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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.
Episodes

Wednesday Jan 11, 2023
Wednesday Jan 11, 2023
Episode 109: In this Research Unpacked episode Ben Ashworth chats to Physiotherapists Ariane Schwank & Paul Blazey who contributed on the 2022 Bern Consensus Statement on Shoulder Injury Prevention, Rehabilitation, and Return to Sport for Athletes at All Participation Levels. This episode covers a lot of content and will therefore have a part-2 to follow this first conversation.
Topics Discussed:
- Advise for writing articles
- Shoulder Consensus Paper
- Screening or monitoring for shoulders?
- Shoulder specific RPE?
- Should pathoanatomic diagnosis drive rehab?
- Does pain equal an injury?
- Where does psychology fit into injury management
Where you can find Ariane:
Where you can find Paul:
Sponsor
Inform Performance is sponsored by 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
Keep up to date with everything that is going on with the podcast by following Inform Performance on:
Our Team

Tuesday Aug 30, 2022
Tuesday Aug 30, 2022
Episode 108: Ben Ashworth chats to Darcy Norman a qualified PT, AT and S&C with over 20 years experience in the human performance industry. He is currently a performance coach for the US Mens National Soccer Team and the Lead Performance Strategist at Kitman Labs. Darcy has previously enjoyed roles at the German Mens National Team, A.S. Roma, FC Bayern Munich, EXOS and many other roles as a PT, AT and S&C Coach. This episode between Ben and Darcy was recorded a little ago whilst Ben was still at AC Sparta, with the conversation covering nuances of effectively working in soccer managing workload & recovery in elite environments.
Topics Discussed:
- Communication between club and national team
- Individualisation within team settings
- Collaborating on technical & tactical information with coaches
- Optimal on-field volume & Intensity
- Maximising Recovery
Where you can find Darcy:
Sponsor
Inform Performance is sponsored by 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
Keep up to date with everything that is going on with the podcast by following Inform Performance on:
Our Team

Monday Aug 01, 2022
Monday Aug 01, 2022
Episode 107: In this Research Unpacked episode Alistair McKenzie chats to Matthew Buckthorpe PhD. Matt is a British Sport Scientist, S&C Coach, University lecturer and Researcher specialising in late-stage and on-field rehabilitation. He completed his PhD at Loughbourgh University looking into the neural determinants of Rate of force development. In this first of three episodes Matt will begin by discussing his PhD research RFD and its implications for rehab and performance. In parts two and three Matt will discuss his more recent clinical commentary about high-quality on-field rehabilitation which combine with his academic and practical experience through 3 great conversations.
Where you can find Matt:
Sponsor
Inform Performance is sponsored by 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
Keep up to date with everything that is going on with the podcast by following Inform Performance on:
Our Team

Wednesday Jul 13, 2022
Wednesday Jul 13, 2022
Episode 106: Dr Andy McDonald chats to fellow Inform Performance Host Ben Ashworth. Ben is a Performance consultant for elite teams abs individuals. Shoulder specialist with a Master of Science (MSc) in Strength & Conditioning & UKSCA accreditation. “Physio-coach” with experience in elite rugby, Olympic Sports, baseball & Professional football. Ben provides consultancy & education for MLB teams based on original research in Athletic Shoulder strength monitoring developed in Premiership Rugby
https://bmjopensem.bmj.com/content/4/1/e000365
This work is currently applied in MLB & NFL teams, Premier League football, Olympic swimming, British tennis and other upper limb sports worldwide. Ben has successfully developed and implemented monitoring processes in a number of challenging environments to minimise injury risk and support high performance programmes. Providing independent consultancy services to the Institute of Sport, Exercise and Health, London, UK and in the development of their shoulder assessment and research pathway. Her has also worked across 4 seasons as Director of Performance in European Football at Sparta Prague 2019-2022 and over 20 years experience in elite sport environments.
Topics Discussed:
- What is the Ashtest
- Comparing lower limb performance with the upper limb
- Comparing peak force with RFD in the shoulder
- Case studies where monitoring informs a shoulder strategy
Where you can find Ben:
Sponsor
Inform Performance is sponsored by 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
Keep up to date with everything that is going on with the podcast by following Inform Performance on:
Our Team

Wednesday Jun 22, 2022
Wednesday Jun 22, 2022
Episode 105: Ben Ashworth chats to Philipp Jacobsen a Physiotherapist and Performance Consultant. Philipp is has an extensive background in sport with previous roles in Physiotherapy and Performance Management at Liverpool Football Club, Aspetar, Portsmouth FC, Panathinaikos FC and Eden Reha. This easy listening episode explores Philipps journey through professional sport with Ben and Philipp exchanging experiences.
Topics Discussed:
- Phil’s background working in Greece, Aspetar and the EPL
- Working with external practitioners
- Play or not play pressure
- Functioning as a ‘caretaker’
- Who should be a Director of Performance
- Workflow of a typical day in professional football
Where you can find Philipp:
Sponsor
Inform Performance is sponsored by 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
Keep up to date with everything that is going on with the podcast by following Inform Performance on:
Our Team

