Hi friends,

We all know the feeling. When pain strikes, we desperately search for that "silver bullet" solution. The fitness and rehab industries are full of trendy treatments promising quick fixes, leading us to hop from one solution to another when they inevitably fall short.

Every year, there seems to be a different gimmick to “cure your pain.” But the fix is rarely so simple.

Here are some things that I see many people using, but don’t actually solve the underlying issue:

• Cupping therapy

• Ultrasound

• Ice/cold therapy

• KT tape

• TENS (Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation) for chronic pain

These methods might offer temporary relief, but they rarely address the root cause of your pain.

I won’t deny that I use some of these techniques, but not regularly. For example, I may use KT tape on someone’s knee if it allows them to do more exercise with less pain, but I make the patient aware that the tape is not a magical solution to their pain.

So what actually works? Here are some of the methods I use to help my patients achieve lasting results:

• Joint mobilization/manipulation to improve mobility

• Movement correction

• Pain education

• Progressive resistance training

• Load management

These approaches consistently help my patients improve because they address the underlying causes of pain and dysfunction.

The most skilled physical therapists understand this principle. While passive treatments might temporarily mask pain, true healing comes from correcting movement patterns and gradually building strength through proper form.

As legendary folk singer Woody Guthrie said, "Any fool can make something complicated. It takes a genius to make it simple.”

The key to lasting pain relief isn't finding the next trending treatment—it's identifying and addressing the root cause of your pain. Let's stop chasing quick fixes and focus on what works: proper movement, progressive loading, and patient education.

Until next week,

Kevin

✍️ Quote I’m reflecting upon

“When we have accepted the worst, we have nothing more to lose.”

— Dale Carnegie, How to Stop Worrying & Start Living

❤️ Things I’m enjoying

1. Book I’m revisiting - How to Stop Worrying & Start Living by Dale Carnegie. This is arguably one of the most useful books I’ve ever read. It uses many principles from the Stoic philosophy and gives practical tools to manage worries. I frequently come back to it whenever I find myself anxious about a situation or problem in life.

2. Running shoes - Brooks Launch 11.

3. Song - “Tangerine Skies” by Declan J Donovan. If you need a pick-me-up, give this song a listen.