The Physical Performance Show

Physical Performance Show – Episode 383 Show Notes In episode 383 of The Physical Performance Show, host Brad Beer sits down with Professor Franco Impellizzeri, one of the most influential and outspoken voices in athlete load management research, for a wide-ranging conversation on why "load management" is an old concept dressed up in new data, why the acute to chronic workload ratio (ACWR) never held up to scrutiny, and why context — not more metrics — is what separates good decision-making from noise. Show Sponsor: Pillar Performance continues to lead the way in sports nutrition through micro-nutrition innovation, now expanding into the Performance Health range. One of their newest releases, Collagen Repair, was developed with Gelita Laboratories (Germany) using a clinically trialled collagen peptide (Tendofort) to support tendon and ligament health in conditions like hamstring tendinopathy, Achilles tendonitis, shin splints, and patellofemoral pain. Head to pillarperformance.shop (or thefeed.com for North American listeners) and use code PHYSICALPERFORMANCE for 15% off your first purchase. Pogo Physio also offers online Telehealth Consultations for endurance athletes managing bone, tendon, or joint issues — book online at pogophysio.com.au.   Professor Franco Impellizzeri's work can be explored here: https://profiles.uts.edu.au/Franco.Impellizzeri And... https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=z35F1WAAAAAJ&hl=en   Listen in as we delve into the following: What "load management" actually means, and why it's a relabelling of concepts coaches have wrestled with since the 1930s–40s The double-edged sword of the data revolution: from heart rate monitors to today's GPS, wearables, and AI-driven analytics Commercial and career incentives behind pushing metrics — both from tech companies and researchers Confirmation bias and why interpreting data without a theoretical framework is "like reading tarot" The case against the acute to chronic workload ratio (ACWR): its lack of scientific support despite IOC endorsement A landmark runners' study showing the opposite relationship between ACWR and injury risk — and what that reveals about the field Why meta-analyses and systematic reviews in load research can be manipulated to "find whatever you like" The difference between using a metric personally versus promoting it as scientifically validated Why the most skilled clinicians tend to hold their conclusions with the least certainty A real-world case study: a soccer training drill "failure" that was actually a video-monitoring blind spot, not a bad drill The expanding role of data scientists in sport, and why interpretation — not collection — is the real skill gap Whether AI and machine learning can (or should) replace the sports scientist's judgement Individualised and personalised training approaches — and why even these are still built on group-level generalisations Distinguishing signal from noise, and why one "failed" intervention doesn't mean an athlete won't respond next time Practical advice for coaches and practitioners: accept uncertainty, treat training like a "trial of therapy," and reassess If he could track only one metric: heart rate (or perceived effort) over power The push for more honest scientific debate — including a proposed on-air "intellectual sparring" series with dissenting researchers   Quotes: "Understanding the quantity of training for athletes has been a hot topic since training methodology started... managing load is not new." — Professor Franco Impellizzeri "When you don't have a theoretical framework and an a priori idea strong and supported, it's like reading tarot, to be honest." — Professor Franco Impellizzeri "There's zero evidence that this metric can either help or can actually reflect some sort of mechanism." — Professor Franco Impellizzeri, on the acute to chronic workload ratio "Don't take yourself too seriously." — Professor Franco Impellizzeri   Timeline: 00:00 – Introduction: host's specialist physio training and the load management "viva" question 01:04 – What is load management? An old concept, relabelled 02:31 – From heart rate monitors to GPS: the rise of training data 06:14 – Commercial interests and the risk of becoming "slaves of data" 08:05 – Why load management matters: the drug-dosing analogy 09:24 – Load management as a decades-old coaching concern 10:23 – Confirmation bias and interpreting data "like reading tarot" 13:17 – Championing methodological rigor in sports science 16:33 – Meta-research, honesty, and acknowledging uncertainty 18:22 – Why the most skilled clinicians express the least certainty 19:18 – Origins of the critique of the acute to chronic workload ratio (ACWR) 20:09 – Takeaways for contemporary practitioners on load management models 21:34 – Why the ACWR lacked scientific and conceptual support 23:02 – Training load, time-at-risk, and reframing injury risk 24:24 – The contradictory runners' study and what it implies 26:43 – Cherry-picking and overfitting in load-injury meta-analyses 28:34 – Taking a stronger public stance on social media 30:34 – Science as a self-correcting process 31:31 – The discipline required to properly read and critique research 33:58 – Why data alone can't tell you what to do 34:24 – Case study: the soccer drill that "failed" — until the video told the real story 36:49 – The role (and limits) of data scientists in sport 38:46 – Could AI replace the sports scientist's job? 40:42 – Advice for coaches and practitioners: accept uncertainty 42:09 – Individualised approaches are still a form of generalisation 44:31 – Separating signal from noise — and why not to give up early 46:56 – If only one metric: heart rate over power 48:21 – One piece of advice: "don't take yourself too seriously" 48:51 – This week's physical challenge: swimming without pain 50:16 – What's next: meta-research projects and replication studies 51:43 – A proposal for public scientific debate, and Ian Shrier's work on consensus 56:32 – Why genuine debate is hard to find in science communication today 57:59 – Episode close THE TEAM: Join The Physical Performance Show LEARNINGS membership through weekly podcasts here: https://www.patreon.com/TPPShow Our goal is to get you back to your Physical Best. Find out more about Telehealth Consultations and book online at pogophysio.com.au. Your Host: 🏃 Brad Beer - Instagram & X @Bradbeer and YouTube @PogophysioAu The Physical Performance Show can be found at: Facebook: facebook.com/thephysicalperformanceshowpodcast X: @tppshow1 Instagram: @physicalperformanceshow

