Welcome to another episode of Finding Small Wins Podcast, a space for conversations that pull back the curtain on sports, where to learn how to upgrade health & performance, and shed some light on how some of the best at what they do are finding the small wins that help them along the way.
Adam Loiacono, your host, is a physical therapist in the NBA & a former performance coach in Major League Soccer and the National Women’s Soccer League.
In this episode, Adam is joined by Ben Hagar in today’s episode. Ben is a physical therapist in Major League Baseball, who shares stories and professional insight on what it takes to develop a strong culture for medical and performance staff.
Key Takeaways:
[1:55] Ben answers rapid-fire questions.
[4:10] Ben describes a day in professional baseball for a PT.
[9:58] Ben highlights the importance of teamwork: “You always know somebody else will have your back.”
[12:14] Ben explains his work beyond pitching and hitting.
[19:56] Clinicians want to find things to fix, but it is necessary to remember that there is no ideal movement; performance is what matters most.
[24:22] Sometimes, doing PT’s job is doing nothing.
[26:24] Treat the brain, not just the injury.
[26:58] Ben talks about some clinicians’ common mistakes.
[31:54] Ben explains why Pt’s don’t need to have all the answers anymore.
[34:50] How does Ben deal with the social media comments?
[38:50] Ben shares how his work is affected by an athlete seeking outside medical assistance.
[45:05] Ben shares one key experience with his group that helped them move toward better team dynamics.
[52:02] The Team values more than the sum of its parts.
[55:58] Ben talks about how he deals with judgment.
[1:01:04] How does Ben find the small wins to keep him going?
[1:07:08] In the context of baseball, how do athletes endure rehab times?
[1:09:30] Ben shares a superstitious story.
[1:12:12] Ben advises anyone wanting to practice physical therapy in pro sports.
[1:17:15] Ben shares his perspective on health and performance
Mentioned in this episode:
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