The Rehab Runway Podcast

🎙️ The Rehab Runway: From the Treatment Room

to the Track

Hosted by Sports & Exercise Chiropractor Luke Nelson

Welcome to The Rehab Runway — the podcast where running meets rehab.

Join Sports & Exercise Chiropractor, running coach, and strength coach Luke Nelson as he takes you from the treatment room to the track, exploring the science and stories behind running performance, injury rehab, and athlete resilience.

Whether you’re a runner chasing your next PB or a health professional looking for evidence-based insights, this show will help you bridge the gap between injury and performance.

💡 What You’ll Learn

Evidence-based insights into running biomechanics, injury prevention, and rehabilitation
Practical tips for coaches and clinicians working with runners
Expert breakdowns of research on tendinopathy, strength training, and performance
Real-world stories from athletes and health professionals in the running community

👟 About the Host

Luke Nelson is a Sports & Exercise Chiropractor, running coach, and strength coach based in Melbourne, Australia.

For nearly two decades, he’s helped everyone from first-time runners to elite athletes move better, recover stronger, and perform at their best. Through his work at Health & High Performance, Luke combines clinical expertise with a deep passion for education, research translation, and community connection.

📱 Follow Luke on Instagram: @sportschiroluke

🎧 Listen to the Latest Episodes

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Episode 17: Tibial Bone Stress Injuries: What Every Runner and Clinician Needs to Know with Beau Tyrell

Tibial bone stress injuries are one of the most frustrating injuries for runners, often leading to months away from training and a high risk of recurrence. In this episode of The Rehab Runway, I’m joined by sports physiotherapist Beau Tyrrell to explore what causes these injuries, how to recognise them early, the role of imaging and MRI grading, and the principles of effective rehabilitation. We also discuss return-to-running, strength and impact progressions, RED-S and energy availability, common training errors, and practical strategies to reduce the risk of future bone stress injuries. Whether you're a runner or a clinician, this episode is packed with evidence-informed, practical advice.

Episode 16: Women’s Safety in Running: What We All Need to Do

Women’s safety in running is not just a women’s issue. It is a running community issue. In this episode of The Rehab Runway, I’m joined by running coaches Isobel Tait from Peak Endurance and Emma Rose from Run Joy Melbourne to discuss the extra safety considerations many women carry before and during a run, and how this can influence route choice, timing, confidence and training consistency. We also explore the findings from the Run My Way survey, what men can do to better understand and support safer running environments, and how coaches and run clubs can make safety a more deliberate part of training and community culture.

Episode 15: Stress, Recovery & Running Injuries: The Missing Variable?

Why do some runners get injured during seemingly easy training blocks, while others tolerate huge training loads without issue?

In this episode of The Rehab Runway, Luke Nelson explores the often-overlooked role of stress in running injuries. Drawing on both research and personal experience, he discusses how work stress, poor sleep, travel, life events and recovery can influence injury risk, performance and training tolerance. Learn why injury risk is about more than just mileage, how stress may reduce your capacity to adapt, and practical strategies runners and clinicians can use to better manage total load.

Episode 14: Strength Training for Runners: What Actually Matters with Kate Baldwin

Discover what the research really says about strength training for runners with Luke Nelson and physiotherapist, researcher and S&C coach Kate Baldwin. Learn about running economy, the interference effect, durability, concurrent training and how to effectively combine strength and running performance.

Episode 13: Running Durability Explained: Why You Fall Apart Late in a Run with Michele Zanini

Running durability may be one of the most important, and most overlooked, concepts in endurance performance. In this episode of The Rehab Runway, Luke Nelson sits down with sports physiologist and researcher Michele Zanini to explore why some runners maintain performance deep into races while others completely fade under fatigue. Together, they unpack what durability actually means, how physiology changes during prolonged running, and what current research tells us about improving fatigue resistance through long runs, strength training, and smarter endurance programming.

