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Achilles Tendon Exercises — What Works, What Doesn't, and Why It Matters
TL;DR: The right Achilles tendon exercises depend entirely on where you are in your rehab. Isometrics first, slow isotonic loading second, heavy single-leg work third, elastic and plyometric last. Most people skip the first two stages — and that's why they relapse. Exercise selection matters less than exercise order. If you've searched "Achilles tendon exercises" hoping for a list of things to do, this article will give you that. But it will also tell you something more usefu

Greg Dea
3 days ago7 min read


Should You Have Coffee Before Zone 2 Training?
TL;DR Zone 2 exercise — easy cycling, swimming, or aqua jogging at 60–70% of your heart rate reserve — does more than maintain fitness during Achilles rehab. It reduces cortisol, supports parasympathetic tone, and creates a better cellular environment for tendon healing. It doesn't replace structured loading. It makes the loading work better. Most pre-workout advice points in one direction: caffeine improves performance, so take it before you train. For high-intensity session

Greg Dea
3 days ago5 min read


Why Zone 2 Exercise Belongs in Your Achilles Tendinopathy Rehab
TL;DR Tendons heal slowly and need progressive loading — but the state of your nervous system shapes how well that healing happens. Zone 2 exercise (easy cycling, swimming, aqua jogging) keeps you moving without loading the Achilles, reduces cortisol, supports parasympathetic tone, and creates a better environment for your loading program to work. It doesn't replace structured tendon rehab. It makes it more effective. Find YOUR zone 2 using the heart rate zone calculator. W

Greg Dea
4 days ago6 min read


Achilles Tendon Pain: It’s Not Just About Load — It’s About What Your System Can Handle
Most people with Achilles tendon pain are told one of two things: “You need to load it more” “You need to rest it” Both can be true.Both can also fail. Because tendon pain is not simply a load problem — it’s a capacity problem. And if you don’t understand what your system can currently tolerate, you’ll either: underload and stall or overload and flare What Achilles Tendinopathy Really Is (And What It’s Telling You) Tendon pain is not random. It’s a signal that: the load being

Greg Dea
Mar 273 min read


Why Diagnosis Matters More Than Treatment — And Where SFMA Fits
The best medical practitioners don’t just treat well. They do three things exceptionally well: they communicate clearly they get the diagnosis right and they apply effective treatment and exercise But everything starts with the diagnosis. Because if the diagnosis is wrong — or incomplete — everything that follows is built on unstable ground. THE PROBLEM WITH MOST APPROACHES In many clinical settings, the focus is placed on: relieving symptoms improving local tissue capacity p

Greg Dea
Mar 262 min read


Most Lumbar Stress Fracture Rehab Programs Fail — Here’s Why
The Problem Isn’t the Injury — It’s the Approach Most lumbar stress fracture rehab programs follow a predictable pattern: rest reduce pain gradual return On the surface, this seems logical. But it misses the real issue. A lumbar stress fracture is not just a structural injury. It is a failure of the system to tolerate load. If that system is not rebuilt, the outcome doesn’t change. A more complete approach to lumbar stress fracture rehab focuses on rebuilding the system, not

Greg Dea
Mar 252 min read


When Can You Return to Sport After a Lumbar Stress Fracture?
Returning to sport after a lumbar stress fracture is one of the most mismanaged stages of rehabilitation. Athletes are often cleared based on: time since injury reduction in pain or basic function But none of these determine readiness for sport. The real question is: 👉 Can your body tolerate the demands of your sport again? A lumbar stress fracture is not just a bone injury. It is a failure of the system to manage load. Returning safely requires more than rest or symptom res

Greg Dea
Mar 255 min read


Golf Strength Training Not Working? You’re Probably Training the Wrong Things
The Hidden Problem in Golf Training Most golfers today are doing something in the gym. They’re lifting weights.They’re doing mobility.They’re trying to “get stronger.” And yet… nothing changes on the course. Ball speed doesn’t increase.Consistency doesn’t improve.Injuries still show up. The issue isn’t effort. It’s transfer . The Real Issue: Why Your Golf Strength Training Not Working Comes Down to Poor Transfer If your golf strength training is not working , the issue is ra

Greg Dea
Mar 202 min read


Golf Strength Program: Why Most Golfers Don’t Improve (And What to Do Instead)
If you’ve been playing golf for a while, you’ve probably been here before: You tweak your swing. You watch videos. You get a lesson. Things improve—for a bit. Then you fall back into the same patterns. It’s frustrating. And it’s not your fault. Because the problem usually isn’t your swing. It’s your body. The Real Limitation: Your Physical Competency AND Capacity Golf is a physical skill. To swing efficiently, your body needs: Enough mobility to get into the right positions

Greg Dea
Mar 172 min read


Why Is Your Quad Not Activating After a Patella Dislocation?
One of the most common and frustrating experiences after a patella dislocation is this: Your knee feels weak, unstable, or unreliable — and your quadriceps simply won’t switch on. Even after the kneecap has gone back into place and scans show no major structural damage, the leg can still feel difficult to control. This isn’t unusual. In fact, it is one of the most predictable responses after a patella instability event. Understanding why this happens can make the recovery pro

