Healthy Wealthy & Smart 300: Ben Cormack, PT: Exercise & Pain Science
On this episode of the Healthy Wealthy and Smart Podcast, I had the pleasure of welcoming Ben Cormack onto the show to discuss exercise and pain science. Ben Cormack owns and runs cor-Kinetic. Cor-kinetic provides educational courses based on modern movement and pain sciences within a strong evidence based framework. They have delivered courses in Europe, Asia, USA and South America and present regularly at national and specialist subject conferences around the world.
In this episode, we discuss:
-How exercise influences pain
-Keeping healthcare more patient-centered with exercise optionality
-How to communicate pain science both verbally and experientially
-The Five A’s of Exercise Adherence
-And so much more!
People seek out healthcare providers because, “People are always looking for a rational or an answer to their problem.” The research evidence doesn’t support biomechanical explanations of pain, however with pain science, Ben finds, “We can give people a rationale, we can give them an answer but it doesn’t have to be a definitive answer that says it’s this or it’s that.”
Chronic pain can lead to a feeling of helplessness, but by better explaining what pain is and promoting activity therapists can convey to patients that, “The body is always changing according to what we do which is in a way empowering for people because they are gaining control of that change.” Ben reveals that for successful pain management, “It’s the process, not the destination.”
Exercise prescription is a powerful tool for pain management. The current evidence suggests, “The specifics really don’t matter that much but actually doing it does.” As a provider, Ben has found his role has evolved in that, “It’s much more about facilitating people to do things themselves.” In summary, Ben stresses, “Pain science is understanding people. Movement and exercise are basic tenants of being a human being.”
For more information on Ben:
Ben Cormack owns and runs cor-Kinetic. Cor-kinetic provides educational courses based on modern movement and pain sciences within a strong evidence based framework. They have delivered courses in Europe, Asia, USA and South America and present regularly at national and specialist subject conferences around the world.
Ben is a musculoskeletal therapist with a clinical, rehabilitation & exercise background stretching back 15 years. He specializes in a movement & exercise based approach with a strong education component and patient centered focus.
Resources discussed on this show:
Mishel 1981: The measurement of uncertainty in illness
Darlow et al 2013: The enduring impact of what clinicians say to people with low back pain
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Have a great week and stay Healthy Wealthy and Smart!
Xo Karen