Are You Destroying Your Knees?
Why the fear of arthritis might be worse than running itself.

Episode Summary:
"Doc, I had to stop running. My knees are shot." If you've ever heard—or said—those words, this episode is for you. Today, Dr. Fred Bagares dismantles one of the most persistent myths in musculoskeletal medicine: that running ruins your knees. Spoiler: It doesn't. In fact, giving it up might be what’s really causing the damage.

We’ll explore real patient stories, misinterpreted imaging findings, misunderstood pain patterns, and the surprising science behind cartilage health. This one’s not just for runners—it’s for anyone who’s been scared into giving up movement they love.

Timestamps:

[00:00:00] – "My knees are shot." — The myth that won’t die
[00:01:00] – Call to action: If you find this show helpful, please subscribe
[00:02:00] – Sarah's story: When stopping running made things worse
[00:03:00] – Exam findings: Normal aging ≠ joint destruction
[00:04:00] – The science: Running may protect, not destroy cartilage
[00:05:00] – What really causes joint degeneration? (Hint: it's not the running)
[00:06:00] – Real culprits: Poor mechanics, inactivity, fear-based advice
[00:07:00] – Reframing arthritis: Normal, not necessarily pathological
[00:08:00] – Training smarter: Mechanics > mileage
[00:09:00] – Strength and shock absorption: Your cartilage's best friends
[00:10:00] – Strategic recovery: When rest builds resilience
[00:11:00] – Sarah’s comeback: 53 years old and running strong
[00:12:00] – The bigger danger: Fear of damage vs. real health loss

What if the bigger risk isn't running... but giving up on it too soon? Don’t let outdated beliefs rob you of strength, joy, or vitality. Movement is medicine. Cartilage is living tissue. And you don’t have to choose between your knees and your life.

If this episode challenged your assumptions, helped you reframe your rehab journey, or gave you a new lens for working with your patients—please subscribe. It’s free, takes a second, and helps this show reach more people who need to hear this message. And if you’re a runner struggling with pain, don’t wait. Book a clarity visit at www.fredbagares.com and let’s build a smarter path forward.

Support the show

Here's the humanized version with timestamps:

Ever heard this one? "Doc, can you fix my shoulder so I can get back to tearing it apart?"

That's exactly what Bugs asked me last month. He wasn't joking.

Bugs' a 43-year-old software guy who lives for Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Second shoulder injury in 18 months. Same story: did his PT, felt better, went right back to training five days a week, and... here we are again.

But here's the thing – Bugs didn't want rehab. He wanted permission to keep doing exactly what broke him in the first place.

Sound familiar?

This episode is about that messy space between wanting to get better and being terrified of changing who you are. Because for a lot of us, how we train isn't just what we do – it's who we are.

Timestamps: [00:00] The question that stopped me cold: "Can you fix my shoulder so I can get back to tearing it apart?" [01:00] Why most recurring injuries aren't really about the tissue [02:00] Meet Bugs: 43, software engineer, BJJ competitor, and repeat shoulder injury victim [03:00] The hard truth – most people don't want rehab, they want a reset button [04:00] When your sport becomes your identity (and why that's dangerous) [05:00] The shift: from surviving training to actually getting better at it [06:00] How Bugs learned to measure progress by how he felt, not how often he trained [07:00] Why volume and intensity are tools, not goals [08:00] My own wake-up call at 40 – when I had to choose between ego and longevity [09:00] The paradox of loving something that's slowly breaking you [10:00] Quality over quantity: what "training smart" actually looks like [11:00] Final thoughts: Let's stop fixing people just so they can break themselves again

The real question isn't "Can you fix me?" It's "What am I willing to change?"

If you've ever felt stuck between loving your sport and feeling like it's slowly destroying you, this one's for you.

Got your own "fix me so I can break myself again" story? I want to hear it. Seriously. Message me – I read every single one.

And if this hits home, share it with that friend who's always training through pain because they think recovery is for the weak.

Thanks for listening to Talking Rehab. Sometimes the strongest thing you can do is the smartest thing you can do.

Support the show

🎙️ Episode 65 – What is 5% Better?

Podcast: Talking Rehab with Dr. Fred Bagares
Length: ~13 minutes

Description:
When a patient tells you they're “only 5% better,” what do you do with that? For some, it sounds like failure. But for rehab clinicians, that 5% could be the spark that changes everything.

In this episode of Talking Rehab, Dr. Fred Bagares unpacks the deeper meaning behind small gains, the psychology of progress, and how pain may not be the best marker for recovery. From subtle shifts to signs of momentum, he explores why tracking real-world wins—not just pain scores—might be the key to helping patients rebuild not just function, but identity.

⏱️ Timestamps + Episode Guide

[00:00:00] What is rehab? + Podcast intro
[00:01:00] The patient story: a limp, an injection, and a vague “5% better”
[00:02:00] What 5% really means in clinical decision-making
[00:03:00] Pain is noisy—why it's not always the best indicator of progress
[00:04:00] External influences on pain perception (sleep, stress, weather)
[00:05:00] Subtle signs of recovery: function, not just pain
[00:06:00] Rehab momentum: how sleep can signal real improvement
[00:07:00] Reframing recovery: repetition, trust, and invisible milestones
[00:08:00] 5% as a turning point, not a finish line
[00:09:00] Why great clinicians dig deeper into small wins
[00:10:00] Tracking the right metrics: ease, motion, movement by choice
[00:11:00] Coaching better reflection: "What felt easier this week?"
[00:12:00] Identity and recovery: why 5% might mean “I’m still in there”
[00:13:00] Wrap-up: honoring the small wins and building from them

🧠 Key Takeaway:
5% isn’t failure. It’s data. It’s a signal. It’s the start of a comeback.

💬 Question for You:
What would 10% better look like in your life?

🔁 If this episode resonated, please share it with a colleague or patient who’s struggling with slow progress. Let’s reframe recovery—one small win at a time.

Support the show