Inform Performance

Andy McDonald

The Inform Perform Podcast is an industry show focussed on Sports Performance and Sports Medicine. The show interviews thought leaders and professionals that support elite athletes and teams. The aim of the show is to deconstruct the strategies and philosophies the guests utilise in their working environment or area of expertise. Featured guests have worked across the NBA, NFL, MLB, F1, World title Boxing, EPL and more.

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Avg 50 min
English

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#235
September 7 · 56 min
Accelerate - Susie Reiner, PhD: Bridging worlds: Clinical and Commercial
Episode 235: In this episode of Accelerate Podcast, host Nicola Graham is joined by Susie Reiner, founder of TheoryEx, a research and consulting practice sitting at the intersection of human performance, technology and validation. Susie has spent over a decade moving between the worlds of academic research, elite sport, and commercial health tech, working with companies to translate scientific evidence into commercial decisions. Alongside her industry work she is an assistant professor of exercise science at Seton Hall University, and one of the lead authors behind the Sports Tech Research Network's white paper on the current state of sports tech innovation. That combination — sitting between the lab, the field, and the boardroom — has given her an unusually clear read on a term the industry uses constantly and defines rarely. At the centre of the conversation is what 'evidence-based' actually means. The phrase has become a marketing asset, but the standard behind it shifts dramatically depending on who is making the claim, what was measured, and against what. Susie unpacks the difference between a study that exists and a study that answers the question a practitioner is actually asking. ㅤ From there the discussion turns to why validation is so often bolted on rather than built in — treated as a box to tick once a product is already in market, rather than a process that shapes what gets built in the first place — and what that costs both companies and the practitioners buying from them. ㅤ The episode closes on the harder structural question: what it would take to close the gap between what the science genuinely supports and what the market is willing to pay for, and why that gap persists even when the appetite for rigour is there. ㅤ Topics Discussed: What 'Evidence-Based' Actually Means Why Validation Is Bolted On Rather Than Built In The Gap Between Scientific Rigour and Commercial Appetite The Current State of Sports Tech Innovation - Where you can find Susie: LinkedIn Instagram TheoryEx - Sponsors Gameplan Is a Rehab Management System providing Medical & Performance Departments with a centralised platform to plan, track & manage the return-to-play process inside a data rich environment. Gameplan provides one platform to connect the people, process and data during rehab. 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 Hytro: The world’s leading Blood Flow Restriction (BFR) wearable, designed to accelerate recovery and maximise athletic potential using Hytro BFR for Professional Sport. BTL: BTL Industries develops advanced rehabilitation and performance technologies, including SIS DUO, Shockwave Therapy, High-Intensity Laser, TR-Therapy, Lymphastim and R-FORCE. BTL systems are designed to support recovery, pain management, functional rehabilitation and return-to-play pathways across clinical and elite sport settings. - Where to Find Us Keep up to date with everything that is going on with the podcast by following Inform Performance on: Instagram Twitter Our Website
#234
September 1 · 34 min
Sports Science Insights - Niklas Virtanen: Are we training the way we play? Or using outdated methods?
Episode 234: In this episode of Sports Science Insights Podcast, host Steve Barrett is joined by Niklas Virtanen, who leads the sport science efforts at FC Midtjylland. With over eight years of experience in elite sport and high-performance consulting, and backed by UEFA fitness coaching and physiotherapy credentials, Niklas has built his work around a data-driven approach to optimising player performance and development. Much of the conversation starts from a premise that is easy to say and harder to sit with: GPS has been mastered. Total distance, high-speed running, sprint counts — the metrics that once felt like the frontier are now table stakes, tracked by almost every club at almost every level. The interesting question is no longer whether you can collect them, but what you do once collecting them stops being a competitive advantage. ㅤ From there the discussion turns to what sits underneath the movement data. Niklas makes the case for IMA and IMU signals as a way of understanding how a player is performing an action, not just what action they performed — the accelerations, decelerations, changes of direction and mechanical signatures that separate two players covering identical distances in completely different ways. It's a shift from describing workload to interpreting quality, and it changes what sport science can offer a coach. ㅤ The episode also explores where that leaves practitioners: the discipline required to stop adding metrics, the value of asking better questions of the data already being captured, and what genuine progress looks like once the obvious layer has been solved. ㅤ Topics Discussed: GPS Is Mastered — So What Should We Be Doing Now? Using IMA/IMU Data to Understand How a Player Is Performing, Not Just What They're Doing Moving from Workload Description to Movement Quality What