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BackTable Bone & Sports

BackTable Bone & Sports

BackTable 133 Episodes Oct 13, 2026

This weekly podcast is designed for orthopedic surgeons, sports medicine doctors, pain specialists, and musculoskeletal radiologists. Each episode features practical, physician-led discussions on common and complex clinical topics related to bone, spine, and musculoskeletal care. Listeners hear how experienced clinicians approach real cases and gain practical advice from peers in their field.

Episodes

Ep. 118 Navigating Basketball Medicine: An Athletic Trainer’s Perspective with Matt Townsend, ATC
Ep. 118 Navigating Basketball Medicine: An Athletic Trainer’s Perspective with Matt Townsend, ATC Oct 13, 2026 3924 When a college basketball player asks when he can go back in the game, the person making the call is rarely wearing a white coat. On this episode of BackTable Bone & Sports, Dr. Larry Balle welcomes Matt Townsend, ATC, head athletic trainer for Arkansas men’s basketball, for an inside look at basketball medicine from the training room. They walk through the basketball calendar, common injuries, an
Ep. 117 Upper Extremity Rehab: Key Concepts & Techniques with Corbin Hedt PT, DPT
Ep. 117 Upper Extremity Rehab: Key Concepts & Techniques with Corbin Hedt PT, DPT Oct 6, 2026 4626 Why is rehab for the overhead athlete so nuanced—and how much of the answer is hidden below the shoulder? On this episode of BackTable Bone & Sports, Dr. Larry Balle welcomes Corbin Hedt, PT, DPT, SCS, CSCS, to explore upper extremity rehabilitation, fellowship training in sports physical therapy, and the evidence behind advanced throwing programs. Hedt breaks down the kinetic chain from the groun
Ep. 116 Understanding Cardiac Risks & Management in Sports Medicine with Dr. Nick Larson
Ep. 116 Understanding Cardiac Risks & Management in Sports Medicine with Dr. Nick Larson Sep 29, 2026 4653 Which athletes actually carry the highest cardiac risk, and is the sideline ready to act? On this episode of BackTable Bone & Sports, Dr. Larry Balle welcomes Dr. Nick Larson, emergency medicine physician, to discuss cardiac risk, screening, and sideline response for athletes of all ages. They discuss which athletes are at highest risk, what preparticipation screening does (and does not) catch, an
Ep. 115 Understanding Platelet Poor Plasma in Orthobiologics with Dr. Ryan Kruse
Ep. 115 Understanding Platelet Poor Plasma in Orthobiologics with Dr. Ryan Kruse Sep 22, 2026 4745 Could platelet poor plasma be the missing link in muscle injury recovery? On this episode of BackTable Bone & Sports, Dr. Larry Balle welcomes Dr. Ryan Kruse, a sports medicine physician at the University of Iowa and team physician for the Iowa Hawkeyes and US Soccer, to explain what platelet poor plasma actually contains and why it has become his primary treatment for acute muscle injury. The
Ep. 114 Exploring Osteochondral Allografts for Knee Injuries with Dr. Sachin Allahabadi
Ep. 114 Exploring Osteochondral Allografts for Knee Injuries with Dr. Sachin Allahabadi Sep 15, 2026 4683 When does a knee cartilage defect need more than a clean-up, and how do you decide on the best repair? On this episode of BackTable Bone & Sports, Dr. Larry Balle welcomes orthopedic sports surgeon Dr. Sachin Allahabadi for a practical tour of cartilage restoration. Together they explain what articular cartilage is, why it rarely heals on its own, and how to distinguish focal chondral defects from
Ep. 113 Overuse Injuries: Causes, Diagnosis, and Management with Dr. Grant Ralston
