The transition from summer to fall brings new challenges for gymnasts as they balance back-to-school demands with increased training loads, requiring careful planning to prevent injuries and build a foundation for competition season. We discuss how to create a training plan that accommodates the physiological, mental, and lifestyle changes that occur during this critical period.

• Four key "buckets" for successful preseason training: strength/conditioning, metabolic capacity, gymnastics progressions, and physical preparation/education
• Why traditional cardio methods like long runs and endless panel mat jumps qualify as "junk mileage" that doesn't effectively prepare athletes for the demands of competition
• Difference between aerobic conditioning (not sport-specific) and the 60-90 second anaerobic bursts needed for gymnastics routines
• Sport-specific cardio progressions that build capacity while minimizing injury risk
• Why recovery between sessions is where actual improvement happens, not during the training itself
• Importance of proactively educating athletes and parents about sleep, nutrition, hydration and stress management
• Creating gym cultures that normalize recovery practices rather than only addressing them when problems arise
• Simple, practical ways coaches can incorporate education about recovery into daily practice

Try collecting high-quality, evidence-based resources on sleep, nutrition, hydration, and stress management to create simple one-page PDFs for parents and athletes as part of your welcome packet or regular communications.

We appreciate you listening!

To learn more about SHIFT, head here - https://shiftmovementscience.com/

To learn about SHIFT's courses, check our website here - https://courses.shiftmovementscience.com/

Also, please consider rating, reviewing, and sharing the podcast with your friends! 

Thanks :)

Thanks for listening to The SHIFT Show! Check out SHIFT's most popular courses here!

https://courses.shiftmovementscience.com/

Want to join our online educational community of over 1000 gymnastics professionals and get 40+ hours of gymnastics lectures? Join The Hero Lab below!

https://shiftmovementscience.com/theherolab/

Check out all our past podcast episodes here!

https://shiftmovementscience.com/podcast/

Get $100 off my brand new course, Rehabilitation of Athletic Low Back Pain, with Mike Reinold!

https://mikereinold.com/athletic-low-back-evaluation-treatment-online-course/

We tackle how to assess and treat different types of back pain, combining evidence-based approaches with movement-based classifications that actually work for athletes and active individuals.

• Creating a systematic approach to back pain starts with understanding whether it's chronic sensitization or repeated acute flare-ups
• Clinical Practice Guidelines (CPGs) often provide overwhelming lists of possible treatments without clear direction
• Differentiating between extension-intolerant, flexion-intolerant, and compression-intolerant patterns guides treatment
• Daily habits and postures often contribute more to pain than specific incidents
• Modifying activities throughout the day helps reset pain sensitivity - "like recalibrating an alarm system"
• Education about what patients do outside of PT is often more important than any specific exercise
• For athletes, progression must include sport-specific movements and correcting technical flaws
• Basic exercises like bird dogs and dead bugs are starting points, not complete solutions
• Return to sport requires gradual progression through strength, power, and sport-specific movements
• Proper bracing techniques and movement patterns are essential for long-term prevention

Check out our comprehensive back pain course at the link in the show notes - $100 off this week only!

We appreciate you listening!

To learn more about SHIFT, head here - https://shiftmovementscience.com/

To learn about SHIFT's courses, check our website here - https://courses.shiftmovementscience.com/

Also, please consider rating, reviewing, and sharing the podcast with your friends! 

Thanks :)

Thanks for listening to The SHIFT Show! Check out SHIFT's most popular courses here!

https://courses.shiftmovementscience.com/

Want to join our online educational community of over 1000 gymnastics professionals and get 40+ hours of gymnastics lectures? Join The Hero Lab below!

https://shiftmovementscience.com/theherolab/

Check out all our past podcast episodes here!

https://shiftmovementscience.com/podcast/

In response to a request, we share valuable resources for learning about femoral acetabular impingement (FAI) and labral tears, addressing the knowledge gap many clinicians face with these conditions.

• Four essential resource categories: research literature, clinical specialists, surgical resources, and academic educators
• Key research documents include the Warwick Agreement and Doha Agreement on diagnostic criteria for FAI
• Following clinicians like Dan, Mike Ryman, and Mike Voigt who combine research with extensive clinical experience
• Surgical textbooks like "Hip Preservation Surgery" provide valuable insights despite their cost 
• Observing actual hip surgeries offers unparalleled perspective on the procedure and recovery process
• Understanding imaging measurements (alpha angle, lateral center edge angle) improves communication with surgeons
• Interdisciplinary conferences and continuing education courses provide opportunities for professional networking
• Watching a family member recover from surgery builds empathy for what patients experience beyond clinical visits

Your best approach to mastering hip FAI and labral tear management is to combine evidence, clinical expertise, surgical knowledge, and academic insights while applying this systematized approach to any joint or condition.