Progress Looks Like Beyond the Obvious Metrics Where you can find Niklas: LinkedIn Instagram — Sponsors Axon: Performance teams spend the morning after game day stitching together six systems before the coach gets an answer. Axon Perform fixes that. Every source you already use, Catapult, StatSports, VALD, Opta, OVAL, Wyscout, WHOOP, Garmin and the rest, connects into a dedicated Snowflake warehouse. Ask Axon, the in-platform chat, lets analysts and sports scientists query the lot in plain English. Reports that took hours now take seconds. Used by the Springboks, England RFU, Japan RFU, Sydney Roosters and a growing list of rugby, football & cricket clubs and federations. Your data, reports, measures and AI models stay yours, fully portable. See if your data is ready for AI at axonperform.com BTL: BTL Industries develops advanced rehabilitation and performance technologies, including SIS DUO, Shockwave Therapy, High-Intensity Laser, TR-Therapy, Lymphastim and R-FORCE. BTL systems are designed to support recovery, pain management, functional rehabilitation and return-to-play pathways across clinical and elite sport settings. 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 Hytro: The world’s leading Blood Flow Restriction (BFR) wearable, designed to accelerate recovery and maximise athletic potential using Hytro BFR for Professional Sport. - Where to Find Us Keep up to date with everything that is going on with the podcast by following Inform Performance on: Instagram Twitter Our Website - Our Team Andy McDonald Ben Ashworth Nicola Graham Steve Barrett Pete McKnight
#232
August 27 · 44 min
Part 2: Alan Murdoch & Simon Harries - ACL Gameplan
Episode 233: In this Gameplan episode, Andy McDonald is joined again by both Alan Murdoch & Simon Harries for Part-2 of their combined approach to ACL rehab. - Alan is the founder of Elevate: Speed & Rehab, a performance rehab consultancy working with athletes from professional to Olympic level. With over 15 years’ experience, he specialises in the link between rehabilitation and sprint performance, using movement efficiency and speed-based principles to drive recovery beyond traditional timelines. - Simon is a specialist Rehabilitation Strength & Conditioning coach with a passion for problem solving the complexities of high performance rehabilitation. He has a PhD in Human Physiology and is an accredited ASCA Master L3 S&C coach with over 15 years of experience in high performance sport, having worked with athletes from a diverse range of backgrounds, including AFL, Rugby League, Rugby Union, Rugby Sevens, Water polo, and a range of individual event sports. - Part-2 Topics Discussed: Addressing movement deficits post-ACL Identifying common technical errors in acceleration SEE, SAY, DO, DEVELOP Framework Fast, Fit, and Skillful (FFS) Framework 6-Level Skilled Pathway: Foundational Skills Individual Technical Positional Unit Technical Decision-Making Modified Gameplay Team Play Performance Intent & Guardrails The "Mini Pre-Season" Conditioning Progressive Reintegration Framework Monitoring & Graduation Markers - Where you can find Alan: LinkedIn Instagram Elevate Speed Rehab Where you can find Simon: LinkedIn Instagram - Sponsors Gameplan Is a Rehab Management System providing Medical & Performance Departments with a centralised platform to plan, track & manage the return-to-play process inside a data rich environment. Gameplan provides one platform to connect the people, process and data during rehab. - Where to Find Us Keep up to date with everything that is going on with the podcast by following Inform Performance on: Instagram Twitter Our Website
#233
August 24 · 54 min
Accelerate - Jordan Stewart-Mackie: Sports Tech Implementation
Episode 232: In this episode of Accelerate Podcast, host Nicola Graham is joined by Jordan Stewart-Mackie an Applied Performance Scientist and PhD candidate at the University of Birmingham, where his research focuses on wearable technology and data integration. Jordan's work has spanned some of the most contrasting environments in world sport — from the Premier League to Thai football to NBA Academy Africa — settings where resources, infrastructure, and staffing vary dramatically. That range has given him a rare view of what actually determines whether technology succeeds: not the sophistication of the device, but the system and the people around it. ㅤ At the centre of the conversation is the translation problem in sports tech: the gap between what data can tell us and what practitioners can act on. Jordan has built a set of structured models to close it — BISA for technology selection and evaluation, SFQT for turning data into actionable decisions, PLACE for cultural readiness and implementation stickiness, and ATRIS, the end-to-end system that connects those layers. ㅤ The discussion also explores why human connection remains the deciding factor in adoption, and how educating and empowering athletes — rather than simply monitoring them — turns data from something done to a squad into something they buy into. ㅤ Topics Discussed: The Translation Problem in Sports Tech Building Frameworks for Implementation: BISA, SFQT, PLACE & ATRIS The Need for Human Connection Empowering and Educating Athletes to Aid Adoption - Where you can find Jordan: LinkedIn Instagram JSM Performance - Sponsors Gameplan Is a Rehab Management System providing Medical & Performance Departments with a centralised platform to plan, track & manage the return-to-play process inside a data rich environment. Gameplan provides one platform to connect the people, process and data during rehab. 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 Hytro: The world’s leading Blood Flow Restriction (BFR) wearable, designed to accelerate recovery and maximise athletic potential using Hytro BFR for Professional Sport. BTL: BTL Industries develops advanced rehabilitation and performance technologies, including SIS DUO, Shockwave Therapy, High-Intensity Laser, TR-Therapy, Lymphastim and R-FORCE. BTL systems are designed to support recovery, pain management, functional rehabilitation and return-to-play pathways across clinical and elite sport settings. - Where to Find Us Keep up to date with everything that is going on with the podcast by following Inform Performance on: Instagram Twitter Our Website
