages. In this episode of The Rehab Runway, I’m joined by physiotherapist Beau Tyrrell to unpack what every runner and clinician needs to know about tibial bone stress injuries. We discuss what is actually happening within the bone, why these injuries develop, and how to differentiate a tibial bone stress injury from medial tibial stress syndrome (MTSS). Beau also explains the role of imaging, MRI grading, and why recognising these injuries early can significantly improve outcomes. The conversation then shifts to rehabilitation, covering relative unloading, strength training, cross-training, impact progressions, and the criteria Beau uses before returning a runner to training. We also explore common rehabilitation mistakes, recurrence risk, RED-S, training load, and practical strategies to reduce the likelihood of future bone stress injuries. Whether you're a runner dealing with persistent shin pain or a clinician working with injured runners, this episode is packed with practical, evidence-informed advice. In this episode, we cover: • What a tibial bone stress injury actually is• Tibial bone stress injury vs MTSS ("shin splints")• Clinical assessment and red flags• When MRI is indicated and how useful MRI grading really is• Relative unloading vs complete rest• Strength training and bone adaptation• Cross-training during rehabilitation• Progressive impact loading• Return-to-running criteria• RED-S and low energy availability• Preventing recurrence and managing training load 🌐 ⁠Shownotes https://www.healthhp.com.au/the-rehab-runway/episode-17-tibial-bone-stress-injuries Guest Beau Tyrrell, Sports Physiotherapist Instagram: @stressfracturephysio 🎙️ Subscribe to The Rehab Runway for more evidence-based conversations on running injuries, rehabilitation and performance. 🌐 https://www.healthhp.com.au/the-rehab-runway 📱 Follow Luke Nelson:Instagram: @sportschiroluke

    Tibial Bone Stress Injuries: What Every Runner and Clinician Needs to Know | Beau Tyrrell

  2. Jul 6

    Women’s Safety in Running: What We All Need to Do

    Women’s safety in running is not just a women’s issue. It is a running community issue. In this episode of The Rehab Runway, I’m joined by running coaches Isobel Tait from Peak Endurance and Emma-Rose from Run Joy Melbourne to discuss women’s safety in running, why it affects participation and training, and what all of us can do to help create safer running spaces. The conversation was prompted by recent discussion around women’s safety while running, along with the Run My Way survey from the Office of Sport and Transport for NSW. The survey found that 95% of women said safety influences their running habits, 70% of women had felt unsafe on a run, and 50% of women had experienced harassment while running. We discuss the extra mental load many women carry before and during a run, including route choice, timing, headphones, location sharing, running alone, group running and whether to acknowledge strangers. But this conversation is not just about giving women more strategies to stay safe. We also talk about what men can do, what coaches need to consider, and how run clubs can create safer, more inclusive running environments. In this episode, we cover: Why women’s safety in running needs to be discussed more openly How safety concerns shape when, where and how women run What the Run My Way survey tells us about the safety gap in running Why feeling unsafe is not limited to physical assault How harassment, intimidation, unwanted comments and being followed can affect running experiences Practical strategies women may use to feel safer What male runners need to understand How men can give space, respect non-engagement and call out poor behaviour Why safety should be considered when prescribing training What run clubs can do to create safer running environments Why women’s safety in running is a shared responsibility Content note: This episode discusses women’s safety while running, including harassment, intimidation and assault. We do not go into graphic detail, but some listeners may find parts of the conversation distressing. Please listen in a way that feels right for you. Show notes: https://www.healthhp.com.au/the-rehab-runway/womens-safety-in-running Guest links: Isobel TaitPeak EnduranceInstagram: @peakendurancecoaching Emma-RoseRun Joy MelbourneInstagram: @run_joy_melbourne

    Women’s Safety in Running: What We All Need to Do

  3. Jun 22

    Stress, Recovery & Running Injuries: The Missing Variable?

    Episode Description Most runners think injuries happen because of training errors. Too much mileage. Too much intensity. Not enough strength work. But what if the real issue isn't just training load? In this episode of The Rehab Runway, Luke explores the often-overlooked role of stress in running injuries. From work deadlines and poor sleep to travel, life events and emotional stress, we discuss how non-training stressors can influence recovery, performance and injury risk. Luke also shares reflections from his own recent knee injury and why looking beyond mileage may have changed the way he thinks about injury prevention and rehabilitation. In this episode, you'll learn: • Why injury risk is about total load, not just training load • How stress can reduce your capacity to tolerate running • Why some injuries seem to occur during "easy" training weeks • The concept of delayed injury responses and accumulated stress • How stress influences recovery, pain and decision-making • What research tells us about stress and injury risk in athletes • The pros and cons of using wearables such as Garmin, WHOOP and Oura Ring • Practical strategies runners can use during high-stress periods Whether you're a runner trying to stay healthy, a coach managing athletes, or a clinician working in sports medicine, this episode will help you think differently about injury risk and recovery. 🎓 Clinician Education Luke's next MAT Running Course will be held on 22 November, covering runner assessment, load management, strength training, gait analysis and return-to-run planning. https://www.healthhp.com.au/mat-running-course⁠ 🎙️ The Rehab RunwayFrom the Treatment Room to the Track. Where evidence meets experience in running rehab and performance. 🔗 Connect with Luke:Instagram: @sportschirolukeWebsite: https://www.healthhp.com.auTraining & Education: https://www.healthhp.com.au/mat-running-course Research discussed & full show notes here

    Stress, Recovery & Running Injuries: The Missing Variable?

