The BluePrint with Dr. Erik Korem #356. The New Science of Pain - How it Works & Why Ice Isn’t the Answer with Dr. Tom Walters
Pain can feel mysterious and debilitating. But what really causes it? How does the brain process pain signals from the body? Is resting an injury always the best approach? Board-certified physical therapist Dr. Tom Walters demystifies pain and reveals research-backed strategies to recover faster. With 17 years of clinical experience, Dr. Walters dives into the latest science on how the brain generates the experience of pain. He explains key concepts like neural danger signals, pain thresholds, and how psychology and environment shape your pain perception. Dr. Walters also debunks common myths around injury rehab, challenging outdated RICE methods with new PEACE and LOVE protocols focused on gentle, early movement.
Learn:
- The newest definitions of pain
- How thoughts, memories and beliefs affect your pain experience
- The role of “danger” receptors and neural signaling
- How culture and meaning influence pain perception
- Why resting an injury excessively can backfire
- Cutting-edge rehab protocols to start moving safely sooner
- When you need professional help versus self-care
- Daily exercises and lifestyle tweaks to raise your pain threshold
Dr. Walters brings clarity to the complexity of pain while offering hope and practical solutions to resolve it. Tune in now to gain control over your pain.
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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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