#230
August 18 · 45 min
Alan Murdoch & Simon Harries - ACL Gameplan
Episode 231: In this Gameplan episode, Andy McDonald is joined by both Alan Murdoch & Simon Harries to discuss their combined approach to ACL rehabs. - Alan is the founder of Elevate: Speed & Rehab, a performance rehab consultancy working with athletes from professional to Olympic level. With over 15 years’ experience, he specialises in the link between rehabilitation and sprint performance, using movement efficiency and speed-based principles to drive recovery beyond traditional timelines. - Simon is a specialist Rehabilitation Strength & Conditioning coach with a passion for problem solving the complexities of high performance rehabilitation. He has a PhD in Human Physiology and is an accredited ASCA Master L3 S&C coach with over 15 years of experience in high performance sport, having worked with athletes from a diverse range of backgrounds, including AFL, Rugby League, Rugby Union, Rugby Sevens, Water polo, and a range of individual event sports. - Topics Discussed: Addressing High Re-Injury Rates The Performance Rehab Triad Load-Compromised Joint Neuromechanical Deficits Neurocognitive Deficits Acute Phase Non-Negotiables & Gait Re-Education Managing Quad Lags Early RFD Training Redefining the Plyometric Framework - Where you can find Alan: LinkedIn Instagram Elevate Speed Rehab Where you can find Simon: LinkedIn Instagram - Sponsors Gameplan Is a Rehab Management System providing Medical & Performance Departments with a centralised platform to plan, track & manage the return-to-play process inside a data rich environment. Gameplan provides one platform to connect the people, process and data during rehab. - Where to Find Us Keep up to date with everything that is going on with the podcast by following Inform Performance on: Instagram Twitter Our Website
#231
August 17 · 1 hr 2 min
Keith D'Amelio: Innovating not Copying In Professional Sport
Episode 230: In this episode of the Inform Performance Podcast, Andy McDonald is joined by Keith D'Amelio, PhD a performance architect with more than two decades inside the highest levels of elite sport and business. Keith has led performance for the Boston Celtics and the Toronto Raptors, guided innovation at Nike's global HQ, and advised startups, athletes, and leadership teams on how to build sustainable systems that enable performance at the highest level. He founded Heretic Performance to challenge conventional thinking and to help teams and companies execute consistently and with purpose. Throughout the episode, Keith explores why sporting organisations so often default to risk aversion, and what it actually takes to build decision-making processes that hold up under pressure. The conversation examines the holistic cost of implementing new systems — the time, staffing, and cultural load that rarely appear on the invoice — and where the line sits between genuine innovation and practicality in an applied environment. The discussion also looks at what sport can learn from other high-stakes industries, why so much low-hanging fruit in performance still goes unpicked, and how practitioners can focus their energy on the things that move the needle rather than the things that look impressive. Topics Discussed: Why sport teams are often risk averse The importance of decision-making processes Holistic costs of implementing new systems Balancing innovation and practicality Learning from high-stakes industries Addressing low-hanging fruit in sports performance - Where you can find Keith: LinkedIn Instagram Heretic Performance - Sponsors Gameplan Is a Rehab Management System providing Medical & Performance Departments with a centralised platform to plan, track & manage the return-to-play process inside a data rich environment. Gameplan provides one platform to connect the people, process and data during rehab. 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 Hytro: The world’s leading Blood Flow Restriction (BFR) wearable, designed to accelerate recovery and maximise athletic potential using Hytro BFR for Professional Sport. BTL: BTL Industries develops advanced rehabilitation and performance technologies, including SIS DUO, Shockwave Therapy, High-Intensity Laser, TR-Therapy, Lymphastim and R-FORCE. BTL systems are designed to support recovery, pain management, functional rehabilitation and return-to-play pathways across clinical and elite sport settings. - Where to Find Us Keep up to date with everything that is going on with the podcast by following Inform Performance on: Instagram Twitter Our Website
#228
August 11 · 1 hr
Travis Gaudet - High Ankle Sprain Gameplan
