In this episode of KIMEcast, Tony Mikla, DPT and Russ Dunning, MPT dive into the ever-popular world of recovery—separating hype from science on cold plunges, saunas, red-light therapy, shockwave treatments, orthotics, and more. They unpack recent research showing how post-workout cold exposure may actually blunt muscle growth and protein absorption, discuss when cold therapy is useful (hint: short-term recovery for competition, not long-term adaptation), and explore the nuances of light therapy and sauna use.
The conversation then shifts to training fundamentals, with a deep dive into KIME’s Kettlebell Resilience Certification. Tony and Russ highlight why kettlebell work bridges the gap between rehab and performance, share the origins of their certification standards, and explain how resilience training builds true strength, conditioning, and long-term durability.
This episode blends research, clinical insight, and practical tools for athletes, clinicians, and anyone serious about high-performance health.
In Episode 55 of KIMEcast, Russ Dunning, MPT and Evan Hauger, DPT take you inside the real-life process of injury, recovery, and performance evolution. When Evan suffers a back injury playing pickleball, it sparks a powerful and honest discussion about how clinicians navigate their own rehab and what it teaches them.
They break down:
The healing timeline from acute inflammation to tissue regeneration
Supplements that actually help (collagen, vitamin C, magnesium, fish oil, peptides)
Why blunting inflammation with Advil may delay recovery
Dynamic stability and why it’s the missing link in injury prevention
How real-life injuries fuel clinical learning and innovation
Lessons from kettlebell training, peptide injections, and blood flow restriction
Plus, Russ shares a compelling case of a young athlete with elite strength and power—who still suffered a preventable ACL tear due to a stability deficit.
This episode is packed with practical insights, personal stories, and game-changing concepts for clinicians, athletes, and anyone navigating pain or performance.
🎧 Whether you’re a rehab professional, coach, or simply curious about what really works—you don’t want to miss this one.
AI is changing everything—even sports medicine. In this episode, Tony Mikla, DPT and Russ Dunning, MPT dive into how artificial intelligence is influencing the future of physical therapy, performance training, and patient care.
From ChatGPT to custom-built AI agents, patients are showing up more informed (and sometimes misinformed) than ever. So what’s the real role of a PT in an AI-enhanced world? The KIME team breaks it all down—from the power of expert movement analysis to the importance of intelligent prompting and the future of personalized rehab protocols.
You’ll learn:
✅ Why AI can't replace movement experts—yet
✅ How KIME is training its own AI agent
✅ What makes a great PT irreplaceable
✅ The soft science of motor control and biomechanics
✅ Why nutrition, sleep, and stress matter more than you think
👉 Don’t miss this forward-looking episode about tech-enhanced care, professional evolution, and what every clinician needs to stay ahead.
Why do some D1 athletes come back slower and weaker after a season? In this episode, Dr. Tony Mikla and Russ Dunning break down the critical trade-offs between human performance metrics (like strength, speed, and power) and sport-specific performance (like IQ, conditioning, and durability).
They discuss:
The “performance seesaw” between raw athleticism and game readiness
How youth sports development often sacrifices long-term gains for short-term wins
The importance of multi-sport participation vs. early specialization
Why strength declines in-season—and what to do about it
KIME’s philosophy on balancing protocols with principle-based coaching
Whether you’re a coach, clinician, parent, or athlete, this episode challenges how we define success in training and competition.
📌 Subscribe for more insights on performance, rehab, and movement science.
In Episode 51 of KIMEcast, Tony Mikla, DPT, and Nikos Contos, DPT, welcome special guest Dr. Brian Gilmer, a leading orthopedic surgeon based in Reno, NV and Mammoth, CA. This insightful conversation dives deep into ACL reconstruction techniques, surgical decision-making, and modern rehabilitation strategies. Dr. Gilmer shares candid thoughts on meniscal root tears, the evolution of ACL repair protocols, and his experience with the Bridge-Enhanced ACL Repair (BEAR) technique.
