Behind the Sports Medicine

ajrsportsscience
  • 5.0 (10)
  • Medicine
  • Updated Daily

Interviewing experts in the healthcare, physical therapy, athletic training and sports science profession. Discussing the barriers we face today within the healthcare system to better understand the landscape and educate the consumer.

  1. 1d ago

    Episode 80: Anthony Kjenstad - 72 Hours to 28: The Nerve Hack Cutting Athlete Recovery Time

    72 Hours to 28: The Nerve Hack Cutting Athlete Recovery Time How can athletic trainers and human performance professionals cut through the noise of trendy gimmicks to build truly effective, scientifically validated recovery protocols for their athletes so they can perform at their best when it truly counts? In this episode, recorded live at the 2026 NATA Convention, Anthony Kjenstad, President of Firefly Recovery, joins hosts Andrew Rizza and Dr. Cameron Roth to explain how Firefly evolved from a medical device designed to prevent post-surgical blood clots into a portable recovery tool used by athletes and athletic trainers. He breaks down how the technology differs from traditional electrical stimulation and pneumatic compression, why the lower-extremity "foot pump" is central to its effect, and what research has revealed about circulation and recovery. The conversation explores where wearable recovery technology fits into an athlete's broader recovery plan, including how it could help a young athlete travelling between games, why portability and implementation matter, and why sleep and nutrition still come before any recovery gadget. Kjenstad also discusses Firefly's emerging upper-extremity applications, new research into heart rate variability, how athletic trainers can distinguish evidence-based technology from trends, and what he believes the future of recovery science and wellness will look like. MEET THE GUEST Anthony Kjenstad – President, Firefly Recovery TOPICS DISCUSSED How Firefly uses the nervous system to increase circulationFirefly vs. traditional pneumatic compression and electrical STIMMaking recovery technology practical for travelling athletesThe role of circulation alongside sleep and nutritionEvaluating recovery technology through research and evidenceThe future of wearable recovery and wellness technology HIGHLIGHTS 00:00 – Introduction 00:52 – How Firefly's Recovery Technology Works 01:56 – Using Firefly for Athletic Recovery 03:27 – How Firefly Compares to Other Recovery Modalities 04:20 – Expanding Firefly to the Upper Extremity 05:28 – Sponsor: Beck Bode 05:56 – Where Is Recovery Science Heading? 07:14 – Practical On-the-Go Recovery for Traveling Athletes 11:03 – Balancing Recovery Tools with Sleep, Movement, and Nutrition 14:34 – How Firefly Is Applied, Worn, and Replaced 16:22 – Can Athletes Move Around While Using Firefly? 17:04 – From Blood Clot Prevention to Athlete Recovery Tool 18:05 – Trend or Treatment? Evaluating Recovery Technology 19:41 – The Future of Recovery Science and Longevity 21:25 – Lightning Round: Travel Hacks, Career Advice & Peloton QUOTES: 02:15 - “What we identified is that by palpating the perineal nerve with our modified muscle stim technology, you can cause a slight dorsiflexion of the foot. I call it a ‘foot pump’ or a ‘Firefly flutter’. If you think about it, 70% of our blood's in our lower extremity, we're basically just using your nervous system to pump it back up.” 08:29 - “What we do know about our research is two to four hours is optimal wear time to maximize recovery. You can take that athlete from 72 hours to 28 hours. Early on I wanted to say the quote, ‘We take the day out of recovery’ because by increasing circulation at this dramatic effect, we can actually reduce recovery rates to that effect.” LINKS Anthony Kjenstad - https://www.linkedin.com/in/anthony-kjenstad-74951219/ Firefly Recovery - https://www.fireflyrecovery.com/ NATA - https://www.nata.org/ SPONSORS Beck Bode is a fee-only fiduciary firm that builds personalized roadmaps to keep your money aligned with your life goals. See what real planning looks like at https://beckbode.com DISCLAIMER The opinions presented on Behind the Sports Medicine are those of the host and guests. They do not necessarily reflect the opinions of any affiliated institutions or partners. The content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a licensed medical professional before making any health or treatment decisions. Behind the Sports Medicine and its affiliates assume no liability for the accuracy or application of the information discussed. #SportsRecovery #NATA2026 #RecoveryTechnology #WearableTechnology #AthleticTraining