Episode 229: In this Gameplan episode, Andy McDonald is joined by High Performance Physio Travis Gaudet, the Co-Owner & Director of Rehabilitation at Orka Performance. Travis regularly consults with Pro-Athletes, Collegiate Athletes, Youth Athletes, and general population alike. He has spoken and delivered workshops Internationally, and has consulted with athletes in the NHL, MLB, Olympics, CFL, MLS, Canada Men’s National Soccer Team, USPORT, NCAA and more. - In this episode, Travis shares his comprehensive Gameplan framework for a High Ankle Sprain in Ice Hockey players. - Topics Discussed: High ankle sprain biomechanics in hockey Phased rehab protocols for ankle injuries Sport-specific movement analysis Return-to-sport criteria and testing Role of biomechanics research in rehab Rehab strategies for hockey skating and shooting Conditioning and neurocognitive training in rehab - Where you can find Travis: LinkedIn Instagram Orka Performance - Sponsors Gameplan Is a Rehab Management System providing Medical & Performance Departments with a centralised platform to plan, track & manage the return-to-play process inside a data rich environment. Gameplan provides one platform to connect the people, process and data during rehab. - Where to Find Us Keep up to date with everything that is going on with the podcast by following Inform Performance on: Instagram Twitter Our Website
#229
August 10 · 1 hr 25 min
Athletic Shoulder: Gus Morrison - You can nail every number & still send them back broken
Episode 228: Ben Ashworth chats to Gus Morrison, BSc, MSc, ASCC. Gus earned his Bachelor's degree in physiotherapy from the University of Southampton in 2013, followed by a Master's degree in Sports Medicine at University College London. During this period, he sought mentorship from Ben, focusing on refining his expertise in data-driven shoulder assessments and rehabilitation. Together they published his Master's dissertation in the Journal of Physical Therapy in Sport, exploring the Athletic Shoulder Test's application in amateur rugby players. Alongside this, Gus achieved full accreditation as a Strength and Conditioning Coach through the UKSCA. He went on to establish the Shoulder Assessment Unit at the Institute of Sport, Exercise and Health, delivering a data-driven assessment service for athletes recovering from shoulder injuries. Recognised for his expertise, he has spoken at webinars and conferences, and recently co-authored a publication with Ben in the Strength and Conditioning Journal on the synergy between testing and training for shoulder injuries. Gus joined Athletic Shoulder in July 2023, where he provides comprehensive testing and rehabilitation services to a diverse clientele of athletes and patients returning to sport and exercise post-injury. Topics Discussed - The Four Buckets: Range, Endurance, Strength and Power - Why Capacity Is the Biggest Driver of Pain - Outcome, Performance and Process Goals in Rehab - Quality Assuring Tests: Spotting Compensation Before You Trust the Number - Motor Learning, Joint Position Sense and the L and Y Holds - RFD and the Athletic Shoulder Test as a Force Transfer Test - From Closed Gym Skills to Chaos: Return to Contact Where you can find Gus: •LinkedIn Sponsors Gameplan is a rehab Project Management & Data Analytics Platform that improves operational & communication efficiency during rehab. Gameplan provides a centralised tool for MDT’s to work collaboratively inside a data rich environment 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 Hytro: The world’s leading Blood Flow Restriction (BFR) wearable, designed to accelerate recovery and maximise athletic potential using Hytro BFR for Professional Sport. BTL: BTL Industries develops advanced rehabilitation and performance technologies, including SIS DUO, Shockwave Therapy, High-Intensity Laser, TR-Therapy, Lymphastim and R-FORCE. BTL systems are designed to support recovery, pain management, functional rehabilitation and return-to-play pathways across clinical and elite sport settings. - Where to Find Us Keep up to date with everything that is going on with the podcast by following Inform Performance on: Instagram Twitter Our Website - Our Team Andy McDonald Ben Ashworth Nicola Graham Steve Barrett Pete McKnight
#226
August 5 · 38 min
Tim McGrath - PCL Gameplan
Episode 227: In this Gameplan episode - a collaboration between Gameplan & Inform Performance, Host Andy McDonald is joined by Consultant Physiotherapist and Director of Pitch-Ready Tim McGrath. Tim is a Sports Physiotherapist with over 23 years professional practice & professional sport experience. Most recently returned to Australia after working as Senior Director of Player Health & Performance for the Washington Commanders NFL team in the USA, Tim completed his PhD from the Research Institute of Sports & Exercise (UCRISE) at the University of Canberra on the topic of ACL rehabilitation and return to sport following knee injury in 2016. - In this episode, Tim shares his comprehensive Gameplan framework for PCL rehabilitation and return to play. - Topics Discussed: PCL injury assessment and management Sport-specific physical demands and rehab goals Progressive training buckets: quad, hamstring, calf, lateral movement Objective benchmarks for an effective return-to-play Common pitfalls and decision making in PCL rehab - Where you can find Tim McGrath: LinkedIn Instagram Where you can find Pitch Ready: Pitch-Ready - Sponsors Gameplan Is a Rehab Management System providing Medical & Performance Departments with a centralised platform to plan, track & manage the return-to-play process inside a data rich environment. Gameplan provides one platform to connect the people, process and data during rehab. - Where to Find Us Keep up to date with everything that is going on with the podcast by following Inform Performance on: Instagram Twitter Our Website
#227
August 3 · 37 min
Sports Science Insights: Dan Ramsden - Career Transition, Leadership & Concussion.