  4. Jun 10

    Strength Training for Runners: What Actually Matters?

    🎙️ Strength Training for Runners: What Actually Matters? Strength training has become one of the most talked-about topics in running performance and injury prevention. But despite the growing body of research, many runners are still left wondering what they should actually be doing in the gym, how often they should be doing it, and whether it will truly make them a better runner. In this episode of The Rehab Runway, I’m joined by physiotherapist, strength and conditioning coach, researcher and podcaster Kate Baldwin to unpack what the evidence really tells us about strength training for runners. We explore why strength training appears to improve running economy and performance, the concept of the interference effect, and whether runners should really be worried that lifting weights will negatively affect their endurance training. Kate also shares insights from her PhD research into concurrent training in endurance athletes, including how strength and endurance training can be effectively integrated, the minimum effective dose of strength training, and why consistency often matters more than complexity. We also discuss:🏋️‍♂️ How much strength training runners actually need🏃 Running economy and durability⚡ The role of strength training in performance📈 Practical programming considerations🔋 Recovery and balancing gym work with running🧠 Common misconceptions around strength training for endurance athletes Whether you're a runner, coach or clinician, this episode is packed with practical, evidence-informed takeaways you can apply immediately. ⁠Full show notes here 📲 Follow Kate Baldwin on Instagram:@thedistancedr 🌐 Connect with Luke NelsonInstagram: ⁠@sportschiroluke⁠Website: ⁠https://www.healthhp.com.au/⁠ 🎧 Enjoying the podcast?Please consider following, rating, and sharing The Rehab Runway. It helps us continue bringing evidence-informed conversations to runners and health professionals around the world.

    Strength Training for Runners: What Actually Matters?

  5. May 25

    Running Durability Explained: Why You Fall Apart Late in a Run

    🎙️ Running Durability Explained: Why You Fall Apart Late in a Run Why do some runners completely fade late in races while others seem to hold pace deep into fatigue? In this episode of The Rehab Runway, I’m joined by sports physiologist, researcher, strength coach, and endurance coach Michele Zanini to unpack one of the most talked about emerging concepts in endurance performance: durability. We explore what durability actually means, how it differs from VO₂ max, lactate threshold, and running economy, and why the physiology you start a race with may not be the physiology you finish with. Michele shares insights from his recent research examining how prolonged running changes running economy, thresholds, and fatigue resistance, along with what may separate runners who maintain performance late in races from those who completely unravel. We also dive into:• how durability is currently measured in research• practical ways coaches and clinicians may assess it in the field• the role of long runs and training volume• whether strength training can improve durability• and how fueling, pacing, and fatigue all interact during prolonged performance Whether you’re a runner preparing for your next marathon or a clinician working with endurance athletes, this episode offers a fascinating look into what may be one of the missing links in long-distance performance. 🎯 Key Takeaways • Durability refers to the ability to resist physiological deterioration during prolonged exercise• Running economy, VO₂ max, and lactate threshold can all worsen as fatigue builds• Two runners with similar “fresh” physiology may perform very differently late in races• Long runs and higher training volumes may improve running economy durability• Strength and plyometric training may help preserve performance under fatigue• Late-race breakdown is not always just a fueling or pacing issue• Durability may become an important future performance marker in endurance sport Full show notes here 📚 Research Discussed Zanini, M., Jones, A.M. and Nybo, L. (2025) ‘Viewpoint: Durability, fatigability, repeatability, and resilience in endurance sports: definitions, distinctions, and implications’, Journal of Applied Physiology.Zanini, M., Folland, J.P. and Blagrove, R.C. (2025) ‘Regular long runs and higher training volumes are associated with better running economy durability in performance matched well-trained male runners’, Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise.Zanini, M., Folland, J.P., Wu, H. and Blagrove, R.C. (2025) ‘Strength training improves running economy durability and fatigued high-intensity performance in well-trained male runners’, Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise. 🌐 Connect with Michele Zanini Instagram: @michele.zanini ResearchGate: Michele ZaniniLinkedIn: Michele Zanini 🌐 Connect with Luke Nelson Instagram: @sportschirolukeWebsite: https://www.healthhp.com.au/ 🎧 Enjoying the podcast? Please consider following, rating, and sharing The Rehab Runway. It helps us continue bringing evidence-informed conversations to runners and health professionals around the world.