  2. Aug 27

    Episode 79 - Dr. Erin Hassler - The Master's Upgrade Hurt Us

    "The Master's Upgrade Hurt Us": A Candid Conversation with Athletic Trainer Dr. Erin Hassler When athletic training shifted to a master's-degree entry requirement, it was supposed to elevate the field. Instead, says 26-year veteran Dr. Erin Hassler, it may have priced athletic trainers out of the market, saddling clinicians with student debt while their pay stayed flat. In this episode, recorded live from the 2026 NATA Convention, Dr. Hassler joins hosts Andrew Rizza and Dr. Cameron Roth to unpack why she believes the industry pulled the wrong lever, and what it would take to fix the coach-heavy sports model that still puts athletic trainers at the bottom of the hierarchy. An athletic trainer, entrepreneur, educator, and executive coach with 26 years of experience across high school, collegiate, professional, and international settings, Hassler also shares how faith, family, and a refusal to take no for an answer shaped a career built on service to others. The conversation ranges from the Sistahood, the mentorship network she built for women of color in sports medicine, to the lessons she's carried home from working with athletes in Peru, Qatar, the UK, and Canada. Hassler also opens up about her book, GOLD MEDAL DOC: From Goals to GOAT, her newest venture, Sports Toolbox — a certification platform designed to close the gap between athletic trainers and the rest of the care team — and why she believes branding and NIL may be the biggest opportunity athletic trainers are leaving on the table. MEET THE GUEST Dr. Erin Hassler - DAT, MBA, MS, ATC, LAT, PES – Athletic Trainer, Entrepreneur, Educator, Executive Coach, and Nationally Recognized Speaker TOPICS DISCUSSED Building an entrepreneurial career in athletic trainingCreating opportunities through mentorship and networking Building the Sistahood, a mentorship network for women of colorBalancing family, career, and entrepreneurial freedomWhy the master's degree requirement is hurting the professionLessons from international clinical experiencesExpanding athletic trainers' value through branding and NIL HIGHLIGHTS 00:00 – Introduction 01:00 – How Different Levels of Sports Medicine Shaped Dr. Hassler's Career 03:18 – Bringing a Global Perspective on Athletic Training to a Local Campus 04:30 – Sponsor: Beck Bode 05:07 – Relationships and Opportunities Originating from NATA 08:30 – Taking the Leap into Entrepreneurship 10:46 – Overcoming Barriers and Building "The Sistahood" 14:05 – The Role of Family in Career Success 15:52 – Insights from Goals to GOAT 19:31 – Lessons from International Sports Medicine 23:33 – Staying Relaxed on the Road & Packing Secrets 27:42 – The Problem with the Master's Requirement & the Sports Hierarchy 32:02 – Collaborative Care vs. Territorial Mindsets 34:58 – What Is the Sports Toolbox? 38:04 – The Opportunity Athletic Trainers Are Missing: Branding & NIL 41:13 – Lightning Round: Mentors, Leadership & Success QUOTES: 27:52 - “Honestly, I think the master's upgrade hurt us. It significantly impacted the workforce because now you're required to go back into school, obtain all these loans. So now your debt goes up, but your pay doesn't go up … But I truly believe that we didn't change the right entity, right? You’ve got to change the whole sport model.” 30:47 - “It comes down to who's a revenue generator and who's not? If you're not making money, I'm not listening to you. How do we know? The NIL of all the kids, right? Now you have student-athletes that make more money than the coach. Right? So we listen to them. We’re not maximizing our NIL opportunities as athletic trainers. And I think with the master's minimum approach, we outpriced ourselves.” LINKS Dr. Erin Hassler - https://www.linkedin.com/in/drerinhassler/ Gold Medal Doc - https://goldmedaldoc.com/ GOLD MEDAL DOC: From Goals to GOAT (Gold Medal Doc TM) - https://www.amazon.com/GOLD-MEDAL-DOC-Goals-GOAT-ebook/dp/B09GB64DV9/ The Sistahood - https://goldmedaldoc.com/the-sistahood/ Sports Toolbox - https://www.sportstoolbox.org/ SPONSORS Beck Bode is a fee-only fiduciary firm that builds personalized roadmaps to keep your money aligned with your life goals. See what real planning looks like at https://beckbode.com DISCLAIMER The opinions presented on Behind the Sports Medicine are those of the host and guests. They do not necessarily reflect the opinions of any affiliated institutions or partners. The content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a licensed medical professional before making any health or treatment decisions. Behind the Sports Medicine and its affiliates assume no liability for the accuracy or application of the information discussed. #AthleticTraining #SportsMedicine #HealthcareEntrepreneurship #NATA2026 #WomenInSportsMedicine

