In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Todd Schroeder. USC professor, exercise physiologist, and co-founder of K2 Sciences, to explore what actually works when it comes to health and fitness technology. From wearables and VO2 max testing to EMG studies and AI-powered motion tracking, Dr. Schroeder breaks down the science behind the trends and shares what decades of clinical research really say.

We cover what health tech matters (and which don’t), how to think critically about the data you're getting, and what role tech should play in your health journey. Plus, we get into the realities of muscle loss, why sleep is your most underrated training tool, and how innovation is reshaping physical therapy.

This episode will help you cut through the noise and think more critically about the role of technology in your health.

Timestamps:

00:00 Intro

02:01 Meet Dr. Todd Schroeder

06:35 Founding K2 Sciences: Bridging Research and Innovation

10:10 How Technology & Data Is Reshaping Our Rehab & Training

12:20 Wearables, Tracking Data and Smarter Coaching

15:32 The Importance of Baseline Data for Rehab Professionals

17:40 Overrated vs. Underrated Begins

18:03 Fitness Trackers & Smartwatches: Accurate or Overhyped?

18:44 VO2 Max Testing for Non-Athletes: Necessary or Not?

22:05 Zone 2 Training vs. HIIT: How to Train Smarter

25:00 Three Sets of 10: Still the Gold Standard?

29:10 Clinician’s Eye vs. Motion Capture: What’s Better?

33:33 EMG Studies: Valuable or Overrated?

36:25 Can Motion Tracking Technology Replace Physical Therapy?

44:30 How AI Can Gamify Exercise

46:25 Sleep Trackers: How Accurate Are They Really?

50:02 Should Everyone Use a Glucose Monitor?

54:00 Handheld Body Fat Tools: Are They Reliable?

56:56 Cardio vs Strength Training As You Age

58:23 Minimal Effective Dose: How Much Exercise Is Enough?

01:02:25 Testosterone, Recovery, and Injury Rehab Insights

01:06:00 Lessons from Endurance Training & Triathlons

01:10:13 Nutrition and Sleep vs. Working Out: What's More Important for Health?

01:13:53 AI in the Exercise Space: Influence on Coaching

01:14:43 Women's Health, Recovery, and the Menstrual Cycle Myths

01:19:35 Final Thoughts: How Tech, Recovery, and Exercise are Evolving

Contact Dr. Schroeder:

Email: Todd@MK2lab.com or eschroed@usc.edu

K2Sciences.com

MK2Lab.com

@MK2LAB

In this episode of The Prehab Podcast, orthopedic surgeon Dr. Nima Mehran returns to discuss cutting-edge advancements in ACL repairs, meniscus transplants, cartilage regeneration, and robotic surgery. He breaks down:

✅ Why he left a large healthcare system to build a patient-centered private practice

✅ Meniscus transplants vs. traditional knee surgery – who actually needs it?

✅ The future of robotic-assisted knee surgery & its impact on surgical precision

✅ How biologic treatments (PRP, stem cells, injections) fit into patient care

✅ Why ACL injuries keep happening – and how to prevent them

Whether you're a physical therapist, athletic trainer, chiropractor, or surgeon, this episode is packed with evidence-based insights you can use to improve patient outcomes and understand where orthopedic care is headed.

Timestamps: [need to be adjusted & finalized]

00:00 - Introduction: Meet Dr. Nima Mehran

00:40 - Why Dr. Nima left a large healthcare system for private practice

03:00 - The biggest problems in modern healthcare & patient care challenges

07:22 - The future of healthcare: What needs to change?

11:22 - Common knee injuries: ACL tears, meniscus injuries, arthritis

15:54 - Meniscus transplants vs. repairs: Who actually needs surgery?

19:38 - Cartilage transplants & regeneration: What works and what doesn’t?

26:04 - The rise of robotic-assisted knee surgery: Game-changer or hype?

29:28 - PRP, stem cells, and biologics: Do they actually work for knee injuries?

35:31 - Why ACL injuries keep happening – and how to prevent them

40:58 - Prehab, rehab & surgical recovery: What every clinician should know

46:02 - Where to follow Dr. Nima & final takeaways

Today's Sponsor: This episode is brought to you by Jane, a clinic management software and EMR that has been a game-changer for us at Prehab PT. If you're looking for a smooth transition to better clinic management, book a 1-on-1 demo HERE.

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Contact Dr. Nima Mehran: @drnimamehran https://www.mmorthopaedics.com

Listen to the previous episodes with Dr. Nima :

https://theprehabguys.com/podcast/acl-injuries-with-dr-nima-mehran/

https://theprehabguys.com/podcast/meniscus-injuries-with-dr-nima-mehran/

In this episode of The Prehab Podcast, Dr. Michael Lau sits down with Dr. Adelle Smener to share the journey of building PrehabPT, their Los Angeles-based physical therapy clinic. They break down the challenges clinicians face, the flaws in traditional PT, and how PrehabPT is redefining patient care and clinician autonomy.

The conversation dives into:

1. The realities of burnout and lack of support in the PT profession

2. Why better options for both patients and clinicians are needed

3. How autonomy and support improve treatment outcomes

4. The unique challenges of running a PT clinic as a married couple

Timestamps:

00:00 - Introduction

02:14 - The Origin of Prehab’s In-Person Clinic

06:27 - Navigating Early Career Challenges in PT

10:48 - The Overlooked Cause of Burnout in Healthcare

13:34 - Searching for the Right Fit in PT

15:09 - How We Built a PT Model That Works for Clinicians & Patients

18:16 - Physical Therapy is Not One-Size-Fits-All

19:25 - You Didn’t Fail PT—PT Might Have Failed You

20:28 - How We Personalize Care for Every Patient

25:57 - Working With Your Spouse: Challenges & Lessons

33:37 - The Role of PTs & Access to Care

36:29 - Where to Find Dr. Adelle Smener