The Sports Physical Therapy Podcast · Mike Reinold

Running Injuries with Scott Greenberg - Episode 40

September 26, 2023·50 min

This episode features host Mike Reinalda interviewing Scott Greenberg, a physical therapist and residency director for the University of Florida Gators who specializes in running and foot/ankle injuries. Greenberg explains how he strategically developed his niche in foot and ankle care early in his 24-year career to stand out in a sports medicine clinic. He shares that his entry into working with University of Florida athletics began with fabricating custom foot orthotics, a process that once took him two hours per pair. Greenberg discusses his philosophy on running mechanics, emphasizing that most distance running injuries occur during ground contact. He advocates for runners to land as close to their center of mass as possible to improve efficiency and reduce injury risk. The therapist reveals that, despite his expertise, he is not a competitive runner himself, joking he only runs "when chased." He argues that while most people can run, certain body types may be at higher risk for injury over long distances. A key insight is Greenberg's approach to altering running form, which he believes is best attempted when a runner is already injured and reducing mileage during rehabilitation. He notes that elite collegiate distance coaches rarely focus on form during recruitment, unlike in sports like baseball or golf. For analysis, Greenberg primarily uses 2D video with a high-speed camera on a treadmill, assessing sagittal plane metrics like stride length and foot inclination angle. His use of orthotics has evolved; he now views them as a tool to quickly reduce pain and shift load, not as a permanent crutch that weakens the foot. Greenberg makes a strong case for using Blood Flow Restriction (BFR) training in foot and ankle rehabilitation, calling it a "hidden gem." He argues BFR is ideal for this area because it's difficult to apply sufficient mechanical load through traditional exercises like TheraBand work. The conversation is educational and conversational, blending clinical advice with personal anecdotes and professional stories. This episode is ideal for physical therapists, especially those in sports or orthopedics, and recreational runners interested in injury prevention and mechanics. Listeners seeking a debate on running shoe technology or advanced biomechanics data might find the discussion too clinically focused.

As heard by us

Practical running rehab talk focused on timing, restraint, and useful next steps.

It offers a practical look at running injuries, following Scott Greenberg's path into a niche and his work with athletes. The most useful section lands on timing: form changes during a heavy training load are handled cautiously, while injury and reduced running are treated as a…

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Why you'd press play

You want smarter answers on running injuries without the fluff.

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