  3. Aug 18

    Episode 78: AJ Duffy III - How NATA Is Fighting for Athletic Trainers

    How do you unite, advance, and advocate for an athletic training workforce facing burnout, salary discrepancies, and evolving institutional demands? For National Athletic Trainers' Association (NATA) President AJ Duffy III, the answer lies in proactive leadership, active listening, and building strategic partnerships across sports, military, and clinical settings. In this episode, recorded live from the 2026 NATA convention, Duffy joins hosts Andrew Rizza and Dr. Cameron Roth to reflect on a transformative year of leadership under new Executive Director Mollie Pillman and discuss NATA's newly unveiled strategic plan. He details major advocacy wins, including the massive expansion of athletic trainers in the U.S. Army’s Holistic Health and Fitness (H2F) program and the rapid legislative progress toward interstate licensure compacts. Duffy addresses pressing workforce issues like collegiate schedule shifts and gender pay equity. He also shares actionable advice for young professionals on mentorship, risk-taking, and why sometimes the best career move is simply talking to someone who has been there before. MEET THE GUEST AJ Duffy III President, National Athletic Trainers' Association (NATA) TOPICS DISCUSSED Executing NATA's strategic plan under new leadership Closing pay gaps through the salary survey and gender equity task force Expanding athletic training roles in the Army's H2F program Advancing interstate licensure compacts for workforce mobility Why athletic trainers need to strengthen their visibility Mentorship, risk-taking, and advice for the next generation HIGHLIGHTS 00:00 – Introduction to AJ Duffy III 00:53 – Looking Back on the Last 12 Months of NATA 02:42 – Listening to Athletic Trainers and Addressing Workforce Issues 04:20 – Sponsor: Beck Bode 04:47 – Fast-Tracking Change on Workforce and Salary Issues 07:43 – The Impact of Athletic Trainers in the Army's H2F Initiative 09:45 – Opportunities for Athletic Trainers in the Coming Years 11:18 – A Major Advocacy Win: Interstate Licensure Compacts 14:50 – NATA's Focus for the Next 12 - 36 Months 17:37 – Career Advice for Students: Mentorship, Networking & Taking Risks 26:26 – Lightning Round: Active Listening, Future Outlook & Favorite Cities QUOTES: 09:18 - “I was at the H2F meeting in Hampton, Virginia in May and I met the two generals that are overseeing H2F, and they said, ‘Keep those Athletic trainers coming.’ So we went from potentially losing 180 positions; they want 700 more. That’s just one example of what we can do with a unified voice.” 19:26 - “I consistently tell students, I say, ‘Please reach out to us.’ I may have used this phrase last year, but I love using it. I say, ‘We outlawed the horseshoe tackle in football, but it's okay to horseshoe tackle the president of the NATA at meetings like this to have time.” LINKS AJ Duffy III - https://www.linkedin.com/in/aj-duffy-iii-8aa01b6/ NATA - https://www.nata.org/ RELATED EPISODES Leadership, Legacy, and What’s Next For Athletic Training - https://youtu.be/GqvFm25aYGw SPONSORS Beck Bode is a fee-only fiduciary firm that builds personalized roadmaps to keep your money aligned with your life goals. See what real planning looks like at https://beckbode.com DISCLAIMER The opinions presented on Behind the Sports Medicine are those of the host and guests. They do not necessarily reflect the opinions of any affiliated institutions or partners. The content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a licensed medical professional before making any health or treatment decisions. Behind the Sports Medicine and its affiliates assume no liability for the accuracy or application of the information discussed. #AthleticTraining #NATA2026 #AthleticTrainers #H2FProgram #LicensurePortability

  4. Aug 11

    Episode 77: Expensive Urine - Why Most Athletes Are Wasting Money on the Wrong Supplements

