Strength In Knowledge

R2P Academy
  • 5.0 (18)
  • Health & Fitness
  • Updated Semimonthly

Strength in Knowledge is a performance-driven podcast for physical therapists, coaches, and athletes who refuse to separate rehab from performance. Hosted by Dr. John Allan Furgeson, DPT, a performance physical therapist at Rehab 2 Perform, each episode delivers evidence-based conversations on sports rehabilitation, return to sport, and the clinical frameworks that bridge the gap between the training room and the treatment table.

  1. 16h ago

    Clinic to Courtside: The Priorities of Pro Basketball Rehab

    Most clinicians think about return to sport as the finish line. What gets missed is everything that happens before that — the off-season decisions, the testing philosophy, and the role clarity that actually determines whether an athlete comes back stronger. In this episode, John Allan, DPT sits down with Dr. Alex Hubelbank, DPT, ATC, CSCS, to break down what elite-level rehab and performance really looks like inside professional sports. What they cover: How the line between PT, athletic training, and strength & conditioning is based on role, not skill — and where that breaks downWhy staying off the court matters: using GPP and unrelated movement skills, like hand-fighting or dance, to build capacity without repetitive loadHow to structure a 4-5 month off-season into phases, from lowest-hanging fruit to sport-specific prepWhy testing every 4-6 weeks beats chasing constant data, and the question to ask before every test: am I testing for me, or for their care plan?Reading context — sleep, nutrition, life stress — before deciding whether a testing day is even worth runningBuilding trust and credibility with professional athletes when the stakes, and the scrutiny, are highestIf you've ever wondered what separates a good off-season from a great one, this episode reframes how elite performance is actually built, one deliberate decision at a time. Social Media: Rehab2Perform R2P Academy Dr. Alex Hubelbank

  2. Jul 13

    The Waiting Room Effect: Neuroscience of the Patient Experience

    Most clinicians focus on what they do to a patient. What they miss is everything happening before that ever starts. In this episode, John Allan, DPT sits down with Dr. Katie Dabrowski, co-owner of Old Bull Athletics and neuroscience faculty at Nova Southeastern University, to break down the controllable factors that shape a patient's nervous system, and why performance-focused rehab beats the standard model. What they cover: How the clinical environment itself raises or lowers threat before a single exercise happensWhy "convincing" a patient they're wrong about their pain backfires, and what to do insteadThe two-question filter for every intervention: is it changing physiology, and is it changing psychology?Why ice and prolonged passive treatment fail to prepare athletes for the demands of return to sportHow to choose objective tests that actually mean something instead of chasing data for its own sakeReading a patient's confidence and fear without asking them to spell it out for youHow to shape a patient's perception of rehab before they ever walk through the doorIf you've ever wondered why two patients with the same injury heal at completely different rates, this episode reframes what actually drives outcomes, and why it starts long before the first rep. Social Media: Rehab2Perform R2P Academy Dr. Katie Dabrowski

  3. Jun 29

    Beyond the Brain: How Concussions Increase Risk of Lower Body Injuries

    Most clinicians treat a concussion and move on. What they miss is what happens next. In this episode, John Allan, DPT sits down with Dr. Olivia Abdoo, DPT, SCS, CPSS, CSCS to break down one of the most underrecognized findings in sports medicine: athletes who sustain a concussion are 58% more likely to suffer a lower extremity injury. That number demands a framework shift. What they cover: Why neurological healing extends well beyond the standard 7-day return to sport protocolHow concussion disrupts muscle activation, force output, movement patterns, and dual task performanceThe integrated systems framework and what it means for lower body injury riskWhy sport-specific activity is the best neurocognitive rehabilitation availableHow to match rehab to the athlete's energy system profile rather than generic aerobic protocolsInterval training as the most effective tool for assessing and rehabilitating the autonomic nervous systemThe 10 to 14 day window of vulnerability and how to navigate return to play within itDomains of concussion presentation: vestibular, ocular, autonomic, cervical, cognitive, and affectiveIf you work with athletes in any capacity, this episode reframes what concussion recovery actually requires and why the lower body is part of the conversation from day one. Social Media: Rehab2Perform R2P Academy Dr. Olivia Abdoo

  4. Jun 15

    Camp, Combat, and Complexity: How the Fighter's Mindset Complicates Rehab

    Combat sports don't fit neatly into a rehab template. The demands are different, the risk tolerance is different, and the athlete in front of you is wired differently than anyone else you'll treat. In this episode, John Allan, DPT sits down with Dr. Hector Wang to break down what it actually takes to rehab a combat athlete, from understanding the complexity of the sport to building a legitimate return to competition framework. What they cover: Why combat sports are commonly misunderstood by clinicians and what that costs the athletePain neuroscience and how it shapes risk tolerance in combat athletesImportance of fatigue resistance in all athletes, but specifically combat fightersHow fight camp shifts the demands of rehab and whether current training is making things worseUsing the StARRT framework to guide difficult conversationsIf you work with combat athletes or want to understand the most demanding return-to-sport population in the room, this episode is required listening. Social Media: Rehab2Perform R2P Academy Dr. Hector Wang

