In Episode 141 of the True Sports Physical Therapy Podcast, Dr. Yoni Rosenblatt sits down with industry icon Dr. John Rusin to talk about his new book, Pain-Free Performance, and the philosophy that has redefined strength training and rehab across the globe. With over a decade of coaching, clinical experience, and more than 1,000 in-person certifications under his belt, Rusin breaks down how the principles in his book can transform not only athlete performance but also how clinicians and coaches approach long-term health.

Dr. Rusin unpacks the 6 foundational pillars of the Pain-Free Performance Training System (PPSC), breathing, bracing, centering, sequencing, screening, and progressing, and explains how they apply to real-world movement. He walks through his progression model for exercises like split squats, hinges, and loaded carries, sharing how strength and performance programming can (and should) reduce injury risk while improving outcomes. The conversation touches on how to use screens effectively, how to coach without over-cueing, and how to truly “earn the right” to load an athlete.

Beyond movement, this episode is also about mission. Rusin opens up about the writing process behind his 574-page book, the mental toll of telling his story, and the vulnerability it took to self-publish something that aims to reshape how we coach and treat. He talks about bridging the gap between coaches and clinicians, and why the future of movement lies in building relationships, not just prescribing reps.

John Rusin's links: 

Whether you're a physical therapist, coach, or fitness enthusiast, this episode is a crash course in programming, business, and philosophy. If you’ve ever wanted to train smarter, prevent pain before it starts, and build systems that actually serve the human in front of you—this is your playbook.

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