Episode 12: Does Running Build Strength? What it actually improves

Does running actually make you stronger, or does it improve something else entirely? In this solo episode of The Rehab Runway, Luke Nelson explores what running truly adapts within the body, from local muscular endurance and tendon function through to reactive strength, coordination, bone adaptation, and running economy. Drawing on recent research and practical clinical experience, Luke explains why runners often feel stronger without significantly improving maximal force production, where strength training and plyometrics fit into the bigger picture, and why the idea that “all you need is running” may leave important physical qualities underdeveloped. A practical and evidence-informed episode for runners, coaches, and health professionals alike.

Episode 10 & 11: Calf Strains Explained: Diagnosis, Rehab and Return to Running with Brady Green

Calf strains are one of the most common and frustrating injuries in runners, yet they’re often misunderstood and prone to recurrence. In this two-part episode of The Rehab Runway, Luke Nelson is joined by physiotherapist and researcher Brady Green to break down how to accurately diagnose and classify calf strains, what actually matters in assessment, and how to approach rehab from early loading through to return to running. A practical, evidence-based guide for both runners and clinicians looking to reduce reinjury risk and get better outcomes.

Episode 9: Plantar Heel Pain Explained: Load, Foot Strength and the Truth About Heel Spurs with John Osborne

Plantar heel pain is one of the most common and frustrating injuries in runners, and one that is often misunderstood. In this episode, we break down what is really driving heel pain, from load and capacity to strength across the foot and calf complex. We also tackle some of the biggest misconceptions in this space, including the role of heel spurs and whether foot strength is undertrained or overhyped.

Along the way, we explore how factors like overall health and metabolic function can influence both the development and recovery of symptoms. Whether you are a runner dealing with heel pain or a clinician managing these cases, this episode provides clear, practical strategies you can apply straight away.

Ep 8: Running Identity, Injury, and the Mental Side of Rehab (with Freya Bronwin)

Running injuries don’t just affect the body, they can challenge identity, confidence, and the sense of self many runners build around the sport.

In this episode, psychotherapist Freya Bronwin joins Luke Nelson to explore the psychological side of injury and how both runners and clinicians can better navigate the mental demands of rehabilitation.

Ep 7: Muscle Cramps: It’s Not Just Salt

Muscle cramps suck.
But they’re probably not caused by what you think.

In this solo episode of The Rehab Runway, Luke breaks down the research behind exercise-associated muscle cramps (EAMC), including prospective Ironman and ultramarathon studies, lab-based cramp threshold trials, and emerging evidence on neuromuscular fatigue.

Ep 6: Achilles Tendinopathy: What Actually Matters with Prof Peter Malliaras

In Episode 6 of The Rehab Runway, Luke Nelson is joined by Peter Malliaras, world-renowned physiotherapist and tendon researcher, to unpack what actually matters in Achilles tendinopathy.

They explore tendon structure versus pain, subtendons and plantaris involvement, key assessment principles, the influence of stress, sleep, and metabolic health, and the true role of imaging.

The conversation also dives into practical management strategies, including region-specific rehab, isometrics and the Berlin approach, collagen, anti-inflammatories, injections, and shockwave therapy.

Whether you’re a runner dealing with persistent Achilles pain or a clinician refining your approach, this episode delivers clear, evidence-based insights you can apply immediately.

Ep 5: Masters Runners – Stronger, Smarter, and Still Getting Faster

Masters runners are the fastest-growing group in distance running, yet they experience higher rates of injury, late-race fade, and inconsistent training. In this episode of The Rehab Runway Podcast, Luke dives deep into the science and practical realities of running after 40, unpacking how ageing affects muscle, tendon, bone, hormones, recovery, and durability.

This episode is designed for runners who want to keep improving beyond 40, and health professionals working with masters athletes who want to move beyond a wear and tear narrative.

Ep 4: Gamechangers in Running Rehab: Lessons from The Running Physio, Tom Goom

In this episode, Luke chats with Tom Goom (The Running Physio) about the biggest gamechangers in running rehab. They cover how Tom’s approach has evolved, the key shifts in load management, the role of strength training, return-to-run essentials, and the most common myths and mistakes seen in running injuries. Tom also shares practical tips for runners and clinicians, insights into the future of running rehab, and key resources