The Injury Doom Loop: Why You Keep Getting Hurt (and How to Break Out)

Most active adults don’t break down because of one bad workout or a single unlucky twist — they get trapped in a doom loop, a cycle where tissue capacity slowly drops below daily intensity. Once that flip happens, even “normal life” keeps making things worse.

In this episode, Craig & Alex break down how the doom loop forms, the subtle signs you’re in it, and—most importantly—how to get out before your world shrinks into compensations, bracing, KT tape, and frustration.

You’ll learn:

• Why high performers are more likely to fall into the doom loop

• How tissue, physical, and energy capacity interact

• The hidden triggers you’re missing every day

• Why treatments alone don’t get you out

• The role of the therapeutic gap in escaping the spiral

• The biggest mistakes that keep people stuck for months (or years)

If you’ve felt like you’re doing less and less but hurting more and more, this episode is your roadmap out.

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Welcome to Past Your Prime – the podcast for active adults balancing training, rehab, family, and real life.

Each episode, hosts Craig Smith (PT & coach) and Alex Keicher (pro athlete & busy dad) unpack real-world strategies for overcoming injuries, staying strong, and living pain-free—even when life gets chaotic.

💡 Learn more, access resources, and join our community:👉 ⁠⁠⁠pastyourprime.com⁠⁠⁠

Follow us on Instagram:

📲 Alex – ⁠⁠⁠@spikerkeicher

⁠⁠⁠📲 Craig – ⁠⁠⁠@craigsmithPT⁠