The BluePrint with Dr. Erik Korem #362. Stopping Low Back Pain with Movement & Mindset with Dr. Tom Walters
Low back pain plagues over 80% of people at some point. But what causes it and how do you make it go away? Physical therapist Dr. Tom Walters demystifies low back pain, revealing the latest research on effective treatment approaches. With over 13 years of clinical experience, Dr. Walters explains that most low back pain lacks a clear structural source. MRIs often show issues like disc degeneration in asymptomatic people too. This highlights the complex biopsychosocial nature of pain. So treatment must address the whole person. Dr. Walters shares how movement, exercise, manual therapy, sleep, nutrition and mindset all play key roles. While exercise works, starting gently under guidance is best when symptoms are acute. He also details how psychological approaches like acceptance commitment therapy help patients face pain actively versus run from it.
Learn:
- Why most cases of low back pain are “nonspecific” without clear anatomical cause
- How MRIs correlate poorly to symptoms and function
- The overall treatment philosophy for both acute and chronic back pain
- The types of exercise and movement therapies with the strongest evidence
- The role of manual therapy like massage and mobilization
- How sleep, nutrition and stress affect back pain
- The mindset shifts that help patients confront versus avoid pain
Dr. Walters provides clarity and hope in the maze of low back pain treatments. Tune in now for science-based solutions to start feeling better from this pervasive problem.
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Quotable moments:
"The pool is such a wonderful equalizer for that." - Lauren Murphy
"And then we get to give you some tools to deal with that and to deal with that stress." - Lauren Murphy
"Stress is stress, and learning to deal with it is just an invaluable tool." -Lauren Murphy
"I thought my stress was so unique...you're right. Stress is stress." - Lauren Murphy
"We can definitely engineer stress that feels like the stress you're going to experience in whatever situation you're in, no matter what sport you're in." - Lauren Murphy
ABOUT THE BLUEPRINT PODCAST:
The BluePrint Podcast is for busy professionals and Household CEOs who care deeply about their families, career, and health. Host Dr. Erik Korem distills cutting edge-science, leadership, and life skills into simple tactics optimized for your busy lifestyle and goals. Dr. Korem interviews scientists, coaches, elite athletes, entrepreneurs, entertainers, and exceptional people to discuss science and practical skills you can implement to become the most healthy, resilient, and impactful version of yourself.
On a mission to equip people to pursue audacious goals, thrive in uncertainty, and live a healthy and fulfilled life, Dr. Erik Korem is a High-Performance pioneer. He introduced sports science and athlete-tracking technologies to collegiate and professional (NFL) football over a decade ago. He has worked with the National Football League, Power-5 NCAA programs, gold-medal Olympians, Nike, and the United States Department of Defense.
Erik is an expert in sleep and stress resilience. He is the Founder and CEO of AIM7, a health and fitness app that unlocks the power of wearables by providing you with daily personalized recommendations to enhance your mind, body, and recovery.
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