Marquis Johnson, M.A., CSCS, SCCC, is an Assistant Performance Coach for the Minnesota Vikings, entering his fifth season with the team and sixth in the NFL. Marquis plays a key role in the Vikings strength staff receiving a stamp of approval when the NFL Players Association released the results of its free agency report cards during each of the past three offseasons (2023-25). When he’s not working with the team, Marquis is also an avid runner who has completed numerous full and half marathons. Submit your questions below for Marquis by Friday, November 21. He’ll be on throughout the week to respond to your questions!

On 9/17/2025 at 8:29 AM, Tobiowotomo said: Hi all, Over the course of my career, taking continuing educaition courses has been a staple for my growth. I would love to here what courses you've all taken that have made the most impact on your clinical acumen. Great question! Here are some powerful options to consider that have made a massive impact on my journey thus far... Anatomy / Palpation / Manual Skills - Functional Range Systems (Spina), Active Release Techniques (Leahy) Human Movement Assessment & Treatment System - Dynamic Neuromuscular Stabilization (Kolar), Postural Restoration Institute (Hruska), Unified Health & Performance Continuum Model (Hartman) Communication / Leadership - Game Changer Experience (Bandison), Landmark Worldwide (Erhard) On 9/17/2025 at 8:29 AM, Tobiowotomo said: Hi all, Over the course of my career, taking continuing educaition courses has been a staple for my growth. I would love to here what courses you've all taken that have made the most impact on your clinical acumen.

What are some emerging processes to condense all the objective assessment data being gathered during pre-participation screening into a meaningful and digestible report?

My coworkers and I have very much made an effort to integrate the use of AI into our daily (or maybe weekly) lives. As the theme of this forum suggests, the biggest success we have had is within monotonous but necessary operational tasks. Schedules and charts that outline responsibilities, maintenance check-ins, etc. However, we have also begun to explore more ways to use it with excessive injury history, documentation, imaging reports, etc. For instance--instead of taking hours upon hours to comb through physicals and other new documentation every year, we have asked our data secure AI platform to summarize this de-identified information for us and place in a nice, organized chart. Some things to consider: De-identify and Double Check: As AI continues to develop, always make sure to double check your AI application's work and results. There are still countless examples of completely wrong results and assumptions made by different AI platforms. Also, it should be noted that even if you're using a secure AI platform or application, all private health information and protected data should absolutely be somehow de-identified prior to submitting. Utilize A Consistent Queuing Format: I believe the absolute most important aspect of utilizing AI is queuing it properly. Force the application or platform to ask you follow-up questions to gain more context on how it can help. I like to start my tasks by giving some context, stating what I need done, and then telling the platform to ask me three more questions after each response so it can gain more context and refine the process or task.

Great topic @JordanAllen . Although just about everyone knows hydration is incredibly important and influential on recovery and injury prevention--it's always still a challenge to get athletes to properly rehydrate after activity. @eliseharren makes a great point on how overlooked it is as well. Here's what I've found in my experience: Accessibility: I have found that always doing my absolute best to make fluids as accessible as possible for athletes is the best way to encourage athletes to rehydrate. Whether it's standing outside (or even inside) the locker room waiting to hand them a cold Gatorade, pre-filled water bottle with their favorite gatorlyte electrolyte blend, or anything else, I always make it a priority to make sure there is the least amount of "excuses" or obstacles standing in their way towards rehydration. Another priority is making sure the training room, locker room, and sideline are always completely stocked and ready. Visual/Objective Measures: Any type of visual or objective aid in describing the level of someone's hydration is always helpful. What is their weight after practices/games? Can you convince them to return the next day at their pre-season (or healthy/goal) weight? Are their urine color charts above urinals and toilets in your locker room? There are also some tools that will detect salivary osmolality and give an instant objective hydration measurement as well. Asking athletes directly--Do you feel hydrated? : I know this might sound like a weird question for most athletes to answer, but it forces most players to rethink--did I actually put an effort in to rehydration after yesterday's game? Did I consciously fill my water bottle or weigh myself this morning? Getting the conversation started always helps somehow.

