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In Episode 241 of Muscles and Management, Gerry sits down with Arno Rheinberger—former NFL and Division 1 athletic trainer with stops at the New York Giants, Rutgers, Minnesota, and more—for a raw, in-depth conversation on injuries, rehab, and the complicated relationship between performance and return-to-play.

They dive into the recent surge of Achilles tears in high-level sports and ask the hard questions: Are athletes being pushed enough in rehab? Are we preparing them for the real forces of sport? Is fear holding back professionals from doing what athletes truly need?

Arno also shares his honest thoughts on the broken communication between strength coaches and athletic trainers, how return-to-play protocols often miss the mark, and why both sides must come together for true athlete readiness.

Topics include:

• The rise of Achilles injuries and whether rehab intensity is to blame
• Communication breakdowns between medical and performance staff
• What rehab should look like (and why it often doesn’t)
• The fear of pushing athletes too hard—and why that’s a problem
• Long-term wear and tear from youth sports
• Social media gimmicks vs. real-world results
• Building mutual respect and collaboration in athletic development

A must-listen for strength coaches, athletic trainers, and anyone serious about injury reduction and long-term athlete resilience.

 0:00 – Intro to Arno Rheinberger and his background in NFL and Division 1 football
 3:10 – The reality of job security in collegiate/pro sports vs. the private sector
 6:45 – Social media influence and frustration with viral “junk training”
 10:32 – The importance of purposeful exercises in rehab and performance
 13:20 – Working relationships between strength coaches and athletic trainers
 16:40 – Communication and collaboration for better return-to-play outcomes
 20:05 – Strength coaches pushing athletic trainers to rethink limitations
 23:18 – Fear in rehab: why many athletes aren’t pushed hard enough
 26:50 – Jerry’s personal injury story and how rehab intensity matters
 30:14 – Why ACL and Achilles re-injuries are more common than we think
 34:12 – Controlled training vs. chaotic real-game scenarios
 37:00 – Youth sports overuse vs. under-preparedness in college/pros
 40:48 – Achilles injuries in modern athletes: overtraining or underpreparing?
 43:10 – Final thoughts on moderation, exposure, and collaborative rehab 

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