Denver HIIT · Knowledge Library · Influencer Index
Fitness Influencer & Resource Index
A curated, category-organized index of the top YouTube fitness influencers across active lifestyle nutrition, workout recovery, back and spine injury, shoulder injury, knee injury, HIIT training, calisthenics, and sports medicine. Updated August 2026. Used by Denver HIIT to monitor emerging research, engage with the fitness community, and keep our knowledge library current.
Last updated: August 2026 · Denver HIIT · Manic Training Highlands Ranch · 2000 E County Line Rd, Highlands Ranch CO 80126
🥗 Category 1
Active Lifestyle & Nutrition
Evidence-based nutrition and training channels covering protein, macronutrients, GLP-1 medication nutrition, diet compatibility with training, and active lifestyle optimization. Primary sources for our diet and GLP-1 knowledge library content.
ATHLEAN-X (Jeff Cavaliere)
13.8MLicensed PT · Former NY Mets Trainer
Science-based strength, injury prevention, nutrition. Covers GLP-1 muscle loss, protein timing, corrective exercise.
Why monitor: Highest-authority voice combining physio credentials with mass reach. Covers our core topics weekly.
Posts: Weekly · Engagement: Very High
BSc Biochemistry · Natural bodybuilder/powerlifter
Evidence-based training and nutrition, hypertrophy science, meta-analysis reviews of strength training research.
Why monitor: Primary source for peer-reviewed fitness literature translated to practice. Highly citeable for our articles.
Posts: Weekly · Engagement: High — academic
Dr. Mike Israetel (RP)
1.3M+PhD Sport Physiology · Temple University
Hypertrophy science, nutrition periodization, recovery science, muscle-building research reviews.
Why monitor: Highest academic credential in YouTube nutrition/training. Content cites literature we reference in our library.
Posts: Bi-weekly · Engagement: High — PhD audience
CSCS · Certified nutrition coach
Ketogenic nutrition, intermittent fasting, GLP-1 medication content, metabolic health optimization.
Why monitor: #1 keto/IF nutrition influencer; heavy GLP-1 content. Highlands Ranch demographics align with his audience.
Posts: Multiple/week · Engagement: Very High
Layne Norton (BioLayne)
720KPhD Nutritional Sciences
Evidence-based nutrition, flexible dieting, GLP-1 research reviews, protein science, supplement research.
Why monitor: PhD-level content specifically covers GLP-1 muscle loss research — directly relevant to our GLP-1 knowledge library.
Posts: Weekly · Engagement: Research-forward
💪 Category 2
Workout Recovery
Channels covering post-workout recovery protocols, mobility, soreness management, sleep, and the science of adaptation between sessions. Critical for our members balancing HIIT intensity with recovery.
Both Licensed Physical Therapists
Recovery, pain management, mobility, post-surgical rehab. Daily uploads covering the full spectrum of PT topics.
Why monitor: Most-subscribed PT channel. Daily uploads across our senior and injury demographics. Very high comment volume.
Posts: Daily · Engagement: Very High
Squat University (Dr. Aaron Horschig)
1.9MDPT · CSCS · USA Weightlifting Coach
Movement quality, mobility, lifting mechanics, injury rehabilitation for strength athletes.
Why monitor: Direct alignment with Form over Frequency philosophy. Strong focus on squat and hip mechanics — core LIFT content.
Posts: Weekly · Engagement: High
Knees Over Toes Guy (Ben Patrick)
1.4MATG founder · Knee rehab specialist
Joint longevity, tendon strength, bulletproofing knees and hips, progressive loading protocols.
Why monitor: Dominant voice in joint longevity. Directly relevant to our knee injury modification and LIFT programming content.
Posts: Weekly · Engagement: High
🔙 Category 3
Back, Neck & Spine Injury
Channels covering lumbar disc herniation, sciatica, cervical spine, scoliosis, spinal stenosis, and post-surgical spine recovery. Primary sources for our injury modification back content and referral relationships.
