Inform Performance

Episode 99: Dr Andy McDonald  chats to Dan Lewindon the Head of Performance Science and Medicine for the LTA (National Governing Body of Tennis in the UK).  He is responsible for the leadership, management and integration of sports science and medicine in support of elite players, coaches and performance programmes. His role also includes the development of research and innovation strategies and p...

Episode 98: In this Research Unpacked episode Alistair McKenzie chats to Tim McGrath  for a part-2 conversation on ACL rehab. Tim is an Australian Sports Physio based in Canberra, with over 15 years experience in professional sport and 20 in clinical practice. He completed his PhD from the Research Institute of Sport & Exercise at the University of Canberra on ACL rehabilitation and return to spor...

Episode 97: In this Research Unpacked episode Alistair McKenzie chats to Tim McGrath . Tim is an Australian Sports Physio based in Canberra, with over 15 years experience in professional sport and 20 in clinical practice. He completed his PhD from the Research Institute of Sport & Exercise at the University of Canberra on ACL rehabilitation and return to sport in 2016 and is the clinical & researc...

Episode 96: Ben Ashworth  chats to Nigel Walker OBE  The Performance Director of the Welsh Rugby Union. Nigel is a former international athlete and rugby union player who has represented Great Britain as a high hurdler before switching to rugby, earning 17 international caps for Wales. Nigel is the first guest we have spoken to that has be awarded an OBE which for him was an honour he received in...

Episode 95: For this third Research Unpacked episode Alistair McKenzie chats to Dr Andras Hegyi a post-doctoral researcher at the University of Nantes, France. For part two Alistair and Andras continue discussing his hamstring muscle research on Nordics       Part two topics discussed:      Optimal technique of the Nordic Hamstring Exercise Perspectives one the limitations of the Nordic Hamstring...

Episode 94: Dr Andy McDonald  chats to Johnny O'Connor a Senior Strength & Conditioning Coach at Connacht Rugby in Ireland. As a professional player Johnny played for Connacht, Wasps and made his Ireland debut in 2004 going on to earn 12 caps, helping the national side to Triple Crown success in 2006. As an S&C Coach Johnny has worked at Galway United, Arsenal and he is of course now back coaching...

Episode 93: Dr Andy McDonald  chats to Prav Mathema the National Medical Manager for the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) and an honorary lecturer on the Cardiff Metropolitan University MSc Sports & Exercise Medicine Programme. Prav has collectively spent over a decade as the Head of Medical Services at Queens Park Rangers Football Club, and London Wasps. In addition to his duties as the National Medical M...

Episode 92: Ben Ashworth  chats to Dr Ryan L. Crotin , an Organisational Strategist, Baseball Scientist, Coach, Research Author and Educator. Ryan has enjoyed a wealth of experienced both academically and professionally. He has notably worked as an Research Associate Louisiana Tech University & Auckland University of Technology as well as being a Postdoctoral Fellow at the Penn Throwing Clinic...

Episode 91: For this second Research Unpacked style episode Alistair McKenzie chats to Dr Andras Hegyi a post-doctoral researcher at the University of Nantes, France. For part two Alistair and Andras continue discussing his hamstring muscle research.        Part two topics discussed:      Regional differences in a various of hamstring exercises typically used in rehab and strength and conditioning...

Episode 90: Andy McDonald  chats to  Jesse K. Wright , founder of the Balance The Bar initiative, is a  high performance consultant, Amazon best-selling author, coach, and public speaker. His career has spanned over two decades in the team sport culture, including working with organizations in the NBA, NFL, NCAA, and in private sports training. Jesse has recently published a book The Intent Is To...

Episode 89: For this first Research Unpacked style episode Alistair McKenzie chats to Dr Andras Hegyi a post-doctoral researcher at the University of Nantes, France. For part one Alistair and Andras discussed his work on region-dependent hamstrings activity in Nordic hamstring exercise and stiff-leg deadlift     Part one topics discussed:    Regional distribution of muscle activity of the hamstrin...

Episode 88: Andy McDonald  chats to Ian Gatt  the GB Boxing Head of Performance Services / Lead Physio. Ian is also the Physio and Cutman for boxer Anthony Joshua and an experienced sports Physio with a background working for the EIS prior to boxing as well as lecturing at Sheffield Hallam University and UCL. In this episode Ian provides us with tips and insights on managing hand and wrist injurie...

Episode 87: Andy McDonald  chats to Matt Jordan  the Director of Sports Science at the Canadian Sports Institute Calgary, an S&C Coach, Consultant and Educator. Over his career, Matt was the personal strength coach to 30 World and Olympic medalists, and has worked with elite athletes in many sports including speed skating, cross country skiing, alpine skiing, snowboarding, biathlon, hockey, footba...