Episode 228: In this episode of Inform Performance, host Steve Barrett is joined by Dan Ramsden — Head of Performance for Super League's Hull KR, promoted into the role after eight years as the club's Head Physiotherapist. Dan now leads the club's strength, conditioning, and rehabilitation programmes, bringing together medical and performance functions under one department. Alongside a physiotherapy degree and a PhD focused on concussion, he holds a 5th Dan Black Belt in Aikido, and specialises in injury prevention and building athletic resilience in a collision sport. At the centre of the conversation is Dan's transition from clinician to department lead. He discusses what changes when your remit shifts from treating individual athletes to setting the direction of an entire performance team, the skills that transfer from physiotherapy, and the ones that have to be learned on the job. The discussion also explores the culture required to build and sustain a high-performing staff — how roles are defined, how disciplines are integrated rather than siloed, and how Dan develops the practitioners around him. Dan then unpacks player availability and its relationship with training and match intensity, before moving into his research area: concussion, neck strength, and the role of rate of force development (RFD) as a measure that goes beyond maximal strength testing. — Topics Discussed: Progression from Physio to a Head of Performance role Culture and development of a high performance team Player availability and its link to intensity Concussion and the use of rate of force development (RFD) within neck strength Where you can find Dan: LinkedIn Instagram — Sponsors Axon: Performance teams spend the morning after game day stitching together six systems before the coach gets an answer. Axon Perform fixes that. Every source you already use, Catapult, StatSports, VALD, Opta, OVAL, Wyscout, WHOOP, Garmin and the rest, connects into a dedicated Snowflake warehouse. Ask Axon, the in-platform chat, lets analysts and sports scientists query the lot in plain English. Reports that took hours now take seconds. Used by the Springboks, England RFU, Japan RFU, Sydney Roosters and a growing list of rugby, football & cricket clubs and federations. Your data, reports, measures and AI models stay yours, fully portable. See if your data is ready for AI at axonperform.com BTL: BTL Industries develops advanced rehabilitation and performance technologies, including SIS DUO, Shockwave Therapy, High-Intensity Laser, TR-Therapy, Lymphastim and R-FORCE. BTL systems are designed to support recovery, pain management, functional rehabilitation and return-to-play pathways across clinical and elite sport settings. 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 Hytro: The world’s leading Blood Flow Restriction (BFR) wearable, designed to accelerate recovery and maximise athletic potential using Hytro BFR for Professional Sport. - Where to Find Us Keep up to date with everything that is going on with the podcast by following Inform Performance on: Instagram Twitter Our Website - Our Team Andy McDonald Ben Ashworth Nicola Graham Steve Barrett Pete McKnight
#225
July 28 · 47 min
Lindsay Bull - The Handover Hangover: Sequential vs. Concurrent Return to Performance Models in Elite Sport
Episode 225: In this Gameplan episode - a collaboration between Gameplan & Inform Performance, Host Andy McDonald is joined by Consultant Physiotherapist Lindsay Bull. Lindsay is an experienced sports physiotherapist and medical services leader working across elite professional sport and high-performance environments. His work centres on performance rehabilitation, return-to-sport decision making, and management of complex musculoskeletal injuries, particularly thigh muscle and hip/groin conditions across elite athletes. Lindsay's experience includes leading medical services within elite AFL programs across multiple programs, with responsibility for multidisciplinary team leadership, medical and rehabilitation strategy, and player availability outcomes. In this episode, Lindsay shares unpacks his recent article collaboration with Martin Buccheit titled: The Handover Hangover: Sequential vs. Concurrent Return to Performance Models in Elite Sport. - Topics Discussed: The villain in suboptimal rehab: siloed approaches Job security and its impact on collaboration Principles of collegiality, alignment & concurrent engagement. Common misalignments in prognosis and expectations Practical tips for building a collaborative department The role of facility design and communication - Where you can find Lindsay Bull: LinkedIn Instagram Where you can find the paper: Performance and Sport Science Reports - Sponsors Gameplan Is a Rehab Management System providing Medical & Performance Departments with a centralised platform to plan, track & manage the return-to-play process inside a data rich environment. Gameplan provides one platform to connect the people, process and data during rehab. - Where to Find Us Keep up to date with everything that is going on with the podcast by following Inform Performance on: Instagram Twitter Our Website
#224
July 20 · 57 min
Accelerate: Mark Opar - The Sports Tech Transition from Elite Sport to Healthcare
Episode 224: In this episode of Accelerate Podcast, host Nicola Graham is joined by Mark Opar — a clinical physiotherapist of ten years who made the leap into sports technology, and now serves as Head of Strategy for Health at VALD, one of the world's leading sports technology companies. Mark's career has bridged the clinic and the boardroom — giving him a rare perspective on what it takes to translate elite sport innovation into everyday healthcare. VALD's force plates, strength testing systems, and assessment tools are trusted by thousands of elite teams worldwide, and Mark's mission is to bring that same objective assessment capability to clinics, hospitals, and the general population. ㅤ At the centre of the conversation is a provocative thesis: objective assessment isn't just about better data — it's about better engagement. Mark unpacks how giving practitioners and patients a shared language changes the dynamic of care, driving motivation, trust, and ultimately better outcomes. ㅤ The discussion also explores the realities of moving from clinician to corporate strategist, and what elite sport can teach healthcare about measuring what matters. ㅤ Topics Discussed: The Clinician-to-Corporate Transition VALD's Position in the Market Crossing from Elite Sport to Healthcare Objective Assessment as Engagement Sponsors Gameplan is a rehab Project Management & Data Analytics Platform that improves operational & communication efficiency during rehab. Gameplan provides a centralised tool for MDT’s to work collaboratively inside a data rich environment 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 Hytro: The world’s leading Blood Flow Restriction (BFR) wearable, designed to accelerate recovery and maximise athletic potential using Hytro BFR for Professional Sport. BTL: BTL Industries develops advanced rehabilitation and performance technologies, including SIS DUO, Shockwave Therapy, High-Intensity Laser, TR-Therapy, Lymphastim and R-FORCE. BTL systems are designed to support recovery, pain management, functional rehabilitation and return-to-play pathways across clinical and elite sport settings. - Where to Find Us Keep up to date with everything that is going on with the podcast by following Inform Performance on: Instagram Twitter Our Website - Our Team Andy McDonald Ben Ashworth Nicola Graham Steve Barrett Pete McKnight
