Sneak Peek at Interview with Nick Walker's Soft Tissue Clinician, Dr. Umar Nisar

Summary

This episode introduces Dr. Umar Nisar, a chiropractor and manual therapist widely respected and famously known for his work with Nick Walker, who placed 6th in this year's Mr. Olympia bodybuilding competition. Dr. Nisar discusses the nuances of sports performance and recovery, particularly for elite bodybuilders and strength athletes first; then relates this to the lifestyle bodybuilder and strength athlete. Dr. Nisar shares his journey from his education to founding Asylum Sport Performance and Recovery in Voorhees, New Jersey. His approach integrates chiropractic care with applied clinical nutrition and advanced recovery modalities such as cryotherapy, infrared saunas, and manual therapy. The discussion highlights the importance of active rehabilitation tailored to athletes’ training cycles, especially during injury recovery and competition prep.

Dr. Nisar explains the distinctions between passive and active rehabilitation, emphasizing restoring pain-free range of motion and the strategic use of modalities like cryotherapy for acute injuries and infrared saunas for inflammation and water weight management. He also touches on the mental and physiological benefits of these treatments for athletes preparing for competition.

The episode concludes with insights into future treatment technologies Dr. Nisar plans to implement, including hyperbaric oxygen therapy and advanced laser treatments, underscoring his commitment to evolving athlete care.

Show Notes

Summary

Audio Recording Format Discussion

Cormac (Host, Type-IIx) introduced Dr. Umar Nisar, who runs Asylum Sport Performance and Recovery in Voorhees, New Jersey, and specializes in soft tissue work, particularly for Nick Walker. They discussed the format of their upcoming audio-only recording, confirming it would be released as audio only with no visual elements.

Chiropractor's Journey in Sports Performance

Dr. Nisar, a chiropractor and manual therapist, discussed his background and the inspiration behind establishing Asylum Sports Performance and Recovery in Voorhees, New Jersey. He explained his educational journey, which led him to pursue chiropractic medicine after a positive experience with a chiropractor. Dr. Nisar highlighted his role as one of Nick Walker's soft tissue experts and shared that his approach to treating bodybuilders and other athletes is influenced by his background in sports performance, emphasizing the unique needs of different athletic populations.

Chiropractic and Nutrition Integration

Dr. Nisar discussed his career path and approach to chiropractic care, explaining that while he initially planned to work in a family practice, he decided to pursue a different model focused on long-term health rather than the traditional "adjust and leave" approach. He shared his background in sports and bodybuilding, which influenced his interest in human performance and nutrition, leading to his unique combination of chiropractic practice with a master's in applied clinical nutrition. Through working with elite bodybuilders, he gained valuable insights into nutrition that he applies to both high-level athletes and the general population.

Active vs Passive Rehabilitation

Dr. Nisar explained the concept of active rehabilitation, contrasting it with passive methods by using examples like the hip airplane exercise to address specific issues. He noted that programming for bodybuilders and strength athletes requires careful consideration of their training protocols, especially when dealing with injuries, as seen in his work with a world-class powerlifter who had torn a quad and hamstring.

Rehab Strategies for Strength Athletes

The discussion focused on rehabilitation approaches for bodybuilders and strength athletes, with the doctor explaining that active rehabilitation is minimal during prep but increases in the off-season due to better recovery. The doctor emphasized restoring pain-free range of motion as the primary goal, often starting with isometric exercises to avoid tears, especially in bodybuilders. They also discussed the use of cryotherapy, infrared saunas, and other modalities, noting that infrared saunas are particularly useful for bodybuilders needing to manipulate water weight, while powerlifters require careful regulation of heat intensity to avoid central nervous system fatigue.

Cryotherapy and Cold Therapy Insights

Dr. Nisar discussed the use of cryotherapy and cold modalities, explaining that localized cryotherapy is effective for acute injuries and typically used for 2-5 minutes, while cold plunges are better for chronic issues and inflammatory joint problems. He noted that infrared saunas are useful for people who cannot tolerate cold, helping with inflammatory arthritis and cardiovascular issues. Cormac inquired about the differences between cryotherapy and cold plunges, and Dr. Nisar clarified that cryotherapy uses liquid nitrogen for targeted treatment of specific areas, while cold plunges involve full body submersion for systemic issues.

Infrared Saunas for Bodybuilders

Dr. Nisar explained the benefits of infrared saunas for bodybuilders, focusing on their ability to reduce cortisol levels and promote relaxation during competition prep. He described a typical protocol of using saunas one to two times per week, primarily on training and recovery days, to address aches and pains without developing tolerance. Dr. Nisar emphasized the importance of carefully monitoring sauna sessions to ensure safety and effectiveness, particularly for pro-level bodybuilders.

Passive Modalities for Performance Recovery

Dr. Nisar explained passive modalities, which include manual therapy, electrical stimulation, and other treatments like infrared saunas and cryotherapy, used for regeneration and injury recovery. Cormac asked about combining these modalities for optimal performance outcomes, and Dr. Nisar shared that while routines vary, his approach typically involves spinal manipulation, manual therapy, and the integration of passive modalities, concluding sessions with specific treatments like the plunge and sauna.

Sauna Benefits for Athletes

Dr. discussed the benefits of sauna use for athletes, noting that it helps relieve stress and can lead to significant weight loss. Cormac agreed that this was a good sign, especially for contest day. Dr. also shared his experience working with Nick Walker, a high-level bodybuilder, and how this has influenced his treatment approach. He emphasized the importance of refining techniques and focusing on the basics, while also considering the mental aspect for these athletes. Dr. Nisar mentioned that he had started recording more data to track the effectiveness of his treatments.

Performance Enhancement and Future Treatments

Dr. Nisar discussed the importance of diet and information for performance improvement, emphasizing the value of guidance and knowledge provided at Asylum. Cormac inquired about new treatment modalities, and Dr. Nisar expressed interest in implementing hyperbaric oxygen therapy and grade 4 lasers in the future, acknowledging their high cost.

Laser Technology and Collaboration Plans

Cormac and Dr. Nisar discussed Asylum SPR's work with laser technology and infrared applications, which Dr. Nisar explained are effective and correspond with his research. Dr. Nisar provided contact information for potential collaborators, including Instagram and email, and Cormac confirmed he would release the episode on Tuesday for optimal listener engagement.