Female Athletes

In this show, Lindsey Elizabeth Cortes talks with Dr. Kate Edwards, a physical therapist and orthopedic specialist. They delve into Dr. Kate's new app, RUNsource, designed to offer runners comprehensive resources and support. Listen to more, learn, connect, and read more about sports nutrition for female athletes with Lindsey Cortes at: Website: www.LindseyCortes.com SUBSCRIBE TO EMAILS: https://riseupnutrition.activehosted.com/f/6 Instagram: @female.athlete.nutritoin Facebook Group: Female Athlete Nutrition Connect with Dr. Kate Mihevc Edwards: Instagram: @fastbananasrun @katemihevcedwards @precisionpt_atl website at: https://www.fastbananas.com/ ---------------------------------------------- TIMESTAMPS: • 01:18 Meet Dr. Kate Edwards • 01:28 Kate's Journey and Episode 73 Recap • 02:11 New Content and Dr. Kate's Background • 04:38 The Birth of Fast Bananas and RUNsource • 05:49 The Importance of Specialized Care for Runners • 10:04 Features of the RUNsource App • 17:30 Tailored Programs for Every Runner • 22:22 Emotional Connection to Running • 22:53 Personal Struggles and Running as a Stress Reliever • 23:27 The Importance of Balanced Training • 26:08 Exploring Alternative Stress Relievers • 27:29 Running as a Universal Sport • 30:15 Common Injuries and Prevention • 35:18 RUNsource App Features and Benefits • 39:02 Conclusion and Additional Resources Dr. Kate Mihevc Edwards is a highly accomplished physical therapist and board-certified orthopedic specialist with over 15 years of experience in sports medicine and orthopedics. As the founder of Precision Performance and Physical Therapy in Atlanta, GA, and the creator of Fast Bananas RUNsource, a cutting-edge app designed specifically for runners, Kate has dedicated her career to optimizing performance, preventing injuries, and enhancing the biomechanics of runners at all levels—from beginners to Olympians. A published author and sought-after speaker, she blends the latest research with actionable insights to empower athletes to achieve their personal best while staying healthy and resilient.

Today’s guest is Dr. Kate Mihevc Edwards, a physical therapist, author, and speaker who’s reshaping the conversation around runner health and performance. Drawing on more than 15 years of experience and her personal health journey, Kate champions a more complete approach to athlete care—one that values mental and emotional well-being just as much as physical ability. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Running Medicine 03:07 The Disconnect Between Runners and Medical Professionals 05:49 Common Misconceptions in Running Injuries 08:58 The Importance of Mental Load in Training 11:54 Nutrition and Sleep: Foundations for Injury Prevention 15:06 Understanding Energy Availability in Runners 18:06 The Role of Real Food in Nutrition 21:04 Protein Needs and Supplements in Running 26:13 Strength Training Essentials for Runners 29:14 Understanding Functional Fitness 31:48 Adapting Strength Training for Runners 34:39 The Importance of Research in Athletic Training 37:21 New Insights on Female Athletes 40:30 Revolutionizing Recovery for Tendon Injuries 46:24 Building a Holistic Health Care Team 📆 Improve Your 10km (or run it for the first time!) https://www.relaxedrunning.com/10km 🏃‍♂️ My First 5k - An 8-Week Running Challenge https://www.relaxedrunning.com/8weekrunningchallenge 👟 Become a Relaxed Running Member! https://www.relaxedrunning.com/membership ✍️ Join Fast Track Friday Newsletter https://www.relaxedrunning.com/fast-track-friday