When an athlete is looking for help with recovery, what should we do? The keys to improved recovery are rest (if possible), hydration, proper nutrition, and increasing blood flow. While all of these are good, sometimes too much isn't a good thing. Hydrating with water and Gatorade support tissue repair and keeping muscles hydrated. Consuming adequate protein provide the building blocks for muscle tissue and carbohydrates help with energy and replenishing glycogen stores. Increasing blood with light exercise, such as walking or light bike riding can also aid in recovery. No one is better than the other as all are important keys to recovery.

On 12/21/2024 at 2:02 PM, ConnorAgnew said: I am an avid reader and love to find new books that can help with my career. What are some books that you have read that have influenced your career and how you work with your athletes? Personally, my two favorite books have been "It Takes What It Takes" by Trevor Moawad and Andy Staples and "Deep Work" by Cal Newport. "It Takes What It Takes" lays out the concept of neutral thinking (not getting too high with highs and too low with the lows) and how it can be applied to athletes. It has proven to be invaluable in my conversations with athletes and I will even have some of my athletes read it with me to help their mental games. "Deep Work" dives into how to get the most out of your work day and complete large projects in quick fashion without having to over-exert yourself. I have modeled my work habits after Cal Newports suggestions and I feel it has drastically increased my productivity. I'm excited to dive into the books y'all recommend! Reading is how I spend the majority of my time outside of work. Beyond being an escape from the daily grind, I love reading books I can apply to my work and use to improve my relationships with athletes. The most influential book I have read recently is "Start with Why" by Simon Sinek. It is a great self help book for leaders but also is applicable to daily decision making.

Here’s a surprising fact: being awake for 17 hours straight can impair your performance as much as having a blood alcohol level of 0.05% — and after 24 hours , it’s equivalent to 0.10%, which is legally drunk in most states. We often recognize the risks of alcohol on reaction time and decision-making, but fatigue can be just as dangerous — especially for athletes, coaches, and professionals who pride themselves on pushing through. Sleep loss affects coordination, focus, and recovery, and it raises the risk of errors and injury. The takeaway: recovery is not optional. Prioritizing sleep protects both performance and safety. Consistent schedules, short restorative naps when truly needed, and respecting the body’s limits are part of smart training, not weakness. How do you help your athletes (or yourself) protect sleep when schedules get demanding? Share what’s worked in your programs or routines. Joanna Fong-Isariyawongse, MD Neurologist | Sleep and Performance Expert | University of Pittsburgh

We all talk about “sleep hygiene,” but what strategies really make a difference in the real world? I’m curious to hear what you’ve found most effective for improving sleep quality and consistency — for yourself, your athletes, or your students. Do you emphasize: ☀️ Morning sunlight exposure to reset the body clock? 📵 Limiting screen time before bed? 🕐 Keeping a consistent bedtime routine? 🌡️ Adjusting room temperature or light levels? 🧘 Relaxation or mindfulness before sleep? Share your go-to sleep hygiene practices and what seems to have the biggest impact on recovery, alertness, or overall performance. Your insights can help others translate the science of sleep into practical strategies for athletes, teams, and students. Joanna Fong-Isariyawongse, MD Neurologist | Sleep and Performance Expert | University of Pittsburgh

Hi everyone, I recently co-presented a GSSI-sponsored ACSM webinar, The Hidden Cost of Sleep Loss on Nutrition and Performance (Oct 16, 2025) that explored how even modest sleep loss can disrupt appetite hormones, recovery, and training outcomes. We discussed strategies to help athletes protect their “sleep nutrition” just as they protect their diet and hydration. One major challenge that keeps coming up is early school start times. During puberty, the brain’s internal clock naturally shifts later, making it harder for teenagers to fall asleep early and wake up refreshed. Yet most U.S. high schools start before 8:00 AM, which means students are often waking up in the middle of their biological night. As a result, more than 80% of adolescents do not get enough sleep , and this chronic sleep loss affects academic performance, mental health, safety, and sports outcomes . ⏰ Many high school athletes begin training or class before 7:30 AM, often running on 5 to 6 hours of sleep. Research shows this affects reaction time, injury risk, metabolism, and mood. Sleep deprivation has been linked to slower reaction times, increased injury risk, hormonal imbalance, and reduced recovery capacity — all critical factors for young athletes striving to perform their best. Let’s start a conversation: 👉 How do early start times impact your athletes? 👉 Have you seen performance or recovery improve when they get more sleep? Joanna Fong-Isariyawongse, MD Associate Professor of Neurology, University of Pittsburgh