Lift Free And Diet Hard with Andrew Coates #392 Dr. Katie Dabrowski - The Pathway Out of Pain
Aug 21, 2025
Dr. Katie Dabrowski, a Doctor of Physical Therapy and Strength Coach, discusses the fascinating intersection of psychology and strength training. She emphasizes overcoming the fear of pain when returning to lifting and reframes injuries as growth opportunities. Katie shares insights on psychological resilience, the importance of personalized rehab strategies, and why strength training is key to managing pain. She also debunks the myth that thinking alone can alleviate pain, advocating for a proactive and integrated approach to recovery.
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Start With A Tolerable Entry Point
- Reintroduce feared movements at a tolerable dose to decrease fear and retrain the brain.
- Find a day-one entry point that looks like the goal activity and build from there.
Preserve Training To Protect Capacity
- Keep training elements that the injured person can still do to preserve capacity and mental health.
- Use upper-body or unaffected-limb goals to maintain habit and boost resilience.
Mindset Helps But Pain Isn't 'All In Your Head'
- Mindset helps manage pain but pain isn't