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In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Kate Mihevc Edwards, PT, DPT, OCS, a physical therapist and board-certified orthopedic specialist with over 15 years of experience in running medicine. She’s the founder of Precision Performance Running Medicine Clinic in Atlanta, the RUNsource app, and co-host of the new podcast Interdisciplinary Case Miles. We dive into what it takes to build a truly interdisciplinary approach to athlete care and the importance of finding the right provider for your needs—especially for postpartum athletes returning to performance. Kate shares her insights on bridging the gap between research and clinical practice, working collaboratively across disciplines, and how to know when it’s time to see a PT. We also talk about the realities of entrepreneurship, balancing work and family, and what it’s like to branch out into podcasting and tech as a clinician. We talk about: -starting a podcast -the value of an interdisciplinary team -finding the right provider -working with postpartum moms -when it’s time to see a PT -treating pro athletes -keeping up with the research Time Stamps 1:00 Introduction 6:15 how to work with other providers 10:01 logistics of running a podcast 18:05 underfeeding for sports 23:05 research-informed versus evidence-based 25:58 the RUNsource app 34:10 when it’s time to see a PT 38:30 unqualified running coaches 43:45 deciding to branch out 50:30 balancing kids in middle school 55:29 rapid fire questions CONNECT WITH CARRIE IG: https://www.instagram.com/carriepagliano/ Website: https://carriepagliano.com CONNECT WITH REBECCA: IG: https://www.instagram.com/katemihevcedwards/ Fast Bananas: https://www.instagram.com/fbrunsource/ Precision PT: https://www.instagram.com/precisionpt_atl/ Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/interdisciplinary-case-miles/id1837802044 The Active Mom Podcast is A Real Moms' Guide to pregnancy, postpartum, perimenopause & beyond for active moms & the professionals who help them in their journey. This show has been a long time in the making! You can expect conversation with moms and professionals from all aspects of the industry. If you're like me, you don't have a lot of free time (heck, you're probably listening at 1.5x speed), so theses interviews will be quick hits to get your the pertinent information FAST! If you love what you hear, share the podcast with a friend and leave us a 5 start rating and review. It helps us become more visible in the search algorithm! (Helps us get seen by more moms that need to hear these stories!!!!)

Foot pain that lingers, comes and goes, or never fully heals can signal something more serious especially in runners. Episode 19 of Interdisciplinary Case Miles centers on a high school track athlete dealing with a navicular bone stress injury that persisted for nearly a year. This type of injury is one of the most challenging in running due to limited blood supply, high biomechanical demand, and the need for strict management early on. This case highlights how bone stress injuries develop from a combination of training load, biomechanics, and nutrition especially low energy availability in adolescent athletes. It also addresses why navicular injuries require careful progression, non-weight bearing phases, and long-term follow-up to avoid delayed healing or recurrence. You’ll hear how foot mechanics, posterior tibial function, and arch control influence stress at the navicular, along with how strength, mobility, and confidence all play a role in returning to sport. The conversation also emphasizes the importance of fueling, growth demands, and the unique challenges faced by youth and first-generation athletes navigating high training loads. Whether you’re a runner dealing with stubborn foot pain, a parent supporting a young athlete, or training in high-impact environments like track, trail, or jumping sports, this episode provides clear direction on preventing and managing navicular stress injuries. 00:00 – Intro to Interdisciplinary Case Miles Overview of the podcast and today’s complex case. 01:05 – Case Overview: High School Athlete with Persistent Foot Pain Track athlete with a year-long navicular bone stress injury. 03:10 – What Is the Navicular Bone & Why It Matters Location, function, and role as the “keystone” of the arch. 06:00 – Why Navicular Stress Injuries Are High Risk Limited blood supply and challenges with healing. 09:20 – The Perfect Storm: Load, Biomechanics & Nutrition How multiple factors combine to create bone stress injuries. 12:40 – Low Energy Availability in Young Athletes How underfueling impacts bone health and recovery. 16:30 – Growth, Development & High Calorie Needs Why adolescent runners require more fuel than expected. 20:10 – Practical Fueling Strategies for Busy Athletes Snacking, meal timing, and closing energy gaps. 24:00 – Posterior Tibial Function & Foot Mechanics How pronation control affects stress at the navicular. 27:45 – Physical Therapy Approach to Navicular Injuries Strength, mobility, stability, and load management. 31:20 – Confidence & Fear in Return to Sport Mental barriers after long-term injury. 35:00 – When to Repeat Imaging & Monitor Healing Using MRI and clinical signs to guide progression. 38:40 – Surgical vs Conservative Treatment Options When athletes consider early intervention. 42:10 – Athlete Stage Matters: Youth vs Elite Decisions How treatment varies by age and competition level. 45:30 – Key Takeaways from Each Expert Education, fueling, and whole-athlete care. #runninginjury #stressfracture #footpain #navicular #runnersofinstagram #trackandfield #highschoolathlete #youthathletes #runningtips #injuryprevention #sportsmedicine #physicaltherapy #sportsrehab #runhealthy #runstrong #ultrarunning #trailrunning #marathontraining #tracknation #runnerlife #sportsnutrition #fuelingforperformance #lowenergyavailability #REDs #bonehealth #enduranceathlete #runpainfree #mobilitytraining #strengthtrainingforrunners #biomechanics #returntosport #confidencebuilding #mississippirunners #southernrunners #denverrunners #trackathletes #distanceathlete #jumper #sprinter #evidencebased

