Episode 57: The Road Back: Injury, Recovery, and Rethinking Rehab with Tyler Foster DPT/PT and Jordan Madigan DPT/PT
Episode 57 is LIVE!
The Road Back: Injury, Recovery and Rethinking Rehab with Tyler Foster DPT/ PT and Jordan Madigan DPT/PT
Today, we’re doing something a little different! We are pulling back the curtain on my own recent Grade II lateral ankle sprain and diving into it as a case study. In this episode, we are breaking down how we approached the rehab process and the many decision points that could have shifted the outcome along the way from initial loading strategies to return-to-running milestones.
Joining me for this conversation are two incredible clinicians and movement specialists, Tyler Foster, DPT/PT and Jordan Madigan, DPT/PT.
What makes this conversation especially valuable is Tyler’s unique blend of orthopedic clinical experience and research in motor control. We dive into the nervous system’s role in shaping pain perception, movement quality, and overall functional capacity and explore how neuromuscular adaptations may evolve during the return-to-running process. The discussion also highlights how combining professional rehab guidance with years of running experience can create a more tailored and effective recovery approach.
Recovery is rarely linear, and the choices you make early on (from language and loading to rehab progression) can significantly impact long-term outcomes!
If you’ve ever wondered why two people with the same injury can have completely different recovery paths, this episode is for you!
Topics include:
My Experience with a Grade II Lateral Ankle Sprain
The Early-Stage Decision Making That Sets the Tone for Recovery
How Motor Control Research Informs Clinical Strategy Post-Injury
Why Rehab Isn't Just About the Ankle… It’s a Whole-System Conversation
Building Progressions That Respect Healing While Challenging the Athlete
Why Rehab Can’t Be One-Size-Fits-All Even for the “Same” Diagnosis
The Role of Communication, Language and Athlete Buy-In during the Healing Process
Regressions, Re-loading, and Adjustments Based on Real-Time Response
Bridging the Gap Between Research, Clinical Experience and Athlete Identity
Why Personal Goals Matter in Rehab Progression
This is a must-listen for clinicians, coaches, athletes, and anyone navigating recovery — whether from an ankle sprain or any other setback.
If this resonated with you, share the episode with someone in your circle who’s dealing with an injury, and leave a review if you’re enjoying these deeper, more nuanced conversations on rehab and performance.
Resources:
Running technique is an important component of running economy and performance. Folland et al 2017 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28263283/
The association between running injuries and training parameters: a systematic review. Fredette et al 2022 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34478518/
Science of Running by Chris Napier https://books.google.com/books/about/Science_of_Running.html?id=d8y8DwAAQBAJ&printsec=frontcover&source=kp_read_button&hl=en&newbks=1&newbks_redir=0&gboemv=1&ovdme=1
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Listen now on Apple Podcasts and Spotify!
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