.JPG)
Muscles and Management
Over the last near decade, Gerry DeFilippo has trained THOUSANDS of athletes from the youth to pro level across all major team-sports.
Gerry started his gym and brand, Challenger Strength, as an ambitious 22 year old still finishing his college degree.
In the time since, he has built his facility and following into a nationally recognized performance company training thousands of athletes both in-person and online.
Gerry brings guests across all areas of sports and performance training, giving the listener inside access to his rolodex of collegiate, world renowned private and professional performance and sports coaches.
If you are looking to improve your own performance OR knowledge of performance/sports training (and learn how to shape your career), Muscles and Management is for you!
Muscles and Management
Episode #241 Arno Rheinberger on Injury Rehab, Achilles Epidemic, and the Strength-Training Disconnect
Send us your questions, or thoughts on today's episode!
In Episode 241 of Muscles and Management, Gerry sits down with Arno Rheinberger—former NFL and Division 1 athletic trainer with stops at the New York Giants, Rutgers, Minnesota, and more—for a raw, in-depth conversation on injuries, rehab, and the complicated relationship between performance and return-to-play.
They dive into the recent surge of Achilles tears in high-level sports and ask the hard questions: Are athletes being pushed enough in rehab? Are we preparing them for the real forces of sport? Is fear holding back professionals from doing what athletes truly need?
Arno also shares his honest thoughts on the broken communication between strength coaches and athletic trainers, how return-to-play protocols often miss the mark, and why both sides must come together for true athlete readiness.
Topics include:
- The rise of Achilles injuries and whether rehab intensity is to blame
- Communication breakdowns between medical and performance staff
- What rehab should look like (and why it often doesn’t)
- The fear of pushing athletes too hard—and why that’s a problem
- Long-term wear and tear from youth sports
- Social media gimmicks vs. real-world results
- Building mutual respect and collaboration in athletic development
A must-listen for strength coaches, athletic trainers, and anyone serious about injury reduction and long-term athlete resilience.
0:00 – Intro to Arno Rheinberger and his background in NFL and Division 1 football
3:10 – The reality of job security in collegiate/pro sports vs. the private sector
6:45 – Social media influence and frustration with viral “junk training”
10:32 – The importance of purposeful exercises in rehab and performance
13:20 – Working relationships between strength coaches and athletic trainers
16:40 – Communication and collaboration for better return-to-play outcomes
20:05 – Strength coaches pushing athletic trainers to rethink limitations
23:18 – Fear in rehab: why many athletes aren’t pushed hard enough
26:50 – Jerry’s personal injury story and how rehab intensity matters
30:14 – Why ACL and Achilles re-injuries are more common than we think
34:12 – Controlled training vs. chaotic real-game scenarios
37:00 – Youth sports overuse vs. under-preparedness in college/pros
40:48 – Achilles injuries in modern athletes: overtraining or underpreparing?
43:10 – Final thoughts on moderation, exposure, and collaborative rehab
Get A 7 Day FREE TRIAL On Onlystrength! - https://www.onlystrength.training/podcastoffer