#223
July 13 · 45 min
Michael Giakoumis - Gameplan for Hamstring Strains
Episode 223: In this 1st episode of Gameplans - a collaboration between Gameplan & Inform Performance, Host Andy McDonald is joined by Michael Giakoumis the Head of Rehab at Manchester City FC. Michael is an experienced sports physiotherapist with specialised expertise in complex hip, groin, and lower-limb muscle injuries, frequently providing second opinions for challenging cases. He has previously held roles at the Marylebone Health Group (MHG) in their specialist hip, groin, and muscle injury clinic, as well as within elite international athletics with British Athletics and across multiple other sports. In this episode, Michael Giakoumis shares his comprehensive framework to hamstring rehabilitation, emphasising the importance of understanding sport demands, individual variability, and systematic planning for effective recovery. - Topics Discussed: Framework for deconstructing football-specific demands. Identifying hamstring strain co-actives Phased approach to hamstring rehabilitation Physical qualities and their role in rehab Use of speed bounds and biomechanical demands Individualized rehab based on injury severity and history Monitoring and adjusting rehab objectives Importance of interdisciplinary collaboration - Where you can find Michael Giakoumis: LinkedIn Instagram - Sponsors Gameplan Is a Rehab Management System providing Medical & Performance Departments with a centralised platform to plan, track & manage the return-to-play process inside a data rich environment. Gameplan provides one platform to connect the people, process and data during rehab. - Where to Find Us Keep up to date with everything that is going on with the podcast by following Inform Performance on: Instagram Twitter Our Website - Our Team Andy McDonald Ben Ashworth Nicola Graham Steve Barrett Pete McKnight
#222
July 8 · 53 min
Warren Bradley - FIFA World Cup: Physiological Challenges & Strategies
Episode 222: In this episode of the Inform Performance Podcast, Andy McDonald is joined by Dr. Warren Bradley — sports nutritionist turned co-founder of Hytro, the world's leading Blood Flow Restriction (BFR) wearable used by elite teams across multiple sports worldwide. With over a decade of experience in professional sport and a PhD in sports nutrition, Warren has spent the past six years transitioning from applied practice into building a company that delivers BFR solutions to high-performance environments around the globe. His unique perspective bridges the science of recovery with the practical realities of elite sport. Throughout the episode, Warren explores the physiological challenges athletes face during congested tournament schedules, and how practitioners can mitigate the effects of jet lag, travel fatigue, and accumulated load. The conversation examines neuromuscular function, the role of perception in fatigue and recovery, and how emerging modalities like BFR may support tendon recovery. The discussion also dives into how practitioners can identify which recovery strategies actually matter, how to evaluate their effectiveness, and why the human element remains central to recovery science — even as technology and data continue to evolve. Topics Discussed: Physiological challenges in tournaments Mitigating jet lag and fatigue Neuromuscular function and recovery techniques Perception of fatigue and recovery modalities Exploring BFR and tendon recovery Identifying key recovery strategies Evaluating recovery effectiveness The human element in recovery science Where you can find Warren: LinkedIn Instagram - Sponsors Gameplan is a rehab Project Management & Data Analytics Platform that improves operational & communication efficiency during rehab. Gameplan provides a centralised tool for MDT’s to work collaboratively inside a data rich environment 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 Hytro: The world’s leading Blood Flow Restriction (BFR) wearable, designed to accelerate recovery and maximise athletic potential using Hytro BFR for Professional Sport. - Where to Find Us Keep up to date with everything that is going on with the podcast by following Inform Performance on: Instagram Twitter Our Website - Our Team Andy McDonald Ben Ashworth Nicola Graham Steve Barrett Pete McKnight
#221
June 22 · 35 min
Sports Science Insights - Julie Gooderick: Sleep, Recovery & the female athlete
Episode 221: In this episode of Sports Science Insights, host Steve Barrett is joined by Julie Gooderick — a UKSCA Accredited Strength & Conditioning Coach and Sports Therapist with more than 15 years of experience supporting athletes across a wide range of sports, from grassroots participation through to the Olympic Games. Julie has led athlete scholarship programmes within schools and universities, helping to create pathways that develop talent from early participation to elite performance. With a degree in Sports Therapy, an MSc in Strength & Conditioning, and experience supporting athletes at two Olympic Games, she brings a unique perspective on long-term athlete development, performance support, and the realities of working in high-performance sport. At the centre of the conversation is the challenge of supporting athletes beyond the training programme itself. Julie discusses the role of recovery in performance, why sleep remains one of the most underutilised tools available to athletes, and how practitioners can create environments that promote both performance and wellbeing. The discussion also explores Julie's involvement in initiatives designed to support and develop female coaches within the profession. Drawing on her own experiences, she reflects on the progress that has been made, the challenges that remain, and the importance of creating opportunities for future generations of practitioners. Throughout the episode, Julie