The Confident Body Show

This week on The Confident Body Show, Michael Dermansky is joined by sports physiotherapist Kusal Goonewardena to unpack the often-overlooked key to strength and performance: recovery.

They dive into why recovery isn’t just rest—it’s a structured part of every smart training plan. From sleep quality and hydration to stress, nutrition, and tracki...

This week on The Confident Body Show, Michael Dermansky is joined by Loris Bertolacci to explore what it really takes to return to running after an injury.

From hamstring strains to calf issues, they break down how to recover safely, avoid common mistakes, and know when you're truly ready to run again. Loris shares expert tips on strength trainin...

This week, Michael Dermansky sits down with Jackie Kenny, a 66-year-old triathlete and martial artist, to explore how staying active, strong, and purposeful can transform the way we age.

Jackie reflects on her rich athletic journey—from her first triathlon in 1984 to her dedication to karate—and the challenges she’s overcome with injury and reco...

This week, Michael Dermansky sits down with Matt Pallozzi, Founder of Instinct Health and head physiotherapist for Collingwood’s AFLW program, to discuss the evolving landscape of women’s football and the unique challenges athletes face.

Matt shares insights from his extensive experience in AFLW, including his time with Carlton and Collingwood, highlighting the di...

This week, Michael Dermansky sits down with David Smith, Co-founder and Director of Absolute Health Performance, for an insightful discussion on the importance of strength training in your 50s and beyond—why it’s essential, how to do it safely, and the long-term benefits for muscle mass, power, and bone density.

David explains why simply walking or doing light exe...

This week, Michael Dermansky sits down with Caitlin Smith for an enlightening conversation on osteoporosis—its prevention, management, and the powerful roles of strength training and nutrition.

Caitlin highlights the evolving understanding of bone health, emphasising that osteoporosis is not just a 'female issue' and that men are increasingly affected. Together, they explore the essential roles of hormones, the impact of stress, an...

This week, Michael Dermansky sits down with Riaza Manricks, founder of Reimagining Business, for an insightful conversation about the importance of strength training during pregnancy and its role in overall well-being.

Riaza shares her personal journey through two pregnancies, navigating the challenges and the significance of professional guidance. The discussion highlights the balance between parenting and exercise, reflecting on ...

This week, Michael Dermansky sits down with Valerie Judge, founder and managing director of Rose Phoenix Health, for an insightful conversation about the impact of anxiety on our behaviour and its intricate connection to pain.

Valerie navigates the various stages of stress and anxiety, shedding light on how they can hinder our progress towards goals. She also explores the complex relationship between anxie...

This week, Michael Dermansky is joined by Paul Moritz, a long distance race walker and client of MD Health, to discuss his sporting and wellbeing journey. 

Paul shares his experiences across a long racing career, including his three fundamentals of endurance sport success, the importance of strength work in his return after injury, and why having fun is so important - especially for endurance athletes.

This week, Michael Dermanski is joined by Pinakin Godse, a sports physiotherapist with a rich background as both an athlete and a physio to elite sportspeople.

Pinakin shares his experiences working with Olympic-level athletes as they return after an injury-enforced break - the common mistakes, the barriers to success, and the lessons that amateurs can learn. After all, athletes regularly deal with injury,...

This week, Michael Dermanski has a very special guest in the studio… himself! Yes, Michael is mixing it up with a short sharp solo episode. No guests - just you, him and the facts. 

In his hardest-hitting interview to date, Michael asks himself all he’s ever wanted to know about returning to running after an injury: the most common injuries the team at MD Health see; the stages that clients need to progres...

This week, we’ve got another client journey to share with you. Michael is joined by special guest Trevor Young to talk about his experience working with the MD Health team.

After many years of physical activity, basketball injuries coupled with a desk-based job were taking their toll. Trevor found it hard to do the simple things he’d previously taken for granted. He was losing confidence in his body. With ...

This week, Michael welcomes back Josh Blencowe from MD Health to explore a biomechanical perspective on skiing, as well as nutrition and hydration tips to help you maximise your enjoyment from your trip.

Skiing and snowboarding work the major muscle groups of the lower body - but it’s easy to overlook the fine control muscles around the joints that are also tested. You need to work on a combination of thes...

This week, Michael is joined by the founder of Clinical Pilates, Craig Phillips, to discuss the evolution of the practice, the significant changes over the years, and the future direction of healthcare. 

Craig’s fascinating journey has taken him from the Australian Ballet in the 70s to the San Francisco 49ers and all the way to the OIympics. Along the way, he was responsible for evolving Joseph Pilates’ or...

Planning an overseas holiday is an exciting time. But for many people, particularly as they get older, it can cause a lot of anxiety. If you are dealing with pain or restricted movement, the idea of doing more exercise than normal while on holiday - which is to be expected, as you don’t want to be stuck in your room all day - can be confronting. And not just for the concern around pain or an inability to do what you wa...

This week, Michael Dermansky, senior physiotherapist at MD Health, is joined by long-time customers Stephen and Kathleen to hear about their experience in overcoming pain and getting stronger and more confident through exercise.

Pain and injury can stop us from doing many things we enjoy - from gardening, to sport, to simply lifting up the grandkids - especially as we get older. After working with the MD H...

This week, Michael Dermansky, senior physiotherapist at MD Health, is joined by David Smith, Co-founder and Director at Absolute Health & Performance, to discuss the blurred line between performance and rehab training.

As our understanding of how the human body works continues to deepen, it has changed how health practitioners approach injury management and performance improvement. Today, most practitioner...

This week, Michael Dermansky, senior physiotherapist at MD Health, is joined by a special guest, client Richard James, to discuss the importance of being strong and the difference it can make in your life. 

At 50, after an active lifestyle, Richard was diagnosed with stage four lymphoma. He had to re-examine how to manage his life. After two rounds of chemotherapy, he wasn’t able to do his usual fitness ac...

This week, Hanah Mills from Ideal Nutrition joins Michael Dermansky to discuss the vital role that recovery plays in achieving your exercise goals... so much so, it’s the secret sauce of getting fit. 

Hanah and Michael explore the role of nutrition in fueling our muscles and cells and ensuring everything is functioning optimally. Exercise depletes our energy, water and micronutrients; correct nutrition ref...