We appreciate you listening!

To learn more about SHIFT, head here - https://shiftmovementscience.com/

To learn about SHIFT's courses, check our website here - https://courses.shiftmovementscience.com/

Also, please consider rating, reviewing, and sharing the podcast with your friends! 

Thanks :)

Thanks for listening to The SHIFT Show! Check out SHIFT's most popular courses here!

https://courses.shiftmovementscience.com/

Want to join our online educational community of over 1000 gymnastics professionals and get 40+ hours of gymnastics lectures? Join The Hero Lab below!

https://shiftmovementscience.com/theherolab/

Check out all our past podcast episodes here!

https://shiftmovementscience.com/podcast/

We share strategies for managing a busy clinical caseload when juggling multiple patients with different injuries, surgeries, and protocols across various settings.

• Organizing patient information systematically through spreadsheets listing surgical details, protocols, and progression points
• Creating tables to track swelling measurements, range of motion, and strength over time
• Establishing consistent assessment routines when patients arrive for appointments
• Using technology and automated calculators to track progress and compare to past measurements
• Translating complex clinical measurements into understandable metrics for patient education
• Leveraging colleagues' expertise when facing cases outside your comfort zone
• Dividing responsibilities between clinicians to optimize patient care
• Creating documentation systems that allow quick retrieval of important patient information
• Establishing data-driven rationales for return-to-sport decisions with athletes
• Setting realistic expectations about progress timeframes based on research

If you're feeling overwhelmed by your caseload or want to improve your organizational systems, reach out to us on Instagram or email with questions or suggestions for future episodes.

We appreciate you listening!

To learn more about SHIFT, head here - https://shiftmovementscience.com/

To learn about SHIFT's courses, check our website here - https://courses.shiftmovementscience.com/

Also, please consider rating, reviewing, and sharing the podcast with your friends! 

Thanks :)

Thanks for listening to The SHIFT Show! Check out SHIFT's most popular courses here!

https://courses.shiftmovementscience.com/

Want to join our online educational community of over 1000 gymnastics professionals and get 40+ hours of gymnastics lectures? Join The Hero Lab below!

https://shiftmovementscience.com/theherolab/

Check out all our past podcast episodes here!

https://shiftmovementscience.com/podcast/

Every day we pay our dues by doing the harder thing when it's the right thing to do, especially when managing the complicated early weeks of post-operative rehabilitation. 

• Understanding surgical procedures through observation, surgical textbooks, and building relationships with surgeons
• Establishing direct communication with surgeons to obtain critical information rather than navigating complex administrative channels
• Managing pain through appropriate medication, consistent icing, and education about maintaining comfort
• Controlling swelling with compression, elevation, and controlled movement to prevent quadriceps inhibition
• Prioritizing full hyperextension for knee surgeries to prevent complications like cyclops lesions
• Using "consistency over intensity" approach with gentle, frequent interventions rather than aggressive stretching
• Activating key muscles through neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) in conjunction with volitional efforts
• Progressing from assistive devices based on functional criteria rather than arbitrary timeframes
• Applying similar systematic principles across different joints with appropriate modifications for specific procedures
• Focusing on early hip labral repair rehabilitation with controlled motion and gradual progression

We appreciate you listening!

To learn more about SHIFT, head here - https://shiftmovementscience.com/

To learn about SHIFT's courses, check our website here - https://courses.shiftmovementscience.com/

Also, please consider rating, reviewing, and sharing the podcast with your friends! 

Thanks :)

Thanks for listening to The SHIFT Show! Check out SHIFT's most popular courses here!

https://courses.shiftmovementscience.com/

Want to join our online educational community of over 1000 gymnastics professionals and get 40+ hours of gymnastics lectures? Join The Hero Lab below!

https://shiftmovementscience.com/theherolab/

Check out all our past podcast episodes here!

https://shiftmovementscience.com/podcast/

Physical therapy school prepares you with fundamental skills, but the gap between education and real clinical practice can be overwhelming for new graduates. This first-hand discussion reveals strategies to navigate the challenging transition as a new PT.