Is your low back pain coming from running or is it something else entirely? In this episode of Interdisciplinary Case Miles, Dr. Sara Raiser, sports medicine physician and running medicine specialist, Dr. Kate Mihevc Edwards, orthopedic physical therapist and running PT, and sports dietitian Kelsey Pontius walk through a runner case involving low back pain during the perimenopause transition. The case involves a 41-year-old female physician and half-marathon runner who initially seeks help for nutrition during perimenopause. During the consultation, she casually mentions intermittent low back pain, poor sleep, and high work stress, factors that can all influence recovery and musculoskeletal health. The conversation expands into a deeper discussion of how hormonal changes, sleep quality, fueling habits, biomechanics, and pelvic floor health can all play a role in back pain for runners. We explain how shifting hormones like estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone influence collagen health, tendon recovery, muscle repair, sleep quality, and energy levels. For active women, these changes can show up as slower recovery, stubborn body changes, and nagging aches that weren’t there before. In this episode, we discuss: Why low back pain in runners is often multifactorial The impact of perimenopause and hormonal changes on recovery and connective tissue How sleep and fueling patterns influence injury risk and healing Why runners with back pain should evaluate core stability, breathing, and pelvic floor function How hip mobility and running mechanics can affect the lower back When back pain requires medical evaluation—and when runners can safely stay active Strategies to keep running while managing back discomfort If you're a runner dealing with low back pain, sleep disruption, hormonal changes, or training stress, this episode explores how all of these factors intersect and what you can do to stay healthy and keep running. If you’re enjoying these conversations, please follow the podcast and take a moment to rate or review it. Sharing it with a runner, coach, or healthcare provider helps us reach the people who can make the biggest difference in athletes’ lives. This podcast is for runners at every level, the coaches guiding them, and the healthcare professionals who care for them. We believe interdisciplinary care leads to better outcomes and stronger runners. #InterdisciplinaryCaseMiles#IDCMpodcast#Perimenopause #Menopausetransition#WomenWhoRun#FemaleAthlete#HalfMarathonTraining #LowBackPain #PelvicFloorHealth#RunningInjury#SportsMedicine#PhysicalTherapy#SportsNutrition#HormoneHealth#ActiveWomenOver40

Are you hobbling to the bathroom in the morning because of heel pain? Many runners with plantar fasciitis ignore that early symptom for months until it starts affecting every run. In episode 16 of the Interdisciplinary Case Miles Podcast, Dr. Sara Raiser, sports medicine physician and running specialist, Dr. Kate Mihevc Edwards, orthopedic physical therapist and running PT, and sports dietitian Kelsey Pontius break down a real runner case involving chronic plantar fasciitis that slowly worsened over time. The case involves a 42-year-old runner who runs 3–5 miles nearly every day to manage work stress. For over a year she ignored classic plantar fasciitis symptoms, morning heel pain and stiffness after sitting because the pain would improve once she started moving. Eventually, the pain began showing up during her runs and getting worse halfway through, forcing her to finally seek help. In this episode, the team explains why plantar fasciitis often becomes a chronic plantar fasciopathy, why morning heel pain happens, and why runners often wait far too long before addressing the root causes. You’ll learn: Why morning heel pain and hobbling after sitting are classic plantar fasciitis symptoms Why many runners develop plantar fasciitis after months or years of subtle warning signs Why foot strength and running mechanics matter more than stretching alone The role of calf mobility, great toe motion, and the kinetic chain in plantar fascia loading When treatments like shockwave therapy, PRP, or injections may be appropriate Why plantar fasciitis rehab can take 6–9 months for chronic cases How nutrition, protein intake, vitamin D, and micronutrients support connective tissue healing The mental side of injury when running is your primary stress relief How long rehab realistically takes If you're a runner struggling with heel pain, plantar fasciitis, or foot pain when you first step out of bed, this episode will help you understand what’s really happening and how to recover without giving up running. If you’re enjoying these conversations, please follow the podcast and take a moment to rate or review it. Sharing it with a runner, coach, or healthcare provider helps us reach the people who can make the biggest difference in athletes’ lives.This podcast is for runners at every level, the coaches guiding them, and the healthcare professionals who care for them. We believe interdisciplinary care leads to better outcomes and stronger runners. #InterdisciplinaryCaseMiles#IDCMpodcast#PlantarFasciitis#PlantarFasciopathy #HeelPain#RunningInjury#Runners#RunningRecovery#PhysicalTherapy#SportsMedicine#GaitAnalysis#FootStrength#CalfTightness#VegetarianRunner #SportsNutrition

