Precision Muscle Analysis with Matt Brown of Springbok Analytics #824
Barbell Shrugged
Doug Larson
4.7 • 2.8K Ratings
🗓️ 19 November 2025
⏱️ 55 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
In this episode, Anders Varner, Doug Larson, and Travis Mash sit down with Matt Brown, Director of Business Development at Springbok Analytics, to explore the cutting edge world of MRI based muscle analysis. Matt breaks down the origins of Springbok, how the company grew from a university research lab solving cerebral palsy surgical problems into one of the most advanced muscle segmentation platforms on the planet, and why professional sports teams, medical researchers, and longevity practitioners are all adopting this technology. From 15 minute full body protocols to AI driven segmentation of 144 muscles, Springbok is redefining what is possible in muscle profiling and objective performance measurement.
The conversation dives into real world application, how Springbok helps pro athletes understand tissue quality, fat infiltration, tendon health, asymmetries, compensations, and injury risk with unprecedented precision. Matt shares examples across the NBA, NFL, soccer, and clinical research showing how MRI data is being used to shorten rehab timelines, guide targeted strength work, map scar tissue, and track atrophy after major injuries like ACL tears. The group contrasts traditional tools like DEXA with what is now possible using MRI, individualized baselines, normative values by sport and position, and 3D interactive models that reveal exactly where muscle is strong, weak, or compromised.
Finally, the team covers the massive opportunity in longevity and consumer health. They discuss how muscle quality predicts aging trajectories, why fat infiltration accelerates decline, and how Springbok's new FDA cleared body composition capabilities unlock deeper insights into visceral fat, liver fat, bone density, and long term risk. Doug outlines how Rapid Health Optimization is partnering with Springbok through Optima Muscle to bring these pro level analytics to everyday people, combining MRI data with elite coaching, physical therapy, and strength programming to create personalized, actionable plans that maximize performance and minimize injury. This episode is a powerful preview of where the future of muscle health, performance diagnostics, and longevity is headed.
Learn more at: OptimaMuscle.com
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | Shrug family this week on Barbell Shrug. Matt Brown is coming into the show from Springbok |
| 0:05.8 | Analytics. And if you remember, probably about six months ago, our in-house physical therapist, |
| 0:12.7 | Doug, one of two that we have, works with Springbok analytics. And we spent a ton of time talking |
| 0:18.5 | about the capabilities of the MRI scans, how Springbok is able to go in and figure out where the imbalances are. |
| 0:25.9 | Today, we're taking an even deeper dive into how this works with people that have degenerative muscular diseases, how it works for professional athletes. |
| 0:35.7 | What we see in professional athletes, populations, especially those crazy basketball players, the longest, gangliest, craziest people, they're like the top. Turns out, if you've ever read the sports gene, if you're over seven foot tall, you have like a 98% chance of playing in the NBA. You know what? People 5-8 like me, we don't have any chance. We have a zero percent chance. Mugsy Bogs doesn't exist anymore. They don't allow people like me, the little people, in the NBA. Go figure. Hmm, I wish they did. Would be nice. But they have a contract with the NBA. They run tons of scans on some of the best athletes in the world, as well as being |
| 1:11.7 | the company that is working very diligently on the degenerative diseases that come with |
| 1:17.0 | muscular issues and how they can prevent that, how they can start to predict improvements, |
| 1:22.8 | and very, very cool technology that Matt's going to be walking us through today. |
| 1:26.1 | As always, friends, make sure you get over to rapid health report.com. That's where Dan Garner, Dr. Andy Galpin, are doing a free lab lifestyle and performance analysis, and you can access that report over at rapid health report.com. Friends, let's get into the show. Welcome to Barlow Strug. Domanders Varner, Doug Larson. Coach Travis Mashed, Matt Brown from Springbok Analytics. |
| 1:45.9 | Hey, man, this is like the coolest technology of all time. |
| 1:49.9 | And we had Doug on the show, is that a year ago now, six months ago, eight months ago, somewhere in there. |
| 1:58.3 | Shabby a year ago, he's been on before. |
| 2:00.7 | And what's very funny, I think I told the story, but Springbok called when we started |
| 2:05.5 | Rapid and was like, Anders, you really got to go do this thing. |
| 2:09.1 | And I was like, I don't really want to go all the way to Duke right now to just like do more |
| 2:16.7 | fitness stuff. Like it takes a lot to get me out of my house one |
| 2:19.7 | and then two for fitness like i have a lot i got a lot of and then he started going through it |
| 2:24.9 | and i was like hold the phone can i retract that i want to go back in time and get my analysis done |
| 2:30.9 | then you guys were actually busy haven't gotten it done yet but. But I'd love to do it again and understand, like, |
| 2:36.8 | what was the beginning of this company and the idea behind taking like a super deep dive |
| 2:44.7 | into all things, muscle tissue and just the big scan? |
... |
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