  5. Jun 1

    Train Like an Athlete: The Science Behind Explosive Movement

    Most athletes train hard. Few train smart enough to actually get faster, more powerful, and more explosive. In this episode, John Allan, DPT is joined by Dr. Josh Sproul to break down the science behind building real athleticism, from the stretch shortening cycle to French Contrast Training and accentuated eccentric loading. If you've been prioritizing concentric work and wondering why your vertical isn't moving, this episode is the answer. What we cover: Why movement competency has to come before power developmentHow to prime the nervous system for explosive outputWhy the eccentric phase is the most undertrained part of athleticismWhat it actually means to be comfortable being uncomfortable as an athleteCan you overtrain plyometrics, and what does the research say about the sweet spotWhether you're a clinician programming return-to-sport protocols, a coach building athletic development blocks, or an athlete trying to unlock a new ceiling, this episode gives you the framework and the science to do it right. Social Media: Rehab2Perform R2P Academy EZVERT

  6. May 18

    Don't Chase the Date: Why Rushing into ACL Surgery is a Recipe for Complications

    Most athletes think the recovery clock starts the day they go into surgery. They’re wrong. In reality, your surgery is only as good as your prehab. If you rush into the operating room with a swollen knee and a "quiet" quad, you aren't fast-tracking your recovery—you’re setting yourself up for a slower, more painful, and higher-risk rehab. In this episode of Strength in Knowledge, John Allan, DPT, sits down with Dr. Zach Atwood to dismantle the "get it over with" mentality. We dive deep into the clinical and physiological reasons why earning your surgery date is the most important decision an athlete can make. We break down: The Ready Check: The non-negotiable objective benchmarks (ROM and Strength) you need before the knife.The Quad Inhibition Puzzle: Why surgery on a weak leg leads to long-term atrophy that’s nearly impossible to reverse.The First 72 Hours: A blueprint for the early post-op phase—what matters, what’s a distraction, and how to manage the "predictable" symptoms.Patient Buy-In: How to navigate the psychological battle of "slowing down to speed up."Whether you’re an athlete currently staring at a surgical calendar, a parent trying to make the best decision for your child, or a clinician looking to sharpen your pre-op protocol, this episode provides the objective framework you need to bridge the gap between injury and Day 1 of recovery. Social Media: Rehab2Perform R2P Academy Dr. Zach Atwood

  7. May 4

    The Spondy Solution: Advanced Strategies for Lumbar Bone Stress Rehab

    If you’re treating an adolescent athlete with low back pain, you aren’t looking for a needle in a haystack—you’re looking at a 50% statistical probability. In the youth sporting world, a 'spondy' isn't a rare occurrence; it is the leading cause of structural back pain, yet it remains one of the most mismanaged and missed diagnoses in sports medicine. The "nonspecific" low back pain becomes very specific when lumbar bone stress injuries (BSI) enter the conversation. We have to stop treating these athletes for 'strains' and start addressing the clinical reality of bone stress. If you aren't screening for a BSI from day one, you're missing the most prevalent injury in the game. In this episode of Strength in Knowledge, John Allan, DPT, sits down with Drs. Joey Scambia and Rayce Houser of Rehab Renaissance to dismantle the myths surrounding lumbar bone stress injuries. We dive into the shocking prevalence of spondys in youth sports and the proper progressions through the phases of rehab. We break down: The 50% Rule: Why a coin-flip mentality is necessary when screening adolescent back pain.The Loading Paradox: Why soft landings actually increase internal bone stress, and how to use short-coupled plyometrics as a safer entry point.KPIs: What to look for before introducing high-velocity movement patterns.Navigating the Setback: How to handle the tough conversations when symptoms predictably return and how to adjust the minimal effective dose.Whether you’re a coach seeing a volume spike in your players, a parent navigating a confusing diagnosis, or a clinician tired of non-specific rehab, this episode provides the objective framework to bridge the gap between a stress reaction and a return to performance. Social Media: Rehab 2 Perform R2P Academy Rehab Renaissance

  8. 10/22/2025

    Is Manual Therapy Worth It in Late Phase Rehab?

    Have you ever wondered if manual therapy is useful in the later stages of rehab?  In this episode Dr. Zach Baker and Dr. Corrie Jones talk about times and situations where manual therapy really can be helpful during those bridge phases in leaning towards performance and return to sport.  There are definitely appropriate times and places where this can be something the keeps your athletes on-track and helps ensure progression through the phases.  Listen in to hear what years of experience and understanding from elite athlete rehab has taught these therapists!

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5
out of 5
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About

Strength in Knowledge is a performance-driven podcast for physical therapists, coaches, and athletes who refuse to separate rehab from performance. Hosted by Dr. John Allan Furgeson, DPT, a performance physical therapist at Rehab 2 Perform, each episode delivers evidence-based conversations on sports rehabilitation, return to sport, and the clinical frameworks that bridge the gap between the training room and the treatment table.

Information

  • Creator
    R2P Academy
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2026
  • Episodes
    142
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright Strength in Knowledge
  • Show Website
    Strength In Knowledge

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