    Expensive Urine: Why Most Athletes Are Wasting Money on the Wrong Supplements Athletes are constantly bombarded with supplement recommendations, viral health trends, and conflicting nutrition advice. But how do you know what's actually backed by evidence, what's safe to take, and what could unintentionally harm your performance, or even violate anti-doping rules? According to sports pharmacist Dr. Kaleigh Steelman, most of what's on the shelf is just going to end up as "expensive urine”, and for competitive athletes, picking the wrong product can mean far more than wasted money. In this episode, recorded live at the 2026 NATA Convention, hosts Andrew Rizza and Dr. Cameron Roth are joined by Dr. Steelman and registered dietitian Sean Casey from the Sports Pharmacy Network. Together, they explain why sports pharmacy is one of the most overlooked disciplines in athlete care. The conversation explores why bloodwork should guide supplementation rather than social media trends, how wearable data can both help and hinder athletes, and why optimizing basic health foundations—like diet, sleep, and breathwork—often yields better results than chasing the latest viral supplement. They also dig into the nuances of vitamin D and magnesium dosing, the surprising link between certain antibiotics and Achilles tendon injuries, why GLP-1 use is becoming a growing concern for bone and muscle health, and what athletes should know before trying peptides. MEET THE GUESTS Dr. Kaleigh Steelman, PharmD - Director of Research, Sports Pharmacy Network - Sports Pharmacist Sean Casey, RD - Board Member, Sports Pharmacy Network - Registered Dietitian TOPICS DISCUSSED - What sports pharmacy is and how it supports athletes - Evaluating social media trends, supplement claims, and third-party testing - Vitamin D, magnesium, and the science of bioavailability - The impact of breathwork and holistic health practices on performance - Antibiotics, GLP-1s, peptides, and other emerging medication risks - Building relationships between athletic trainers and pharmacists HIGHLIGHTS 00:00 – Introduction 01:09 – What Is Sports Pharmacy? 02:31 – Sponsor: Beck Bode 02:57 – A Day in the Life of a Sports Dietitian 04:17 – Navigating Diet Fads and Social Media Nutrition Trends 05:54 – Common Questions About Supplements 07:22 – What to Do If an Athlete Thinks They're Deficient 08:58 – Wearable Data and Subjective Athlete Feedback 11:33 – When Athletes Become Too Dependent on Data 13:07 – Rethinking Vitamin D Reference Ranges 16:21 – Understanding Magnesium Forms 17:45 – Bioavailability and Different Supplement Formulations 19:38 – Barriers and Misconceptions Surrounding Sports Pharmacy 21:41 – Cultural Differences in International Athlete Care: Breathwork 26:56 – Research Trends to Watch: The Rise of GLP-1s 28:52 – The Future of Sports Pharmacy, and Joining the Network 31:25 – Medication Risks Every Athlete Should Know 33:36 – Managing Risks with Hormone Protocols and TRT 33:56 – Hopes for the Future of Sports Pharmacy 34:41 – Supplements to Avoid 35:56 – Biggest Takeaways for Athletes and Supplement Warnings 37:11 – Emerging Compounds: Hype, Evidence, and Anti-Doping Regulations QUOTES: 04:41 - “As boring as fruits and vegetables are, about three years ago, I went through every client that I worked with for the previous 20 years — which ranged from high school athletes up to multiple Olympians and pro athletes — to see what had the biggest impact. It's fruits and vegetables.” - Sean Casey 07:07 - “Some of the supplements are just going to lead to expensive urine, as I like to say. ‘You're just going to pee it out if it's not necessary in your body.’ Unfortunately, that's what a lot of it is: marketing and the tactics on social media.” - Kaleigh Steelman LINKS Dr. Kaleigh Steelman - https://www.linkedin.com/in/kaleigh-steelman-548131224/ Sean Casey - https://www.linkedin.com/in/sean-casey-cscs-rd-14299520/ Sports Pharmacy Network - https://sportsrxnetwork.com SPONSORS Beck Bode is a fee-only fiduciary firm that builds personalized roadmaps to keep your money aligned with your life goals. See what real planning looks like at https://beckbode.com DISCLAIMER The opinions presented on Behind the Sports Medicine are those of the host and guests. They do not necessarily reflect the opinions of any affiliated institutions or partners. The content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a licensed medical professional before making any health or treatment decisions. Behind the Sports Medicine and its affiliates assume no liability for the accuracy or application of the information discussed. #SportsPharmacy #SportsNutrition #SportsPharmacyNetwork #SportsPerformance #HumanPerformance