The episode challenges conventional post-op care models, advocating for earlier mobilization and individualized protocols. The trio also discusses patient psychology, biologic augmentations, and how surgical innovation and rehabilitation need to evolve together. With analogies like “Porsche vs. Camry” and “wine barrel hoops,” Dr. Gilmer brings both humor and clarity to complex concepts in sports medicine.
🎧 Key Topics:
Surgical strategies for ACL reconstruction vs. BEAR
Meniscus root tears and rehab challenges
Advances in biologics and graft selection (e.g., quad allografts)
The power of accelerated protocols and patient engagement
Building trust through shared decision-making and rehab collaboration
In this episode of KIMecast, we sit down with Chris Rounds, Associate Director of Performance Enhancement for Arizona Men’s Basketball, to explore his philosophy behind athlete durability, return-to-play protocols, and building elite basketball players from the inside out. Chris shares insights from over two decades in elite collegiate programs—from his early days at Kentucky to leading performance in the Pac-12 and Big 12. With a focus on injury prevention, load management, and smart strength programming, Chris challenges conventional lifting norms and emphasizes the value of consistency, simplicity, and relationship-based coaching. A must-listen for anyone working in high-performance sport.
Tony Mikla and Russ Dunning use a return-to-sprint case to do more than coach movement—they deliver a powerful critique of both the performance industry and the healthcare system that supports (and often limits) it.
In this episode, they cover:
Real-time coaching breakdowns for athletes returning to sprinting
Why so much current rehab misses the mark on real-world performance
What separates a great coach from a technician
The failure of overused protocols and systems that lack context
The real consequences of Medicare cuts and outdated insurance models
How clinicians can lead change instead of waiting on it
It’s part sprint mechanics, part coaching masterclass, and part wake-up call to a healthcare and performance system that desperately needs to evolve.
In this episode, Tony Mikla and Russ Dunning tackle one of the most important challenges in physical therapy and sports performance: the disconnect between academic research and what actually works in the clinic.
They break down:
Why research can feel outdated or irrelevant by the time it reaches clinical practice
The challenges of applying rigid protocols to highly variable human bodies
How real-world testing, athlete feedback, and pattern recognition fill the gaps
The role of AI and data in customizing care and predicting adaptation
The importance of identifying limiting factors and training the athlete in front of you—not the one in a textbook
Plus, they explore how PTs and coaches can work with universities (instead of waiting on them) and why the future of rehab may depend on clinician-led research rooted in real movement.
Whether you're a clinician, student, or coach, this episode will challenge how you think about evidence, testing, and what truly drives better outcomes.
In Episode 47 of KIMEcast, Tony Mikla and Russ Duncan dive deep into the art and science of movement—exploring how understanding shapes and identifying limiting factors is the key to unlocking athletic performance, preventing injuries, and creating bulletproof programming.
From sprint mechanics and ballistic movement to orthopedic interventions and joint health, they break down:
Why owning the shape is the foundation of performance
How to identify the true limiting factor in athletes (and why it's not always what you think)
The crucial role of the CNS as the body’s “governor” of movement safety
How to balance power, control, and tissue tolerance in program design
When it’s time to shift from rehab to injections, surgery, or lifestyle changes
Plus: the underrated daily practice of expressing movement genes and why your clients should think of joint health like brushing their teeth
This episode bridges the gap between biomechanics, clinical PT, and elite sports performance—making complex systems actionable for any coach or clinician who wants to level up their approach.
🎧 Whether you work with youth athletes, aging pros, or weekend warriors—this episode will change the way you assess, program, and coach movement.
In this solo episode of KIMEcast, Tony Mikla sits down for a freestyle Q&A—answering the most important questions aspiring and early-career physical therapists should be asking.
From what separates standout new grads, to what clinical excellence actually looks like in practice, Tony shares the mindset, habits, and strategies that define success at the highest level of sports physical therapy.
He covers:
Why curiosity and communication beat raw knowledge
What mentorship really looks like at KIME
The difference between treating symptoms vs. optimizing performance
How to build a long-term career around coaching, not protocols
Why now is the moment for private leaders to shape the future of the PT profession
If you're a student, a new clinician, or just trying to level up in sports performance PT—this is a masterclass in how to think, grow, and lead.