Daniel Lorang is the Head of Performance and Head Coach at Bora–Hansgrohe, Professional Cycling Team, and Lead Endurance Coach Sports Scientist. In 2019 Dan became the first coach to have ever coached both the male and female winners, in the same year, at the Kona World Ironman Triathlon Championships with Jan Frodeno and Anne Haug respectively. Alongside Jan and Annie, Dan is also the coach of Lucy Charles Barclay. Show Sponsor: POGO Physio Telehealth Consultations believe that everyone deserves access to complete and remarkable physiotherapy services. Our goal is to get you back to your Physical Best.  Find out more about telehealth consultations and book online. Join the The Physical Performance Show LEARNINGS membership through weekly podcasts | Patreon If you enjoyed this episode of The Physical Performance Show please hit SUBSCRIBE for to ensure you are one of the first to future episodes. Jump over to The Physical Performance Show for more details. Follow @Brad_Beer Instagram & Twitter The Physical Performance Show: Facebook, Instagram, & Twitter (@tppshow1) Please direct any questions, comments, and feedback to the above social media handles.

Harry Garside, Olympic Bronze Lightweight Boxing Medallist's career achievements are impressive: • 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games bronze medalist in the lightweight division • 2018 Commonwealth Games champion • 2018 Commonwealth Games lightweight champion • 7 x Australian National Boxing Champion This episode is an uplifting, inspiring and informative conversation. Harry outlines some top tips to see you perform at your physical best, he lays down a physical challenge and outlines some career highs lows and learnings. In recent times, Harry undertook some rigorous physical challenges including taking part in endurance events such as a 70.3 Triathlon. Show Sponsor: If you are looking for a gift this Christmas, do check out Polar's Gift Guide which will help take get you or a loved ones' health, fitness and training to it's best. As we very well know, everyone is different, but we all get the same 24 hours to make the most of each day. We know it can be so tough to squeeze in that training session or get the optimal amount of sleep into our busy schedule. But it does not have to be this way! Polar are very excited to announce a solution, launching their new fitness and wellness watch the Polar Ignite 3! If you or a loved one feel that you haven't been able to be at your best … then it's time to start living a life more in tune with our body's natural rhythm! If you're keen to find out how you can get the most out of each day, simply check out Polar's latest fitness and wellness watch at  Polar.com Join the The Physical Performance Show LEARNINGS membership through weekly podcasts | Patreon If you enjoyed this episode of The Physical Performance Show please hit SUBSCRIBE for to ensure you are one of the first to future episodes. Jump over to The Physical Performance Show for more details. Follow @Brad_Beer Instagram & Twitter The Physical Performance Show: Facebook, Instagram, & Twitter (@tppshow1) Please direct any questions, comments, and feedback to the above social media handles.