  5. Jul 30

    Episode 76: Charles Dawson - Why the Turf You're Playing On Could Be Increasing Trauma Risk by 500%

    Natural grass has always been the gold standard for athlete performance and safety, but even the best-maintained fields are only playable for 160 to 200 hours a year. For years, sports organizations have turned to synthetic turf to handle high-volume demands; however, standard infill-based turf systems introduce serious risks of their own, subjecting athletes to severe torque and high recoil energy that dramatically increase lower-leg trauma and fatigue. In this episode, recorded live from the 2026 NATA convention, Charles Dawson of TenCate joins hosts Andrew Rizza and Dr. Cameron Roth to explain how decades of research into athlete biomechanics and playing surfaces have shaped a new generation of synthetic turf designed to address many of those shortcomings. He breaks down how reducing surface recoil and rotational torque may improve athlete availability, why consistency matters just as much as cushioning, and how advances in turf engineering are changing the conversation around injury prevention. Dawson also discusses the environmental benefits of modern turf systems, their growing adoption across professional and collegiate sports, and why he believes the future of athletic fields should be measured by one outcome above all else: keeping athletes healthy, performing at their best, and on the field. MEET THE GUEST Charles Dawson - CEO - Sports Division, TenCate Grass TOPICS DISCUSSED - Why modern turf design is moving beyond infill - Reducing lower extremity injuries through surface engineering - The relationship between torque, recoil, and athlete injury - Why consistent playing surfaces improve athletic performance - The economics and lifespan of modern synthetic turf installations HIGHLIGHTS 00:00 – Introduction 01:05 – Why Artificial Turf Exists 01:53 – How Turf Has Evolved over Time 02:49 – Sponsor: Beck Bode 03:15 – How New Turf Systems Are Developed 04:04 – What Makes TenCate Different from Other Turf 05:55 – Designing Turf Around Athlete Safety 07:10 – Lower Extremity Injuries and Surface Torque 09:00 – The Role of Footwear 09:30 – Exploring the Turf-Concussion Connection 10:47 – Ball Performance and Other Ball Sports 12:16 – Pro Teams, Colleges, and High Schools Adopting Gen 4 Turf 13:36 – Turf Lifespan, Sustainability & Environmental Benefits 16:07 – Cost Breakdown & Maintenance Comparison 18:34 – Lightning Round: Innovation, Myths & Player Availability QUOTES: 01:14 - “I tell people all the time, if you've got a budget and you've got good weather and you've got limited use, natural grass is perfect. Even the best natural grass fields in the world are good for 160 to 200 hours a year in total use. Turf gives you unlimited ability to play 24/7.” 07:33 - “Natural grass is considered a low torque field. And the pivot turf mimics the torque level of natural grass. So those would be the same. What the NFL said is in 1000 foot impacts on a low torque field, there's 4.2 chances of lower leg trauma every. If you go to high rubber, it goes up almost 500% to over 19.” LINKS Charles Dawson on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/charles-dawson-63114590/ TenCate - https://www.tencategrass.com/ NATA Convention - https://convention.nata.org/ SPONSORS Beck Bode is a fee-only fiduciary firm that builds personalized roadmaps to keep your money aligned with your life goals. See what real planning looks like at https://beckbode.com DISCLAIMER The opinions presented on Behind the Sports Medicine are those of the host and guests. They do not necessarily reflect the opinions of any affiliated institutions or partners. The content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a licensed medical professional before making any health or treatment decisions. Behind the Sports Medicine and its affiliates assume no liability for the accuracy or application of the information discussed. #SyntheticTurf #TurfVsGrass #NATA2026 #PlayerAvailability #SportsPerformance

  6. Jul 21

    Episode 75: Emily Perrin - Why Nervous System Regulation Is Sports Performance's Most Misunderstood Tool

