Staying Relevant: The Future of Rehab & Peformance

Tom Swales
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  • Health & Fitness

The game changes. The rules shift. The spotlight moves on. So how do you stay relevant when everything around you keeps evolving? Hosted by Tom Swales, physiotherapist, strength coach, and founder of the AMT System; Staying Relevant dives into the habits, mindsets, and turning points that help people perform at the highest level and keep growing long after others stop. Each week, Tom sits down with athletes, clinicians, coaches, educators, doctors, influencers, and world-class performers to uncover what it really takes to last. These aren’t highlight-reel conversations, they’re raw, curious, and practical. We pull back the curtain on how top performers reinvent themselves, adapt under pressure, and find new ways to win when the odds say it’s over. Every episode delivers: Unfiltered stories from pros who found their next chapter beyond competition.Insider lessons from doctors, educators, and coaches shaping the future of health and performance.Hard-earned insights from entrepreneurs and creators building lasting impact in competitive spaces.This isn’t about chasing trends. It’s about resilience, reinvention, and relevance, the traits that keep you sharp, grounded, and ready for what’s next. If you’re ready to think bigger about your career, your craft, and your performance, this podcast is your edge. Staying Relevant is powered by the AMT System, giving health and performance pros the tools to assess, treat, and transform clients faster.

  1. How to Improve Performance Without Just Getting Stronger | Scott Livingston

    Jun 2

    How to Improve Performance Without Just Getting Stronger | Scott Livingston

    Most rehab and performance systems still focus on muscles, joints, and outputs — but ignore the nervous system driving everything underneath. That’s why so many athletes, clinicians, and coaches struggle with recurring injuries, movement limitations, chronic pain, and performance plateaus despite doing “all the right things.” In this episode, Tom sits down with strength coach, athletic therapist, and neuro-reconditioning pioneer Scott Livingston to break down why movement is ultimately a brain-driven process. From professional hockey and Olympic sport to Cirque du Soleil, Scott explains how the nervous system shapes performance, pain, resilience, and recovery — and why traditional strength models often miss the bigger picture. In This Episode, You'll Learn Why pain is often a nervous system output — not just a tissue problemThe hidden reason athletes plateau, compensate, and keep getting injuredHow fear, threat, and past injuries change movement patterns subconsciouslyWhy strength alone doesn’t transfer to real-world performanceHow great coaches use constraints and self-organization to improve movementThe difference between building capacity vs. improving coordination and control This episode is for clinicians, rehab professionals, strength coaches, therapists, and high performers who want a deeper understanding of movement, pain, and human performance. Timestamps 00:00 – Introduction to Scott Livingston 01:38 – Why “bigger, faster, stronger” isn’t enough 06:04 – Coaching men vs. women differently 11:03 – The shift into neuro-reconditioning 16:14 – Why everything comes back to the nervous system 20:02 – Is pain really a tissue problem? 26:05 – How Scott approaches rehab and movement assessment 34:40 – The problem with traditional strength coaching 37:57 – Self-organization, movement variability, and performance 42:17 – Why rehab often fails during return to sport 45:50 – Constraint-based training and movement problem solving 46:27 – Transitioning from pro sports to Cirque du Soleil 49:33 – Why Scott continues to evolve as a coach 54:02 – Working and teaching alongside his wife 57:25 – What changed Scott’s thinking over the last decade 1:00:33 – What Scott would do if he had to start over from scratch 1:03:03 – The fraud of fame, fortune, and status Connect with Scott: 📸Instagram – @kingopain 📸Instagram – @reconditioninghq 💼LinkedIn – Scott Livingston 🌐Website – www.reconditioninghq.com 🎓 Sponsored by the Advanced Movement Therapist (AMT) Certification The Advanced Movement Therapist (AMT) System helps clinicians and performance coaches stop guessing, understand the nervous system and identify the root cause of pain so they can deliver more consistent results — faster. 👉 Learn more at https://www.amtcertified.ca #SportsPerformance #Rehab #PainScience #MovementTraining #StrengthAndConditioning #NeuroReconditioning #AthleticPerformance #InjuryPrevention #PerformanceCoaching #MovementAssessment #PhysicalTherapy #HumanPerformance

