Pain vs. Injury, Muscle After 40 & the Truth About TRT | Judd Lienhard Q&A

Training pain vs. injury. Building muscle after 40. TRT. Mobility. HRV. Explosiveness as you age.

In this Q&A episode of The Judd Lienhard Podcast, Judd answers some of the most common (and most misunderstood) questions around training, recovery, and performance after 40.

If you’ve ever questioned whether you should push through discomfort or back off, or wondered how aging actually affects strength, power, and recovery, this episode is for you.

Judd breaks down how to distinguish normal training pain from real injury signals, why loss of power and strength inhibition are red flags you shouldn’t ignore, and how most injuries build slowly long before something “goes wrong.” He explains how smarter training adjustments help you continue progressing instead of ending up sidelined.

The conversation also covers muscle growth after 40, explosiveness and power development, mobility versus flexibility, HRV and wearable data, and an honest discussion on testosterone, TRT, and hormone optimization.

This episode is for anyone who wants to train hard, stay athletic, and make smarter decisions as they get older, without wrecking their body in the process.

Episode Chapters / Timestamps

00:00 Training Pain vs. Injury — When to Push or Shut It Down
03:54 Building Muscle After 40 — What Actually Changes
06:30 Early Warning Signs That Lead to Major Injuries
07:45 Can You Still Build Explosiveness After 40?
09:40 Power vs. Strength vs. Endurance as You Age
11:15 Dead-Stop Training & Ballistic Movements
13:05 HRV, Sleep & Wearable Data
15:47 Mobility vs. Flexibility
20:15 Testosterone, TRT & Hormone Optimization
26:30 Natural Ways to Optimize Testosterone
30:10 Estrogen, Mood, Sleep & Performance

About the Show

The Judd Lienhard Podcast focuses on strength, discipline, and athletic development for real life. Hosted by performance coach and former Army Ranger Judd Lienhard, the show breaks down training, mindset, and performance.

New episodes drop on Tuesdays. Q&A episodes drop on Thursdays.

Follow Judd Lienhard:
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📺 YouTube: youtube.com/@juddlienhard  

Train with Judd: juddlienhard.com

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The Judd Lienhard Podcast delivers unfiltered conversations with elite athletes, military leaders, and top coaches, exploring performance, mindset, and resilience. From NFL vets to Special Forces operators, each episode is packed with real-world lessons on training, leadership, and pushing limits.

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