Dr. Jonathan Sanburg: The Cutting Edge Of Sports Performance Physical Therapy

In this episode, I sit down with my go-to expert for all things sports performance and injury recovery—Dr. Jonathan Sanburg, a highly respected physical therapist who’s changing the game when it comes to getting people back to peak performance.

We dive into what’s truly cutting-edge in the industry right now: treating injuries from a fitness and athletic performance lens, instead of the outdated “rest, meds, surgery” approach most of us have been conditioned to follow. Dr. Jonathan breaks down how and why this mindset shift is essential—not just for athletes, but for anyone who wants to move and live pain-free.

I also share my personal journey: how I narrowly avoided an unnecessary exploratory knee surgery (yes, really!) thanks to a referral to Dr. Jonathan and his dream team at PT Revolution in Tahoe. Turns out, all I had were some deeply knotted muscles causing inflammation near my joint. Since then, I’ve been working with Dr. Jonathan for over 2.5 years, learning firsthand that the real path out of injury isn't rest—it's doing the work. He even shares his tip at the end on how to find a great sports performance physical therapist, as well as how to spot the approaches that just waste your time.

Dr. Jonathan Sanburg is a Sports Physical Therapist and Performance Coach with a Doctorate in Physical Therapy from Creighton University, where he focused on return-to-play for athletes. A Sacramento native and former elite-level soccer player, he competed at Gonzaga University, earning a Bachelor of Science in Human Physiology. He has trained at the world-renowned EXOS and Champion Physical Therapy and Performance, where he worked with NFL, MLB, MLS athletes, and members of the U.S. military’s most elite units. Dr. Jonathan specializes in guiding youth and professional athletes from injury recovery to peak performance.

 

TIMESTAMPS:

Dr. Sanburg has changed the way Brad looks at physical therapy. His emphasis is on "return to play" athletes.  [02:16]

Kime is a physical center where the focus is on sports performance and injury rehab rather than treat and go home and rest protocol. [06:48]

At Kime they work closely with physicians, many times including post surgery treatment. [10:04]

Do people go to physical therapy for injuries or are they seeking advice on performance? [14:34]

Jonathan had studied strength and conditioning to add to the PT training. [16:01]

Where does rest come in these days? [19:35]

How does one work around the pain without doing more damage? [21:45]

Is there a difference between treatments for an acute injury vs. overuse injury? [26:40]

Resistance training is probably most important if you were going for longevity. [29:27]

You should move a lot throughout the day for cardio respiratory fitness. [31:04]

A good PT provides the value that the patient expects for their particular performance or body .  It is not necessarily pain related. [35:30]

We need to strike a balance between like muscle strength and tendon rigidity or stiffness. [37:42]

How does one get bone spurs? [40:21]

Is there a difference between pain and soreness?  How does the brain determine? [44:50]

Do we always honor the aches and pains? Check with your body after 48 hours.  [52:54]

Are athletes' performances getting better in the modern days? [01:01:18]

Jonathan is a competitive racer besides serving as physical therapist. [01:04:13] 

How can a person be sure they are finding the best in physical therapy care? [01:07:53]

 

LINKS:

• Brad Kearns.com
• BradNutrition.com
• .css-j9qmi7{display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;-webkit-flex-direction:row;-ms-flex-direction:row;flex-direction:row;font-weight:700;margin-bottom:1rem;margin-top:2.8rem;width:100%;-webkit-box-pack:start;-ms-flex-pack:start;-webkit-justify-content:start;justify-content:start;padding-left:5rem;}@media only screen and (max-width: 599px){.css-j9qmi7{padding-left:0;-webkit-box-pack:center;-ms-flex-pack:center;-webkit-justify-content:center;justify-content:center;}}.css-j9qmi7 svg{fill:#27292D;}.css-j9qmi7 .eagfbvw0{-webkit-align-items:center;-webkit-box-align:center;-ms-flex-align:center;align-items:center;color:#27292D;}