Saturday Jun 04, 2022
Saturday Jun 04, 2022
Episode 104: Dr Andy McDonald chats to Jean-Benoit (JB) Morin a Professor in Sport Sciences and Physical Education at University Jean Monnet, Saint-Etienne in France. Outside of academia JB is also an established Running Coach and Consultant to both athletes and professional sports teams alike on sprinting and biomechanics. In this episode Andy and JB discuss JB's work and perspectives on GPS usage, programming resisted sprints and postural considerations in sprinting.
Topics Discussed:
- Using GPS to assess high speed events
- How to efficiently program resisted sprinting
- How running posture effects posterior chain loading
- The process of assessing an athlete run
Where you can find JB:
Sponsor
Inform Performance is sponsored by 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
Keep up to date with everything that is going on with the podcast by following Inform Performance on:
Our Team

Wednesday May 18, 2022
Research Unpacked: Nick Cross - Achilles Tendinopathy
Wednesday May 18, 2022
Wednesday May 18, 2022
Episode 103: In this Research Unpacked episode Alistair McKenzie chats to Nick Cross. Nick is an Australian sports physiotherapist and exercise physiologist based in Melbourne. Nick has worked in high performance sport across different football codes, athletics and ballet. His key clinical interest is lower limb injuries and rehabilitation that supports optimal performance. Nick is currently undergoing a global research project with la Trobe University to understand how clinicians who work in sport diagnose achilles tendinopathy and in todays episode, Nick shares his clinical insights into his practice. If you are a sports or musculoskeletal physiotherapist you can help by contributing to this global research project. All that is required is to compete a 10-minute survey with the link below.
- Defining AT
- Key subjective indicators relating to the diagnosis of AT
- The role of the peritendon in AT
- The role of tissue compression in assessment
- Auscultation
- Progressive loading for AT.
Where you can find Chris:
Sponsor
Inform Performance is sponsored by 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
Keep up to date with everything that is going on with the podcast by following Inform Performance on:
Our Team

Monday May 02, 2022
Monday May 02, 2022
Episode 102: Ben Ashworth chats to Wayne Diesel a Sports Physiotherapist with a lifetime of working at the highest level of sport around the world. Wayne is a South African educated Physiotherapist who during his Physio career has worked with The Sports Science Institute of South Africa, Gloucester Rugby Football Club, Charlton Athletic Football Club, Tottenham Hotspur Football Club, Springboks Rugby and more! On top of this international multi-sport experience Wayne has also worked in the USA as Sports Performance Director at the Miami Dolphins and as the Director of Player Care at the San Antonio Spurs. In this episode Ben and Wayne will reflect on Waynes incredible career journey, where the Physiotherapy profession is going and the technical differences between different sports and leagues.
Topics Discussed:
- Embracing different approaches for player care
- Where is sports Physiotherapy going?
- Injury prognostic expectations across different sports/leagues
- Risk assessment and communication
- Perspective on being a specialist v generalist
Where you can find Wayne:
Sponsor
Inform Performance is sponsored by 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
Keep up to date with everything that is going on with the podcast by following Inform Performance on:
Our Team

Thursday Apr 21, 2022
Research Unpacked: Tim McGrath - Part 3 - Nordic Dosage & Return-to-Running
Thursday Apr 21, 2022
Thursday Apr 21, 2022
Episode 101: In this Research Unpacked episode Alistair McKenzie chats to Tim McGrath for a Part-3 conversation on Hamstring rehab. Tim is an Australian Sports Physio based in Canberra, with over 15 years experience in professional sport and 20 in clinical practice. He completed his PhD from the Research Institute of Sport & Exercise at the University of Canberra on ACL rehabilitation and return to sport in 2016 and is the clinical & research director of Pitch Ready which focuses on blending clinical insights with data science, squad-based injury prevention and return to sport testing following lower limb injury. In this episode Alistair and Tim hamstring training, nordics and return-to-running.
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Nordic Hamstring curls
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High speed running exposure
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Time under Tension vs Break angle
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Minimal Dose
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Prioritising strength or speed
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Returning to running following a hamstring injury
Where you can find Tim:
Sponsor
Inform Performance is sponsored by 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
Keep up to date with everything that is going on with the podcast by following Inform Performance on:
Our Team

Wednesday Mar 23, 2022
Jerry Flannery (Harlequins Rugby Lineout & Defence Coach)
Wednesday Mar 23, 2022
Wednesday Mar 23, 2022
Episode 100: Ben Ashworth chats to Jerry Flannery the current Lineout and Defence coach at Harlequins Rugby. Jerry is a former Irish rugby union player who during his playing career enjoyed great success with both Munster and Ireland. As a coach Jerry has a diverse background from Arsenal Football Club in the Premier League as an Academy Strength & Conditioning Coach to of course rugby where he has been a technical coach at both Munster and Harlequins. This episode will at large discuss Jerry's journey from player to coach and some of the key lessons or experiences that have shaped his coaching career thus far.
Topics Discussed:
- Transitioning from player to coach
- Getting buy-in
- Recognising team culture
Where you can find Jerry:
Sponsor
Inform Performance is sponsored by 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
Keep up to date with everything that is going on with the podcast by following Inform Performance on:
Our Team