Episode 209 – From the Lab to the Field: Biomechanics, Rehab, and Performance with Dr. Emily Ferree

In this episode, Joey Cunha reconnects with an early mentor and former collaborator, Dr. Emily Ferree — a Doctor of Physical Therapy, Board-Certified Sports Clinical Specialist, biomechanics consultant, and strength & conditioning coach.

They dive into Emily’s journey from working in baseball’s biomechanics boom to consulting with NFL athletes, discussing the differences in injury patterns, rehab challenges, and sports science integration between baseball and football. Emily breaks down:

• The two types of biomechanists in pro sports — and why interpreting data matters more than just collecting it.

• How PT and performance can disconnect, and the gap between “return to function” vs. “return to play.”

• Why communication and cross-disciplinary collaboration are critical for high-performance environments.

• The next frontier in sports science: integrating biomechanics with ball flight data to enhance pitch quality and deception.

• How fascia and connective tissue play a role in movement coordination and athletic performance — and why training in integrated patterns matters.

This conversation is a deep dive into bridging rehab, performance, and sports science, packed with insights for coaches, trainers, and athletes looking to understand the why behind movement.

You can access all of the resources we talked about on the show here: bit.ly/FarmSystem

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