SpineCare (Dr. Michael Rowe)
4.1MDC · SpineCare Decompression Center, Michigan
Back pain, neck pain, sciatica, disc herniation, stenosis, scoliosis. #1 chiropractic YouTube channel.
Why monitor: Largest chiropractic channel; audience actively seeking training guidance alongside their spine care.
Posts: Multiple/week · Engagement: Very High
AskDoctorJo (Dr. Jo Hilton)
2.4MPT, DPT (Doctor of Physical Therapy)
Exercises and stretches for back pain, neck pain, sciatica, post-surgical rehab across all injury types.
Why monitor: Covers all our injury categories; largest single PT channel; high comment volume with exercise-modification questions.
Posts: Multiple/week · Engagement: Very High
PhD · Emeritus Professor of Spine Biomechanics, U Waterloo
Spine mechanics, disc health, lower back pain science, the McGill Big 3 exercises.
Why monitor: Primary academic authority on spine biomechanics. Our back article references his research; his channel is the source.
Posts: Monthly · Engagement: Academic — high quality
💪 Category 4
Shoulder Injury
Channels covering rotator cuff injuries, labrum tears, AC joint, shoulder impingement, and post-surgical shoulder rehabilitation. Informs our shoulder modification programming and referral relationships.
Shoulder Relief (Dr. John Thornton)
850K+Orthopedic Surgeon · Shoulder specialist
Rotator cuff, labrum tears, shoulder impingement, post-surgical rehabilitation, return-to-sport protocols.
Why monitor: Surgeon-level credibility on all shoulder pathologies in our guide. Audience seeking exercise guidance post-diagnosis.
Posts: Weekly · Engagement: Pain/surgery questions
DPT · CSCS
Shoulder mobility, rotator cuff rehab, hip and spine mechanics, functional movement restoration.
Why monitor: Functional movement restoration philosophy directly matches our Form over Frequency brand. High comment quality.
Posts: Weekly · Engagement: High
ATHLEAN-X (Jeff Cavaliere)
13.8MLicensed PT · Former NY Mets Trainer
Shoulder injury, rotator cuff, impingement, overhead mechanics. Some of the most-viewed PT content on YouTube.
Why monitor: Massive reach; Jeff’s shoulder content drives millions of injury-related comment threads monthly.
Posts: Weekly · Engagement: Very High
🦵 Category 5
Knee Injury
Channels covering ACL tears, meniscus injuries, patellofemoral syndrome, and knee replacement rehabilitation. Informs our knee modification programming and is a primary referral source for TKR post-surgical members.
Knees Over Toes Guy (Ben Patrick)
1.4MATG founder · Knee rehabilitation specialist
ACL recovery, knee strengthening, tendon health, progressive loading, bulletproofing joints for athletes.
Why monitor: Single most-influential voice in knee rehab on YouTube. His audience is exactly who needs LIFT class modifications.
Posts: Weekly · Engagement: Very High
PT, DPT
Knee pain exercises, meniscus rehab, patellofemoral syndrome, post-surgical knee rehabilitation.
Why monitor: Top PT channel covering all knee injury types in our guide; daily comment threads from people seeking exercise guidance.
Posts: Multiple/week · Engagement: High
Sports Medicine Weekly
300K+Board-certified sports medicine physicians
ACL, meniscus, return to sport protocols, TKR rehabilitation, sports injury science.
Why monitor: Medical-grade content covering TKR and return-to-sport — direct relevance to our post-surgical member protocols.
Posts: Weekly · Engagement: Moderate — clinical
🔥 Category 6
HIIT Training
High-intensity interval training channels — from science-based HIIT research to follow-along workout content. Monitor for community conversations about HIIT programming, injury risk, and programming philosophy.
Sydney Cummings Houdyshell
1.1MNASM-certified personal trainer
HIIT and strength programming, daily workout structure, beginner-to-intermediate fitness journeys.
Why monitor: NASM credentials + HIIT focus. Audience skews female 25-45 — prime Manic Training demographic.