    1h 2m
  2. Why Most Chronic Pain Treatments Fail (And What Fascia Changes) | Thomas Myers

    May 26

    Why Most Chronic Pain Treatments Fail (And What Fascia Changes) | Thomas Myers

    Most pain, tightness, posture problems, and movement limitations are not caused by a single muscle or isolated injury. They're often the result of compensation patterns, fascial restrictions, nervous system adaptations, and poor force transmission throughout the body. Understanding how fascia works changes the way clinicians, therapists, trainers, and athletes approach rehab, movement, performance, and chronic pain. In this episode, Tom sits down with Thomas Myers — author of Anatomy Trains and one of the world’s leading voices on fascia, structural integration, and myofascial meridians. They break down how the body actually organizes tension, why fascia matters more than most people realize, how injuries truly happen, and what clinicians are still missing when treating pain and dysfunction. In This Episode, You'll Learn Why pain is often a compensation signal — not the root problemHow fascia influences posture, movement efficiency, injury, and chronic painThe difference between muscular injuries vs fascial adaptationsWhy mobility, stretching, and rehab sometimes fail to create lasting changeHow the nervous system, fascia, and movement patterns interact togetherWhat clinicians, trainers, and therapists still misunderstand about fascia This episode is for clinicians, rehab professionals, trainers, movement coaches, athletes, and anyone trying to better understand pain, performance, posture, and human movement. Timestamps 00:00 – Introduction to Thomas Myers & Anatomy Trains 01:15 – How fascia changed the understanding of anatomy 04:40 – Why early fascia research faced resistance 07:00 – The body as an interconnected system 10:25 – What most clinicians misunderstand about fascia 13:20 – Tear, repair, recovery & connective tissue adaptation 18:20 – Rebuilding movement after illness and injury 20:45 – What rehab and performance training still miss 26:20 – Why relationships matter more than isolated body parts 31:50 – Muscle injuries vs fascial injuries 36:30 – Can fascia hold memory? 38:00 – Trigger points, posture & chronic pain patterns 41:20 – Trauma, stress & movement compensation 46:30 – What Thomas Myers changed his mind about 49:10 – Misconceptions and overhyped claims about fascia 53:40 – How to assess fascial vs neurological problems 56:30 – The most humbling lesson the body teaches us Connect with Tom Myers: 📸 Instagram – @anatomytrainsofficial ▶️ YouTube – @AnatomyTrains 🌐 Website – www.anatomytrains.com 🎓 Sponsored by the Advanced Movement Therapist (AMT) Certification The Advanced Movement Therapist (AMT) System helps clinicians and performance coaches stop guessing, understand the nervous system and identify the root cause of pain so they can deliver more consistent results — faster. 👉 Learn more at https://www.amtcertified.ca #Fascia #ChronicPain #Mobility #Rehab #Movement #Posture #AnatomyTrains #PhysicalTherapy #StrengthAndConditioning #SportsPerformance #MovementTherapy #ThomasMyers

    1h 2m
  3. The Missing Link Between Stress, Gut Health, and Chronic Pain | Brendan Coates