• PT school primarily teaches you to "not hurt people" rather than specific treatment protocols
• Feeling unprepared is normal when facing unfamiliar cases, especially post-surgical rehabilitation
• Chart review the night before seeing patients helps you prepare for unfamiliar conditions
• Basic, simple exercises are often more effective than complicated "creative" approaches
• Finding mentors is crucial for developing confidence and clinical reasoning
• Programming exercise should focus on addressing deficits rather than impressing patients
• Patients care more about getting better than receiving a precise diagnosis
• Continuing education should be targeted: 1/3 for immediate cases, 1/3 for common conditions, 1/3 for personal interests 

Check out our upcoming third cohort of the mentorship program with Mike Reinald at fitnesspainfree.com to learn more about our treatment approaches and protocols.

We appreciate you listening!

To learn more about SHIFT, head here - https://shiftmovementscience.com/

To learn about SHIFT's courses, check our website here - https://courses.shiftmovementscience.com/

Also, please consider rating, reviewing, and sharing the podcast with your friends! 

Thanks :)

Thanks for listening to The SHIFT Show! Check out SHIFT's most popular courses here!

https://courses.shiftmovementscience.com/

Want to join our online educational community of over 1000 gymnastics professionals and get 40+ hours of gymnastics lectures? Join The Hero Lab below!

https://shiftmovementscience.com/theherolab/

Check out all our past podcast episodes here!

https://shiftmovementscience.com/podcast/

Managing the growth spurt phase in young athletes requires patience, education, and strategic training modifications to prevent injuries and maximize long-term development. Athletes experience significant physical changes between ages 10-14 that directly impact performance and create temporary challenges that should be viewed as developmental opportunities.

• Growth plates are vulnerable to injury during rapid growth phases
• Peak Height Velocity (PHV) is when children grow fastest, typically around age 13
• Physical changes include dramatic bone growth that outpaces muscle adaptation
• Athletes naturally lose flexibility, power, and coordination during growth spurts
• Training should shift to 70% basics/flexibility/soft surfaces and 30% skills during growth phases
• Strength training is safe and beneficial for young athletes when properly implemented
• Cross-training helps develop athleticism while reducing sport-specific impact
• Coaches should consider reducing competition schedules during peak growth
• Modern elite gymnasts peak in their 20s, not at 16, showing the benefits of patient development
• Post-puberty athletes gain significant power and strength advantages for higher-level skills

Training hard through puberty isn't about pushing skills; it's about building foundations. Every day you pay your dues by doing the harder thing when it's the right thing to do.

We appreciate you listening!

To learn more about SHIFT, head here - https://shiftmovementscience.com/

To learn about SHIFT's courses, check our website here - https://courses.shiftmovementscience.com/

Also, please consider rating, reviewing, and sharing the podcast with your friends! 

Thanks :)

Thanks for listening to The SHIFT Show! Check out SHIFT's most popular courses here!

https://courses.shiftmovementscience.com/

Want to join our online educational community of over 1000 gymnastics professionals and get 40+ hours of gymnastics lectures? Join The Hero Lab below!

https://shiftmovementscience.com/theherolab/

Check out all our past podcast episodes here!

https://shiftmovementscience.com/podcast/

Every day, we pay our dues by doing the harder thing when it's the right thing to do, especially when it comes to speaking up about our health and boundaries in athletic settings.

• Most coaches (98-99%) want what's best for athletes and aren't maliciously pushing too hard
• For the 2% who prioritize results over athlete health, changing gyms may be necessary 
• Approaching coaches with education and empathy helps bridge the knowledge gap about injury recovery
• Focus conversations on performance enhancement rather than just injury prevention
• Building relationships with coaches through free seminars and gym visits creates better communication
• Google Docs shared between athletes, parents, coaches and PTs improve coordination during recovery
• Milestone-based recovery is more effective than arbitrary time-based protocols
• Teaching young athletes why progression matters using their gymnastics heroes as examples
• Using motivational interviewing by asking "what matters to you" creates more receptive conversations
• Natural consequences of choices work better than punishment in coaching relationships

If an athlete is struggling with speaking up about their limitations, coach them on how to communicate effectively with their coach about boundaries and help them understand why following medical guidance matters for their long-term goals.

We appreciate you listening!

To learn more about SHIFT, head here - https://shiftmovementscience.com/

To learn about SHIFT's courses, check our website here - https://courses.shiftmovementscience.com/

Also, please consider rating, reviewing, and sharing the podcast with your friends! 