    Nervous system regulation has become a popular topic in sports performance, but what does it actually mean, and how do you know if you have achieved it? According to nervous system coach, licensed trauma therapist, and former D1 athlete Emily Perrin, true regulation isn't about being calm 100% of the time; it’s about building a flexible mind-body system that has the capacity to navigate stress and return to balance. In this episode, Perrin joins hosts Andrew Rizza and Dr. Cameron Roth to discuss the science behind the autonomic nervous system and explain why it plays a central role in athletic performance, injury recovery, resilience, and mental health. Perrin unpacks how trauma can shape an athlete's performance, the powerful influence parents and coaches have on an athlete's nervous system, and why youth sports' obsession with winning and pay-to-play models may be doing lasting harm to young athletes. She also shares practical strategies athletes can use to better navigate pressure, anxiety, and recovery. MEET THE GUEST Emily Perrin, LCSW-C CEO & Founder, Perrin Wellness & PerformanceCo-Founder, The Unbroken Athlete Nervous System & Performance Coach and Licensed Clinical Trauma Therapist TOPICS DISCUSSED What nervous system regulation really means for athletesBuilding resilience through regulation, relationships, and resourcesThe connection between trauma, recovery, and sports performanceHow youth sports culture shapes athlete wellbeingThe influence of parents and coaches on nervous system regulationCreating healthier environments for long-term athletic developmentPractical strategies for managing stress, anxiety, and performance pressure HIGHLIGHTS 00:00 – Introduction to Emily Perrin 00:54 – What Is Nervous System Regulation? 03:40 – Sponsor: Beck Bode 04:07 – Connecting Nervous System Regulation to Sports Performance 07:40 – Simple Strategies to Help Athletes Regulate Their Nervous Systems 10:58 – What Does Resilience Actually Mean? 13:08 – Understanding Trauma Within the Context of Sport 16:24 – How Sports Environments Create Stress and Unhealthy Coping Patterns 21:03 – Maintaining Competitive Excellence While Prioritizing Wellbeing 24:01 – The Role of Team Culture in Athlete Wellbeing 29:12 – Co-Regulation in Coaching and Parenting 32:59 – Advice for Parents Supporting Young Athletes Under Pressure 38:38 – Lightning Round: The Power of the Pause, Sleep Hygiene & Favorite Books 45:20 – A Message for Athletes Struggling with Stress and Anxiety QUOTES: 06:07 - “I think in sport, we have for a very long time treated the physical — technical, tactical conditioning, speed, agility training — separate from the mental and emotional side of sport. And the reality is we just don't work that way.” 45:50 - “I think the biggest myth that we've sold athletes is that, again, being mentally tough, being resilient, is getting to this place where you never struggle with things, you never get anxious, you never get to a place where you're overwhelmed, and that just couldn't be farther from the truth.” LINKS Emily Perrin - https://www.instagram.com/former.athlete.therapist Perrin Wellness & Performance - https://www.perrinwellnessperformance.com The Unbroken Athlete - https://www.theunbrokenathlete.com RELATED EPISODES Stop Blaming Her Hormones — The Real Cause of ACL Injuries in Female Athletes - https://youtu.be/Eb2Dm9xzfZg?si=DDCgGbA2m-318vne SPONSOR Beck Bode is a fee-only fiduciary firm that builds personalized roadmaps to keep your money aligned with your life goals. See what real planning looks like at https://beckbode.com DISCLAIMER The opinions presented on Behind the Sports Medicine are those of the host and guests. They do not necessarily reflect the opinions of any affiliated institutions or partners. The content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a licensed medical professional before making any health or treatment decisions. Behind the Sports Medicine and its affiliates assume no liability for the accuracy or application of the information discussed. #NervousSystemRegulation #AthleteWellbeing #YouthSportsCulture #SportsPsychology #MentalHealthInSports

  7. Jul 14

    Episode 74: Casey Mulholland - The Pitch Count Lie: Why Baseball's Most Trusted Injury Metric Doesn't Work