shares practical examples and case studies from her consultancy work with female athletes, providing insight into the complex and individualised nature of performance support across different sporting environments. - Topics Discussed: Julie's Background and Career Journey Sleep, Recovery and Performance Female Coach Initiatives Through UKSCA Female Athlete Consultancy Case Studies Long-Term Athlete Development Supporting Athletes Across Different Sporting Environments - Where you can find Julie: Linkedin Publications - Sponsors Axon: Performance teams spend the morning after game day stitching together six systems before the coach gets an answer. Axon Perform fixes that. Every source you already use, Catapult, StatSports, VALD, Opta, OVAL, Wyscout, WHOOP, Garmin and the rest, connects into a dedicated Snowflake warehouse. Ask Axon, the in-platform chat, lets analysts and sports scientists query the lot in plain English. Reports that took hours now take seconds. Used by the Springboks, England RFU, Japan RFU, Sydney Roosters and a growing list of rugby, football & cricket clubs and federations. Your data, reports, measures and AI models stay yours, fully portable. See if your data is ready for AI at axonperform.com 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 Hytro: The world’s leading Blood Flow Restriction (BFR) wearable, designed to accelerate recovery and maximise athletic potential using Hytro BFR for Professional Sport. - Where to Find Us Keep up to date with everything that is going on with the podcast by following Inform Performance on: Instagram Twitter Our Website - Our Team Andy McDonald Ben Ashworth Nicola Graham Steve Barrett Pete McKnight
#220
June 8 · 58 min
Accelerate - Allan MacDonald: Decision Making in Sport
Episode 220: In this episode of Accelerate Podcast, host Nicola Graham is joined by Allan MacDonald — a decision-making specialist who has spent 15 years in elite sport before transitioning into government, and who holds a professional doctorate in judgmental forecasting and decision-making. Allan's career has taken him across high-performance sport, public sector strategy, and academic research — giving him a rare cross-domain perspective on how decisions actually get made under pressure. His doctoral work focuses on the science of forecasting and human judgement, exploring why even experienced professionals fall short when it matters most. ㅤ At the centre of the conversation is a question every high-performance environment faces: how do we make better decisions — not just with better data, but with better thinking? Allan unpacks the gap between having information and knowing how to weigh it, and why expertise alone is no defence against the biases that quietly shape our choices. ㅤ The discussion also explores how the principles of judgmental forecasting and calibrated confidence translate beyond sport — into business, strategy, and any environment where decisions are made in the face of uncertainty. ㅤ Topics Discussed: Decision Making in High-Performance Environments Confidence and Calibration Team Set-Ups and How They Shape Judgement Forecasting and Handling Uncertainty The Crossover to Business and Strategy - Where you can find Allan: LinkedIn Website X - Sponsors Gameplan is a rehab Project Management & Data Analytics Platform that improves operational & communication efficiency during rehab. Gameplan provides a centralised tool for MDT’s to work collaboratively inside a data rich environment 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 Hytro: The world’s leading Blood Flow Restriction (BFR) wearable, designed to accelerate recovery and maximise athletic potential using Hytro BFR for Professional Sport. - Where to Find Us Keep up to date with everything that is going on with the podcast by following Inform Performance on: Instagram Twitter Our Website - Our Team Andy McDonald Ben Ashworth Nicola Graham Steve Barrett Pete McKnight
#219
May 25 · 51 min
Simon Wallace: Achilles Tendon Repair Rehab
Episode 219: In this episode of the Inform Performance Podcast, Andy McDonald is joined by Simon Wallace — Senior Physiotherapist at Aspetar Sports Medicine Hospital, where he leads the Foot, Ankle, and Calf rehabilitation team. With extensive experience across elite sport and high-performance environments, Simon has developed particular expertise in lower limb rehabilitation, specialising in complex foot and ankle injuries as well as recurrent thigh muscle issues. Prior to Aspetar, Simon spent over a decade working in professional rugby, including serving as Medical Lead & Head Physiotherapist at Leicester Tigers. Throughout the episode, Simon shares a detailed insight into the rehabilitation process following Achilles tendon rupture and repair, exploring how clinicians can effectively balance tissue healing, loading strategies, and athlete expectations throughout recovery. The conversation highlights the importance of understanding the variability within Achilles rehab and why rigid timelines often fail to reflect the realities of individual recovery. The discussion also dives into the role of early-stage management post-surgery, common mistakes that can delay progress, and how practitioners can better integrate strength and plyometric training to prepare athletes for the demands of return to performance. Simon offers practical perspectives on navigating decision-making in elite sport while maintaining athlete confidence and long-term outcomes. Topics Discussed: Surgical options for Achilles repair Early management following Achilles surgery Understanding flexibility within Achilles rehab Common pitfalls during Achilles recovery The importance of plyometric training Navigating athlete expectations and return timelines - Where you can find Simon: LinkedIn Instagram - Sponsors Gameplan is a rehab Project Management & Data Analytics Platform that improves operational & communication efficiency during rehab. Gameplan provides a centralised tool for MDT’s to work collaboratively inside a data rich environment 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 Hytro: The world’s leading Blood Flow Restriction (BFR) wearable, designed to accelerate recovery and maximise athletic potential using Hytro BFR for Professional Sport. - Where to Find Us Keep up to date with everything that is going on with the podcast by following Inform Performance on: Instagram Twitter Our Website - Our Team Andy McDonald Ben Ashworth Nicola Graham Steve Barrett Pete McKnight
#218
May 11 · 54 min
Accelerate - Dr Naomi Myhill: Translating Elite Sport to Consumer Health