In this episode, Tony sits down with athlete, author, and performance coach Brad Kearns to talk about everything from professional triathlon to mindset, recovery, and redefining success in sport and life.
Brad shares stories from his nine-year pro career, the mindset that helped him go from accountant to elite triathlete, and how a process-driven approach helped him outperform more experienced competitors. They dive into the value of training for personal bests, not ego-driven outcomes, and why the best athletes—like Steph Curry, Tiger Woods, and Lance Armstrong—back their confidence with relentless preparation.
The episode also explores:
The downsides of early specialization and overtraining
Why recovery is as important as training (especially for high achievers)
The truth about sports nutrition, metabolic health, and Brad’s "Two Meals a Day" philosophy
Why most athletes (and professionals) carry more cumulative stress than they realize
How mental clarity and emotional discipline make the difference at the top level
Whether you're a clinician, coach, or competitor, this episode is packed with real stories and insights on how to think, train, and recover like a true high performer.
In this episode, Tony and Russ unpack some of sports science's most uncomfortable truths—straight from a viral list circulating the field. From debunking the magic of foam rolling and GPS trackers to calling out the misuse of "functional training," they give no-nonsense takes on why many common practices in sports medicine fall flat.
They also discuss how their unique two-year fellowship is shaping the next generation of clinicians to value clarity, decisive problem-solving, and structured progression over trendy hacks. Whether it's how to actually prevent injuries (spoiler: you can't fully), why most performance tests miss the mark, or the real role of strength, this episode delivers valuable insights for PTs, coaches, and performance pros aiming for better outcomes.
Think you need to stretch more? Think again.
In this episode of KIMEcast, Tony and Russ break down the real reason you feel tight—and it’s not because your muscles are short. From hamstrings to hip flexors, we explore why traditional stretching often fails, and what to do instead.
Learn:
✅ Why most “tightness” is a stability issue, not a flexibility one
✅ Quick neuromuscular hacks to instantly improve mobility
✅ When static stretching actually helps (and when it hurts)
✅ What overpowered athletes are—and why they’re prone to injury
✅ How to train smarter based on YOUR body’s needs
Stop wasting time with stretches that don’t work. Let’s stretch your understanding instead.
In this episode of KIMEcast, the team dives deep into the systemic challenges plaguing healthcare today—from insurance red tape to the shortage of primary care providers. With real-world examples, Tony Mikla, DPT & Russ Dunning, MPT explore the inefficiencies caused by bureaucratic hurdles and discuss how the evolving healthcare landscape, including tech-driven solutions, concierge medicine, and patient-focused care models, could offer a way forward. The conversation highlights how insurance companies often dictate care, why many providers are moving away from Medicare, and what the future may hold for healthcare consumers looking for quality, efficiency, and affordability. If you're frustrated with long wait times, denied coverage, and a system that prioritizes paperwork over patient care, this episode is a must-listen.
In this episode of KIMEcast, Tony Mikla, DPT, and Russ Dunning, MPT, sit down with Dr. Sean Robinson, an orthopedic surgeon specializing in sports medicine and joint replacements. Dr. Robinson shares his journey from residency at the world-renowned Kerlan-Jobe Orthopedic Clinic to building his successful practice in Sacramento.
🔹 Key Topics Covered:
✔️ The importance of relationships in sports medicine—why great outcomes depend on collaboration between surgeons, physical therapists, and trainers.
✔️ Advancements in joint replacement surgery—how minimally invasive techniques are reducing pain and improving recovery times.
✔️ The debate on ACL reconstruction techniques—BTB vs. hamstring vs. quad tendon grafts.
✔️ Why conservative treatment can work for Achilles injuries—and when surgery is necessary.
✔️ The power of movement in recovery—how early mobilization speeds up healing.
Whether you’re an athlete, coach, therapist, or just passionate about human performance, this episode offers expert insights into modern orthopedic surgery, rehabilitation, and injury prevention.
