Sports Medicine Weekly

08/14/2026

The Connection Between Sleep Quality and Athletic Performance

Sleep isn't just downtime — it's one of the most powerful, least-used levers for athletic performance. Research links adequate sleep to faster sprints, sharper shooting accuracy, better motor skill retention, and significantly lower injury risk in young athletes....

Research-backed guide to how sleep affects athletic recovery, injury risk, and skill learning — plus practical tips for athletes and coaches.

08/11/2026

Did you know? The LiveActive with Rush Sports Medicine Blog donates net proceeds to advance orthopedic and cell biology research at Rush University Medical Center.
That means better treatments, better therapies, and more people living actively. 💪 Tune in. Give back. Stay active.
Learn more: https://www.briancolemd.com/donate-to-liveactive-with-rush/

08/10/2026

Why do the Same Running Injuries Keep Coming Back?

Repeated injuries in runners often stem from underdeveloped calf and foot muscles, not flawed shoes or form. Strengthening these areas is crucial for injury prevention. Simple drills targeting calves and foot intrinsics can effectively build resilience over time. Consistent practice is necessary, with improvements taking eight to twelve weeks....

Shin splints, Achilles pain, and plantar fasciitis keep returning because your lower legs and feet lack capacity, not rest. Learn 3 simple strength drills to fix it.

08/10/2026

Coaching Through Athlete Burnout: Recognizing The Signs And Supporting Recovery

Learn how coaches can recognize athlete burnout signs, prevent it through workload management, and support recovery with rest, communication, and team culture....

Learn how coaches can recognize athlete burnout signs, prevent it through workload management, and support recovery with rest, communication, and team culture.

08/07/2026

How Incline Walking Increases Calorie Burn (And How to Calculate It Accurately)

Discover how incline walking boosts calorie burn without running. Learn the MET formula to accurately calculate your incline treadmill workout calories!...

Discover how incline walking boosts calorie burn without running. Learn the MET formula to accurately calculate your incline treadmill workout calories!

08/06/2026

High ankle sprains are different from the ankle sprains most people know. 🏈
In this Sports Medicine Weekly episode, Dr. Brian Cole and the team discuss how these injuries occur, why they can be more challenging to recover from, and the treatment strategies that help athletes return to play.
✴️THE SPORTS ENTHUSIAST'S OFFICIAL RESOURCE FOR FITNESS, NUTRITION INJURY PREVENTION AND TREATMENT.

In this week's episode of the Sports Medicine Weekly Podcast, Dr. Cole is joined by Joshua James, DPT, CSCS to discuss high ankle sprains

08/04/2026

Preserving Muscle During GLP-1 Weight Loss: A Training and Nutrition Guide

Losing weight on GLP-1 medications? Learn how protein intake, resistance training, and recovery help preserve muscle so your weight loss comes from fat, not lean mass....

Losing weight on GLP-1 medications? Learn how protein intake, resistance training, and recovery help preserve muscle so your weight loss comes from fat, not lean mass.

08/04/2026

The “Weekend Warrior” Gap: How the Same Biologics Pro Athletes Use Are Becoming Accessible to Everyone

For decades, there has been an unspoken assumption in sports medicine: that the cutting-edge treatments available to professional athletes, the rapid recovery protocols, the biologic injections, the advanced cartilage procedures, exist in a separate tier of care that recreational athletes simply cannot access....

Dr. Brian Cole, MD, explains how PRP, BMAC, and advanced cartilage restoration once reserved for pro athletes are now accessible to recreational "weekend warriors."

07/30/2026

The Role of Breathwork in Athletic Recovery and Stress Management

Breathwork for Athletic Recovery and Stress Management Meta description: Discover how breathwork improves athletic recovery and lowers stress, plus two simple breathing exercises—slow recovery breathing and box breathing—to try today....

Breathwork for Athletic Recovery and Stress ManagementMeta description: Discover how breathwork improves athletic recovery and lowers stress, plus two simple breathing exercises—slow recovery breathing and box breathing—to try today.

07/30/2026

How Incline Walking Increases Calorie Burn (And How to Calculate It Accurately)

Discover how incline walking boosts calorie burn without running. Learn the MET formula to accurately calculate your incline treadmill workout calories!...

Discover how incline walking boosts calorie burn without running. Learn the MET formula to accurately calculate your incline treadmill workout calories!