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SEASON 4, EPISODE 14 WITH DOUG DAVIDSON OF THE VEGAS GOLDEN KNIGHTS In this episode, we sit down with Doug Davidson, Associate Director of Sports Performance and Strength & Conditioning for Stanley Cup Champions, the Vegas Golden Knights. we discuss common sports injuries amongst hockey players and Davidson's training philosophies for elite-level hockey players during both in-season and off-season programming. In this episode, we cover: Off-Ice conditioning protocols for elite hockey players during the season The types of conditioning Davidson likes to incorporate. Why running isn't his go-to conditioning exercise. How important maximum strength is to hockey performance What the key physical qualities Davidson focuses on during the off-season are. How the amount of travel required during the season impacts an NHL team's training focus and schedule How Davidson schedules lifts for the players around games. How Davidson considers a player's autonomic nervous system and metabolic load when building out strength programs. How Davidson consolidates the stress put on the players' bodies. How training varies for players depending on playing position. Doug Davidson on LinkedIn Doug Davidson is the Associate Director of Sports Performance and Strength & Conditioning for the Vegas Golden Knights, where he is responsible for maximizing the athletic potential of players through the development, instruction, progression, oversight and documentation of individual and group performance enhancements and recovery training activities. Prior to joining the Golden Knights, he spent two seasons as the Strength and Conditioning Coach for the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, the American Hockey League affiliate of the Pittsburgh Penguins where he oversaw all aspects of off-ice training, assisted in rehab and oversaw team meals, supplement use, and nutrition. Before joining the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins Hockey Club, Davidson served as the Strength and Conditioning Coach at the Gary Roberts High-Performance Centre from 2013-15, where he worked with a variety of male and female athletes, including elite hockey players ranging from NHL players to aspiring youths to improve their performance while also correcting posture, muscle imbalances, and movement patterns. Davidson was a Strength and Conditioning Intern at Queen's University from 2010-13. In 2013 he received the Varsity Service Award for his contributions to Queen's University Varsity Athletics as a strength and conditioning intern. He also completed a strength and conditioning internship at Cressey Performance in 2012. Doug Davidson attended Queen's University, where he graduated with honors in 2013 with a Bachelor's degree in Physical and Health Education. He has a dual Masters's Degree in Sports Conditioning and Exercise & Sport Psychology from A.T. Still University and is a certified strength and conditioning coach through NSCA.

PART 2 WITH GEORGE ZIRKEL | SEASON 4, EPISODE 13 Part 2 with George Zirkel discusses how his throwing program has been impacted by new philosophies and technology, along with major takeaways and lessons he has learned during his time as a pitching and throwing coach. In this episode, we cover: What J-Bands are and their benefits in training The history of weighted baseball training and if weighted balls are necessary to throw faster The disadvantages of mass adoption of popular programs and philosophies What new approaches have come about in recent years to throwing harder What tactics are used to address throwing form issues What the effective ways to talk to athletes are What George specifically modifies in a player's throwing How George incorporate's a surgeon's advice when working with throwers recovering from an injury How George modifies his program "on the move" What the #1 deficit in mechanics that leads to elbow injuries The most common thing coaches do wrong that lead to a pitcher's injury George's #1 tip to throw harder George is the Director of Pitching and Associate Director of Operations at On Deck George and was the Director of Pitching at Ascent Athlete for nearly 4 years where he coached hundreds of pitchers including MLB, MiLB, college, high school, and youth pitchers. He also created an internship program in which aspiring coaches received educational training and gained hands-on experience working with athletes. George has spent years coordinating throwing plans with strength and conditioning coaches and physical therapists to ensure his pitchers are getting the best care possible.

PART 1 WITH GEORGE ZIRKEL | SEASON 4, EPISODE 12 Part 1 with George Zirkel discusses the topic of rehabilitating pitchers, including the importance of proper throwing programs, measuring intensity and feedback mechanisms, and conducting assessments to understand the individual's background and goals. In this episode, we cover: What rehab means for pitchers What client population George works with What should be revised from the return to throw protocol What the goal arm speed and RPM values should be for pitchers What type of bands George uses for pitchers that he works with How George's pitching program utilizes the "three pillars" What George's first assessment looks like How George uses video in his assessments What the overall thrower evaluation looks like after getting the baseline data Thoughts on athletes playing fall baseball George is the Director of Pitching and Associate Director of Operations at On Deck George and was the Director of Pitching at Ascent Athlete for nearly 4 years, where he coached hundreds of pitchers, including MLB, MiLB, college, high school, and youth pitchers. He also created an internship program in which aspiring coaches received educational training and gained hands-on experience working with athletes. George has spent years coordinating throwing plans with strength and conditioning coaches and physical therapists to ensure his pitchers are getting the best care possible. In 2022, George completed his Master of Arts in Motor Learning and Control from Columbia University. In 2017 he completed his Bachelor of Arts in Economics from Susquehanna University. George played collegiately at Susquehanna University.

