KIMEcast

KIME Performance
  • 5.0 (3)
  • Fitness
  • Updated Weekly

Hosts Tony Mikla DPT, MSPT, CSCS, SFMA, FMS, XPS, CertDN and Russ Dunning MPT, SFGII, MS, FMT Master Instructor cut through the BS in high performance sports medicine, business and the physical therapy profession to let you know how it really works. Reach out to us with questions or case studies at kimecast@kimeperformance.com

  1. 1d ago

    Fail Fast. Learn Faster. | The Power of Feedback Loops

    What actually makes someone better — experience, repetition, or feedback? In this episode of KIMEcast, Tony and Russ break down the power of feedback loops and why the speed and quality of feedback can dramatically change how we learn, coach, rehabilitate, and perform. They explore how auditory, visual, and kinesthetic feedback influence movement; why external cues can be more effective than telling someone which muscles or body parts to move; and how creating the right environment can allow athletes and patients to discover better movement rather than simply being told what to do. The conversation expands into clinical practice and the importance of having repeatable systems. If every patient is treated completely differently, how do you know what actually worked? Tony and Russ discuss how consistency creates a feedback loop that allows clinicians to recognize patterns, identify exceptions, and ultimately develop better clinical judgment. They also take the concept beyond healthcare into sports, business, and life: fail fast, fail small, gather feedback, and iterate. Waiting for perfection can actually slow improvement. The goal is to create opportunities to test, learn, adjust, and keep moving forward. In this episode: Why faster feedback accelerates learning Auditory vs. visual vs. kinesthetic coaching Internal vs. external movement cues Creating exercises that teach through constraints Why protocols can actually improve clinical reasoning The difference between experience and wisdom Using small failures to accelerate development Why perfection can become the enemy of progress Applying feedback loops to business and performance Measuring what matters — and getting the information fast enough to act on it Whether you're a clinician, coach, athlete, leader, or simply trying to get better at what you do, the principle is the same: Do. Get feedback. Adjust. Repeat.

  2. Aug 10

    Stop Chasing Trends: What Great Rehab Actually Looks Like | Jess Elis

    What does great rehab actually look like—and have we let the pendulum swing too far? In this episode of KIMEcast, Tony sits down with longtime friend and colleague Dr. Jess Elis of Rehab Code for a wide-ranging conversation about clinical decision-making, professional sports, manual therapy, exercise, technology, and the importance of understanding what is actually happening beneath the surface of an injury. Jess shares lessons from his career working in elite performance and professional sports, including his time with the Portland Trail Blazers and New York Knicks, and pulls back the curtain on some of the realities clinicians face inside professional sports organizations—from load management and return-to-play decisions to the politics and pressure surrounding athlete availability. The conversation then turns to a growing divide in physical therapy: manual therapy vs. exercise, research vs. clinical experience, and technology vs. the fundamentals of being a great clinician. Tony and Jess challenge the idea that clinicians need to choose a side. Instead, they make the case for understanding structure, pathology, biomechanics, load, and context—and using all of those tools to make better decisions for the individual in front of you. They also dive into: • Why working in professional sports isn't always what young clinicians imagine• The role of manual therapy in modern rehabilitation• Why “all roads lead to exercise”—but getting there matters• The danger of copying exercises and trends from social media• How pathology changes mechanics and should influence rehab• Meniscus tears, Baker's cysts, cartilage lesions, and tissue-specific loading• Building systems and progressions without becoming trapped by protocols• Why technology and data should support—not replace—clinical reasoning• Developing better return-to-run and return-to-sport progressions• Why the best clinicians learn to operate somewhere between the extremes At its core, this episode is about learning how to think. Research matters. Experience matters. Technology matters. Manual therapy matters. Exercise matters. But none of them replace the ability to understand the person, understand the tissue, and make the right decision at the right point in the rehab process. Special Guest: Dr. Jess Ellis | Rehab Code

