Rebalanced

In this episode of the podcast I discuss the management of a medial epicondyle tendinopathy also known as Golfers elbow. This condition is commonly suffered by wrestlers, BJJ athletes, throwing athletes & golfers. It is an overuse injury associated with repeated gripping, swinging & throwing. We explore the difference between golfers & tennis elbow, how it develops as well as what you can do to im...

In this episode of the podcast I discuss overuse injuries. Overuse injuries are extremely common in endurance and field sports (e.g. tendinopathies, stress fractures). In general there are specific patterns & stages to how these injuries develop. Understanding these patterns give you the chance to reduce your risk of injury in future. I discuss what an overuse injury is, common types, risk factors...

In this episode of the podcast I discuss flat feet or fallen arches. Fallen arches, flat feet or over pronation are all names given to a foot that has collapsed on the inside arch. Many attribute this to being the cause of their knee, hip, back or even shoulder pain in some instances, as they feel the mechanical "kink" in the chain has resulted in problems further up. In this episode of the podcas...

In this episode of the podcast I was delighted to sit down & chat with one of my closest friends Eoin Dobbin (@eoindobbincoaching) to discuss all things travel, routine and getting a better understanding of oneself in different environments. This is our second episode of the free run podcast where we just sit down & chat. Definitely one of my favourite forms of podcast and love doing them with thi...

In this episode of the podcast I was delighted to welcome Gary O'Daly (@Gaz_Gaelic_Guide) onto the podcast to sit back & talk about stories from playing GAA, his involvement in TG4's underdogs series, in-season & off-season training to injury prevention & rehab. Gary is a personal trainer with a focus around GAA training. He brought a great energy & good stories to the podcast, speaking on previou...

In this episode of the podcast we take a look at if & how the language you use may be affecting your health & wellbeing. Language & beliefs are two common topics I speak about with all of my clients. If you become more aware of how you speak to yourself & others about your body, many times you'll notice a negative connotation, especially after injury.  We explore why language is important in a reh...

In this episode of the podcast we look at fixing lower back tightness. This has to be the most common complaint I hear from people, clients or otherwise. I wanted to give a different perspective in this episode so I decided to look at it from a few different angles as to why different people may struggle with this common issue. We explore why so many struggle with this back tightness, why back pai...

In this episode of the podcast I discuss managing osteoarthritis (OA). OA is a common condition suffered by many today. It's more common as we age, however it can be managed effectively if the right course is taken.  I explore common problems people with OA struggle with, as well as lifestyle factors that increase risk as well as exacerbate symptoms. I also discuss how to manage OA to reduce wear...

In this episode of the podcast I discuss getting back into sport after being out for a while due to injury or a hiatus. The fear of returning to sport can be overwhelming for some. So much so that many never really get back doing what they love due to a lack of confidence, or fear of reinjury. In this episode of the podcast I give you an insight into what you need to focus on when returning to spo...

In this episode of the podcast we discuss the off-season. Many struggle with off season training & activities as there is less structure, commitment & goals to their lifestyle. However, it is a time where big gains can be made if you take the time to do so.  I discuss why an off season is an important time of the year for an athlete. I explore some of the problems I often see with off season sched...

In this episode of the podcast I explore different ideas behind holistic health. When looking at health I feel we get stuck thinking about just physical & mental health. As nothing in the body works in isolation, to really get a better understanding of health we must also asses our environment. I discuss what a holistic approach includes, how to start looking at your health holistically as well as...

In this episode of the podcast I discuss load and what contributes to it. Load is anything that stresses / stimulates the body. Therefore if we don't understand what is weighing down on us we will constantly be stuck in a state of fatigue without knowing where to turn. Many people only think of physical training when assessing their load. However, there are multiple other factors in your life that...