    May 19

    The Missing Link Between Stress, Gut Health, and Chronic Pain | Brendan Coates

    Most people treat chronic pain, gut issues, fatigue, and inflammation as isolated physical problems — but what if the real driver is the nervous system and the beliefs running underneath it? This episode breaks down why symptom-focused healthcare often fails and how unresolved stress, emotional patterns, and autonomic dysfunction can keep people stuck in chronic cycles of pain and poor health. In this conversation, functional nutrition practitioner and founder of the Longevity Summit Canada, Brendan Coates, explains how psychology influences physiology, why “trust your gut” may be dangerous advice, and how chronic stress, trauma, perception, and nervous system dysregulation shape everything from digestion to pain to performance. In This Episode, You'll Learn Why chronic pain may persist long after tissue healing occursThe hidden link between gut health, stress, emotions, and the nervous systemWhy emotional suppression can show up as physical symptoms and painHow beliefs and subconscious patterns shape health behaviours and recoveryWhat most people misunderstand about hunger, binge eating, and metabolismWhy purpose, values, and mindset directly affect long-term health outcomes This episode is for clinicians, coaches, therapists, athletes, and high performers who want to better understand the connection between the brain, body, behaviour, and long-term health optimization. Timestamps 00:00 – Why gut health may not be the root problem 03:20 – Beliefs, pain, and the psychology of healing 07:40 – The nervous system connection behind eating disorders 13:50 – Childhood programming and subconscious behaviour patterns 22:30 – Brendan’s athletic background and chronic injury journey 27:50 – The psychology behind chronic pain and emotional suppression 30:20 – Emotional release, stored trauma, and physical symptoms 36:40 – Why “trust your gut” can lead to bad decisions 43:50 – GLP-1s, metabolic flexibility, and appetite regulation 48:20 – What modern healthcare gets wrong about chronic disease 51:15 – How to filter health misinformation online 58:20 – The Longevity Summit Canada and the future of biohacking Connect with Brendan: 📸 Instagram – @brendancoatesdsc ▶️ YouTube – @gutgang 🌐 Website – www.brendancoates.ca 🎓 Sponsored by the Advanced Movement Therapist (AMT) Certification The Advanced Movement Therapist (AMT) System helps clinicians and performance coaches stop guessing, understand the nervous system and identify the root cause of pain so they can deliver more consistent results — faster. 👉 Learn more at https://www.amtcertified.ca #ChronicPain #GutHealth #NervousSystem #FunctionalMedicine #Biohacking #Longevity #MindBodyConnection #HealthOptimization #PainRelief #Wellness #Performance #StayingRelevant

    1h 2m
  4. The Hidden Mistakes That Are Limiting Your Athletic Performance | Michol Dalcourt

    May 12

    The Hidden Mistakes That Are Limiting Your Athletic Performance | Michol Dalcourt

    Most people are training harder than ever—but still underperforming, getting injured, or burning out. The problem isn’t effort… it’s how we understand strength, movement, and adaptation. If your training isn’t transferring to real-world performance, you’re likely missing critical pieces of the puzzle. In this episode, Michol Dalcourt—founder of VIPR Pro and the Institute of Motion—breaks down why traditional strength models fall short and how to build true, adaptable performance through variability, multi-planar loading, and smarter programming. In This Episode, You’ll Learn Why getting stronger in the gym doesn’t always improve real-world performanceThe concept of “movement vitamins” and how to balance your trainingHow variability and multi-planar training unlock resilience and athleticismThe biggest mistakes coaches make with HIIT, cardio, and recoveryHow to structure training using the 4 Quadrant (4Q) model for better resultsWhy more muscle isn’t always better—and how it can hurt performance 🎯 This episode is for clinicians, coaches, and high performers who want to train smarter, move better, and build long-term resilience without burnout. 🕒 Timestamps 00:00 – Why strength isn’t translating to performance 01:06 – The origin of VIPR and training like a “farm kid” 06:15 – The problem with rigid training programs 08:14 – Introducing the 4 Quadrant (4Q) training model 15:52 – Why the industry took so long to catch up 20:55 – What “functional training” actually means 24:18 – Breaking down neuro-mechanical quadrants 30:41 – Applying 4Q to real-world athletes 36:10 – The metabolic 4Q model explained 40:48 – Why most people misunderstand HIIT 44:12 – How to program variability and recovery properly 46:28 – The missing piece in athleticism (nervous system speed) 48:26 – AI, digital twins, and the future of performance 54:51 – Avoiding burnout and staying focused 57:11 – Purpose, resilience, and long-term success Connect with Michol: 📸Instagram – @micholdalcourt 🔴YouTube – @VIPRFitness 🎵TikTok – @ViPRGlobal 💼LinkedIn – Michol Dalcourt 🌐Website – vipr.com 🌐Website – instituteofmotion.com 🎓 Sponsored by the Advanced Movement Therapist (AMT) Certification The Advanced Movement Therapist (AMT) System helps clinicians and performance coaches stop guessing, understand the nervous system and identify the root cause of pain so they can deliver more consistent results — faster. 👉 Learn more at https://www.amtcertified.ca #StrengthTraining #FunctionalTraining #AthleticPerformance #MovementTraining #FitnessEducation #HIIT #Coaching #Longevity #NervousSystem #PerformanceTraining #Mobility #FitnessCoaching

