Chronic Pain: Rethinking Solutions in Fitness and Healthcare

In this episode of the Active Life Podcast, the discussion centers around chronic pain, a problem that impacts over 20% of the population. Dr. Sean delves into the gaps in the current healthcare and fitness approaches to chronic pain, highlighting how standard interventions often fall short. The hosts explore the biopsychosocial model as a more holistic way to approach client issues and emphasize the importance of addressing lifestyle, emotional health, and social factors alongside physical recovery.

The conversation also touches on how the fitness industry is often unequipped to handle chronic pain, leading to ineffective “work around” solutions that fail to address the root cause. Dr. Sean shares insights on the limitations of traditional treatments like cortisone injections and gel shots and explains how trainers can better support their clients without stepping outside their scope of practice. The episode concludes with actionable advice on crafting meaningful conversations with clients and the need for specialization to truly resolve chronic pain.