The Perform Prevent Recover Podcast

In Episode 35 of the PPR podcast, Anthony had the pleasure of interviewing Neil Mitchell - one of Australia's greatest journalists and radio hosts! But to make Episode 35 happen, there was an agreement of a "return bout" for Episode 36 where Neil interviewed Anthony.

And in usual Neil Mitchell style, he went deep and covered a multitude of topics including:

- Why Anthony chose physiotherapy as a career.

- The early footy days, and the tough personal toll of being told "You're not good enough".

- Highlights and lowlights of the Physiotherapy career.

- The beginnings of SSPC.

- Critical health advice for people of all ages.

- Pain! What it is, why we feel it, and what we can do about it.

... and a whole lot more.

So dive into this episode and listen to someone who has been in the Physiotherapy profession for 35 years and at the very least, you'll take home some great health tips!

High performance isn’t exclusive to sport. Whether you’re competing on the field, court or track, or just trying to be the best you can be in life, the same principles that drive elite performance apply across industries. In this amazing opportunity, I get to sit down with Neil Mitchell AO, one of Australia’s most accomplished broadcasters, to uncover what it truly takes to stay at the top of a highly competitive profession for over four decades.

Neil dominated Australian media despite relentless competition, public scrutiny, high-pressure live broadcasting and constant industry change. His career offers a unique insight into sustained excellence, mental resilience, adaptability and leadership — the exact traits required not only by elite athletes, but by any of us who are striving to be our best!

In this episode, Neil breaks down the high-performance mindset that allowed him to outlast competitors, handle criticism and abuse, perform under pressure, and continually evolve while others faded. He shares real stories from some of the biggest moments in Australian media history and reflects on the habits, standards and decision-making processes that separate good performers from great ones.

If you want to understand how elite performers think, adapt and stay relevant over long careers, this episode offers powerful insights we can all apply 

Listen now and learn how to play the long game in high performance.

Cherie Horne was an athlete with the world at her feet - a 15 year old running star, and a realistic Olympic dream awaited. But then her body let her down, time after time after time. What followed would be familiar to many athletes with shattered dreams - a sense of loss, a struggle with identity, a battle with mental health!

And at the young age of 43, the diagnosis of Osteoporosis was delivered - a brittle bone condition usually diagnosed in people much older than Cherie. This diagnosis hit hard - for someone so active, and with an intense love of health and fitness, the idea that her body was so fragile was truly devastating. But rather than give up, Cherie found a love of trekking, and from the trekking came the massive climbs, attempting five of the highest summits in the world, including the feared Denali in Alaska.

In a raw and honest conversation, Cherie details the highs and the battering lows, and explains how she went from a shattered teenage athlete, through the fears of a vulnerable osteoporotic body, to now being the happiest, healthiest, strongest person she has ever been - and with the amazing side story of reversing her osteoporosis!

In this episode we get to speak to Seth O'Donnell about his incredible past 12 months, culminating in selection for the Australian team for the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo.

Seth chats to fellow SSPC physio, friend, and mentor Rob O'Donnell about not only this past year, but also his rapid rise to elite middle distance running over the past 5 years.

There is no doubt that Seth is not your traditional athlete, and he has some very strong thoughts and beliefs that have underpinned his training and competition.

This is a great episode where you hear some honest thoughts from a person who only recently was more hopeful of being recruited by the Hawks in the AFL but found his way, through natural talent and hard training, into the elite world of middle distance running.

In this episode, we team up with Melbourne Orthopaedic Surgeon Vishal Pai to explore the entire knee replacement journey — from the very beginnings of considering a knee replacement, right through to your end stage rehabilitation and optimal outcomes.

You’ll learn:

... and a whole lot more!

Take a listen to the detailed descriptions that Mr Pai gives - honest and up to date advice that all prospective knee replacement patients should know before embarking on this life changing journey! 

This is the ultimate guide for anyone considering or recovering from total knee replacement surgery.

Join us as we welcome David Munro, an expert physiotherapist with a wealth of experience in concussion management across a variety of sports, but with a focus on community level sport and Australian Rules Football. Listen in as he shares his journey and provides valuable insights into the evolution of concussion awareness and peels back the layers on concussion management, giving athletes and coaches the critical know-how to safeguard players' futures.