    1h 2m
  5. The Real Reason Your Running Injuries Keep Coming Back | Dr. Chris Napier

    Apr 28

    The Real Reason Your Running Injuries Keep Coming Back | Dr. Chris Napier

    Most runners—and even clinicians—are focused on the wrong things when it comes to preventing injury and improving performance. From overanalyzing form to misusing data and ignoring training load, these mistakes keep people stuck in pain and limit long-term progress. In this episode, running biomechanics expert Dr. Chris Napier breaks down what actually matters when it comes to running efficiency, injury prevention, and performance—and where most people go wrong. In This Episode, You'll Learn Why “perfect running form” doesn’t exist—and what to focus on insteadThe real reason most running injuries happen (it’s not biomechanics)How to use cadence, gait, and simple cues without overcomplicating thingsWhy strength training is essential for runners (and how to do it properly)How to balance data, wearables, and intuition without getting overwhelmedWhat clinicians and coaches should prioritize when working with runners🎯 This episode is for clinicians, coaches, and runners who want to reduce injury risk, improve performance, and better understand how the body adapts to load. ⏱ TIMESTAMPS 01:20 Are humans built to run? 05:05 Why adults “lose” natural running ability 07:05 The real cause of running injuries 09:17 Where clinicians go wrong with runners 10:45 Why perfect running form doesn’t exist 12:01 Simple fixes: cadence, stride, and gait 17:09 Treadmill vs outdoor running differences 19:24 How to properly assess runners 29:15 The psychology of running identity 31:22 Fear vs overtraining: two types of runners 33:11 Managing athletes who push too hard 37:30 Chris Napier’s injury and comeback story 42:30 How to choose the right running shoes 45:18 Barefoot vs cushioned shoes debate 49:51 When running becomes too much 57:31 Advice for clinicians 59:21 The one principle to follow 👤Connect with Dr. Chris Napier: 📸Instagram: @sfurunlab 🌐Website: www.sfu.ca/run-lab 📘Book: Science of Running by Dr. Chris Napier 🎓 Sponsored by the Advanced Movement Therapist (AMT) Certification The Advanced Movement Therapist (AMT) System helps clinicians and performance coaches stop guessing, understand the nervous system and identify the root cause of pain so they can deliver more consistent results — faster. 👉 Learn more at https://www.amtcertified.ca #RunningInjuries #RunningForm #Biomechanics #InjuryPrevention #StrengthTraining #Runners #Physiotherapy #SportsPerformance #Coaching #EnduranceTraining #Movement

    1 hr
  6. What Most Clinicians Get Wrong About Pain (And Why Patients Don’t Improve) | Dr. David Walton

    Apr 21

    What Most Clinicians Get Wrong About Pain (And Why Patients Don’t Improve) | Dr. David Walton