  3. Jul 28

    You Can't Coach What You Don't Measure

    How do elite athletes actually improve? Former Major League pitcher Ryan Mattheus, founder of Optimum Athletes, joins Evan Hauger to explore what separates great coaching from great player development. Drawing from his MLB career and years of developing high school, collegiate, and professional baseball players, Ryan explains why objective assessment, biomechanics, movement capacity, and individualized programming have transformed the way athletes should train. Together, Ryan and Evan discuss why many so-called "mechanical" problems are actually capacity problems, how collaboration between rehabilitation and performance creates better outcomes, and why the best coaches know when to lean on experts instead of trying to have every answer. Whether you're a physical therapist, strength coach, coach, or athlete, this conversation offers practical insights into developing athletes through evidence-based coaching rather than guesswork. Why player development is a long-term processHow biomechanics and movement assessments improve performanceCapacity vs. mechanics: solving the real problemThe importance of collaboration between rehab and performanceUsing force plates and objective testing to guide programmingWhy individualized coaching outperforms generic training plansBuilding athletes who become self-sufficient, not coach-dependentThe relationship between performance and injury preventionIn this episode:

  4. Jul 20

    Why Great Physical Therapists Aren't Just Great Clinicians

    Why do some clinicians consistently earn trust, build stronger patient relationships, and achieve better outcomes—while others with the same clinical knowledge struggle? In this episode of KIMEcast, Tony Mikla, DPT, and Evan Hauger, DPT, explore one of the most overlooked skills in rehabilitation: building patient buy-in. Clinical expertise matters—but knowledge alone isn't enough. Great clinicians understand how to communicate with people, not just diagnose injuries. They know how to create trust through empathy, establish authority through education, and develop clear plans that patients actually believe in and follow. Throughout the conversation, they discuss: Why communication is one of the biggest missing pieces in healthcare educationThe relationship between empathy, authority, and trustHow to inspire hope after injuryWhy patients often fail to follow home exercise programsBuilding individualized treatment plans instead of generic protocolsThe importance of understanding each patient's goals, identity, and lifestyleHelping athletes return to sport without losing their identityUsing objective testing to increase confidence and engagementWhy elite rehabilitation is about guiding people—not simply treating injuriesWhether you're a physical therapist, athletic trainer, strength coach, healthcare professional, or student, this episode offers practical strategies for creating stronger patient relationships and better clinical outcomes. Because great rehabilitation isn't just about fixing injuries—it's about helping people believe they can become themselves again.

  5. Jun 30

    The 3 Pillars of Longevity | What Actually Helps You Live Longer

    What if the goal wasn't simply living longer—but living stronger? In this episode of KIMEcast, Tony Mikla sits down with family physician Dr. Sam Robinson to explore what modern longevity medicine actually looks like—and why most people are focusing on the wrong things. Rather than chasing the latest supplement or health trend, Dr. Robinson explains the three evidence-based pillars that have the greatest impact on your healthspan: Reducing visceral fatBuilding muscle and strengthImproving cardiovascular fitnessTogether they discuss why these metrics matter more than the number on the scale, how advanced testing like DEXA scans and VO₂ Max testing can personalize your health plan, and why preventive medicine should begin long before disease develops. They also dive into: The difference between lifespan and healthspanWhy muscle is one of your greatest predictors of longevityThe role of protein, creatine, and nutritionContinuous glucose monitors (CGMs) and metabolic healthThe truth about GLP-1 medications like Ozempic and WegovyWhy obesity should be treated as a chronic medical condition—not a personal failureHow to create a sustainable plan for lifelong healthIf you're interested in living with more strength, energy, and resilience—not just adding years to your life—this conversation is for you.