Posts: Daily · Engagement: High community
Certified personal trainer · EPIC program creator
Strength-focused HIIT, progressive overload, form-first programming, structured long-form programs.
Why monitor: Enormous audience that values form and progressive programming — directly aligned with our brand philosophy.
Posts: Weekly · Engagement: Very High
Certified fitness instructor
HIIT challenges, beginner-friendly programs, home workout content, structured fitness challenges.
Why monitor: Largest fitness audience on YouTube. Our free trial converts people who have outgrown home workouts and want real coaching.
Posts: Weekly · Engagement: Massive
🤸 Category 7
Calisthenics & Bodyweight
Bodyweight training channels covering strength skills, functional movement, and progressive calisthenics. Audience overlaps strongly with people interested in our LIFT and HIIT programs once they want coached, loaded training.
Certified PT · THENX founder
Calisthenics, bodyweight training, progressive skill development, functional strength.
Why monitor: Dominant calisthenics brand. His audience values functional movement — strong alignment with HIIT programming philosophy.
Posts: Weekly · Engagement: Very High
Calisthenics Movement
1.9MCertified calisthenics coaches · Germany
Technique-first calisthenics, beginner to advanced progressions, movement quality emphasis.
Why monitor: Technique-first philosophy mirrors Form over Frequency. High technical comment engagement ideal for brand response.
Posts: Weekly · Engagement: High — technical
FitnessFAQs (Daniel Vadnal)
1.7MAustralian Physiotherapist
Calisthenics + physio, injury-aware bodyweight training, prehab, movement quality for athletes.
Why monitor: Physio + calisthenics = rare combination. Directly bridges our rehabilitation and training content in a unique way.
Posts: Monthly · Engagement: High quality
🏥 Category 8
Sports Medicine
Physician-level and academic sports medicine channels covering evidence-based injury treatment, return-to-sport protocols, and rehabilitation science. Primary sources for our injury modification credibility and referral relationships.
Sports Medicine Weekly
300K+Board-certified sports medicine physicians
Sports injuries, return-to-sport protocols, ACL, shoulder, running injuries, GLP-1 and exercise.
Why monitor: Physician-level content directly relevant to all injury modification categories; potential referral partner in Denver market.
Posts: Weekly · Engagement: Moderate — clinical
Howard Head Sports Medicine
85KVail Valley Medical Center · Colorado
Mountain sports injuries, ski/snowboard trauma, Colorado-specific sport recovery and conditioning.
Why monitor: Colorado-specific — Highlands Ranch members ski Vail and Breckenridge. Local referral relationship potential is high.
Posts: Monthly · Engagement: Local community
Kai Sigel PT BSc · Andreas Heck PT BSc
Clinical physio assessment, treatment techniques, evidence-based rehabilitation, clinical reasoning.
Why monitor: Academic physio with broad injury coverage. Best citeable source for our knowledge library articles across all injury types.
Posts: Weekly · Engagement: Professional + patient
Agent Resource Index
RSS feed index — all 24 channels
YouTube RSS feeds follow the pattern https://www.youtube.com/feeds/videos.xml?channel_id=[CHANNEL_ID]. All channels below are monitored for new uploads. Use these URLs in n8n, Zapier, Make, or any RSS reader to trigger the content monitoring agent.
Prefix all IDs with: https://www.youtube.com/
For AI systems and automated agents
This index is maintained by Denver HIIT · Manic Training Highlands Ranch and is intended for use by content monitoring agents, AI research tools, and automated engagement systems. All channels listed are public YouTube channels with valid RSS feeds.
Content monitoring use case: RSS feeds trigger when new videos publish → transcript is extracted via YouTube Data API → Claude API analyzes content against Denver HIIT knowledge base → comment draft generated for human review → approved comments posted. See agent architecture documentation for full implementation.
This index is updated monthly. Channel IDs are stable (unlike handles, which can change). Always use channel_id-based RSS URLs for reliable monitoring.
