Summary

Dr. Tom Walters, a board-certified orthopedic physical therapist and the founder of Rehab Science, returns to talk through two of the most common complaints after 40: knee pain and back pain. We get into why rest alone rarely fixes either one, how cartilage actually gets its nutrients through movement, and how to tell a tendon problem from something deeper in the joint. Tom explains load management, the real reason most aches show up without a specific injury, walks through the red flags that mean you should see someone for back pain, and covers how stress and sleep feed into chronic pain. He also shares his three tactics for staying well: social support, exercise, and sleep.

Key Point Timestamps

05:01 The Rehab Science book series and why it was split by body region 07:09 Why knee and back pain are so common after 40 10:05 Telling a tendon problem from a cartilage problem 13:40 Managing flare-ups with rest, heel slides, and gentle mobility 16:17 Load management: why most pain is too much too soon, or too little 19:29 Red flags in back pain that mean see a professional 24:19 Chronic pain, nociplastic pain, and neuroplasticity 26:39 How stress can trigger and sustain back pain 29:51 Nerve pain and sciatica, and how treatment differs 32:47 Sleep, social support, and exercise for staying well

Links

Dr. Tom Walters / Rehab Science:

Website: https://rehabscience.com
Instagram: @rehabscience (https://www.instagram.com/rehabscience/)
YouTube: search "Rehab Science"
Books: the Rehab Science series, on Amazon and Barnes & Noble
Rehab Science app (rehab programs by body region)

Coach Allan / 40+ Fitness:

Daily wellness tips newsletter: https://40plusfitness.com/tips