REPLAY: While we work on some MAJOR things, and in honor of Mental Health Awareness Month, this week's episode is a replay of one of our favorite military mental health gurus.  If you heard it the first time, take the week to check in with you and your level of stuffing. If you're new here, welcome to the stuffer club, and know that we ALL need a good hug occasionally. We'll be back! ttyl


How to Hug a Stuffer: The Power of a "Husky" Hug with Maj Brock McNabb, 711 Human Performance Wing Integrated Operational Support LCSW.

Join Doc's Sarah & Alyse for a laid-back conversation about the power of a "husky" hug in human performance! We chat about how to hug a stuffer, the importance of human touch in human performance, and get nerdy chatting about the nervous system's response to hugging! 
Brock shares his wartime stories spotlighting the true family culture of special warfare and how connection is more than just through words. We reflect on how the key to human performance care is by being a team player and building trust kinetically.  

"The only way to make you great, is to love." - Brock McNabb 



Maj Brock McNabb serves as the Field Operations and Training Flight Commander for the 711th Human Performance Wing's Integrated Operational Support (IOS) Program Office, USAF School of Aerospace Medicine, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio. Maj McNabb guides mental health practices for the U.S. Air Force's Operational Support Teams, where he assists in deploying the IOS human performance vision through capability development. Maj McNabb was the first mental health officer to embed in an Air Combat Command Guardian Angel Rescue Squadron, as well as, the only Clinical Social Worker in the USAF who was a Master Trainer for the Security Forces performance optimization program, Defender’s Edge.

Maj McNabb was born in Ellendale, North Dakota. He began his military career when he entered the U.S. Marine Corps in 1996. Following his service in the Marine Corps, Maj McNabb then transitioned to the U.S. Army in 2002, and later to the Air Force in 2008. Maj McNabb has deployed several times to Iraq, Afghanistan and Africa while serving both as an Army Medic and Air Force Social Worker. For his actions while deployed, he was awarded the Army's Combat Medical Badge and Combat Action Badge.

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Evolution of Spaceflight: Spaceflight Human Performance Optimization Bonus Episode with Bruce Nieschwitz

Just when you thought our mini-series was done, we have an awesome BONUS episode for you! This week we sit down with Bruce Nieschwitz, ATC of the NASA Johnson Space Center ACRS team! He has a unique experience to speak from as he has been in the HPO realm with NASA for almost 20 years! In this chat we talk about a variety of topics ranging from the changes in the equipment on the international space station, how much bone loss occurs with space travel, what nutrition looks like in space and even dibbing into ego's role in leadership!

Come wrap up this fascinating niche series with us!


Guest Bio:
Bruce Nieschwitz is an Astronaut Strength, Conditioning, and Rehabilitation Specialist (ASCR) for KBR at NASA-JSC. Nieschwitz's primary role is to provide comprehensive strength and conditioning, physical medicine, and rehabilitation services for pre-flight, in-flight, and post-flight to active astronauts. Since Nieschwitz began at KBR in 2006, he has served as the primary ASCR assigned to numerous shuttle and ISS missions. He also provides perspective, serving as a subject matter expert for designing and using exercise hardware for spaceflight. He is a board-certified and Licensed Athletic Trainer earning his B.S. from Kent State University and was a Graduate Assistant Athletic Trainer at Mankato State University. Prior to joining the ASCR group, Nieschwitz was the head of Athletic Training at Alvin Independent School District in Alvin, Texas

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The Chicken or the Egg? - Dopamine and Human Performance 

We're rolling into a new week and that means....a brand-new episode!! This week Alyse and I are discussing one of my personal favorite neurotransmitters... DOPAMINE! We discuss our professional experiences within tactical and HPO settings with dopamine as a whole but also get into what happens when you are unable to maintain balance. This is a great informational epsiode covering:

• What dopamine deficiency is and it's symtpoms. 
• It's roll in someone being in "flow state".
• Dopamine's role in performance.
• What happens to dopamine when we have an MSK related injury?
• ADHD?
• Tips for balancing our natural dopamine including dopamine fasting. 

Come learn how to increase your happiness and get your nerd on with us!

Talk to ya later!



Tools to Manage Dopamine and Improve Motivation & Drive - Huberman Lab

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Building Spaceflight: NASA Human Performance Optimization with Maj Danielle Anderson & Christi Keeler, MS, ATC

It's the second week of our Spaceflight mini-series and we're thrilled to bring you an awesome and informative conversation with Maj Danielle Anderson and Christi Keeler, MS, ATC!

