Ep 377: The Complete Guide to Hamstring Strain Rehabilitation with Nick Kane
Release Date: 06/17/2026
The Physical Performance Show
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In episode 381 of The Physical Performance Show, host Brad Beer — sports and exercise physiotherapist — sits down with Pogo physiotherapist Tim Studley for the first instalment of a two-part mini-series on shin pain and tibial bone stress injuries, following on from their earlier three-part bone stress injury series. This episode is essential listening for runners, coaches, and clinicians alike, unpacking how to tell the difference between medial tibial stress syndrome (MTSS/shin splints) and a true tibial bone stress injury — two conditions that can feel identical but require...
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In episode 380 of The Physical Performance Show, host Brad Beer and Pogo Physio physiotherapist Tim Studley conclude their three-part expert series on bone stress injuries by focusing on what happens after diagnosis. From imaging and prognosis to rehabilitation, return to running, and long-term prevention, this episode provides a practical roadmap for athletes, coaches, and clinicians managing these complex injuries. Brad explains why identifying the underlying causes of a bone stress injury is just as important as healing the bone itself. The discussion covers deloading, progressive...
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In episode 379 of The Physical Performance Show, host Brad Beer and Pogo Physio physiotherapist Tim Studley continue their three-part expert series on bone stress injuries by shifting the focus from training errors to the biological factors that determine whether an athlete's skeleton can tolerate training demands. This episode explores the critical role of energy availability, bone health, recovery, and risk stratification in both preventing and diagnosing bone stress injuries. Brad shares practical screening strategies developed over two decades of clinical practice, explaining why...
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In episode 378 of The Physical Performance Show, host Brad Beer is joined by Pogo physiotherapist Tim Studley for the first instalment of a three-part expert series exploring bone stress injuries. Drawing on decades of clinical experience and the latest research, Brad unpacks the mechanisms behind one of the most common and misunderstood injuries affecting endurance athletes. This episode explains how bone stress injuries develop, why they occur, and why they're often missed until they become more serious. Brad and Tim discuss the relationship between training load, bone...
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In episode 377 of The Physical Performance Show, Sports Physiotherapist Nick Kane joins host Brad Beer to unpack the rehabilitation of hamstring strain injuries. Nick is the founder and director of SportsMap, one of Australia's leading professional development platforms for sports medicine clinicians. Drawing on more than a decade working in elite sport, including ten years with the Essendon Football Club in the AFL and five years as lead physiotherapist, Nick shares practical, evidence-informed insights into managing one of sport's most common and frustrating injuries. This episode explores...
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Brad shares what's happened over the last two years, why there has been infrequency in episode production adn what teh plan is from ehre. Listen into this brief update as he explains what shape the podcast will take and what content you can expect. We want to say a special thank you to you, our loyal listeners. Without youthere wouldn't be this podcast, we deeply apprecaite you.
info_outlineIn episode 377 of The Physical Performance Show, Sports Physiotherapist Nick Kane joins host Brad Beer to unpack the rehabilitation of hamstring strain injuries.
Nick is the founder and director of SportsMap, one of Australia's leading professional development platforms for sports medicine clinicians. Drawing on more than a decade working in elite sport, including ten years with the Essendon Football Club in the AFL and five years as lead physiotherapist, Nick shares practical, evidence-informed insights into managing one of sport's most common and frustrating injuries.
This episode explores the common mistakes athletes and practitioners make during rehabilitation, the critical role of high-speed running exposure, how to assess injury severity, key risk factors for recurrence, and the practical steps required for a successful return to sport. Nick also discusses eccentric strength training, fascicle length, T-junction injuries, and the characteristics that separate great clinicians from average ones.
Whether you're an athlete, coach, physiotherapist, or sports medicine practitioner, this episode delivers practical takeaways you can immediately apply.
Show Sponsor
PILLAR Performance creates evidence-based sports micronutrition products designed to support recovery, sleep, health, and performance for athletes and active people.
For all your PILLAR products visit https://PillarPerformance.shop, or for North American listeners, head to https://TheFeed.com.
For 15% off your first purchase enter PHYSICALPERFORMANCE at the checkout.
How To Check:
LinkedIn - Nick Kane
SportsMap – https://sportsmap.com.au
Listen in as we delve into the following:
• The three most common mistakes in hamstring rehabilitation
• Why maximum speed exposure is essential for successful recovery
• The dangers of over-prescribing and under-prescribing sprint work
• Understanding hamstring injury pathology and injury mechanisms
• Key clinical assessment findings for hamstring strain injuries
• Risk factors including eccentric strength, fascicle length, and running mechanics
• The "push and pull of strain" concept
• Practical strength benchmarks for rehabilitation progressions
• The role of Nordic hamstring exercises and eccentric loading
• Monitoring recovery using objective clinical markers
• Criteria-based return-to-play decision making
• Preventing recurrence following return to sport
• Why regular exposure to high-speed running matters
• Understanding T-junction hamstring injuries
• What differentiates great clinicians from average practitioners
• The value of curiosity, continual learning, and athlete-centred communication
Quotes
"Preparing to sprint is preparing to play." — Nick Kane
"The highest strain you can apply to the hamstring is sprinting." — Nick Kane
"Consistency is key." — Nick Kane
"If you stop training eccentrically for two weeks, those fascicles shorten." — Nick Kane
"The person who stays curious and continues learning is the one who keeps improving." — Nick Kane
Timeline
00:00 – Introduction and sponsor messages
01:20 – Introduction to Nick Kane and SportsMap
04:08 – The three biggest mistakes in hamstring rehabilitation
05:35 – Over-prescribing and under-prescribing high-speed running
09:16 – Why sprint exposure is critical for recovery
10:34 – Understanding hamstring injury pathology
13:54 – Key risk factors for hamstring strain injuries
16:12 – The push and pull of strain concept
18:29 – Eccentric strength and fascicle length
20:22 – Practical strength assessment benchmarks
23:13 – Essential clinical assessment tools
27:20 – Using objective markers to guide return-to-play timelines
29:21 – Sponsor messages
31:14 – Return-to-play criteria and rehabilitation progressions
34:41 – Preventing hamstring injury recurrence
37:29 – Understanding T-junction hamstring injuries
41:41 – What separates great clinicians from average clinicians
44:25 – Nick Kane's one piece of performance advice
45:53 – The weekly physical challenge: 10 minutes of stillness
46:51 – Where to find Nick Kane and SportsMap
48:27 – Episode wrap-up and upcoming shows
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