Thanks :)

Thanks for listening to The SHIFT Show! Check out SHIFT's most popular courses here!

https://courses.shiftmovementscience.com/

Want to join our online educational community of over 1000 gymnastics professionals and get 40+ hours of gymnastics lectures? Join The Hero Lab below!

https://shiftmovementscience.com/theherolab/

Check out all our past podcast episodes here!

https://shiftmovementscience.com/podcast/

Thanks for listening to The SHIFT Show! Check out SHIFT's most popular courses here!
 
https://courses.shiftmovementscience.com/

Return-to-sport programming for gymnasts presents unique challenges that standard rehabilitation protocols often fail to address. How do you safely progress an injured gymnast from soft surfaces back to competition floors? When should you increase repetitions versus change surfaces? What's the optimal approach when working with different age groups?

This episode unveils a comprehensive framework for creating customized gymnastics return protocols that methodically progress athletes through six weeks of carefully structured training. Rather than relying on guesswork, we break down how to adapt evidence-based principles from sports like baseball and running into gymnastics-specific programs that account for the sport's unique demands across different apparatus.

We walk through a real-world case study of a Level 10 gymnast returning from a tibial plateau fracture, demonstrating how to systematically manage three critical variables: repetition count, surface type, and skill complexity. You'll discover practical strategies like "event spreading" to reduce initial workload, the rationale behind the "seven repetitions rule," and how to adapt your communication approach when working with younger versus more independent athletes.

Whether you're a physical therapist with limited gymnastics background, a coach supporting an athlete's return, or a parent trying to understand the rehabilitation process, this episode provides invaluable insights into creating safe, effective return pathways. The framework scales seamlessly from young compulsory-level gymnasts to elite competitors, offering a versatile approach that prioritizes both physical readiness and psychological confidence.

Listen now to transform your understanding of gymnastics rehabilitation and give your athletes the structured progression they need to return stronger than before.

We appreciate you listening!

To learn more about SHIFT, head here - https://shiftmovementscience.com/

To learn about SHIFT's courses, check our website here - https://courses.shiftmovementscience.com/

Also, please consider rating, reviewing, and sharing the podcast with your friends! 

Thanks :)

Thanks for listening to The SHIFT Show! Check out SHIFT's most popular courses here!

https://courses.shiftmovementscience.com/

Want to join our online educational community of over 1000 gymnastics professionals and get 40+ hours of gymnastics lectures? Join The Hero Lab below!

https://shiftmovementscience.com/theherolab/

Check out all our past podcast episodes here!

https://shiftmovementscience.com/podcast/

Is running the best cardio for gymnasts? Or is it doing more harm than good?

Dave Tilley and Diwesh Poudyal challenge traditional gymnastics conditioning methods, offering evidence-based alternatives for building aerobic capacity and sport-specific metabolic fitness without excessive impact.

• Exercise physiology basics: aerobic system (recovery), anaerobic lactic (1-2 minute efforts), and anaerobic alactic (brief max efforts)
• Mile runs are "junk conditioning" - they don't build true aerobic capacity while adding unnecessary impact stress
• Better aerobic base through 25+ minutes at 120-150 heart rate on bikes or through properly designed circuits
• Preseason training should use shuttle runs, med ball circuits, and intervals to build specific metabolic capacity
• Use safe, low-impact tools first before transitioning to routine-specific conditioning
• Periodize across three phases: off-season (aerobic base), early preseason (metabolic prep), late preseason (routine integration)
• The quality of conditioning matters more than how "hard" it feels - focus on physiological adaptation rather than exhaustion

Email [email protected] to discuss conditioning strategies for your gymnastics program.

We appreciate you listening!

To learn more about SHIFT, head here - https://shiftmovementscience.com/

To learn about SHIFT's courses, check our website here - https://courses.shiftmovementscience.com/

Also, please consider rating, reviewing, and sharing the podcast with your friends! 

Thanks :)

Thanks for listening to The SHIFT Show! Check out SHIFT's most popular courses here!

https://courses.shiftmovementscience.com/

Want to join our online educational community of over 1000 gymnastics professionals and get 40+ hours of gymnastics lectures? Join The Hero Lab below!

https://shiftmovementscience.com/theherolab/

Check out all our past podcast episodes here!

https://shiftmovementscience.com/podcast/