Dr Dan Plews is a World Acclaimed Scientist, Applied Exercise Physiologist and Long-Course Triathlon Coach, he recently coached the current 2022 Ironman World Champion Chelsea Sodaro to victory. Scientifically, Dr Plews has over 30 peer reviewed publications to his name and has worked with more than 25 world and Olympic title winning athletes across a variety of sports. I spent time with Dr Dan Plews in New Zealand at the Endure IQ Headquarters alongside his athlete Javier Gomez, and we discussed 'How does a long course triathlete best optimise their fat oxidation whilst doing it safely to ensure daily energy requirements are met and what are the upsides to this approach?'. I watched Dan train in person, he lives and breathes this and the results speak for themselves. Show Sponsor: As we very well know, everyone is different, but we all get the same 24 hours to make the most of each day. We know it can be so tough to squeeze in that training session or get the optimal amount of sleep into our busy schedule. But it does not have to be this way! Polar are very excited to announce a solution, launching their new fitness and wellness watch the Polar Ignite 3! If you or a loved one feel that you haven't been able to be at your best … then it's time to start living a life more in tune with our body's natural rhythm! If you're keen to find out how you can get the most out of each day, simply check out Polar's latest fitness and wellness watch at  Polar.com Join the The Physical Performance Show LEARNINGS membership through weekly podcasts | Patreon If you enjoyed this episode of The Physical Performance Show please hit SUBSCRIBE for to ensure you are one of the first to future episodes. Jump over to The Physical Performance Show for more details. Follow @Brad_Beer Instagram & Twitter The Physical Performance Show: Facebook, Instagram, & Twitter (@tppshow1) Please direct any questions, comments, and feedback to the above social media handles.

In this rewired episode Dr David Cannington, Sleep Specialist, Medical Doctor and co-Director of the Melbourne Sleep Disorders Centre debunks the concept of 'rise and grind' and explains why replacing it with 'sleep in and win' is a better approach. Dr Cannington disregards the idea that there's such a thing as sleep hygiene, talks through restless leg syndrome, discusses the causes of insomnia and provides evidence-based information around how we can optimise our sleep. Show Sponsor: The BIG Polar Sale is on NOW! Up to 33% off selected GPS sports/fitness watches and heart rate monitors from November 21st to 30th As we very well know, everyone is different, but we all get the same 24 hours to make the most of each day. We know it can be so tough to squeeze in that training session or get the optimal amount of sleep into our busy schedule. But it does not have to be this way! Polar are very excited to announce a solution, launching their new fitness and wellness watch the Polar Ignite 3! If you or a loved one feel that you haven't been able to be at your best … then it's time to start living a life more in tune with our body's natural rhythm! If you're keen to find out how you can get the most out of each day, simply check out Polar's latest fitness and wellness watch at Polar.com to Shop at POLAR. Join the The Physical Performance Show LEARNINGS membership through weekly podcasts | Patreon If you enjoyed this episode of The Physical Performance Show please hit SUBSCRIBE for to ensure you are one of the first to future episodes. Jump over to The Physical Performance Show for more details. Follow @Brad_Beer Instagram & Twitter The Physical Performance Show: Facebook, Instagram, & Twitter (@tppshow1) Please direct any questions, comments, and feedback to the above social media handles.