• Olympic Lifts and Plyometrics: Breaking the Rehab-Performance Gap
    Jun 11 2025

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    Are you tired of being discharged from physical therapy before you're truly ready to return to sport? Join Drs. Scott and Griffin as they expose the problematic gap between traditional rehabilitation and performance training that leaves athletes vulnerable to re-injury.

    The Carolina Movement Doc team reveals why Olympic lifting and plyometrics belong in the rehabilitation process, not just in the strength coach's domain. They explain how proper rehab follows a logical progression: first establishing mobility, then building strength, and finally developing the explosive power and resilience needed for athletic performance. This final phase is where traditional physical therapy often falls short.

    "If you walk out of PT and you feel like, 'hmm, it's okay, at least they were nice and they made me laugh,' then you're in the wrong place," Dr. Scott challenges. True athletic rehabilitation should make you sweat, test your limits, and transform injured tissue into something stronger than before.

    The doctors break down why physiologic adaptation takes months, not weeks, and why a 12-16 week "clearance" from traditional PT rarely means an athlete is actually ready to return to sport. Their innovative approach focuses on performance under fatigue – testing and training athletes when their heart rates are elevated and their bodies are stressed, just as they will be during competition.

    Whether you're recovering from surgery or dealing with a nagging injury, this episode will transform how you think about rehabilitation. Stop settling for "good enough" and discover what true performance-based physical therapy looks like.

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    29 mins
  • Swing Science: Why Your Back Hurts When You Try to Crush It
    Apr 9 2025

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    Rotational athletes face unique physical challenges that traditional healthcare often misses entirely. In this eye-opening conversation with Dr. Griffin, our rotational sports specialist, we unpack the hidden mechanics behind baseball and golf injuries that can derail your season or handicap your performance.

    Most athletes don't consider consulting a physical therapist until they're already in pain - a reactive approach that costs them playing time and performance. Dr. Griffin reveals why addressing the posterior shoulder is critical for baseball players who essentially play "11 months out of the year," creating constant wear on rotator cuff tissues responsible for decelerating 90+ mph throwing motions. For both golfers and batters, he breaks down how the violent rotational forces generated during swings create predictable patterns of compensation when hip mobility and strength are compromised.

    What makes this discussion particularly valuable is the connection Dr. Griffin draws between seemingly unrelated body regions. The feet and ankles create the foundation, the hips generate power, and the thoracic spine enables proper rotation - when any component falters, others compensate. For golfers specifically, years of poor posture combined with limited mobility creates a perfect storm when attempting powerful drives. Rather than simply treating symptoms, Dr. Griffin explains how performance physical therapy identifies these patterns before they become injuries, allowing you to maintain peak performance throughout your competitive season.

    Perhaps most compelling is how addressing these issues translates to measurable performance gains. Using technology like Rapsodo, athletes can see tangible improvements in metrics like club head speed, ball velocity, and carry distance after just a few targeted sessions. Whether you're looking to prevent injuries or maximize your athletic potential, this episode provides the roadmap for keeping your rotational sports career thriving without pain.

    Ready to transform your game? Contact the Carolina Movement Doc Performance Team today through our website, social media, or podcast platforms to work directly with our rotational sports specialists.

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    21 mins
  • The Hard Truth About Healing: When Rest Becomes the Best Medicine
    Apr 2 2025

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    Every athlete fears hearing those words: "You need to shut it down." Yet sometimes, complete rest is precisely what your body demands. Dr. Scott Jablonka tackles the challenging moments when treatment and interventions aren't the best medicine—and when listening to your body's surrender flag becomes crucial for long-term success.

    Drawing from real clinical experiences, Dr. Jablonka walks through specific scenarios that require complete shutdown: acute injuries producing sharp pain with movement, post-surgical complications when pain remains unmanageable, and overuse conditions that runners often try to push through. The podcast offers practical guidance for recognizing when your body is waving that white flag—like pain that wakes you at night, steadily declining performance despite increased effort, or recovery metrics that stay in the red despite adequate sleep.

    The discussion extends beyond physical indicators to address mental burnout, which can be equally destructive to performance. Dr. Jablonka shares insights from elite coaching perspectives, including Ben Bergeron's approach of adjusting training intensity based on athletes' energy levels. This awareness of both physical and mental states allows coaches and athletes to make strategic decisions about when to push and when to pause.

    Whether you're a competitive athlete following a strict training plan or someone recovering from surgery, this episode provides the framework to make smart decisions about your body's need for recovery. Sometimes the hardest but most important decision is giving yourself permission to rest—potentially saving yourself from months of forced recovery later.

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    22 mins
  • Recovery Tools: Worth the Hype or Just A Gimmick?
    Mar 26 2025

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    Recovery tools have exploded in popularity, but are they actually worth your hard-earned money? Dr. Scott Jablonka and sports massage therapist Mikey Black cut through the marketing hype to deliver honest, practical advice about what belongs in your gym bag.

    Before diving into specific gadgets, they establish an essential truth: no recovery tool can compensate for poor sleep, nutrition, mobility, and hydration. These fundamentals form the foundation of effective recovery, and skipping them while splurging on expensive tools is like "trying to put out a fire with a garden hose."

    The conversation tackles massage guns first, with a surprising revelation – they're actually more effective as pre-workout tools than for recovery. As Mikey explains, the high-frequency percussion excites the nervous system rather than relaxing tissues, making them ideal before squats or runs but potentially counterproductive after a tough workout.