    Running Durability Explained: Why You Fall Apart Late in a Run

  6. May 14

    Does Running Build Strength? What It Actually Improves

    🎙️ Does Running Build Strength? What It Actually Improves Does running actually build strength? 🏃 Or does it simply make you better at running? In this episode of The Rehab Runway, Luke explores one of the more debated topics in running rehab and performance:What physical qualities does running actually improve, and are there situations where running alone may not fully solve every problem for every runner? This episode explores:• local muscular endurance 🔋• movement economy ⚙️• tendon and elastic function• reactive force qualities ⚡• muscle fibre adaptations• bone loading and adaptation 🦴• and where strength training may or may not fit for runners 🏋️ Luke also discusses:• why running remains the primary driver of running performance• the difference between measurable and meaningful qualities• why rehab and S&C can sometimes drift too far away from the actual task• and why the answer is probably more individual than social media debates often suggest Whether you’re a runner, coach, physio, chiropractor, or strength coach, this episode is a nuanced discussion around specificity, adaptation, injury resilience, and performance 📖 Does Running Build Strength?https://www.healthhp.com.au/post/does-running-build-strength 📖 What Running Actually Improveshttps://www.healthhp.com.au/post/what-running-actually-improves 🇰🇪 Trust Me Physio Run Camp, Kenya March 2027https://trustmephysiotherapy.com/product/physio-running-camp-kenya-3/ 🏃 MAT Running Course Melbourne, November 22nd, 2026https://www.matassessment.com/matliverunningcourse 🔗 Link to full Shownotes 💻 Connect with Luke Instagram: @sportschirolukeWebsite: www.healthhp.com.au

    Does Running Build Strength? What It Actually Improves

  7. May 4

    Calf Strains Explained Part 2: Rehab, Loading and Return to Running

    Calf strains are one of the most common and recurrent injuries in runners, and how you load them during rehab is often the difference between a smooth return and repeated setbacks. In Part 2 of this series, I’m again joined by physiotherapist and researcher Brady Green to break down how to actually manage calf injuries from early stage rehab right through to return to running. We explore how loading should be progressed across each phase of rehab, including the role of isometrics, heavy strength work, and the transition into energy storage and plyometrics. We also unpack how management may differ in aponeurosis-related injuries, and why getting early loading right is critical. We dive into practical return to running strategies, including how to reintroduce running load, manage spikes, and integrate gym and running without overloading the calf. We also discuss why calf injuries are so prone to recurrence, and what can be done to reduce that risk long term. Whether you are a runner coming back from a calf strain or a clinician guiding that process, this episode provides a clear, structured approach to rehab and return to performance. 🎯 Key Takeaways Early loading is important, but needs to be matched to the specific tissue involved Progressive strength development is key before returning to higher speed running Energy storage and plyometric work are critical for return to running Aponeurosis injuries may require a more cautious and structured loading progression Poor load management is a major contributor to recurrence Return to running should be gradual, structured and integrated with strength work 🔗 Links and Resources  📄 Show notes: ⁠https://www.healthhp.com.au/the-rehab-runway/calf-strains-explained⁠  📲 Follow Luke: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/sportschiroluke⁠ 👤 Connect with Brady 📲 ⁠Socials: X⁠  ⁠🌐 Website: Pure Sports Physio⁠ ⁠ 🔬Research Gate⁠

    Calf Strains Explained Part 2: Rehab, Loading and Return to Running

  8. Apr 28

    Calf Strains Explained Part 1: Diagnosis, Classification and What Actually Matters

    🎙️ Calf Strains Explained Part 1: Diagnosis, Classification and What Actually Matters Calf strains are one of the most common injuries in runners, yet they’re often poorly understood and frequently mismanaged. In this episode of The Rehab Runway, I’m joined by physiotherapist and researcher Brady Green to break down what is really going on when a runner “strains their calf” and how to approach diagnosis with more clarity and confidence. We explore the key structures involved, including gastrocnemius, soleus and the aponeurosis, and why tissue type and injury location matter when it comes to prognosis and rehab planning. We also dive into clinical examination, including the most useful tests in practice, how to assess calf strength and load tolerance, and whether we can truly differentiate injury types without imaging. Importantly, we discuss the role of scans, when they are useful, and what to do when imaging isn’t available. Whether you are a runner dealing with calf pain or a clinician managing these injuries, this episode will give you a clear, practical framework for diagnosis and early decision making. Part 2 will focus on rehabilitation, loading strategies and return to running. 🎯 Key Takeaways Not all calf strains are the same and tissue type matters for prognosisAponeurosis involvement may change both timelines and rehab approachClinical examination can provide strong direction even without imagingStrength and load tolerance are critical components of assessmentImaging can be helpful, but it is not always necessary for decision-makingAccurate early diagnosis sets up more effective rehabilitation 🔗 Links and Resources📄 Show notes: https://www.healthhp.com.au/the-rehab-runway/calf-strains-explained📲 Follow Luke: https://www.instagram.com/sportschiroluke 👤 Connect with Brady 📲 Socials: X🌐 Website: Pure Sports Physio🔬Research Gate

    Calf Strains Explained Part 1: Diagnosis, Classification and What Actually Matters
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About

"The Rehab Runway: From the Treatment Room to the Track" is your go-to podcast for injury recovery and running performance. Hosted by Luke Nelson, Sports & Exercise Chiropractor, running coach, and strength coach, it helps runners recover smarter and perform stronger, while giving health pros practical, evidence-based insights. From Achilles tendinopathy to return-to-run protocols, Luke shares strategies to get athletes moving well and performing their best.

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