In this episode of the podcast we discuss the affect of breathing on back pain and back flare-ups. Before a back flare up occurs there is usually a sequence of events that contribute to it. One of these is a change in our breathing pattern. If we don't become aware of this breathing pattern and how to change it we can get caught in a cycle of recurring pain & tightness. I explore why breathing sho...

In this episode of the podcast I discuss how to physically prepare yourself the day of a game. Many people do too much or too little the day of a game, resulting in a subpar performance when its needed most.  I explore why it is important to physically prepare yourself the day of an event, what to avoid as well as different things you could include to help get yourself ready to go. I discuss primi...

In this episode of the podcast I dive into planning a recovery as well as what considerations for adequate recovery. However, if you just aim to achieve physical recovery you could be missing out on other important aspects of getting your body right again. I discuss why recovery days are important, as well as common mistakes I see people making when planning their own recovery days. I then explore...

In this episode of the podcast I discuss how reframing the idea of a flare-up can be an effective way to make progress. In general a recurring injury flare-up happens when our body kicks back, whether that be a result of too much load or general fatigue.  This may present as a significant increase in pain, tightness or muscle spasm around an area. At times this can have quite an effect on your con...

In this episode of the podcast I discuss when is the right time to start to rehabilitate an injury. With injury rehab I often see people doing too little too late, or too much too early. Making these simple mistakes can delay your return to sport and may increase your risk of reinjury. We explore what rehabilitation is and should consist of, difference between rehab & performance, main problems ma...

In this episode of the podcast I was delighted to welcome on David Grey (@davidgreyrehab) to discuss all things breathing, biomechanics & health.  We explore the effect of our breathing mechanics on mobility. How it can limit our movement options in sport & life, as well as what you can do to fix it. We also discuss common issues seen around the hips & pelvis in athletes, why it's important assess...

In this episode of the podcast I was delighted to welcome on Dr Ryan Foley, co-founder of Integrated Kinetic Neurology (IKN) to discuss all things movement training, chronic pain & how your nervous system codes & controls the body. The nervous system keeps an internal representation of the body. On this it records everything from previous injuries, movements, experiences to our emotions and belief...

In this episode of the podcast we explore an issue commonly seen after injury - loss of confidence. Anyone who has struggled with recurring injuries in the past has most likely battled with this issue. Returning after injury, especially if it kept you out for a long time, can be difficult. In the episode of the podcast I discuss what happens the body after we lose confidence in it, how it reorgani...

In the episode of the podcast I was delighted to welcome on high performance specialist Dr Erik Korem to discuss all things stress and adaption as well as different recovery protocols to maximise mental & physical gains. Dr. Korem has worked with athletes at all levels, from division one collegiate teams to professional sports and Olympic champions. Dr Korem was also previously the high performanc...

In this episode of the podcast I discuss quality-of-life & improving overall well-being. Well-being by definition is the state of being comfortable, health & happy.  When it comes to improving anything in the body we need to become more aware of it. It's very difficult to change something you're not aware of. Unfortunately at times people get caught in a cycle of negative behaviours & attitudes. T...

In this episode of the podcast I was delighted to welcome on Shane Finn (@ShaneFinn) to discuss the mindset, purpose, challenges & training of an ultra endurance athlete. Shane has previously completed a 12 marathons in 12 days and 24 marathons in 24 days challenge for charity. He has also biked & run across the USA, starting in California and finishing in New York in 36 days, all for charity. We...

In this episode of the podcast I discuss the signs of fatigue. The body will always tell you when you're doing too much. Becoming aware of these signs is key to reducing your risk of injury & illness. In season athletes tend to focus too much on training and forget about the recovery aspect of training. Without adequate recovery the body never gets a chance to adapt appropriately to the stress pla...

In this episode of the podcast I welcome on Adrian O'Brien, head of performance for Limerick Senior Football. Adrian is an excellent coach with a unique philosophy around movement & health. We discussed the idea of movement restoration, building body awareness as well as reducing injury risk in athletes. We explored the differences in managing amateur athletes in season and out of season as well a...