    Why are pitching injuries continuing to rise exponentially despite rapid advancements in sports science and tech? According to baseball development innovator Casey Mulholland, the industry is breaking a fundamental principle of human physiology by leaning into excessive, unpredictable loads without allowing the body time to adapt. In this episode, Mulholland joins hosts Andrew Rizza and Dr. Cameron Roth to challenge some of baseball's most widely accepted injury prevention strategies. Drawing on his own career-ending injuries, years of professional player development, and hundreds of thousands of tracked throws, Mulholland argues that pitch counts alone offer a dangerously incomplete picture of an athlete's workload. He breaks down why velocity has become an unfair scapegoat for arm injuries, the tension between objective data and coaching intuition, and his concerns about how private equity money is reshaping youth baseball and the potential long-term effects on athletic development. MEET THE GUEST Casey Mulholland - Founder, Kinetic Pro Performance - Expert in Pitching Workload Management and Throwing Development TOPICS DISCUSSED - Why pitch counts fail to measure true throwing workload - The relationship between velocity, mechanics, and injury risk - Balancing objective biometric data with coaching intuition - Bridging communication gaps between orthopedists, PTs, and coaches - The quiet takeover of private equity in youth travel baseball - Why baseball technology suffers from a crucial user-experience problem HIGHLIGHTS 00:00 – Intro 01:06 – How Mulholland's Personal Injuries Influenced His Current Mission 03:12 – Sponsor: Boston Orthopedics and Wellness | Beck Bode 04:43 – Why Are Pitching Injuries Rising Despite Modern Sports Science? 07:03 – Is Workload Management the New Buzzword? 08:32 – Does Chasing Velocity Cause More Injuries? 14:30 – Valgus Torque Protocols and the True Capacity of the UCL 19:13 – Why Traditional Pitch Counts and Guidelines Are Flawed 25:57 – Building a Better Workload Management System 31:19 – Better Collaboration Between Coaches and Medical Providers 34:22 – Advice for Orthopedic Surgeons Treating Young Pitchers 41:20 – Balancing Objective Data with Coaching Intuition 46:51 – Inside the New KP App 49:39 – The Rise of Private Equity in Youth Baseball 57:56 – One Change Mulholland Wants to See in Baseball 59:13 – Lightning Round: Favorite Pitchers, Fishing Analogies & Shohei Ohtani QUOTES: 02:33 - “‘I don't understand. Again, when I was at my strongest, when I had my best mechanics, I got hurt. What do you think caused my injury?’ And he said, ‘Well, I don't know what caused your injury, but there's definitely another category that you're not thinking of. And that's workload management.’" 58:07 - “I'd like to see all throws tracked. Simple as that.” LINKS Casey Mulholland - https://www.linkedin.com/in/casey-mulholland-35ab7542 KineticPro Performance - https://www.kineticprobaseball.com MLB Report on Pitcher Injuries, December 2024 - https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/25460405-mlb-pitching-injuries/ An Official Response: MLB Report On Pitching Injuries 2024 - https://www.kineticprobaseball.com/the-mlb-injuries-report-of-2024-got-it-wrong/ RELATED EPISODES The Surgeon Who Saved Sports - Meet Dr. Andrews - https://youtu.be/tkvI56ZiabA?si=ymcmY7dh7m4F5qXy Why “Fixing” a Pitcher’s Mechanics Might Make Them a Worse Player (with Eric Schoenberg) - https://youtu.be/0FdYIW2PcOQ?si=Op_LF3mvvqhq8Zua Curt Schilling on Why Pitching is Broken (and the Real Story Behind the Bloody Sock) - https://youtu.be/Zj9GYxyT3iI?si=WPz-Sy0Pw_h30Aj2 SPONSORS Boston Orthopedics and Wellness helps you recover faster, move better, and perform at your best with advanced orthopedic and wellness care. Get 15% off your first visit: https://www.bostonorthopedicandwellness.com/ Beck Bode is a fee-only fiduciary firm that builds personalized roadmaps to keep your money aligned with your life goals. See what real planning looks like at https://beckbode.com DISCLAIMER The opinions presented on Behind the Sports Medicine are those of the host and guests. They do not necessarily reflect the opinions of any affiliated institutions or partners. The content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a licensed medical professional before making any health or treatment decisions. Behind the Sports Medicine and its affiliates assume no liability for the accuracy or application of the information discussed. #YouthBaseball #SportsMedicine #PitchCounts #WorkloadManagement #InjuryPrevention

  8. Jun 30

    Episode 73: Corey Tremble - Managing the Team Behind the Team: What the Best Sports Medicine Departments Do Differently

