Raphael Rinaldi is a world-class physiotherapist and lecturer in sports physiotherapy at the University of Sienna, Italy. He works with international caliber athletes and patients with persistent pain in Australia, the U.K. and across Europe. Raphael provides a visual illustration of injury rehabilitation challenges as well as the tools he employs to help athletes gain control over their recovery path and peace of mind in handling injury uncertainties. He highlights the value of soliciting athletes’ understanding and perspectives so that he can fill in knowledge gaps and help injured performers anticipate and manage various recovery scenarios. His discussion of factors to consider in determining athletes’ readiness to return to play is invaluable.  For further assistance dealing with the challenges of injury or for performance enhancement consulting visit: podlogconsulting.com

Gabriel Herrera, one of the top youth soccer players in Nevada describes his experiences tearing two anterior cruciate ligaments. Gabe paints a vivid picture of the “mental drain” of recovery from long-term injury. He discusses his challenges in coming to terms with missed opportunities and how he copes with the motivational hurdles and uncertainties of trying to regain his form and earn a spot on a Division I college soccer team. His reflections on regaining confidence in being game-ready and taking re-injury prevention measures are useful for any athlete returning to sport after injury.  For further assistance dealing with the challenges of injury or for performance enhancement consulting visit: podlogconsulting.com

Associate Professor in Sport Science, and former Swedish national team runner, Dr. Stefan Wagnsson describes how he transitioned from soccer to an elite 1500-meter runner at the relatively late age of 19 years old. Despite his late entry into the sport, Dr. Wagnsson managed to win a bronze medal in his first Senior Swedish national championship. His early success fueled his intense desire to win and his mentality of running to exhaustion.   These ingredients fairly quickly led his body to start breaking down and to ruminative thoughts about injury that were constantly on his mind. In response, Wagnsson used coping methods such as alternative training methods (e.g., water running) and a continual focus on what he could be doing. Based on his injury experiences and his research on optimal motivational climates, he suggests that athletes and coaches should temper their focus on winning with a focus on mastery of skills and self-improvement.  For further assistance dealing with the challenges of injury or for performance enhancement consulting visit: podlogconsulting.com

Paul Oberman competed in the 1992 Olympics as a member of the Australian National Water Polo team. He describes an unfortunate accident in which he severed his ulner nerve on his throwing arm. After several surgical procedures and rigorous rehabilitation efforts, Paul made it back to the national team, only to experience a shoulder dislocation that required a shoulder reconstruction only 2 months prior to the 2000 Sydney Olympics. Unfortunately, the shoulder operation precluded his participation in the games, a conclusion to his career that carried with it the disappointment and frustration of an unfulfilled dream. Oberman describes how he quickly came to terms with his injury and how the transition to coaching enabled him to give back to the sport. He suggests that injury is a test of what the athlete wants out of their sport and that if an athlete gets “knocked down” it’s helpful to reflect on: “how, ‘what’, ‘why’ and ‘who’ are going to help you get back up?”  For further assistance dealing with the challenges of injury or for performance enhancement consulting visit: podlogconsulting.com

Sebastiano Cencini is a physiotherapist for the Italian men’s National volleyball team, a squad that won a silver medal in the Rio Olympics. He describes how he tailors his communication to the information needs of individual athletes, the importance of empathy in developing a trusting relationship with injured athletes, and the value of conveying the benefits and risks of trying to push recovery timelines. Cencini notes that injured athletes with high levels of worry and anxiety also seem to experience high levels of pain, which in turn, inhibit their recovery progressions.   He indicates that effective injury recovery is a function of three factors, including, individual healing responses to anatomical damage, psychological responses to the injury, and environmental support and conditions. Cencini suggests that athletes seeking to make a remarkable recovery need all three factors working in their favor. He discusses assessments to determine athletes’ readiness to return to competition.  For further assistance dealing with the challenges of injury or for performance enhancement consulting visit: podlogconsulting.com

Marc See, an expert physiotherapist and elite runner in Perth, Western Australia has conducted thousands of clinical gait assessments on runners. Marc encourages injured athletes to find modified training methods that don’t exacerbate their injuries, to ask questions to ensure they understand the nature of their injury, and to assume different helping roles that keep the athlete involved in their sport. He cautions athletes against trying to return to sport too quickly or focusing on the shortest return to sport time frames given by practitioners. Marc distinguishes “readiness to return to training” versus “readiness to return to performance”, suggesting the latter requires additional physical and psychological work, preparation and sport-specific training. Marc discusses the value of simulation training in bridging the gap between return to training and return to performance.  For further assistance dealing with the challenges of injury or for performance enhancement consulting visit: podlogconsulting.com

Dr. Christian Zepp, an Assistant Professor in sport psychology at the   University in Cologne, Germany has a wealth of experience working with athletes and high-performance individuals across a range of sports. Dr. Zepp discusses the three major pillars of the framework he uses to help athletes cope with injury vulnerabilities. These include issues or questions of comprehensibility (“Do I understand the nature of my injury and what will occur during my rehabilitation”?), manageability (“What can I do right now to manage or improve the situation”?), and meaningfulness (“What is the potential value, use or benefit of this experience for you at this moment”?). Reflection on these questions can facilitate injured athlete self-reflection, exploration and coping.  For further assistance dealing with the challenges of injury or for performance enhancement consulting visit: podlogconsulting.com

Disclaimer: We apologize for the audio quality but still wanted to post this interview.  Thank you for your understanding.  Head of Sport Science at Cricket NSW highlights the role of support staff in explaining the injury recovery process, in particular for younger athletes who may lack experience dealing with injury setbacks. Tom suggests that when athletes understand why certain recommendations are being prescribed it promotes their engagement and “buy-in” of the rehabilitation plan. Tom advocates a partnership-approach in which injury support staff are there to facilitate recovery and athlete’s assume ownership over their rehabilitation. He encourages athletes to seek out the support they need and to use the injury experience as an opportunity to develop sport skills and personal qualities.  For further assistance dealing with the challenges of injury or for performance enhancement consulting visit: podlogconsulting.com

Shayla Archer was a former NCAA Division I swimmer at the University of Utah. A series of unfortunate concussions left Shayla with debilitating long-term symptoms that eventually forced her to retire from the sport. Shayla describes her efforts to continue her academic and sporting commitments, despite the emotional and cognitive impairments of her concussions. She also describes the physical and psychological relief that came with her decision to finish her swimming career. Shayla’s discussion touches on issues surrounding concussion reporting behaviors and potential difficulties determining concussed athletes’ readiness to return to sport.  For further assistance dealing with the challenges of injury or for performance enhancement consulting visit: podlogconsulting.com

Lori Olsen, a highly skilled and long-standing Physical Therapist at Utah State University talks about the holistic approach she uses to address the physical and psychological components of injury. Lori articulates the motivational value of outlining functional progressions as well as the benefits of demonstrating care for athletes’ needs and overall well-being. She describes valuable strategies for demonstrating care and alleviating athlete anxieties such as listening to their concerns and frustrations, walking them through the rehabilitation process, and incorporating athletes’ goals and interests into an individualized rehab program. Lori highlights numerous athlete-specific and environmental factors that influence the quality and effectiveness of athletes’ rehabilitation.  For further assistance dealing with the challenges of injury or for performance enhancement consulting visit: podlogconsulting.com