Episode 86: Ben Ashworth  chats to Dr. Kelly Starrett - A Coach, Physical Therapist, Author, and Speaker. Along with his wife Juliet, Kelly is co-founder of The Ready State. The Ready State began as Mobility|WOD in 2008 and has gone on to revolutionize the field of performance therapy and self-care. Kelly received his Doctor of Physical Therapy degree in 2007 from Samuel Merritt College in Oakland...

Episode 85: Andy McDonald  chats to Cory Schlesinger the Director of Performance / Head of Strength Strength & Conditioning at NBA team the Phoenix Suns. Cory has over 20 years of experience in basketball beginning as an athlete, collegiate level S&C coach and now NBA level coach. In this episode Andy and Cory use Cory's coaching career as the timeline and narrative to discuss what ideas, methods...

Episode 84: Andy McDonald  chats to Daniel Bove the New Orleans Pelicans Director of Performance and Sports Science. After receiving a B.S. in Kinesiology from Penn State University and an M.S. in Exercise Science from University of South Florida, Daniel began his career as an NBA physical preparation coach.  Daniel has also spent time with both the Atlanta Hawks and Phoenix Suns prior to his move...

Episode 83: Ben Ashworth chats to Laura Penhaul a Physiotherapist who is also impressively a double World Record holder, Performance Manager and Consultant for Expeditions/World Record Attempts/Elite Sport and Corporate Speaker. Laura as Physiotherapist has worked in Paralympics, rowing, private practise all before testing herself as an athlete leading a team to achieve two world records rowing ac...

Episode 82: Ben Ashworth chats to Dr Steve Ingham a Performance Consultant and the Director of Supporting Champions. Steve earlier in his career was the British Olympic Association Sports Science Manager and then English Institute of Sport as the Head of Physiology and then Director of Science and Technical Development where he led a team of 200 scientists in support of Team GB and Paralympics GB....

Episode 81: Andy McDonald  chats to Dr Hugh Fullagar (PhD) a Lecturer in Sports & Exercise Science at the University of Technology Sydney. Hugh is an experienced applied sport scientist who has worked in the Southern Hemisphere, Europe and also the U.S.A, including roles at the University of Oregon and the Raiders NFL team. In this episode Andy and Hugh will discuss all things recovery an area Hug...

Episode 80: Andy McDonald  chats to Tyler Williams the Director of Sports Science/Asst Athletic Trainer at the Los Angeles Rams. Tyler has been with the LA rams NFL team for over 14 years working in both Athletic Training and Sport Science. In this episode Andy and Tyler discuss sport science, rehab and building an AMS system.    Topics discussed:   Applying sport science in rehab   Key metrics us...

Episode 79: Andy McDonald  chats to Martin Buchheit and George Perry who recently authored EGOals . Martin is the former head of performance at Paris Saint Germain Football Club and currently works for Kitman labs. He is based in Spain. George is a Sports performance specialist and sports businessman and writer based in Tulsa, Oklahoma. EGOals brings together over 100 of the world’s top high-perfo...

Episode 78: Andy McDonald  chats to Michael Giakoumis a Physiotherapist & the Medical Lead for the British Athletics Futures Program. Michael is an Australian trained but London based Sports Physiotherapist who specialises in hip, groin, and lower limb muscle injuries. He currently works at British Athletics and the Centre for Health & Human Performance (CHHP). In this episode Andy and Michael wil...

Episode 77: Ben Ashworth  chats to  Dr Phil Glasgow the Head of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation at the Irish Rugby Football Union having previously held the position of Head of Sports Medicine at the Sports Institute Northern Ireland for 14 years. He was Chief Physiotherapy Officer for Team GB at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games where he led the physiotherapy team of the most successful British Olympic...

Episode 76: Andy McDonald  chats to   Dr Daniel Coughlan the Head of Strength & Conditioning for the PGA European Tour and National Lead for Sports Science and Medicine for England Golf. Daniel is an S&C Coach, Physio and Sport Scientist demonstrating his high skilled generalist capabilities. Daniel has worked at UCL as a Senior Clinical Teaching Fellow in sports medicine, Exercise and Health and...

Episode 75: Andy McDonald  chats to Matt Howley the Director of Performance at Real Salt Lake in the MLS. Prior to joining Real Salt Lake Matt was the Director of Sports Science at the University of Notre Dame and before moving to the US he was employed by the Eastern Ranges Football Club as High Performance Manager. In this episode Andy and Matt discuss conditioning, GPS and wellness data.    In...