The #1 Muscle for Athletic Performance, Pain-Free Training, & The Truth About Perfect Form - With Dr. John Rusin

The Model Health Show

Shawn Stevenson

Fitness, Health & Fitness, Motivation, Wellness, Nutrition, Health, Sex, Selfhelp

4.8 • 7.2K Ratings

🗓️ 22 October 2025

⏱️ 65 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

When it comes to popular weightlifting exercises like squats and deadlifts, does perfect form actually exist? Today, we’re going to unpack this question with an expert on preventative health and customized training. You’re going to discover how to sharpen the skill of lifting, how to optimize the way your body moves, and what it takes to prevent injuries inside and outside of the gym. Today’s guest, Dr. John Rusin, is a physical therapist, personal trainer, and injury prevention specialist. His new book, Pain-Free Performance is a guide to training your body for longevity. In this interview, Dr. Rusin is sharing principles for injury prevention, optimized movement, and how to train for longevity. You’re going to learn about foundational movement patterns, the truth about perfect form, and what it means to create a health-first approach to training and exercise. You’ll also learn about specific exercises for training smarter, which muscle is the cornerstone of health, and so much more. I hope you enjoy this episode of The Model Health Show! In this episode you’ll discover: The truth about the quest for perfect form. (3:09) What it means to optimize your movement patterns. (6:53) Why understanding progressions of an exercise can help you improve. (8:16) Two common, but incorrect, approaches to breathing. (9:58) What the goblet squat challenge is. (12:57) How to handle pain during exercise. (20:52) The benefits of single-leg training. (24:35) Which muscle is the most important for athletic performance. (28:05) The link between well-rounded training and longevity. (30:25) What the 6x6 protocol is. (31:09) Why training for athleticism is critical as you age. (33:20) What prehab is. (36:13) How to train for deceleration. (40:01) The difference between pain and discomfort. (47:03) What the drawbacks are of sports specialization for young athletes. (51:00) How a health-centric fitness approach can help you reach your goals. (1:01:05) Items mentioned in this episode include: WildPastures.com/model - Get 20% off every box plus an additional $15 off! DrinkLMNT.com/model - Get a FREE sample pack of electrolytes with any order! Pain-Free Performance by Dr. John Rusin ß Grab a copy of the book today! Connect with Dr. John Rusin Website / Facebook / Instagram / YouTube Be sure you are subscribed to this podcast to automatically receive your episodes: Apple Podcasts Spotify Soundcloud Pandora YouTube This episode of The Model Health Show is brought to you by Wild Pastures and LMNT. Get 100% grassfed and finished beef, pasture raised chicken, and other nutrient dense, regenerative meats. Sign up with my link to get 20% of for life, plus an additional $15 off your first box at wildpastures.com/model. Head to DrinkLMNT.com/model to claim a FREE sample pack of electrolytes with any purchase.

Transcript

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0:00.0	You are now listening to The Model Health Show with Sean Stevenson.
0:04.8	For more, visit themodelhealthshow.com.
0:09.7	Today you're going to find out some things about fitness and training that you've never heard before.
0:15.4	What if the quote perfect form when doing an exercise is actually a big old myth. What if there's no such thing
0:24.0	as a perfect form? And it's really about the perfect form for you. Also, you're going to find out
0:30.2	some things about the gluteus maximus, aka the cakes, aka your buns, aka your assets that are going to blow your mind. All right. When you find out
0:44.7	how important your glutes are in your performance, in human movement, in athleticism,
0:51.8	it's just like, how could you not show some love? You're also going to find out
0:57.1	about one of my favorite fitness tools that this leading sports performance expert also loves
1:06.2	as well and utilizes on a regular basis with his incredible clients. And again, it's one of my favorite things.
1:13.7	I utilize it multiple times a week, but I hardly ever talk about it. And it was a perfect opportunity
1:17.7	to talk about it with my guest because he's all about high performance. He's all about
1:22.7	pain-free movement. And you're absolutely going to enjoy this episode. So let's dive right in.
1:29.8	Dr. John Russon is an internationally recognized strength coach, physical therapist,
1:34.3	and injury prevention expert with nearly 20 years of elite level experience in training
1:40.8	major league baseball athletes, NFL pros, Olympic gold medalists, and world record
1:46.8	holding powerlifters. Named a top 50 health and fitness expert by men's health magazine,
1:52.7	Dr. Russen has taken the methods proven at the highest levels of sport and adapted them
1:58.8	specifically for everyday people, making elite level injury
2:02.7	prevention, sustainable health, and lifelong physical performance accessible to everyone.
2:09.8	Let's dive into this conversation with the amazing Dr. John Russon.
2:14.0	My guide, Dr. John Russon, how you doing today?
	...

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