In this episode of KIMEcast, Tony Mikla, DPT, and Russ Dunning, MPT explore the fundamental principles of coaching, injury recovery, and athlete development. Whether you're working with youth athletes, elite performers, or recovering patients, understanding how to apply first principles thinking in training and rehabilitation is essential for long-term success.
Key Topics in This Episode:
Coaching is more than just drills—it’s about developing strong, resilient athletes who can perform at their best over time. Whether you're a coach, clinician, or athlete, this episode will help you rethink how you approach training, recovery, and performance optimization.
As young athletes improve, they face a paradox: the better they get, the more they play, and the higher their injury risk becomes. In this episode of KIMEcast, Tony Mikla, DPT, and Russ Dunning, MPT, experts in sports performance, explore how skill development, training loads, and recovery impact an athlete’s long-term success and health.Key Topics in This Episode:The Athlete Paradox: Why better athletes play more and risk overuse injuriesBuilding Resilience: Strength and conditioning as a foundation for long-term success.Recovery Strategies: The importance of nutrition, sleep, and recovery as exposure increasesSport Specialization vs. Multi-Sport Training: What is the best path for youth athletes?Private Training: Helpful or Harmful? How to balance skill work with overall athletic development.Developing elite athletes is not just about increasing repetitions—it is about training smart. Whether you are a parent, coach, or athlete, this episode dives into the real challenges of youth sports and offers strategies to build stronger, more resilient athletes.
In this episode of KIMEcast, Tony Mikla and Russ Dunning explore how technology, data, and daily habits influence health, performance, and recovery.
From heart rate monitors to sleep trackers, they discuss the power of wearables and apps in guiding better decisions for fitness, stress management, and longevity. They dive into:
✅ How tracking heart rate, sleep, and glucose levels can optimize performance
✅ The role of apps in behavior change, accountability, and skill acquisition
✅ Why resilience, movement, and exposure are crucial for long-term health
✅ The difference between general fitness and sport-specific conditioning
✅ How mental resilience and stress management impact recovery and wellness
Listen in as they discuss philosophical insights on how tracking health data can be both empowering and overwhelming, and how to balance technology with intuition. Whether you’re an athlete, coach, or simply looking to improve your habits, this episode will challenge how you think about health, performance, and the role of data in daily life.
In this episode of KIMEcast, the Tony and Russ take a first principles approach to sports medicine, rehabilitation, and performance—breaking down complex ideas into fundamental truths that guide better decision-making in patient care, training, and recovery.
The discussion starts with a deep dive into mitochondrial health, the foundation of energy production, adaptation, and resilience. The hosts explore how conditioning isn’t just about fitness but about preparing the body to meet the specific demands of movement—whether in sports or daily life. They highlight how movement is the driving force behind recovery, tissue health, and long-term performance, debunking common misconceptions about rest and injury management.
Key first principles emerge throughout the episode:
From biomechanics and injury prevention to energy systems and longevity, this episode re-centers performance and rehabilitation around the core principles that actually drive results. If you’re an athlete, coach, or healthcare professional, this conversation will challenge you to rethink how you approach training, movement, and recovery at the most fundamental level.
In this episode of KIMEcast, hosts Tony, Mikayla, and Russ tackle the perennial challenge of New Year's resolutions focused on health and fitness. They dive deep into the psychology of goal-setting, the pitfalls of unsustainable habits, and the power of understanding your "why" behind health ambitions. The discussion spans key health pillars—stress management, sleep, nutrition, and movement—providing practical strategies for success.
Listeners will learn about:
The importance of setting behavior-based goals over vague outcomes. Why identity and long-term vision are crucial for habit formation. How stress, sleep, and nutrition interplay with exercise to influence overall wellness. Common mistakes with extreme dieting and workout regimens—and how to avoid them. Strategies to overcome setbacks and sustain motivation.Packed with actionable insights and candid reflections, this episode offers a no-nonsense guide to building lasting health and fitness habits for 2025 and beyond. Whether you're struggling to maintain your resolutions or seeking a more balanced approach, this conversation cuts through the noise to reveal what really works.