PART 2 WITH DR. AMBER MACFARLANE, DO | SEASON 4, EPISODE 11 Part 2 with Dr. Amber MacFarlane, DO discusses Tenex and TenJet procedures for the treatment of tendinopathies and scar tissue removal. In this episode, we cover: What Osteopathic manual therapy is and why Dr.MacFarlane chooses to use it in her practice. What Tenex and TenJet are and how they work. What the differences between Tenex and TenJet are. How ultrasound is used for imagining with Tenex and Tenjet. What the recovery and rehab process looks like after a Tenex or TenJet procedure. The success outcomes of Tenex and TenJet procedures are. What managing tendinopathies and tendonitis looks like in the weight room with Rob Rabena. Who the best candidates for these procedures are. What kind of person is most at risk for tendonitis and tendinopathy. The fast five: What's Dr.MacFarlane's favorite thing about being on the sideline? What the greatest height Dr.MacFarlane ever pole vaulted? What testing is Dr.MacFarlane uses on the sideline when she suspects a concussion? Who should not get their neck manipulated? What's one way we can get better at diagnosing concussions? Amber MacFarlane, DO, a native of Southampton, Pennsylvania is a Board-Certified Sports Medicine Physician and completed her residency and fellowship at Crozer Health. She earned her medical degree from the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine after obtaining a degree in Biology from Widener University. She has been the team physician for the Philadelphia Union, Philadelphia Union 2, University of Delaware, Garnet Valley High School, Strath Haven High School, and Upper Darby High School. Dr. MacFarlane is a former Division III NCAA pole vaulter. She continues to be very active in weight lifting, running, and hiking. She lives in Bucks County, PA, with her husband.

PART 1 WITH DR.AMBER MACFARLANE, DO | SEASON 4 EPISODE 10 Part 1 with Dr. Amber MacFarlane DO is focused on low back pain evaluation, treatment, and prevention in young athlete populations. We cover: The most common sport-related injuries that cause low back pain are Spodololisis prevalence, treatment, and management. How Dr.MacFarlane's osteopathic background informs her evaluation and care processes In general, when is it appropriate to get imaging, like an MRI, for back pain When and why would bracing be recommended for back pain treatment How to prevent back pain when participating in strength training What the core is What athletes are getting wrong when training core Philosophies around Injections and medications for the treatment of lower back pain in young athletes What return-to-sport looks like with back pain in young athletes Amber MacFarlane, DO, a native of Southampton, Pennsylvania is a Board-Certified Sports Medicine Physician and completed her residency and fellowship at Crozer Health. She earned her medical degree from the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine after obtaining a degree in Biology from Widener University. She has been the team physician for the Philadelphia Union, Philadelphia Union 2, University of Delaware, Garnet Valley High School, Strath Haven High School, and Upper Darby High School. Dr. MacFarlane is a former Division III NCAA pole vaulter. She continues to be very active in weight lifting, running, and hiking. She lives in Bucks County, PA, with her husband.

PART 3 WITH MIKE WILSON | SEASON 4 EPISODE 9 Part 3 with Mike Wilson, DPT focuses on his clinical approach to treating, managing, and progressing hamstring tendinopathy in runners. In this episode, we cover: What’s the difference between a hamstring strain and a tendinopathy?   What strategies Mike uses to help runners with hamstring tendinopathy return to form. How to avoid recurring hamstring injuries through PT and loading. What part of the foot should be hitting the ground first when you're running. Why skipping can help you learn the correct running mechanics How Mike uses manual therapy in his treatment of hamstring tendinopathy. What the best exercises for recovering from and preventing hamstring injuries are. What the most common causes of hamstring issues are for runners. The degree of hamstring flexibility that is acceptable and desirable. Contact: [email protected] Mike earned his Master of Science degree from Ithaca College in 2003 where he played inter-collegiate basketball. He earned his Doctorate in Physical Therapy at Temple University in 2008. Mike has been full-body certified in Active Release Technique (ART) since 2005 and obtained his Orthopedic Clinical Specialist certification in 2009. Additional certifications include Functional Movement Screening (FMS), Selective Functional Movement Analysis (SFMA), Postural Restoration Institute (PRI), and Functional Range Conditioning (FRC).  In addition to patient care, Mike is a Regional Clinical Director at Premier Orthopaedics and participates as adjunct faculty at Widener University’s DPT program.  

