The Robbie Bourke Podcast Episode 212: Greg Lehman - Pain Science
In this engaging conversation, Greg Lehman, a physiotherapist, chiropractor, and strength coach, shares his journey through various health professions. He discusses redefining pain as a response to threat, and emphasizes the importance of language in rehabilitation. Greg explores evolutionary perspectives in therapy and highlights the necessity of movement variability. He also reflects on the role of lifestyle factors like sleep and nutrition in pain management, while questioning the mechanical explanations behind manual therapy. Throughout, he offers practical advice and insights into personal growth.
01:21:34
Early Research Surprise On Core Activation
- Greg described his early research with McGill and student athletes studying core activity.
- They found heavy lifts did not produce expected abdominal EMG compared to sit-ups.
Why He Went Back To Physio
- Greg returned to physiotherapy after chiropractic practice because physio opened more career doors in Canada.
- He grew tired of defending chiropractic and wanted broader opportunities like prosthetics and cardiac rehab.
Practical Pain Science Over Neuroscience Rabbit Holes
- Greg Lehman focuses on applying pain science practically rather than diving into molecular neuroscience.
- He treats pain as an actionable, context-dependent phenomenon clinicians can use to help patients regain function.
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Intro
00:00 • 5min
Greg's background and training path
05:01 • 1min
Early research projects and core findings
06:13 • 4min
Why Greg returned to physiotherapy
10:17 • 2min
What drew Greg to rehab and biomechanics
12:13 • 2min
Influential researchers and papers
14:16 • 5min
Defining pain for clinical practice
18:58 • 1min
Key pain messages and recovery strategies
20:12 • 1min
Using evolution as a rehabilitation metaphor
21:33 • 3min
Addressing patients who self-identify with pain
24:53 • 3min
Assessment: biopsychosocial history and drivers
27:50 • 4min
When to refer or co-manage
32:18 • 3min
Long-term consultancy and rehab timelines
34:51 • 3min
Pain definition and clinical implications
37:55 • 2min
Posture: myths and practical advice
39:57 • 4min
Sitting, movement and preserving function
43:40 • 6min
Language and therapeutic framing
49:13 • 2min
Lifestyle factors as 'cup fillers'
51:15 • 2min
Manual therapy as a pain reliever
52:58 • 3min
Mechanisms of hands-on treatment questioned
56:00 • 5min
Matching interventions to patient change
01:00:44 • 7min
Humility and openness in practice
01:07:21 • 49sec
Greg's learning approach
01:08:10 • 1min
Life advice and priorities
01:09:31 • 31sec
Books, reading and travel habits
01:10:03 • 2min
Daily routines and essential habits
01:12:08 • 1min
Jet lag strategies and sleep
01:13:28 • 1min
How Greg would spend a final year
01:14:54 • 46sec
Who he'd invite to dinner
01:15:40 • 3min
Upcoming seminars and contacts
01:18:35 • 2min
Outro
01:20:22 • 35sec
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Muscles: Testing and Function, with Posture and Pain
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In 'Endure,' Alex Hutchinson delves into the science and psychology of human endurance, highlighting the complex interplay between the mind and body.
The book discusses various physical limits such as pain, muscle, oxygen, heat, thirst, and fuel, and how these are influenced by psychological factors.
Hutchinson draws on his experiences as a distance runner and his access to Nike’s secret training project to break the two-hour marathon barrier, providing insights into how individuals can push beyond their perceived limits.
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This episodes guest is Greg Lehman.
Greg is a physiotherapist, chiropractor and strength and conditioning specialist treating musculoskeletal disorders within a biopsychosocial model.
Greg currently teaches two 2-day continuing education courses to health and fitness professionals through out the world. Reconciling Biomechanics with Pain Science and Running Resiliency have been taught more than 60 times in more than 40 locations world wide.
You can read Greg's full bio here.
On this episode Greg and I discuss:
- Greg's background
- Why Greg went back to physiotherapy school after becoming a chiropractor
- Greg's influences
- I ask Greg what is Pain?
- I ask Greg where an evolutionary perspective falls within his practice?
- I ask Greg how does he treat individuals who really self identify with their pain
- I ask Greg about his assessment and treatment process
- I ask Greg about health practitioners acting as long-term consultants
- I ask Greg for his definition of pain
- I ask Greg about his thoughts on posture
- I ask Greg about the use of language within rehabilitation
- I ask Greg about how much importance he puts on sleep, nutrition, and other lifestyle factors when dealing with pain?
- I ask Greg for his thoughts on manual therapy and its role within the rehab puzzle
- I ask Greg what are the biggest things he has learned in his life and career
- I ask Greg how he learns?
- I ask Greg for his top life advice
- I ask Greg for his top and current book recommendations
- I ask Greg if there is anything he does on a daily basis that is essential to his day and what a typical day looks like in his life?
- I ask Greg how he mitigates the detrimental impacts of all the travel he does?
- I ask Greg, if he only had one year left on planet earth, how would he spend that year and why?
- I ask Greg, if he could invite 5 people to dinner, dead and alive, who would he invite and why?
This was an outstanding episode and I hope you all enjoy it as much as we did!
Stay Strong,
RB
Show Notes:
Website - greglehman.ca
Twitter - @GregLehman
Podcasts Mentioned:
Resilient Performance Podcast with Dr. Greg Lehman
Videos Mentioned:
Muscles: Testing and Function, with Posture and Pain
Brandon Sanderson Books
Steven Erickson Books
Suggestible You
The Sports Gene
Endure
The Power of Habit
People and Resources Mentioned:
Paul Chek
David Nolan
Doug Kechijian
James Fitzgerald
Dr. Stuart McGill
Dan Pfaff
Stu McMillan
Karl Newells - Constraints Led Approach Model
Adam Meakins
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National Sports Performance Association
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Cerfitied Weightlifting Performance Coach
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Athletes Acceleration
Complete Warm Up
Complete Speed Training
Complete Speed Games
Complete Jumps Training
Complete Olympic Lifting
Complete Youth Training
Complete Guide to Training the Female Athlete
Complete Sports Conditioning
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