A 41-year-old female runner and experienced half-marathoner develops mid-Achilles tendon pain, morning stiffness, and a noticeable bump along the tendon. Symptoms improve after warming up but return with longer runs, leaving her caught in the common cycle of pushing through pain, resting without progress, and uncertainty about what actually helps. In this episode of Interdisciplinary Case Miles, Dr. Sara Raiser (MD) , Kelsey Pontius, and Dr. Kate Mihevc Edwards (PT) discuss the clinical presentation of Achilles tendinopathy, why it often becomes chronic, and why complete rest is rarely the solution. Key topics include: Tendon loading principles and why tendons require progressive strength work Biomechanical contributors such as foot control, dorsiflexion limits, hip extension, and proximal weakness The role of perimenopause, estrogen changes, and life stress in tendon vulnerability Nutrition foundations for tendon healing, including energy availability, collagen synthesis, and carbohydrate support Practical considerations around footwear, heel-to-toe drop changes, and carbon-plated shoes If you’re enjoying these conversations, please follow the podcast and take a moment to rate or review it. Sharing it with a runner, coach, or healthcare provider helps us reach the people who can make the biggest difference in athletes’ lives. This podcast is for runners at every level, the coaches guiding them, and the healthcare professionals who care for them. We believe interdisciplinary care leads to better outcomes and stronger runners. 00:00 – Welcome to Interdisciplinary Case Miles Hosts introduce the evidence-informed case format. 02:05 – Case Presentation: Mid-Achilles Pain in a Half-Marathon Runner Morning stiffness, crepitus, tendon thickening, and pain that fluctuates during runs. 05:10 – Why These Cases Are Challenging The warm-up effect, post-run soreness, and training “push-through” patterns. 08:20 – Medical Evaluation Priorities Training changes, hormonal factors, surgery history, and load management. 12:30 – Tendons Require More Than Rest Why conservative care emphasizes strength, mechanics, and progressive loading. 16:10 – Foot Posture and the Kinetic Chain Rigid vs flexible feet, arches, glute engagement, and core contribution. 20:05 – Achilles Mechanics: The “Wringing Out” Effect How pronation and poor control increase tendon stress. 24:40 – Running With Tendinopathy: Pain Monitoring Guidelines When continued running can be appropriate and how to track symptom response. 28:10 – PT Interventions: Eccentrics, BFR, and Load Progression Strength-based tendon rehab and improving blood flow. 32:45 – Nutrition for Tendon Healing Energy availability, collagen synthesis decline with age, and micronutrient support. 37:20 – Collagen Supplement Timing and Practical Use Why collagen works best 30–60 minutes before tendon loading. 41:10 – During-Run Fueling and Injury Risk Carbohydrate needs, glycogen depletion, fatigue-related mechanics breakdown. 45:30 – Chronic Tendon Changes Take Time Why tendinopathy develops over years and requires patience in rehab. 48:10 – Proximal Drivers: Low Back, Hip Extension, and Glute Function How upstream issues overload the Achilles. 52:20 – Footwear Considerations and Heel-to-Toe Drop Shifts Carbon-plated shoes, shoe rotation, cushion effects, and transition errors. 57:30 – Final Takeaways Sara: Tendon recovery takes time but allows continued activity Kelsey: Fueling protects long-term tissue health Kate: Rest alone fails tendons need load and strength adaptation 1:01:30 – Closing and Case Submission Info #running #runninginjuries #runnerhealth #sportsmedicine #sportsnutrition #physicaltherapy #wellness #nutrition #enduranceathletes #tendinopathy #achillespain