    Foam rollers and lacrosse balls receive nuanced analysis, with both experts emphasizing technique over mindless rolling. The "pin and stretch" approach and targeted pressure on specific areas prove more effective than aggressive rolling that leaves bruises – a common mistake among enthusiasts.

    Perhaps most intriguing is their assessment of compression boots, which deliver both psychological and physiological benefits. While research shows measurable benefits primarily after heavy lifting or long-distance running, the subjective improvement is undeniable for nearly everyone. "If you feel better, you're going to move better," explains Dr. Jablanka.

    Whether you're a weekend warrior or dedicated athlete, this episode provides clarity on which recovery tools deserve space in your gym bag and how to use them effectively. The answer isn't always about buying the most expensive option – sometimes the $100 version works just as well as the $500 one.

    Ready to optimize your recovery? Subscribe now and learn how to move more, move often, and move well with the Carolina Movement Doc team.

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    30 mins
  • Move More: Meet The Dream Team
    Mar 5 2025

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    Experience a new way to approach health and wellness in our latest podcast episode! At Carolina Movement Doc, we're driven by a vision that emphasizes movement, recovery, and community engagement. Join us as we explore the multifaceted roles played by our passionate team, who work tirelessly to transform the way healthcare is perceived and delivered.

    From our forward-thinking physical therapists to our enthusiastic dietitian and community coordinators, you will learn how we create a thriving environment for individuals seeking an active lifestyle. We delve into our unique methodologies that combine innovative rehabilitation techniques with traditional sports performance principles, enabling clients to achieve their goals.

    Underscoring our commitment to serving the community, we engage in thoughtful conversations about the partnerships we cultivate with local gyms, fitness centers, and wellness organizations. Communicating the value of teamwork, we not only address the physical aspects of health but also incorporate nutritional guidance and mental resilience into our practice.

    Listen in as we share our incredible journey over the past three years, highlighting how we've built a supportive and effective health-focused team. Your wellness journey is uniquely yours, and we invite you to experience the Carolina Movement Doc difference. Don't forget to subscribe and share your thoughts with us!

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    20 mins
  • The Therapist’s Secret: Why Coaching Matters
    Feb 26 2025

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    Dive into a transformative discussion that shifts the perspective on physical therapy by blending it with essential coaching skills! Have you ever considered how the techniques of a coach could enhance the effectiveness of physical therapy? In this episode, we explore the intricate relationship between therapy and coaching. Listeners will learn how coaches employ trust-building, empathy, and active listening to elevate athlete performance, and how these same techniques can create a more impactful therapeutic relationship.

    Our host, Dr. Scott Jablonka, shares insights on the necessity of communication for therapists and why understanding patient aspirations is vital. Discover the power of celebrating small victories as an integral part of healing, and learn why physical therapists should consider pursuing coaching courses to enrich their practice. As therapists adopt these coaching strategies, they create opportunities to maximize the potential outcomes of their patients’ health journeys.

    Join us as we redefine the roles of coaches and therapists and highlight how the realms of fitness and rehabilitation can complement each other beautifully. If you’re in the health and wellness sector, you won’t want to miss this enlightening perspective that urges professionals to embrace the integration of coaching methodologies.

    Be part of the movement—engage with us, subscribe, and consider sharing this episode with someone who might benefit from exploring the intersection of therapy and coaching. Your journey towards better health and function starts with knowledge and inspiration!

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    24 mins
  • Speed School for Young Athletes
    Feb 19 2025

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    Unlock the secrets to enhancing youth athletic performance with us as we promise to shed light on the crucial but often neglected elements of speed development. Joining forces with the esteemed Dr. Griffin, we explore how speed and agility training can revolutionize young athletes' capabilities, significantly enhance their performance, and reduce the risk of injuries. Reflecting on our own missed opportunities, we highlight the gaps in current youth development programs and stress the urgency of starting targeted training early. Discover how we are committed to equipping young athletes in the greater Charlotte area with the tools they need to tap into their full potential.

    Together, Dr. Griffin Love and I, Dr. Scott Jablonka, reveal the core fundamentals that serve as the springboard for advanced speed training. Drawing inspiration from icons like Steph Curry and Michael Jordan, we discuss how mastering basic skills is vital for athletic success. Our discussion delves into the importance of general physical preparedness and structured progression in training, contrasting it with unfocused approaches. We also illuminate the role of the nervous system and how its balance is key to optimizing focus and performance under pressure. Engage with us as we share practical insights and resources to help athletes and parents alike, inviting you to connect with our community through our website and social media platforms.

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    21 mins
  • Injury Insight: Navigating Setbacks with Smart Recovery
    Feb 12 2025

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    Ever wondered how an athlete-turned-therapist deals with unexpected injuries while staying in peak performance mode? Join me, Dr. Scott Jablonka, your trusted performance physical therapist, as I share a personal and current story of facing a sudden thigh injury during a workout. Discover the art of balancing injury management with an active lifestyle, all without succumbing to the panic button. At 39, I've learned that being smart about injuries means leveraging self-awareness and strategic adjustments, not abandoning your fitness goals altogether.

    In this episode of the Move More podcast, you'll hear firsthand about my approach to assessing and handling injuries, focusing on proactive management rather than passive rest. I walk you through the steps I took after feeling that unsettling sensation in my thigh — from immediate status checks to modifying my training regimen intelligently. If you're an athlete or fitness enthusiast dealing with an injury, or simply want to arm yourself with practical advice for future setbacks, this episode is a treasure trove of tips to keep you moving and motivated. Let's redefine how we look at injuries and discover the power of informed, active recovery together.

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    12 mins