Maj Anderson is making history being the first active-duty service member to be assigned to NASA. Maj Anderson and her teammate Christi are part of the integrative dream team at NASA Johnson Space Center working daily in astronaut human performance care. We pick their brains about both their roles in the Spaceflight HPO program and break down what exactly it is they do day to day. And spoiler, it's even cooler than you think! In this episode we get into some basics about spaceflight standards, the innovation that comes with being part of the human performance team for astronauts and how rewarding the job truly is. But we don't stop there, we cover an eclectic variety of burning questions:

• What length of time is required to be considered long duration Spaceflight?
• How do you rehab someone in space?
• What type of rehab equipment is available in space?
• What are the go-to exercises that astronauts have to do daily to maintain health?
• Mobility.... in space? Why or why not? 

Come wrap up our mini-series with us and get all the questions you've had since being a little kid about space answered! We can't wait to have them back in the future!

Talk to ya later!



Guest Bios:
Major Danielle Anderson  is a Physical Therapist currently assigned to Johnson Space Center, National Aeronautics and Space Administration as the Musculoskeletal Medicine and Rehabilitation Lead. She delivers a spectrum of neuromusculoskeletal care preparing and supporting both U.S and International Astronauts for long duration space flight aboard the International Space Station (ISS). Additionally, she provides consultation and management recommendations to Crew and Deputy Crew Flight Surgeons working neuromusculoskeletal conditions on board the ISS. She serves as the Air Force’s liaison to the Military Musculoskeletal residency, a tri-service one-year Physical Therapy residency, where she oversees admittance, regional instruction, and successful program completion of Air Force, Army and Navy Physical Therapists. Major Anderson received her Doctor of Physical Therapy from Regis University and direct Air Force commission in 2012. During her first assignment to Travis Air Force Base, she deployed to Kabul, Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. She provided musculoskeletal care for Joint Special Operations Task Force Afghanistan and NATO partners, earning her the United States Air Force Biomedical Service Corps and Military Health Systems Junior Clinician of the Year. In addition, she served as the sole physical therapist while deployed with Navy Special Warfare Unit Three in Bahrain, supporting the training and assistance to the special operations forces of the Nations of the Gulf Cooperation Council. She has instructed numerous Air Force Physical Therapy courses and currently serves as an Assistant Professor to the Doctor of Physical Therapy Program at Army-Baylor University, Joint Based San Antonio (JBSA), Tx. Lastly, she is published in Military Medicine and the Journal of Orthopedic and Sports Physical Therapy and has presented in over ten National Physical Therapy conferences. Prior to her current position, Major Anderson was the Orthopedic and Rehabilitation Flight Commander at 59th Surgical Operations Squadron, JBSA-Lackland, Tx., where she led 72 members among six elements across two sites, providing 77k specialty visits and ove

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Putting the "Lift" in Spaceflight: Spaceflight Human Performance Optimization with Corey Twine, CSCS

Welcome to the first episode of our 2-part mini-series focusing on all things Human Performance and SPACEFLIGHT! 

We're thrilled to announce our first guest in the series, Johnson's Space Center's very own Corey Twine, CSCS! We get all your curiosities answered on what strength and conditioning looks like in the unique niche of astronaut care. Some of the great things you'll hear in this episode:

• What the length of time for reconditioning looks like when returning from space travel and why it is important. 
• What one of the main physiological issues is when returning to earth, and we'll give you a hint, it has nothing to do with muscular strength! 
• What exactly the type of population is.
• How soon do astronauts have until they undergo fitness assessments status post space flight?
• How the body's normal "smart" adaptations can actually have a negative effect when it comes to Space Flight. 
• How long are astronauts required to exercise in space to maintain a healthy lifestyle? 
• What does mental health care look like for astronauts?

Enjoy this fascinating episode that answers all your curiosities, even if you didn't realize you had them! If any of this gets your Spidey senses going like it did for us and you're in the HPO realm, check out Corey's summit he is co-hosting:

Link to event: https://www.uhcl.edu/hhpi/shop-23



Guest Bio:
Corey Twine is an Astronaut Strength, Conditioning and Rehabilitation (ASCR) Specialist at NASA Johnson Space Center (JSC) for KBR's Government Solutions U.S. Science and Space Business Unit. Prior to this role, Mr. Twine served as a strength and conditioning coach for the Army Special Forces as a part of the Preservation of the Force and Family contract at KBR. He also supported astronauts during the shuttle era, acting as the primary ASCR for several shuttle missions, including STS 114 "Return to Flight" in 2005. Since returning to KBR in 2018, Mr. Twine has worked extensively on projects spanning the design and implementation of mission-specific strength and conditioning programs for individuals in obscure environments. 
Over his career, Mr. Twine held various conditioning coach positions within power 5 universities at The University of Michigan, West Virginia University, Michigan State and Penn State. He also spent various seasons in support of major and minor league sports training camps and clinics, including for the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, Philadelphia Eagles, and Washington Commanders.