Greg Dea
Mar 133 min read


The Complete Guide to Lumbar Stress Fracture Rehabilitation for Athletes
In This Guide What is a lumbar stress fracture? Early signs of a lumbar stress fracture How long lumbar stress fractures take to heal Exercises used in rehabilitation Returning to squatting and lifting Training during recovery Lumbar stress fractures are one of the most common spinal injuries seen in athletes, particularly in sports involving repeated spinal extension, rotation, and high training loads. These injuries can be frustrating because they often require temporary ch

Greg Dea
Mar 95 min read


Can You Squat After a Lumbar Stress Fracture?
One of the most common questions athletes ask during lumbar stress fracture rehabilitation is: “Will I ever be able to squat again?” For many athletes—especially footballers, weightlifters, and field sport players—the squat is a key exercise for developing lower body strength and performance. The good news is that most athletes can return to squatting after a lumbar stress fracture , but the process must be gradual and guided by appropriate rehabilitation. Understanding when

Greg Dea
Mar 94 min read


Early Signs of a Lumbar Stress Fracture in Athletes
Lumbar stress fractures are one of the most common spinal injuries seen in young athletes, particularly in sports involving repeated spinal extension, rotation, and high training volumes. The challenge is that these injuries often begin with subtle symptoms that athletes may ignore or mistake for normal muscle soreness. Recognising the early signs of a lumbar stress fracture can make a significant difference in recovery time and long-term outcomes. In this article, we’ll cov

Greg Dea
Mar 94 min read


Best Exercises for Lumbar Stress Fracture Rehabilitation
A lumbar stress fracture can be one of the most frustrating injuries for athletes. It often forces time away from sport, limits training, and raises concerns about losing strength and conditioning during recovery. However, while some movements must be avoided during rehabilitation, many exercises can still be performed safely. The key is selecting exercises that protect the healing spine while maintaining strength, mobility, and trunk control . This article outlines the best

Greg Dea
Mar 95 min read


Can You Train With a Lumbar Stress Fracture?
Lumbar stress fractures are one of the most common spinal injuries seen in young athletes and field sport players, particularly in sports that involve repeated spinal extension, rotation, and high training loads. For many athletes, the diagnosis can feel like the end of training. They are often told to stop lifting, avoid sport, and simply wait for the bone to heal. But while protecting the injured segment is essential , complete inactivity can create another problem: rapid l

Greg Dea
Mar 94 min read


MAS Running Intervals (2026): The Complete Guide to Maximum Aerobic Speed Training
Interval running is one of the most effective ways to improve aerobic fitness, running speed, and endurance. One of the most precise methods used by coaches and athletes is Maximum Aerobic Speed (MAS) training . MAS running intervals prescribe training intensities based on an athlete’s individual aerobic capacity. This allows every athlete to train at the correct physiological intensity rather than guessing pace or following generic interval programs. In this guide you’ll lea

Greg Dea
Mar 55 min read


Foundation Strength Training for Long-Term Progress - What You Need to Know Before You Start
Before you start Foundation Block 1 Foundation Block 1 is designed to be simple to follow , but that doesn’t mean it’s random or vague. Each session includes written guidance explaining why things are done a certain way. You don’t need to memorise it all — but understanding a few key ideas will help you get far more out of the program with less confusion, soreness, or second-guessing. This article gives you the short version . TL;DR — Read This First If you want to open the

Greg Dea
Jan 34 min read


How to Load the Patellar Tendon Without Making It Worse
Field athlete practising controlled landing to load the patellar tendon safely Patellar tendon pain creates a difficult training paradox. Athletes know they need load to stay strong and perform, but they also fear that loading the knee will make symptoms worse. As a result, training often swings between doing too much and doing too little — neither of which builds long-term resilience. The solution isn’t avoiding load. It’s learning how to load the patellar tendon intelligent

Greg Dea
Jan 1, 20263 min read


Training Through Patellar Tendon Pain: A Capacity-First Approach for Field Athletes
Field athlete training through patellar tendon pain using controlled landing mechanics Training through patellar tendon pain is a common challenge for field athletes who rely on repeated jumping, landing, and change of direction. Too often, the default advice is to rest, reduce load, or avoid jumping altogether. While this may settle symptoms temporarily, it rarely prepares the tendon for the real demands of sport. When training resumes, pain often returns — sometimes worse t

Greg Dea
Jan 1, 20263 min read


How to Make Yourself More Valuable in MSK Care
What if you could make yourself more valuable tomorrow — to your clinic, your team, and your patients? What if you could make yourself more valuable tomorrow —to your clinic , your referrers , your sports club , your insurer , and your patients ? Not by adding another technique……but by mastering a system that proves value where others can’t. And here’s the kicker — it’s not taught in university. Not even in most post-grad programs. The Truth Nobody Teaches You Most clinicia

Greg Dea
Oct 5, 20256 min read
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