    Pain treatment isn’t failing because clinicians don’t care — it’s failing because we may be measuring, reasoning, and treating the wrong things. From outdated pain scales to over-reliance on research models that don’t reflect real patients, many clinicians are stuck using systems that don’t match reality. In this episode, Dr. David Walton — physiotherapist, pain scientist, and researcher at Western University — breaks down what we’re getting wrong about pain, why outcomes are inconsistent, and how clinicians can think differently to get better results in complex cases. In This Episode, You’ll Learn Why pain scales (0–10) may be misleading your clinical decisionsThe real predictors of recovery in musculoskeletal painHow psychological factors influence outcomes more than physical onesWhy randomized controlled trials fall short in real-world rehabHow to use narrative and patient experience as a clinical toolThe future of physiotherapy: advanced practice, algorithms, and clinical reasoning🎯 This episode is for clinicians, rehab professionals, and performance coaches who want to improve outcomes, think critically, and stay relevant in a rapidly evolving healthcare landscape. ⏱️ Timestamps 01:20 – The rise of advanced practice physiotherapy 05:00 – Specialist vs generalist: where the profession is heading 08:00 – What conversations physiotherapy is avoiding 11:00 – Why traditional research models fall short 14:30 – Are we measuring the wrong things in pain? 16:00 – The problem with 0–10 pain scales 24:30 – What predicts recovery in MSK pain 28:00 – Pain profiles and clinical algorithms 30:00 – Why clinicians still matter in an AI world 33:00 – The role of empathy and communication in outcomes 36:00 – Are we undertraining human skills in physio? 41:30 – Gaps in new graduate skillsets 48:00 – Measuring success in practice 53:00 – The danger of surface-level learning online 54:30 – The 2 skills every clinician needs moving forward 👤 Connect with Dr. David Walton: 📸 Instagram - @uwo_dwalton 🌐Website - Western University Profile 𝕏 Twitter – @uwo_dwalton 📈 Traumatic Injuries Distress Scale (for screening risk of non-recovery after acute injury) - https://uwo.scholaris.ca/items/5cfb28a2-924a-42f1-aa46-cb6e6bc3c0ca 📕 Multidimensional Symptom Index (can help with pain subgrouping, and tracking change over time) - https://dwalton5.pythonanywhere.com/ 🎓 Sponsored by the Advanced Movement Therapist (AMT) Certification The Advanced Movement Therapist (AMT) System helps clinicians and performance coaches stop guessing, understand the nervous system and identify the root cause of pain so they can deliver more consistent results — faster. 👉 Learn more at https://www.amtcertified.ca #Physiotherapy #PainScience #ClinicalReasoning #Rehab #HealthcareEducation #PainManagement #EvidenceBasedPractice #MovementTherapy #ClinicianGrowth #StayingRelevant

    58 min
  7. What Most Coaches Miss About Strength and Stability | Brad Thorpe

    Apr 14

    What Most Coaches Miss About Strength and Stability | Brad Thorpe

    Most people focus on movement—but ignore the one phase that actually controls strength, stability, and injury prevention. This oversight is why athletes break down, rehab fails, and performance plateaus. Brad Thorpe, founder of ISOFIT and a leading expert in isometric training, explains why the most overlooked part of muscle contraction may be the key to improving strength, lowering injury risk, and even enhancing brain function. With over 30 years in performance and rehab, Brad shares how isometrics can transform how clinicians, coaches, and athletes approach training. 🔍 In This Episode, You'll Learn Why isometric strength is the missing link in performance and rehabThe real reason injuries happen during movement (and how to prevent them)How isometric training can lower blood pressure and improve longevityWhy “tightness” isn’t bad—and what it actually means for your bodyHow to build strength, stability, and control without relying on movement🎯This episode is for clinicians, coaches, and high performers who want to improve results, reduce injuries, and better understand how the body truly produces force. ⏱️ Timestamps 00:00 – Why strength starts with isometrics 02:30 – Brad’s personal journey with hypertension 05:30 – The science behind isometric training and blood pressure 10:30 – Tendons, fascia, and force transfer explained 15:00 – Aging, stiffness, and injury prevention 20:00 – Why isometrics outperform traditional training 27:00 – How injuries actually happen 40:00 – Strength, stability, and nervous system control 47:00 – ISOFIT products and training systems 1:03:00 – Neck training, brain health, and performance 1:10:00 – Certification and future of isometric training 👤 Connect with Brad: 📸 Instagram - @isophit_inventor 📸 Instagram - @isophit 🌐Website - www.isophit.com/ ▶️YouTube - @ISOPHIT 𝕏 Twitter – @ISOPHIT 🎓 Sponsored by the Advanced Movement Therapist (AMT) Certification The Advanced Movement Therapist (AMT) System helps clinicians and performance coaches stop guessing, understand the nervous system and identify the root cause of pain so they can deliver more consistent results — faster. 👉 Learn more at https://www.amtcertified.ca #IsometricTraining #StrengthTraining #InjuryPrevention #SportsPerformance #RehabTraining #FitnessEducation #AthleteDevelopment #Longevity #MovementScience #NervousSystem #PerformanceTraining

