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 partnerships associated with health and performance. Prior to Tennis, Daniel worked for 13 years in professional Rugby, 7 of which as the Senior Team Physiotherapist for England, where he was responsible for player recovery, injury prevention and rehabilitation. Dan holds postgraduate Masters degrees in both Sports Medicine and Exercise Science and is the co-editor and contributing author of 2 internationally best-selling textbooks, High Performance Training For Sports and Sports Injury Prevention and Rehabilitation.

Topics Discussed: 

• Evolving into leadership

Where you can find Dan:

• Twitter

Sponsor

Inform Performance is sponsored by VALD Performance, makers of the Nordbord, Forceframe, ForeDecks and HumanTrak. VALD Performance systems are built with the high-performance practitioner in mind, translating traditionally lab-based technologies into engaging, quick, easy-to-use tools for daily testing, monitoring and training

Keep up to date with everything that is going on with the podcast by following Inform Performance on:

• Instagram

Our Team

• Andy McDonald

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 sport in 2016 and is the clinical & research director of Pitch Ready which focuses on blending clinical insights with data science, squad-based injury prevention and return to sport testing following lower limb injury. In this episode Alistair and Tim continue discussing his insights and work on ACLR Rehab. 

• Key Functional testing in correlation to return to sport following ACLR

Where you can find Tim:

• Twitter 

Sponsor

Inform Performance is sponsored by VALD Performance, makers of the Nordbord, Forceframe, ForeDecks and HumanTrak. VALD Performance systems are built with the high-performance practitioner in mind, translating traditionally lab-based technologies into engaging, quick, easy-to-use tools for daily testing, monitoring and training

Keep up to date with everything that is going on with the podcast by following Inform Performance on:

• Instagram

Our Team

• Andy McDonald

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 & research director of Pitch Ready which focuses on blending clinical insights with data science, squad-based injury prevention and return to sport testing following lower limb injury. In this episode Alistair and Tim discuss his insights and work on ACLR Rehab. 

• Undergoing a PhD and completing applied research 

Where you can find Tim:

• Twitter 

Sponsor

Inform Performance is sponsored by VALD Performance, makers of the Nordbord, Forceframe, ForeDecks and HumanTrak. VALD Performance systems are built with the high-performance practitioner in mind, translating traditionally lab-based technologies into engaging, quick, easy-to-use tools for daily testing, monitoring and training

Keep up to date with everything that is going on with the podcast by following Inform Performance on:

• Instagram

Our Team

• Andy McDonald

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 2019. On top of a successful athletic career and an OBE he has enjoyed professional roles at the English institute of Sport and the BBC prior to his current role in Rugby. In this episode Ben and Nigel predominantly discuss managing change as an overarching topic. 

Topics Discussed: 

• Nigel's background 

Where you can find Nigel:

• LinkedIn

Sponsor

Inform Performance is sponsored by VALD Performance, makers of the Nordbord, Forceframe, ForeDecks and HumanTrak. VALD Performance systems are built with the high-performance practitioner in mind, translating traditionally lab-based technologies into engaging, quick, easy-to-use tools for daily testing, monitoring and training

Keep up to date with everything that is going on with the podcast by following Inform Performance on:

• Instagram

Our Team

• Andy McDonald

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

• Optimal technique of the Nordic Hamstring Exercise

Where you can find Andras:

• Twitter 

Sponsor

Inform Performance is sponsored by VALD Performance, makers of the Nordbord, Forceframe, ForeDecks and HumanTrak. VALD Performance systems are built with the high-performance practitioner in mind, translating traditionally lab-based technologies into engaging, quick, easy-to-use tools for daily testing, monitoring and training

Keep up to date with everything that is going on with the podcast by following Inform Performance on:

• Instagram

Our Team

• Andy McDonald

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 at Connacht his former club again. In this episode Andy & Johnny discuss planning, monitoring and using heavy eccentrics to prepare rugby players in pre-season. 

Topics Discussed: 

• Background as a player 

Where you can find Johnny:

• Twitter 

Sponsor

Inform Performance is sponsored by VALD Performance, makers of the Nordbord, Forceframe, ForeDecks and HumanTrak. VALD Performance systems are built with the high-performance practitioner in mind, translating traditionally lab-based technologies into engaging, quick, easy-to-use tools for daily testing, monitoring and training

Keep up to date with everything that is going on with the podcast by following Inform Performance on:

• Instagram

Our Team

• Andy McDonald

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 Manager, he is also a Senior Physiotherapist for the WRU National Men's Squad. Impressively Prav has also been selected as a Physiotherapist to the British and Irish Lions Rugby team, touring with them in 2009 to South Africa and again in 2013 on the tour of Australia. He is also a member of World Rugby's Sevens World Series Injury Prevention Working Group and acts as the Chair to the WRU's Medical Advisory Committee and leads several steering groups within the WRU.

Topics Discussed: 

• Professional Skill set changes between Club, country and the Lions

Sponsor

Inform Performance is sponsored by VALD Performance, makers of the Nordbord, Forceframe, ForeDecks and HumanTrak. VALD Performance systems are built with the high-performance practitioner in mind, translating traditionally lab-based technologies into engaging, quick, easy-to-use tools for daily testing, monitoring and training

Keep up to date with everything that is going on with the podcast by following Inform Performance on:

• Instagram

Our Team

• Andy McDonald

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 within the Department of Orthopedics at the  University of Pennsylvania. In professional sport he has enjoyed roles in Professional Baseball at the Los Angles Angels, Baltimore Orioles and The St. Louis Cardinals. In this episode Ben and Ryan talk all things shoulders, pitching and baseball as it relates to high performance.  

Topics Discussed: 

• Background

Where you can find Ryan:

• LinkedIn

Sponsor

Inform Performance is sponsored by VALD Performance, makers of the Nordbord, Forceframe, ForeDecks and HumanTrak. VALD Performance systems are built with the high-performance practitioner in mind, translating traditionally lab-based technologies into engaging, quick, easy-to-use tools for daily testing, monitoring and training

Keep up to date with everything that is going on with the podcast by following Inform Performance on:

• Instagram

Our Team

• Andy McDonald

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. 

• Regional differences in a various of hamstring exercises typically used in rehab and strength and conditioning

Where you can find Andras:

• Twitter 

Sponsor

Inform Performance is sponsored by VALD Performance, makers of the Nordbord, Forceframe, ForeDecks and HumanTrak. VALD Performance systems are built with the high-performance practitioner in mind, translating traditionally lab-based technologies into engaging, quick, easy-to-use tools for daily testing, monitoring and training

Keep up to date with everything that is going on with the podcast by following Inform Performance on:

• Instagram

Our Team

• Andy McDonald

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 Grow - A fictional tale about a young coach embarking on a strength and conditioning career. This book forms the line of questions and conversation for this episode focussed on soft skill development. 

Topics Discussed: 

• The intent is to grow book

Where you can find Jesse:

• Book - The Intent is to grow

Sponsor

Inform Performance is sponsored by VALD Performance, makers of the Nordbord, Forceframe, ForeDecks and HumanTrak. VALD Performance systems are built with the high-performance practitioner in mind, translating traditionally lab-based technologies into engaging, quick, easy-to-use tools for daily testing, monitoring and training

Keep up to date with everything that is going on with the podcast by following Inform Performance on:

• Instagram

Our Team

• Andy McDonald