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The Driven Athlete
The Driven Athlete
Author: Dr. Kyle Volstad, PT, DPT, OCS, FAAOMPT, CSCS
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© 2025 The Driven Athlete
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Helping driven and ambitious people elevate their performance in life, health, exercise, and injury prevention. Shedding light on best known health practices, lifestyle habits, and injury prevention.
103 Episodes
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A small knee tweak shouldn’t derail an active life—yet swelling, stiffness, and a scary X-ray can make it feel like the wheels came off. We unpack what’s really happening when an irritated joint flares: chronic wear that took years to develop meets an acute inflammatory surge, nerve sensitivity spikes, muscles guard and weaken, and suddenly stairs and sports feel miles away. Rather than chasing images, we focus on what changes outcomes: calming the system with pain-free motion, tightening act...
When the lights come on, velocity alone won’t save you. We sat down with Victor and Aaron, co-founders of Prime Performance in Port St. Lucie, to unpack how elite pitchers are actually built: aligned coaching, smart testing, targeted strength, and a mindset that performs under pressure. Their one-stop model gives athletes a single point of contact to coordinate strength and conditioning, corrective work, pitch design, and communication with skill coaches—cutting through the noise of conflicti...
Most people don’t lack willpower; they lack a clear map of what’s actually blocking their body from healing. We sit down with Nicole and Joe, the duo behind R3 Health and MedHouse in West Palm Beach, to break down how integrative medicine and regenerative tools work together to solve the problems “normal” tests keep missing. From lingering joint pain with perfect imaging to brain fog, low energy, and stubborn recovery, we trace the real culprits—chronic stress, micronutrient gaps, stealth inf...
The sirens have faded, but the lessons haven’t. After years as a hospitalist navigating COVID’s most chaotic moments—silent hypoxia, back‑to‑back codes, and the helplessness of uncertain protocols—Dr. Chase Van Mol rebuilt her practice around something most systems can’t deliver: time, access, and relentless prevention. We walk through the shift from volume‑driven care to concierge medicine, where a smaller panel and 24/7 access allow deeper work on cardio‑metabolic health and long‑term resil...
Dr. Kyle visits the Peak Performance Podcast:  Pain isn’t the problem; it’s the message. We pull back the curtain on why joints break down, where regenerative medicine actually shines, and how precise movement work turns short-term relief into durable results. With Dr. K and Coach Kyle joined by sports physical therapist Dr. Kyle, the conversation goes beyond buzzwords to map a practical path: identify the true overload patterns, choose clean, compliant biologics when they’re indicated, ...
Have you ever wondered why your doctor seems rushed during appointments? Dr. Alex Miquel pulls back the curtain on how healthcare has transformed from patient-focused care to productivity-driven protocols, creating frustrated physicians and dissatisfied patients alike.  Dr. Miquel shares his journey from disillusioned family physician to founder of Men's Only Medical, a revolutionary concierge practice in West Palm Beach dedicated exclusively to men's health. As a third-generation physician, ...
The invisible struggle of mental health affects millions, yet finding effective ways to cope remains elusive for many. In this illuminating conversation, mental health coach Daniel Hutchinson reveals how creative outlets can transform our approach to daily stressors and improve overall wellness.  Hutchinson's journey into mental health began after a devastating sports injury ended his athletic dreams, plunging him into what he describes as "a super deep dark place." This personal crisis becam...
Beauty isn't just skin deep—and neither is modern aesthetic medicine. Nurse practitioner Melanie Craft takes us behind the scenes of her newly-launched aesthetic medicine practice, revealing how this field is evolving beyond traditional cosmetic treatments toward regenerative approaches that enhance the body's natural healing processes.  Melanie's fascinating journey from the neonatal intensive care unit to orthopedic surgery and eventually aesthetic medicine began with her sister's childhood...
Matt and Gianna's love story begins where many great partnerships do—unexpectedly, in a college dance class where basketball manager Matt's surprising dance moves caught dancer Gianna's attention. Their parallel journeys through Quinnipiac University's physical therapy program reveal how personal injuries shaped their career paths and eventually brought them together.  The couple shares how their athletic backgrounds inform their approach to treating patients. Matt, whose basketball career wa...