PART 2 WITH MIKE WILSON | SEASON 4 EPISODE 8 Part 2 with Mike Wilson, DPT focuses on how he uses pain science and Postural Restoration (PRI) in the treatment of his patients on a regular basis. In this episode, we cover: What pain science is. What factors besides injury or damage contribute to the experience of pain. How regulating your nervous system can improve the experience of pain in your body. Why some people have a herniated disc and are never symptomatic and others find it excruciating. How to use the "Peak-end" theory with patients. What PRI is and how Mike Wilson uses it in his practice. Mike Wilson's advice to recent PT grads who want to get their feet wet with pain science. Mike earned his Master of Science degree from Ithaca College in 2003 where he played inter-collegiate basketball. He earned his Doctorate in Physical Therapy at Temple University in 2008. Mike has been full-body certified in Active Release Technique (ART) since 2005 and obtained his Orthopedic Clinical Specialist certification in 2009. Additional certifications include Functional Movement Screening (FMS), Selective Functional Movement Analysis (SFMA), Postural Restoration Institute (PRI), and Functional Range Conditioning (FRC).  In addition to patient care, Mike is a Regional Clinical Director at Premier Orthopaedics and participates as adjunct faculty at Widener University’s DPT program.  

PART 1 WITH MIKE WILSON, DPT ! SEASON 4 SEASON 7 Part 1 with Mike Wilson, DPT focuses on low back pain management, incorporating strength and conditioning into pain reduction programming, and how his approaches have evolved over the years for the better. We cover: Philosophies in treating low back pain How he manages the mental aspects to pain science, specifically with lower back pain How Mike Wilson uses his different certificates and backgrounds to create a holistic program to safely recover from low back pain How manual therapy plays a role in Mike's patient population and the techniques he uses. How Mike's approaches have changed over time. Why the words doctors and PTs use need to be chosen carefully How Mike incorporates strength and conditioning into his pain management and reduction programs What is "good enough" to stop attending physical therapy Managing low back pain in younger athletes Mike earned his Masters of Science degree from Ithaca College in 2003 where he played inter-collegiate basketball. He earned his Doctorate in Physical Therapy at Temple University in 2008. Mike has been full-body certified in Active Release Technique (ART) since 2005 and obtained his Orthopedic Clinical Specialist certification in 2009. Additional certifications include Functional Movement Screening (FMS), Selective Functional Movement Analysis (SFMA), Postural Restoration Institute (PRI), and Functional Range Conditioning (FRC).  In addition to patient-care, Mike is a Regional Clinical Director at Premier Orthopaedics and participates as adjunct faculty at Widener University’s DPT program.    

PART 3 WITH SAM WHITNEY | Season 4, Episode 6 Part 3 with Sam Whitney we talk olympic lifts, power lifting, and the conjugate method for athletes. Plus, we get into some quick hitters like back squat vs front squat and Sam's thoughts on benching for collegiate athletes. We tackle: What are olympic lifts and how he incorporated them in collegiate athletics. How he would approach programming and teaching athletes with different ranges of skill set in olympic lifts, from first year students who have never lifted to seniors at the top of their game. Why he never believed in rushing to learning olympic lifts and instead focused on functional movements first. How ego can sabotage your programming as a strength and conditioning coach How strong is "strong enough" and how do you gauge when an athlete is there Sam's experience training and developing himself as a power lifter What the conjugate method is for power lifting and olympic lifting. How Sam learned and used the conjugate method as part of his power lifting training and eventually in his collegiate program. How using a box squat helps with form and range of motion for your non-box squat and full squat. How speed focused training helps with absolute strength What lessons Sam took from his power lifting training to his collegiate strength training and programming. Quick hitters: Should overhead athletes bench Back squat vs front squat Thoughts on benching for collegiate athletes Should everyone bench/squat/deadlift etc? Hex bar vs straight bar deadlift Sumo vs. conventional deadlift Contact info: [email protected] [email protected] alignthegrind.com Sam Whitney is a concierge strength and conditioning coach in the greater Philadelphia area, and founder of Align The Grind, an online health and human performance platform for former collegiate athletes. Align The Grind helps former athletes redefine themselves through mind, body, and spirit. Coach Whitney graduated from Temple University with a BS in Kinesiology and a MS in Sports Business. He is CSCS, SCCC, USAW, RPR, and TPI certified. Coach Whitney began his collegiate strength and conditioning career at Villanova University, then moving on to New York University, before returning to Temple University as the Associate Head S&C Coach for 10 years.