David's wealth of knowledge is obvious as we discuss the days of limited recognition through to today's understanding of considering concussion as a mild traumatic brain injuries. The complexity of managing these injuries is balanced with a simple focus on providing adequate care to concussed athletes.

David and I navigate the process of recognizing and responding to concussions in high-pressure sports environments, using readily available tools such as the Concussion Recognition Tool 6, and the crucial role these tools play in ensuring the safety of our players.. David also touches on the challenges of managing younger athletes, the emotional indicators of concussion, and further explains the gradual reintroduction of athletes to their sport post-concussion, detailing the Graduated Return To Sport guidelines and protocols that prioritize the athlete's long-term well-being.

David discusses the contentious debates surrounding concussion protocols and helmet safety, especially within Australian sports. We dissect the differing guidelines from the AFL to those recommended by the Australian Institute of Sport, and why it's crucial to adhere to these expert-driven measures. David also addresses the sobering topic of athletes facing consecutive concussions and the potential need for long recovery periods in certain cases.

This episode isn't just about the immediate steps post-concussion, but about a holistic view of athlete health, from the moment of impact to the long-term implications on their lives and careers.

This episode is a must-listen for anyone at any level of sport, even if just a parent, observer, or volunteer.

Below are some fabulous tools, some that were mentioned directly in the podcast, which will help enhance your knowledge and confidence in dealing with concussion:

https://www.concussioninsport.gov.au/

(Australian Sports Commission regulations and recommendations, with clear information for all people involved in sports)

https://sma.org.au/new-concussion-guidelines-launched-today/

(Concussion Brain Health & Position Statement)

https://sma.org.au/

(extremely useful resource and has a downloadable copy of CRT6)

https://www.connectivity.org.au/

(includes a great short course for anyone to do)

In episode 30, SSPC Physio Rob O'Donnell takes us inside the Falls Creek altitude training camp of the ON Athletics Club. Living in himself as physio for the ON team, Rob is in the perfect position to see first hand how the team approaches altitude training, a concept not foreign to many elite athletes.

Rob gets Jodie McCann and Bendere Oboya during a break from their intense training, and delves deep into the camp and how altitude training effects their training and their performance.

As well as talking altitude, Rob also takes the opportunity to get Jodie and Bendere to chat about their normal training regimes, strength training, footwear, and technology.

Here is your chance to get an idea of how the elite train, and why altitude training forms such an important part of their program.

Ever find yourself cruising along in a race, only to be hit by a sudden gut punch? No, not from an over-zealous competitor, but from your own body? If so, you're not alone.

'Runner's gut', officially known as exercise induced gastro-intestinal syndrome, is a surprisingly common issue among distance running athletes - and that's what we're unpacking today with sports nutritionist and expert, Gaby Villa. Gaby, founder of Intense Eat Fit, takes us on an incredible journey through the landscape of sports nutrition and gut health, sharing her personal story and how it inspired her mission to help others fuel their bodies for optimum performance. Gaby's passion for nutrition and helping people is clearly evident when you hear her talk!

We wrap up the conversation with a look at sweat testing, a potentially invaluable tool for athletes looking to optimize their nutrition strategy. Join Gaby as she details the often-overlooked link between gut health and athletic performance - you might just find that it's the missing piece in your fitness puzzle.

Episode 28 sees us chat to former SSPC colleague Brendan Goonan, who is currently physiotherapist for the Victorian Women’s cricket team, and excitingly is about to move into a new role as Head of Sports Science and Sports Medicine for Cricket Victoria.

Brendan has been heavily involved in cricket from a young age both personally and professionally, and now finds himself with a lead physio role under the Cricket Victoria umbrella. During the episode we’ll discuss:

- the most common injuries in cricket

- which injuries are more common in males and which in females

- prevention of cricket injuries

- load management (and why match days aren't often the real problem)

- what to look for to try and catch the dreaded lumbar spine stress fracture early

- strength, flexibility and warm ups for cricket...

and a stack more.

For cricketers of all ages and levels, there's something in this episode to help you stay fitter and healthier this cricket season.