Dylan Carmody on Understanding Anatomy to Optimize Performance and Health in the Lower Leg

If you’ve been following pro sports lately, it seems like every week an athlete from the NFL, NBA or MLB is dealing with a calf strain, or even worse, rupturing their Achilles tendon.

And while you can obviously go to IG or TikTok and pick up some cool new exercises, I think it’s far more important to have a really good understanding of the lower leg anatomy, how to assess it, and from there how to train it effectively if we want to make a real impact in improving calf and Achilles function.

And that’s why I’m so excited to have Dylan Carmody on the podcast – as he literally wrote an entire ebook on this topic!

Dylan is a Physical Therapist and sports practitioner in Bend, Oregon. Along with practicing and working with local sports clubs in the Bend region, Dylan is a podcast host and individual contributor to Inform Performance and is the Clinical Marketing Manager at VALD Performance.

And in this episode, we’re going to take a deep dive into everything related to calf training and performance!

You can’t hide from the calf…it’s ALWAYS there.

– Dylan Carmody

10 Quick Takeaways from This Week’s Physical Prep Podcast:

1. The soleus muscle plays a crucial role in lower limb function and injury prevention.
2. Understanding the anatomy of the calf is essential for effective rehabilitation.
3. Injury mechanisms can vary significantly between individuals due to anatomical differences.
4. Rehabilitation strategies for tendons should include specific loading protocols.
5. The relationship between muscle fiber types and performance is vital for training programs. Loading strategies should be tailored to individual responses.
6. Incorporating various planes of movement is crucial for calf training.
7. Slow to moderate speed running can be protective for calves.
8. Short ground contact times may be beneficial during rehab.
9. Quality over quantity in loading reps is essential.
10. Rehabilitation processes can be counterintuitive, especially for calves.

Connect with Dr. Dylan Carmody:

• Dylan on Instagram
• Inform Performance Podcast

Related Links:

• Comprehensive Calf Force Profiling Ebook

Stop the Frustration! Get the Complete Coach Certification

Are you a young fitness trainer or coach?

Are you frustrated by the results you’re getting or the lack of resources available to learn the skills you need to be successful?

Are you struggling to get enough clients or wondering how long you’ll be able to follow your passion for helping others?

It’s time to stop the frustration and stop worrying. It’s time to get certified!

If you’re serious about improving your results, serious about becoming a better coach, and serious about increasing your bottom line, then you need the Complete Coach Certification.

In this massive course, you’ll learn:

• How to use the R7 system to create seamless, integrated and efficient programs for clients and athletes of all shapes and sizes
• How to create the culture, environment and relationships with everyone you train so you can get the absolute best results
• The exact progressions, regressions, and coaching cues I use in the gym – from squatting and deadlifting to pressing and pulling and everything in between
• The assessment process I use to determine the best exercises for a client or athlete on Day 1, and how to set them up for maximal success down