Episode 218: In this episode of Accelerate Podcast, host Nicola Graham is joined by Dr Naomi Myhill — Director of Applied Science at Cascaid Health, a proactive health platform applying elite sport methodology to consumer health and longevity. ㅤ Before joining Cascaid Health, Naomi spent years working across elite women’s football with both The FA and City Football Group, helping bridge the gap between research and practice. Her work focused on translating complex performance constructs into actionable metrics and interventions — giving coaches and practitioners clearer insights to support faster, better decision-making. ㅤ At the centre of the conversation is the challenge of applying elite sport principles outside of high-performance environments. Naomi shares why so much health data fails to create meaningful behaviour change, what it takes to build systems that genuinely move people forward, and how elite sport methodologies can shape the future of consumer health and longevity. ㅤ The discussion also explores the female athlete landscape — from data collection and interpretation, to the broader challenges and opportunities involved in building more individualised health and performance systems. ㅤ Topics Discussed: What Elite Sport Can Teach Consumer Health Why Most Health Data Fails to Change Behaviour Building Systems That Actually Move People Forward The Female Athlete and Data Translating Research Into Practice Health, Longevity and Behaviour Change - Where you can find Naomi: Website - Sponsors Gameplan is a rehab Project Management & Data Analytics Platform that improves operational & communication efficiency during rehab. Gameplan provides a centralised tool for MDT’s to work collaboratively inside a data rich environment 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 Hytro: The world’s leading Blood Flow Restriction (BFR) wearable, designed to accelerate recovery and maximise athletic potential using Hytro BFR for Professional Sport. - Where to Find Us Keep up to date with everything that is going on with the podcast by following Inform Performance on: Instagram Twitter Our Website - Our Team Andy McDonald Ben Ashworth Nicola Graham Steve Barrett Pete McKnight
#217
April 28 · 30 min
Hannah Marchant - A Real World MPFL Case Study
Episode 217: In this episode of the Inform Performance, Andy McDonald is joined by Hannah Marchant — a Sports Therapist working across elite sport and clinical environments, currently with New York City FC, and formerly at Cleveland Clinic. With a background spanning high-performance sport and advanced clinical practice, Hannah brings a detailed perspective on integrating rehabilitation, objective testing, and data-led decision-making within multidisciplinary teams. Her work centres on optimising athlete recovery while ensuring robust, criteria-based return-to-play outcomes. Across the conversation, Hannah breaks down the complexities of managing patellar instability and MPFL injuries — from initial assessment through to long-term rehabilitation strategy. The discussion explores how anatomical risk factors influence decision-making, the importance of structured clinical workflows, and how practitioners can adapt rehab in real time based on objective feedback. The episode also dives into the nuances of progressing patellar rehab in elite environments, highlighting how to balance tissue healing, strength development, and movement quality — while maintaining clarity across the MDT. Hannah shares practical insights into monitoring progress, refining interventions, and ensuring athletes are not just cleared to return, but truly prepared to perform. Topics Discussed: Assessment process for MPFL injuries Clinical workflow and case management Anatomical risk factors for patellar dislocation Rehabilitation nuances for patellar injuries Monitoring progress and adjusting rehab - Where you can find Hannah: LinkedIn Instagram - Sponsors Gameplan is a rehab Project Management & Data Analytics Platform that improves operational & communication efficiency during rehab. Gameplan provides a centralised tool for MDT’s to work collaboratively inside a data rich environment 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 Hytro: The world’s leading Blood Flow Restriction (BFR) wearable, designed to accelerate recovery and maximise athletic potential using Hytro BFR for Professional Sport. - Where to Find Us Keep up to date with everything that is going on with the podcast by following Inform Performance on: Instagram Twitter Our Website - Our Team Andy McDonald Ben Ashworth Nicola Graham Steve Barrett Pete McKnight
#216
April 13 · 58 min
Accelerate - Brian Moore: The 15 Year Build: Science Leads and Tech Follows
Episode 216: In this episode of Accelerate Podcast, host Nicola Graham is joined by Dr Brian Moore — Co-Founder and CEO of Orreco, a company that has spent over fifteen years at the forefront of bio-analytics and AI in elite sport. ㅤ Brian’s journey into high-performance sport began in the lead-up to the Sydney Olympics 2000, where he studied blood biomarkers under Professor Craig Sharp — widely regarded as a pioneer of British sports science. Since then, his work has spanned Olympic and World Championship medallists, NBA organisations including the Dallas Mavericks, Premier League clubs, Formula 1 teams, and the America’s Cup. ㅤ At the core of the conversation is Orreco’s long-term vision: building a full-stack AI system for human performance. Brian shares how a science-first approach has shaped the company’s evolution — from early biomarker analysis to developing integrated systems that aim to inform decision-making across performance, recovery, and health. ㅤ This episode explores what it really takes to build in elite sport over the long term — from maintaining scientific credibility, to navigating investment, and translating complex data into meaningful, applied insights for practitioners and organisations. ㅤ Topics Discussed: The Fifteen-Year Build Science-First Strategy The Bio-Analytics Thesis Building the Full Stack Capital and Credibility - Where you can find Brian: LinkedIn Website Instagram - Sponsors Gameplan is a rehab Project Management & Data Analytics Platform that improves operational & communication efficiency during rehab. Gameplan provides a centralised tool for MDT’s to work collaboratively inside a data rich environment 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 Hytro: The world’s leading Blood Flow Restriction (BFR) wearable, designed to accelerate recovery and maximise athletic potential using Hytro BFR for Professional Sport. - Where to Find Us Keep up to date with everything that is going on with the podcast by following Inform Performance on: Instagram Twitter Our Website - Our Team Andy McDonald Ben Ashworth Nicola Graham Steve Barrett Pete McKnight

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