PART 2 WITH SAM WHITNEY | Season 4, Episode 5 Part 2 with Coach Sam Whitney focuses on how he took his years of experience as a collegiate strength and conditioning coach to create an online community for former collegiate athletes that allows them to continue training their mind, body, and spirit long after they finish playing their sport. We cover: What services and support Align the Grind provides to college athletes after they finish their athletic careers. How he approached training collegiate athletes to get them ready for the "real world." How Align The Grind, his online health and performance platform for former collegiate athletes, came to be. How he approaches training the mind, body, and spirit through Align the Grind for the best results inside and outside the gym. What the Align The Grind community looks like on a day-to-day basis for members. The biggest struggle Sam sees college athletes have after they lose their sport. Sam Whitney is a concierge strength and conditioning coach in the greater Philadelphia area, and founder of Align The Grind, an online health and human performance platform for former collegiate athletes. Align The Grind helps former athletes redefine themselves through mind, body, and spirit. Coach Whitney graduated from Temple University with a BS in Kinesiology and a MS in Sports Business. He is CSCS, SCCC, USAW, RPR, and TPI certified. Coach Whitney began his collegiate strength and conditioning career at Villanova University, then moving on to New York University, before returning to Temple University as the Associate Head S&C Coach for 10 years.

PART 1 WITH SAM WHITNEY | Season 4, Episode 4 Part 1 with Sam Whitney focuses on his experience in collegiate strength and conditioning, his advice for graduate assitants new to the field, and philosophies on programming. In part 1 with Sam Whitney we dive into: Sam Whitney's time as a Strength and Conditioning coach with Villanova University, New York University and Temple University What Sam's day-to-day schedule looked like as a strength and conditioning coach at the collegiate level. How Sam's strategies in strength and conditioning programming have evolved over time. Sam's advice for young graduate assistants jumping into strength and conditioning coaching. What collaboration with other coaches looked like at the collegiate level. His advice on strength training during the off-season How often athletes should be training power in-season vs. off-season. How Sam incorporated the conjugate method and olympic lifts in his programming for college athletes. Sam's role and finding in researching for "Relationship Between Strength and Conditioning Assessments and Rowing Performance in Female Collegiate Athletes," Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research: June 24, 2020. Stayed tuned for two more episodes with Coach Sam Whitney as we discuss his professional development and how he has transformed his practice from the collegiate environment to the private sector. Sam Whitney is a concierge strength and conditioning coach in the greater Philadelphia area, and founder of Align The Grind, an online health and human performance platform for former collegiate athletes. Align The Grind helps former athletes redefine themselves through mind, body, and spirit. Coach Whitney graduated from Temple University with a BS in Kinesiology and a MS in Sports Business. He is CSCS, SCCC, USAW, RPR, and TPI certified. Coach Whitney began his collegiate strength and conditioning career at Villanova University, then moving on to New York University, before returning to Temple University as the Associate Head S&C Coach for 10 years.

PART 3 WITH MARIO MASCIOLI | Season 4, Episode 3 This episode focuses on the most common injuries in basketball and how Mascioli approaches prevention and treatment. In this episode we cover: Why does knee pain arise so commonly in basketball players and how do you manage it once it happens. How muscle weakness above and below a joint can lead to pain or injury. The importance of taking regular strategics breaks to prevent injury. How strength, symmetry, and mobility come together in injury prevention and treatment. What types of strengthening exercises would Mascioli prescribe in knee pain treatment. How much time a serious basketball player should take off per year for best performance. Thoughts on "Knee over toes" as a rule for injury prevention, for the general population and for jumping athletes specifically. What functional asymmetries are most common in professional basketball players. The best way to increase your vertical jump. The best way to improve on-court speed. Contact: www.mariomass.com [email protected] Instagram: @massmovement21 Mario Mascioli is a professional athletic trainer and performance coach. He is dual credentialed as a certified athletic trainer and certified strength and conditioning specialist. He earned a bachelor’s degree in athletic training at West Chester University of Pennsylvania. With a background in sports medicine, he specializes in helping anyone work around injuries or recover from them. In addition, he has skills in soft tissue therapy to help clients recover from fatigue such as massage, myofascial release, and cupping to name a few. His career started off as an assistant athletic trainer at St. Joseph’s University, in Philadelphia, before working with the 76ers and their G-League affiliate the Delaware Blue Coats for over 5 years. After that, he focused more of his work on strength and conditioning, creating his own business called Mass Movement. He has worked with a wide population of people, from young middle school athletes, to professional athletes, to middle aged weekend warriors and the elderly. He has a passion not only for helping young athletes perform but in teaching wholistic health.