The Strength Coach Podcast

Overcoming Pain and Rehab Science with Dr. Tom Walters

June 13, 2026·55 min
Episode Description from the Publisher

Stop fearing pain and start understanding how your brain processes injury. In this episode, Dr. Tom Walters joins the Strength Coach Podcast to break down the complex world of modern pain science and how to help clients move from hurt to healed. Dr. Walters explains why the old postural-structural-biomechanical model is often outdated and why the biopsychosocial approach is the gold standard for modern rehab.BROUGHT TO YOU BY PERFORMBETTER.COM Check out the upcoming Functional Training Summits in Chicago, Long Beach, and ProvidenceBring your whole team for $849 or “Bring a Friend for Free” deal at https://www.PerformBetter.com We dive deep into the phenomenon of phantom limb pain, the role of neuroplasticity in desensitizing the nervous system, and the importance of using positive language with clients. Whether you are a strength coach, personal trainer, or physical therapist, you will learn how to navigate the three phases of healing, inflammatory, maturation, and remodeling, to build resilient athletes. Dr. Walters also shares his insights on why there is no such thing as a bad movement, only a lack of capacity, and how to use graded exposure to help clients regain their confidence.KEY TOPICS INCLUDE:-Why pain does not always mean tissue damage-How to use graded exposure to overcome fear of movement-The impact of sleep, stress, and social connection on recovery-Programming for low back pain across three distinct phases-Moving away from the corrective exercise trapFor more info:Rehab Science book:https://rehabscience.com/book/Dr. Tom Walters on YouTube (1.11M Subscribers)https://www.youtube.com/@RehabScienceDr. Tom Walters on Instagram (1.7M Followers)https://www.instagram.com/rehabscience/Dr. Tom Walters' Website - Rehab Science https://rehabscience.com/CHAPTERS:0:00 Intro and the Nuance of Pain Science2:15 Sponsor Message: Perform Better5:10 Meet Dr. Tom Walters of Rehab Science8:45 The Evolution of Modern Pain Science12:20 Understanding Pain as a Brain Output15:55 Biopsychosocial vs Biomechanical Models19:30 The Role of Psychology in Recovery23:10 Building Trust and Adherence with Patients27:45 Neuroplasticity and Desensitizing Pain31:20 Graded Exposure Techniques for Trainers35:40 Movement Variability and Posture Myths39:50 The Three Phases of Tissue Healing44:15 Practical Rehab for Low Back Pain48:30 Debunking the Idea of Bad Movements52:10 Empowering Clients through Education55:09 Video EndIf you found this helpful, please like the video and subscribe for more interviews with top fitness experts. Check out the Rehab Science book series for step-by-step protocols on over 50 common injuries. https://rehabscience.com/book/

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