Shoulder pain might be the most common complaint we see in our clinic, but understanding its true origins requires looking beyond the obvious. What separates lasting solutions from temporary fixes is identifying not just what hurts, but why it started hurting in the first place.  Your shoulder functions as a complex system where the scapula (shoulder blade) serves as the foundation. When this keystone isn't positioned correctly or doesn't move with proper rhythm, it forces your rotator cuff m...
The missing link between shoulder dysfunction and wrist pain might be the key to solving your persistent sports injury. Dr. Kyle dives deep into why non-traumatic wrist pain plagues athletes in sports like golf, tennis, and lacrosse—and why the standard "overuse" diagnosis falls woefully short.  Drawing on his expertise in sports rehabilitation, Dr. Kyle walks listeners through the complex biomechanical relationships that contribute to wrist pain, particularly the often-overlooked triangular ...
Could the most powerful medicine for chronic disease be hidden within our own biology? The answer might surprise you, as we dive deep into the world of regenerative medicine with Dr. Christian Wilson from Palm Beach Stem Cell.  Dr. Wilson's fascinating journey from traditional chiropractic care to cutting-edge stem cell therapy reveals how this revolutionary approach is transforming lives. We hear the remarkable story of a stroke patient told she would need breathing and feeding tubes for lif...
Ever notice how back pain seems to persist despite treatments targeting the painful area? The missing piece might be core stability—but not in the way most people understand it.  Most individuals suffering from back pain have muscles that are actually working too hard. Their back muscles are constantly "hanging on for dear life," creating spasms while their abdominals remain relatively disengaged. This recruitment imbalance is the hidden driver behind many chronic back issues.  During this ep...
Persistent back pain doesn't just appear out of nowhere. For active individuals, the sacroiliac (SI) joint often lurks as the hidden culprit behind nagging discomfort that's mistakenly attributed to hamstring strains, general back problems, or even hip issues.  The sacroiliac joint—where your sacrum (tailbone) meets your ilium (pelvis)—plays a crucial role in transferring forces between your upper body and lower extremities. Despite only moving millimeters, its proper function is vital for pa...
When Western medicine couldn't explain her debilitating symptoms, Dr. Molly Rhoads took her health into her own hands. What began as a desperate search for relief from Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS) evolved into a profound career shift from aspiring Western physician to dedicated acupuncturist. Her powerful story frames this enlightening conversation about how Chinese medicine offers healing pathways for patients who fall through the cracks of conventional treatment.  Dr. Rh...
Tired of the cycle of lower back pain, rest, temporary improvement, then pain again? In this enlightening episode, Dr. Kyle breaks down what's really happening with lumbar spine pain and mobility issues that plague active individuals.  Your lower back consists of five lumbar vertebrae designed for bending forward and backward—not rotation. Yet when your hips below or thoracic spine above lack proper movement, your lumbar spine takes the brunt of compensation. This creates a domino effect wher...
Ever been told "your labs look normal" while still feeling terrible? You're not alone. In this illuminating conversation with Dr. Danielle and Dr. Joey from Wellness First in Juno Beach, we dive deep into the world of integrative medicine and why the conventional approach often misses the mark for chronic health issues.  These forward-thinking physicians explain how they've structured their practice to spend meaningful time with patients, collaborating to uncover the underlying causes of pers...
Navigating the maze of modern pediatric health can leave even the most dedicated parents feeling overwhelmed and uncertain. In this illuminating conversation, Dr. Celina Moore shares why she left traditional pediatric medicine to create a concierge practice focused on giving families the time and attention they deserve.  Dr. Moore's remarkable journey—from French literature major with dreams of working in Francophone Africa to studying medicine across four countries—provides her with a unique...
It's interesting if we only exclusively focus on what we need to improve, while ignoring our natural strengths. You're not alone if this is you. This tendency is especially common among driven, ambitious individuals who constantly push themselves toward higher achievement.  In this motivating episode, Dr. Kyle introduces an unexpectedly powerful exercise: building a list of 20 personal strengths. This isn't about inflating your ego – it's about creating balance between self-criticism and self...
Transformation begins with strength—not just physical power, but the strength that reshapes your entire identity. When you commit to building muscle, you're embarking on a journey that changes how you look, feel, and carry yourself through the world.  This episode breaks down the five essential keys that unlock true physical transformation. We start with nutrition—the foundation that can deliver results even without exercise. You'll learn practical approaches to protein intake, meal frequency...