    Managing the Team Behind the Team: What the Best Sports Medicine Departments Do Differently How do you keep an elite medical staff focused, dialed in, and performing at their absolute highest level across a 162-game season? Instead of focusing on treating players directly, today’s guest instead invests in making the clinicians around him better. In this episode, Corey Tremble, Director of Medical Operations for the Miami Marlins, joins hosts Andrew Rizza and Dr. Cameron Roth to discuss what it takes to build a high-performing sports medicine team inside a Major League Baseball organization. Drawing on his extensive background working under legendary sports medicine mentors and alongside major front-office figures like Gabe Kapler, Tremble breaks down how the Marlins have revolutionized performance nutrition and why the mental health component of return-to-play is so overlooked. He also dives into the modern velocity epidemic driving new UCL tear patterns, what he prioritizes when scouting new sports medicine talent, and his work as the chair of the National Athletic Trainers Association (NATA) Cannabis Task Force to build a science-backed educational framework for pain management. MEET THE GUEST Corey Tremble, DAT, LAT, ATC Director of Medical Operations, Miami MarlinsChair, National Athletic Trainers' Association Cannabis Task Force TOPICS DISCUSSED Building collaborative sports medicine departments that improve athlete outcomesThe evolution of Tommy John surgery and UCL tear patternsPreventing burnout while leading high-performance medical teamsBuilding a best-in-class nutrition program in professional baseballBridging the education gap around cannabinoids and athlete pain managementDestigmatizing delegation and managing staff burnoutThe future of AI, wearables, and workload management in baseball HIGHLIGHTS 00:00 – Introduction 00:58 – Role of Director of Medical Operations for Miami Marlins 02:23 – Keeping Staff Focused over a 162-Game Season 04:28 – Sponsor: Beck Bode | Boston Orthopedics and Wellness 06:00 – Establishing Collaborative Decision Making 09:08 – Communicating with Coaches During Rehabilitation 11:04 – Successful Return to Play and the Mental Health Component 16:29 – MRI Use and Clinical Judgment 19:02 – The Shift in UCL Tear Patterns and Tommy John Surgery 24:34 – How Modern Pitching Is Changing Elbow Injuries 28:12 – Thoughts on Shohei Ohtani 30:06 – Nutrition as a Competitive Advantage 34:21 – Technology, Lab Testing & Objective Return-to-Play Metrics 36:06 – Hiring Great Athletic Trainers 39:14 – The NATA Cannabis Task Force and Educating Athletes 44:10 – Managing Burnout and Delegation 48:07 – Where Sports Medicine and Baseball Are Headed 51:59 – Lightning Round: Travel, Squats & Sleep QUOTES: 03:33 - “My goal is to take my unbelievably gifted, intelligent physical therapists and athletic trainers and give them the spotlight, give them the ability to really hone in on what they believe is really important, really give them the opportunity to have a voice and have a vision of what we should do as a department. And that's really what has, in turn, created a better space for our athletes to get better.” 46:44 - “It's the mark of bad leadership when you think that you have to do it all. And again, you feel guilty at the start of delegating and asking others on your team to do things that you could very easily do, but that's how they're going to grow.” LINKS Corey S. Tremble on LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/trembleatc/ Miami Marlins Official Website – https://www.mlb.com/marlins National Athletic Trainers' Association (NATA) – https://www.nata.org PBATS Podcast - https://www.youtube.com/@pbats RELATED EPISODES The Surgeon Who Saved Sports - Meet Dr. Andrews - https://youtu.be/tkvI56ZiabA SPONSORS Beck Bode is a fee-only fiduciary firm that builds personalized roadmaps to keep your money aligned with your life goals. See what real planning looks like at https://beckbode.comBoston Orthopedics and Wellness helps you recover faster, move better, and perform at your best with advanced orthopedic and wellness care. Get 15% off your first visit: https://www.bostonorthopedicandwellness.com/ DISCLAIMER The opinions presented on Behind the Sports Medicine are those of the host and guests. They do not necessarily reflect the opinions of any affiliated institutions or partners. The content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a licensed medical professional before making any health or treatment decisions. Behind the Sports Medicine and its affiliates assume no liability for the accuracy or application of the information discussed. #SportsMedicine #AthleticTraining #BaseballMedicine #MLBHealth #MiamiMarlins

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5
out of 5
10 Ratings

About

Interviewing experts in the healthcare, physical therapy, athletic training and sports science profession. Discussing the barriers we face today within the healthcare system to better understand the landscape and educate the consumer.

Information

  • Creator
    ajrsportsscience
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    80
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2024 All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    Behind the Sports Medicine

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