    1h 17m
  8. Why Your Vision Is Getting Worse (And How to Fix It) | Dr. Aakash Shah

    Apr 7

    Why Your Vision Is Getting Worse (And How to Fix It) | Dr. Aakash Shah

    Most people believe vision problems start and end in the eyes—but that’s why so many continue to get worse over time. From screen overuse to aging, the real issue is how your brain processes vision, not just what your eyes see. In this episode, Dr. Aakash Shah breaks down how vision is deeply connected to the brain, nervous system, and movement. As an optometrist who personally overcame legal blindness in one eye, he now helps patients restore visual function, improve performance, and recover from concussions using a systems-based approach. In This Episode, You'll Learn Why vision naturally declines—and how to slow or reverse itThe real reason glasses may not be solving the root problemHow screen time is reshaping vision in kids and adultsHow to train your eyes and brain to work together againThe role of light therapy and neuroplasticity in vision recoveryWhy vision impacts balance, performance, and injury risk 🎯 This episode is for clinicians, coaches, athletes, and anyone who wants to improve their vision, brain performance, and long-term health. ⏱️ TIMESTAMPS 02:30 The rise of nearsightedness and screen-driven vision decline 07:00 Understanding farsighted vs nearsighted vision 09:30 Why your vision changes throughout the day 12:00 Do glasses make your vision worse? 20:00 Dr. Shah’s journey from legal blindness to recovery 31:00 Light therapy and how it affects the brain and eyes 33:30 Tunnel vision, athletes, and performance under pressure 40:00 Real case study: fixing vision through the body 44:00 The psychology of recovery and patient outcomes 47:00 How clinicians can learn this system 50:00 The future of vision training and brain performance 👤Connect Dr. Aakash Shah: 📸Instagram — @drshah_neurovision 🔴YouTube — @ShahNeuroVision 🌐Website — www.shahneurovision.com 🎓 Sponsored by the Advanced Movement Therapist (AMT) Certification The Advanced Movement Therapist (AMT) System helps clinicians and performance coaches stop guessing, understand the nervous system and identify the root cause of pain so they can deliver more consistent results — faster. 👉 Learn more at https://www.amtcertified.ca #VisionHealth #EyeTraining #Neuroplasticity #BrainHealth #VisionTherapy #ConcussionRecovery #PerformanceOptimization #EyeExercises #SportsPerformance #NervousSystem #HealthOptimization

    58 min
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The game changes. The rules shift. The spotlight moves on. So how do you stay relevant when everything around you keeps evolving? Hosted by Tom Swales, physiotherapist, strength coach, and founder of the AMT System; Staying Relevant dives into the habits, mindsets, and turning points that help people perform at the highest level and keep growing long after others stop. Each week, Tom sits down with athletes, clinicians, coaches, educators, doctors, influencers, and world-class performers to uncover what it really takes to last. These aren’t highlight-reel conversations, they’re raw, curious, and practical. We pull back the curtain on how top performers reinvent themselves, adapt under pressure, and find new ways to win when the odds say it’s over. Every episode delivers: Unfiltered stories from pros who found their next chapter beyond competition.Insider lessons from doctors, educators, and coaches shaping the future of health and performance.Hard-earned insights from entrepreneurs and creators building lasting impact in competitive spaces.This isn’t about chasing trends. It’s about resilience, reinvention, and relevance, the traits that keep you sharp, grounded, and ready for what’s next. If you’re ready to think bigger about your career, your craft, and your performance, this podcast is your edge. Staying Relevant is powered by the AMT System, giving health and performance pros the tools to assess, treat, and transform clients faster.

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