Ep. 113 Overuse Injuries: Causes, Diagnosis, and Management with Dr. Grant Ralston Sep 8, 2026 4084 Why do overuse injuries keep coming back even after the pain settles down? On this episode of BackTable Bone & Sports, Dr. Larry Balle welcomes Dr. Grant Ralston to define overuse injury as a load-related disorder, and to work through its causes, diagnosis, and management in both pediatric and adult athletes. They review common conditions like bone stress injuries, chronic tendinopathy, plantar fa
Ep. 112 Challenges in Biopsy Techniques for Bone Lesions with Dr. Junjian Huang and Dr. Majid Khan
Ep. 112 Challenges in Biopsy Techniques for Bone Lesions with Dr. Junjian Huang and Dr. Majid Khan Sep 1, 2026 3227 What characteristics make bone biopsies unique in both presentation and procedure? In this episode of the BackTable Podcast, Drs. Junjian Huang and Majid Khan join host Dr. Neil Jain to break down the complexities of bone biopsy technique. They discuss key strategies for tackling difficult cases, from understanding referral patterns and pre-procedure planning to selecting the best guidance modalit
Ep. 111 Best Practices for Concussion Care with Dr. Ryan Stempniak
Ep. 111 Best Practices for Concussion Care with Dr. Ryan Stempniak Aug 25, 2026 4903 How do you navigate the evolving science and controversy of concussion care in athletes and beyond? On this episode of BackTable Bone & Sports, Dr. Larry Balle welcomes Dr. Ryan Stempniak to break down the fundamentals and emerging advances in concussion management. They define concussion pathophysiology, highlight why most injuries occur without loss of consciousness, and discuss delayed symptom
Ep. 110 Understanding Joint Arthroplasty: Techniques &  Advances with Dr. William Bryan
Ep. 110 Understanding Joint Arthroplasty: Techniques & Advances with Dr. William Bryan Aug 18, 2026 4417 How have modern surgical techniques, pain management algorithms, and focus on rehabilitation transformed joint replacement outcomes? On this episode of BackTable Bone & Sports, Dr. Larry Balle welcomes Dr. William Bryan of Houston Methodist to share his insights from decades of experience in orthopedic surgery and sports medicine. Dr. Bryan reflects on his journey from mentorship under Dr. George
Ep. 109 How Wet Bulb Globe Temperature Affects Athletes with Dr. Irvin Sulapas
Ep. 109 How Wet Bulb Globe Temperature Affects Athletes with Dr. Irvin Sulapas Aug 11, 2026 3777 What’s your game plan when heat illness strikes on the field? On this episode of BackTable Bone & Sports, Dr. Larry Balle welcomes sports medicine physician Dr. Irvin Sulapas to discuss how clinicians and athletic trainers can use wet bulb globe temperature (WBGT) and other tools to improve athlete safety. They highlight best practices for communication with coaches, modifying training protocols,
Ep. 108 ACL Rehab: Protocols and Best Practices with Dr. Andy Glidewell
Ep. 108 ACL Rehab: Protocols and Best Practices with Dr. Andy Glidewell Aug 4, 2026 4470 Time is money, but when it comes to ACL rehabilitation, the calendar alone does not determine readiness for return to play. On this episode of BackTable Bone & Sport, host Dr. Larry Balle is joined by returning guest Dr. Andy Glidewell to discuss modern protocols for anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) rehabilitation. They cover the ACL’s role in knee stability, common injury mechanisms, and why movi
Ep. 107 Ergogenic Aids and Supplements: Sports Medicine Insights with Dr. Ryan Rhodes
Ep. 107 Ergogenic Aids and Supplements: Sports Medicine Insights with Dr. Ryan Rhodes Jul 28, 2026 3639 Ergogenics: supplements NOT substitutes. On this episode of BackTable Bone & Sports, host Larry Balle joins Dr. Ryan Rhodes, a sports medicine physician and Army National Guard flight surgeon, in a discussion about ergogenic aids and supplements in athletic and military populations. They distinguish supplements from substitutes and define ergogenics broadly, noting limited evidence for popular pep

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