Getting out of pain is one thing. Getting back to performing at your best is another.In Episode 84 of the Performance Matters Podcast, Matrixx sits down with physiotherapist Tyler DiSimoni to break down the gap between rehab, training and actually being ready to return to sport.They discuss what “cleared to play” really means, why pain disappearing doesn’t necessarily mean the problem is solved, how athletes should manage training load, and why the transition from physiotherapy back into strength training and sport is so important.They also get into how cautious we should be with injured athletes, the role of objective testing and baseline data, why physios and strength coaches need to communicate better, and how proactive care can help athletes stay on the field instead of constantly reacting to injuries.Plus, Tyler joins the Rapid Fire Round to give his takes on ice, foam rolling, static stretching, massage guns and more.In this episode:Pain-free vs. actually ready to performWhat “cleared to play” really meansManaging load, recovery and injury riskWhy rehab shouldn't end when the pain disappearsBridging the gap between physio and strength trainingObjective testing and return-to-sport decisionsBeing proactive instead of waiting until something hurtsWhat athletes and parents should ask their rehab professionalsPerformance Matters Podcast is proudly supported by Spoken Nutrition.Save 15% on high-quality supplements with code IRONPERFORMANCECENTER at checkout:spokennutrition.com/ironperformancecenterLike, follow and subscribe to the Performance Matters Podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and YouTube — and share the episode with someone who needs to hear it.
Youth sports have never been more competitive — or more expensive.Club fees. Travel. Tryouts. Private coaching. Strength training. Recruiting. Showcases. Camps. Parents are willing to invest thousands of dollars into giving their kids the best possible opportunity.But are they actually paying for development… or are they sometimes paying for the illusion of development?In Episode 83 of the Performance Matters Podcast, Matrixx and Myles take a hard look at the business of youth sports and some of the systems surrounding athlete development.They discuss whether playing for the “best” team is actually best for an athlete, why playing time and quality coaching may matter more than the logo on the jersey, and whether early signings are completely undermining the purpose of tryouts.They also get into private skills coaches, the pressure parents feel to keep up with everyone else, early sport specialization, and the uncomfortable reality that not every service promising to take an athlete to the “next level” is actually delivering on that promise.The question isn't whether parents should invest in their kids.It's whether the investment is actually helping them get better.In this episode:• Are parents paying for development or the illusion of it?• Is making the best team always the best move?• Are early signings ruining youth sport tryouts?• Should athletes actually have time to improve before being cut?• Are private skills coaches worth the money?• How can parents tell good coaching from good marketing?• Are young athletes specializing too early?• What should parents actually be investing in?Some parts of youth sports are doing an incredible job developing athletes.Others might need a serious rethink.🎙️ Performance Matters Podcast — Episode 83Presented by Spoke NutritionPerformance Matters listeners and Iron Performance Center members can save 15% on Spoke Nutrition products using code IRON PERFORMANCE CENTER at checkout.👉 spokennutrition.com/ironperformancecenter
You show up. You put in the work. You train consistently.So why aren’t you getting better?In Episode 82 of the Performance Matters Podcast, Matrixx and Aidan dig into what happens when effort stops translating into progress — and why simply doing more isn’t always the answer.They break down the difference between being busy and actually training with purpose, why strain is a skill, when consistency alone stops being enough, and how sleep, nutrition, stress and recovery can quietly derail your progress.They also tackle program hopping, training too much, knowing when it’s actually time to change your program, and the uncomfortable question: if you’re doing everything you’re supposed to do and still not improving, is the problem you… or the program?Whether you’re an athlete, coach, or someone who’s been training for years, this episode gives you a practical way to step back, audit what you’re doing, and figure out what’s actually holding you back.Because putting in the work matters. But only if the work is moving you forward.This episode is powered by Coachology.Coachology is an AI-powered coaching platform designed to help coaches and athletes collaborate more effectively through video analysis, personalized feedback, and AI coaching assistance — extending the coach’s expertise beyond the in-person session and giving athletes access to ongoing, individualized guidance. www.coachology.ai
In Episode 81 of the Performance Matters Podcast, Matrixx sits down with Coach Aidan for a conversation about what actually makes an athlete jump higher — and how we train it.We break down the qualities that influence vertical jump performance, including eccentric strength, braking ability, approach mechanics, force production, and the ability to rapidly transition from absorbing force to producing it.We also get into:• What force plate data can tell us about jump performance• Why eccentric strength matters for jump athletes• Submaximal vs. maximal vs. supramaximal eccentric training• Olympic lifts vs. loaded jumps for developing power• Why catching Olympic lifts can be valuable for athletes• Bilateral vs. unilateral strength training• Giving athletes more autonomy in their programs• What we learned from using velocity-based training throughout the summer• How VBT can help athletes better understand effort, load, and intentAnd because it's an episode with Matrixx and Aidan, things inevitably get off track — including terrible excuses for missing workouts, which IPC athlete would survive a zombie apocalypse, and what IPC would become if we had to shut down the gym and start an entirely different business.If you're a coach, athlete, or anyone interested in improving jump performance and understanding the "why" behind training, this episode is for you.Special thanks to our sponsor, Coachology, an AI-powered coaching platform designed to help coaches extend their expertise beyond in-person sessions through video analysis, personalized feedback, and ongoing athlete guidance.www.coachology.ai
n Episode 80 of the Performance Matters Podcast, Matrixx sits down with physiotherapist Malcolm Sanderson from ProActive Health & Rehab for a conversation about where rehabilitation and performance training need to meet.With a background in powerlifting, personal training, and physiotherapy, Malcolm brings a unique perspective to the rehab world — one that isn’t afraid of appropriately loading people and challenging the idea that injured athletes need to be treated as fragile.We get into the relationship between pain and injury, when athletes need protection versus when they need to start loading again, fear around movement, and why simply eliminating pain shouldn’t always be the finish line.We also take a deeper dive into ACL rehabilitation, including the mistakes Malcolm commonly sees on both ends of the spectrum: doing too much too soon, but also failing to load athletes enough later in the process. Malcolm breaks down what he wants to see before an athlete returns to sport, including strength, confidence, time, and objective testing.Other topics include:• How Malcolm’s powerlifting background influences his approach to rehab• Why rehab needs progressive overload too• The gap between physiotherapy and strength & conditioning• Pain, movement fear, and athlete confidence• ACL rehab and return-to-sport testing• Building tissue tolerance instead of constantly avoiding stress• Why adding more reps isn’t always a real progression• Using force plates and objective data in rehabilitation• What performance coaches and clinicians can learn from each otherWhether you’re an athlete, parent, coach, or clinician, this episode is a great look at how we can move beyond simply getting someone “out of pain” and start preparing them to actually perform again.🎙️ Performance Matters Podcast — Episode 80Guest: Malcolm Sanderson, Physiotherapist — ProActive Health & RehabThis episode is powered by Coachology.Coachology is an AI coaching platform designed to help coaches and athletes collaborate more effectively through video analysis, personalized feedback, and AI coaching assistance — extending the coach’s expertise beyond in-person sessions and giving athletes ongoing, individualized guidance.Learn more at: https://coachology.aiIf you enjoyed the episode, make sure to subscribe to Performance Matters on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube, and share the episode with someone who would get value from the conversation.