Strength training tips for clinicians – with Chris Seville, physiotherapist, educator and powerlifter

Physio Foundations

Chris Seville is a physiotherapist, physiotherapy educator and principal practice owner at healthy bodies physiotherapy in Cheltenham in Melbourne’s south east. Chris is also a powerlifter and powerlifting coach who has won multiple championships and represented Australia at the World Championships. He currently holds the under 83kg Australian Squat Record. We spoke about his clinical interests, his experiences working in high-profile clinical roles and how he uses his knowledge of powerlifting to help people of all ages and functional levels improve their quality of life. Thanks Chris for a great conversation.

In this episode:

0:00 About Chris

2:17 Welcome Chris to Physio Foundations

4:40 What is powerlifting? How did you get into powerlifting? Chris’s squat record.

11:26 How did a shoulder reconstruction lead to a career in powerlifting?

12:18 How do you use powerlifting knowledge with everyday people in the clinic?

13:30 Getting people in the gym as a clinician is a really enjoyable part of the practice

14:56 What else do you offer patients apart from strengthening exercises?

16:54 How did your strength training skills help you as a physio working in elite football?

18:45 What can a health professions student learn by being active and training themselves?

23:05 Anyone can get strong. Apply a stimulus, progressively overload over time, allow time for recovery, and you’re going to get stronger

24:48 What are the benefits of strength training for people of all ages?

28:44 The Epley formula for predicting how much weight people can lift.

29:25 How can clinicians move beyond the manual muscle test? Dynamometry and functional strength assessment

30:00 If somebody can lift 60kg, and your program never takes them to 60 kg, you can’t develop their strength – have a look at the task you want to improve

32:45 Ways to measure and train strength when you don’t have access to a gym

33:25 What are the most important foundational knowledge and skills for a physiotherapist? Principles of strength training and knowledge of anatomy

35:38 Why is knowledge of anatomy important? Examples of when knowledge of specific tissues is vital

43:16 Tips for retaining knowledge when working as a clinician – discuss areas you need to revise with your team and mentors

45:09 Where can young clinicians find postgraduate training to improve their knowledge and skills in strength training – courses, reading, working with mentors

50:40 Final thoughts – get to the gym and find people to work with who can teach you how to apply these principles in the clinic

This is a discussion aimed at health professionals and health professional students. Always seek the guidance of a qualified health professional with any questions you may have regarding your health or a medical condition.

Chris’ clinical profile: https://www.healthybodiesphysiotherapy.com.au/meet-our-team/

Find Chris on social media: https://www.instagram.com/healthybodiesphysio

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Always seek the guidance of a qualified health professional with any questions you may have regarding your health or a medical condition.