  6. Jun 8

    The Biggest Misses in Physical Therapy | Hope, Strength & Return to Performance

    Most rehabilitation programs focus on pain, range of motion, and checking boxes on a protocol. But is that enough to truly return someone to sport, performance, or the life they want to live? In this episode of KIMEcast, Tony Mikla and Russ Dunning explore some of the biggest missed opportunities in physical therapy and sports medicine. They discuss why fear and uncertainty are often the first barriers to recovery, how clinicians can inspire hope through education and coaching, and why successful rehabilitation requires much more than simply following a protocol. The conversation dives into strength development, tissue adaptation, speed progression, foot mechanics, return-to-sport decision making, and the critical role of individualized coaching. They also challenge common assumptions about injury management, explore why load is essential for healing, and explain how modern rehabilitation should bridge the gap between recovery and high performance. Whether you're an athlete, clinician, coach, or someone navigating an injury, this episode offers a different perspective on what it really takes to heal, adapt, and perform at your highest level. Key Topics: The psychology of injury and fearWhy hope is a critical part of rehabilitationProtocols vs. individualized coachingBuilding strength after injuryThe importance of load for tissue healingFoot function, speed, and athletic performanceCommon mistakes in return-to-sport progressionWhy movement quality and power matterLessons from real patient storiesThe future of physical therapy and sports medicine

  7. Jun 1

    From Pain to Performance | The Rehab Continuum Explained

    Most injuries aren't complicated. Our thinking about them is. In Episode 60 of KIMEcast, we break down the framework we use to evaluate injuries, guide rehabilitation, and return athletes safely back to performance. Rather than trying to solve every problem at once, we discuss how identifying the true limiting factor creates clarity and accelerates results. The conversation explores KIME's Performance Continuum—a step-by-step model that moves athletes from pain and inflammation, to mobility, strength, speed, and ultimately high-level performance. Topics include: The difference between inflammatory pain and mechanical painWhy identifying the limiting factor changes everythingMobility vs. strength vs. motor control deficitsThe role of manual therapy and neurological "resets"Why most stiffness isn't actually scar tissueReset → Reprogram → ReloadBuilding strength that transfers to sportHow speed exposes movement dysfunctionReturn-to-sport testing and performance benchmarksWhy fatigue is one of the greatest injury risk factorsThe art and science of rehabilitation programmingWhether you're an athlete, coach, clinician, or parent, this episode provides a practical framework for understanding injury recovery and building a more resilient body.

  8. May 27

    Return to Sport vs. “Healed” | The Truth About Injury Recovery

    What does it actually mean to be “healed” after an injury? In Episode 59 of KIMEcast, the team breaks down one of the biggest misconceptions in sports medicine: pain-free does not mean ready to perform. From ankle sprains to ACL tears to throwing injuries, this episode explores why athletes continue to get hurt, how compensation patterns develop, and why true return-to-sport testing matters. The conversation dives deep into kinetic linking — the body’s ability to transfer force efficiently from the ground up — and how breakdowns in mobility, stability, reaction time, and movement quality create injury risk long before a major injury occurs. Topics include: Why athletes reinjure themselves after “healing”The difference between rest and rehabilitationForce plate testing and modern injury risk assessmentACL recovery and compensation patternsReactive strength index (RSI), plyometrics, and ground contact timeMobility limitations that silently increase injury riskThrowing mechanics and kinetic chain breakdownsWhy elite athletes are often elite compensatorsThe future of return-to-sport testing and sports performanceThis episode is a deep dive into the intersection of biomechanics, rehabilitation, performance training, and injury prevention — and why sports medicine must evolve beyond simply treating pain.

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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
3 Ratings

About

Hosts Tony Mikla DPT, MSPT, CSCS, SFMA, FMS, XPS, CertDN and Russ Dunning MPT, SFGII, MS, FMT Master Instructor cut through the BS in high performance sports medicine, business and the physical therapy profession to let you know how it really works. Reach out to us with questions or case studies at kimecast@kimeperformance.com

Information

  • Creator
    KIME Performance
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    63
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © KIME Performance
  • Show Website
    KIMEcast

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