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Welcome Back to The Stuffer Club: Trauma and Human Performance 

This episode may be our best one of the season so far! This week Doc's Sarah and Alyse chat about everyone's elephant in the room: trauma. 

Human Performance Optimization teams and programs often have the honor of working with the most elite and highest of high performers in tactical. What makes or breaks these high performers? One word: trauma. 

This episode offers a variety of different views and discussion around trauma in human performance and what to do with it. We get deep about different unconventional or maybe less often thought of strategies to address trauma in the tactical and high performer setting, what microtraumas are and how they contribute to overall trauma, and are favorite: how to team integrate MSK and MH to intervene with holistic and effective coping techniques. We define mindful avoidance and how that allows tactical members to heal. 

Some take homes:

• 1 in 5 people exposed to trauma have PTSD as a result.
• 30% of those exposed to combat have some sort of psychological post traumatic affect. 
• Trauma needs to healed from mental health just as much as a broken bone needs to be healed for physical health. 
• Positive coping mechanisms are mental health's version of axillary crutches :)
• You can still have trauma responses up to 2 years after being removed from an environment with a toxic leader. 
• Fear avoidance = a type of proprioception 

Come hang out with us! 

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A Dude in a Suit: Human Capital in Human Performance 

Buckle up bucker-oos!! We're hitting on human capital and tipping into some gender norms today!

This week Doc's Sarah and Alyse deep dive into human capital. Do you know what human capital is? No worries because we not only define it but we also go into human capital theology in both sports and tactical settings as well as its role in leadership. We discuss the 5 elements to human capital and how it applies in human performance. 

Some food for thought to give you going into this episode:

• Is empathy seen as a weakness or a strength in Human Performance? Is it gender biased?
• Is there gender bias in leadership?
• Do females make more sacfrices than men to obtain leadership roles?
• Is crusty and rough around the edges a human capital trait for HPO?
• Is imposter syndrome linked to a human capital deficit? 

This episode will help you understand human capital theory and how it can not only aid in hiring appropriate staff, but also how it can help with retention in high stress jobs (ie. HPO, tactical, first responder). We finish out with solutions for how to address this in your leadership roles and human performance teams!


References:
 Vicki D. Schull, Lisa A. Kihl. Gendered Leadership Expectations in Sport: Constructing Differences in Coaches.  Women in Sport and Physical Activity Journal, 2019, 27, 1-11.

Eiranne A. Weight et al. Working in the Sports Industry: A Classification of Human Capital Archetypes.  Journal of Sports Management , Volume 35: Issue 4, 364-378.

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Postpartum Is a Season: Pregnancy and Postpartum in Human Performance with Brittany Mines, OT

Rolling on in season 2, we welcome another subject matter expert as a guest, Brittany Mines, OT!

 Are you in the tactical setting and considering expanding your family? Are you in the tactical setting and have little ones? Then this episode is for you! But wait, we don't discriminate...Not a female, not a problem... if you are in a leadership role or a human performance role where you work with or provide a service to women in a tactical setting THEN THIS EPISODE IS FOR YOU!

If you have H2F available to you, did you know that P3T exist? P3T is the pregnancy and postpartum physical training program, and it is a staple of H2F! In this episode we chat about what the program is and what it offers. Brittany brings a well-rounded holistic model to the table that not only works but has amazing rapport and results. Her program model is more than just exercise and support groups. We expand on how P3T is different than centering classes and how the 4th trimester is such a real part of the pregnancy and childbirth journey. 

Did you know there is more to pelvic floor exercises then Keagle's? Do you know what is considered to be normal postpartum? How about what is not? 

This episode is loaded with information to take with you, tips and tricks!




Brittany Mines has been an Occupational Therapist since 2012, working in a variety of settings with a background in neurorehabilitation. Recently she has made the transition into the tactical and human performance realm, currently working for the Army’s Health and Holistic Fitness (H2F) Program. Utilizing her background and skills as an OT, she currently manages a brigade level Pregnancy and Postpartum Physical Training (P3T) Program, encouraging a fully holistic space to focus on the physical changes associated with pregnancy and postpartum, but leaving space for the emotional impact and invisible load of motherhood. 

Link to "Armed to the Heart" Postpartum Guide: https://megangephart.kartra.com/page/kWO189

If you like what you hear, leave us a 5- star rating and subscribe! Find us on IG and LinkedIn @ Not Your Typical Doctors or reach out to us anytime through: notyourtypicaldoctors@gmail.com