Undergoing surgery is never a fun process, but one that's (unfortunately) often necessary. And while the miracle of modern medicine has seen profound advancements in surgical techniques and outcomes over the previous decades, surgery in itself creates a new injury for the body to recover from.

And if you want the best outcomes possible, there will be work that needs to be done on your part—before AND after—surgery to help give your body the best chance possible of regaining maximal amounts of health and function.

Which is why this episode covers all sorts of information pertaining to the ways you can prepare your body before surgery and what to know and expect for surgery itself, along with steps to take after surgery has been performed.

Because, let's face it: if you are going to go through a surgical procedure, it's worth implementing and following through on a few basic steps and actions that help reduce risk of surgical complications, optimize healing recovery rates, and limit the risk of surgical failure.

As always, everything discussed in this episode is for informational purposes only; if you are planning to undergo surgery or any other medical procedure, consult with your doctor or other qualified healthcare professional to receive medical insight pertaining to you.

EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS:

0:00 - Intro

8:10 - The big problem to solve & the big takeaway

11:02 - The context of this episode

13:40 - Some surgical statistics

16:27 - Essential education for undergoing surgery

26:18 - Timelines for surgical recovery

32:04 - Factors affecting surgical recovery rates

36:34 - Pre-surgical steps to take for better outcomes

44:18 - Nutritional intake for better healing

50:29 - Pre-surgical strengthening

55:50 - Preventing surgical complications

59:59 - Post-operative strengthening exercises

1:03:59 - Understanding phases of recovery

1:07:57 - Post-operative specific strengthening exercises

1:11:42 - The importance of ongoing maintenance

1:14:15 - Key takeaways from this episode

1:16:29 - A small request to make the world stronger & healthier

Everyone loves a good comeback story! Telling stories is an activity woven into the fabric of humanity and is how humans have been connecting with one another for millennia. Stories inspire us, comfort us, empower us, and help us to bring out a side of us we might not otherwise know exist. Every story is one filled with a problem or a lesson, and is therefore a chance for teaching, discovery, and the opportunity to enhance some aspect of our own life or the lives of others.

And so when it comes to physical pain, injuries, and other disabling conditions, there exists the potential for a story to be told; a story about why we felt it necessary to battle against what we were or are currently up against. And when we choose to craft our own comeback story, not only can we enhance our own life situation, but we can simultaneously enhance the lives of anyone around us who chooses to observe or listen to our story.

So if you want to learn a bit more about why everyone loves a good comeback story and some ideas of how to start creating your own comeback story, give this episode a listen!

EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS:

0:00 - Intro

6:31 - The problem to solve & main takeaway

10:19 - The power of a good story

17:36 - The story of Superman

22:04 - The story of Aron Ralston: Stuck between a rock and a hard place

28:50 - Do NOT discount your story!

32:18 - Why we're drawn to the underdog

36:48 - How do we start writing & living out our comeback story?

41:39 - Idea 1: Tell your story by living it

43:37 - Idea 2: Be motivated by love and not by fear

46:58 - Idea 3: Know where to direct your energy

49:05 - Idea 4: Make inner peace your outer strength

51:25 - Key takeaways of this episode

53:57 - A small request

We all know that physical therapy is the place you go when you're injured or something has gone wrong with your body. But did you know that you can also go to physical therapy as a means to prevent injuries and issues from arising?

Just like going to your family physician for a check up, or your local optometrist for an annual eye exam, you can also go to physical therapy to get a "check up" on how your body is physically moving and performing.

As the old saying goes, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. And when it comes to maintaining overall physical health (particularly with your ability to move), one of the best ways to do so is to determine how you're moving and performing before any symptoms arise.

Pretty much everyone has various forms of movement dysfunction that they aren't aware of; these dysfunctions don't have to be symptomatic. The problem is, they tend to slowly build up until one day there's the proverbial straw that breaks the camel's back.

So, if you're interested in how going to get a physical therapy assessment—before an issue arises—can benefit you, then you're in the right spot. This episode breaks down the world around the life-enhancing benefits (and even sports performance benefits) we can obtain when we choose to make an investment into our physical movement abilities before issues even arise!

EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS:

0:00 - Intro

9:27 - The problem to solve & the big takeaway

12:28 - Movement Dysfunction is everywhere

19:44 - Healthcare vs sick care

12:38 - The traditional reactive mindset of physical therapy

22:58 - The proactive mindset of physical therapy

24:20 - The benefits of proactive physical therapy

29:34 - Prevention & performance for athletes

33:01 - Investments vs expenses with proactive approaches

36:10 - Using a multi-collaborative approach on your journey

40:33 - The road trip analogy

42:18 - How does proactive assessment work?

46:38 - Proactive assessment examples

49:26 - Examples of movement screening

53:26 - Gait analysis examples

57:35 - Finding a professional to help you be proactive

58:53 - Key takeaways

1:00:25 - Final thoughts & a small request