The Spine PT Podcast
Episodes
E88. How To Master Low Back Pain Rehab & Pattern Recognition
27 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
To learn more about The LBP Intensive™ Click Here-Most clinicians don’t miss patterns because they’re bad at exams.They miss them...
E87. Can Extension be an Injury Mechanism for a Lumbar Disc Herniation? | A Case Study Discussion
21 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
👉 Click Here to learn more about The LBP Intensive™ Most of us were taught that disc herniations are a flexion problem. E...
E86. How Do You Help a Patient with an Acute Lumbar Herniation in the Clinic? | A Case Study Discussion
13 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
👉 Click Here to learn more about The LBP Intensive™ Acute lumbar disc herniations create pressure fast, on the nerve root, the ...
E85. Spine Mobility & Segmentation: Why "Chasing Rotation" Keeps Back Pain Lingering
30 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
👉 Click Here to learn more about The LBP Intensive™ Most “stiff” spines don’t need more rotation. They need better sagittal plane con...
E84. A Critical "Cardio" Mistake PT Clinics Make When Rehabbing Back Pain
09 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The LBP Intensive program for PT clinics --> Click hereMost PTs still treat “cardio” like an optional add-on in rehab, but aerobic capacity is ...
E83. The Power of The Subjective Exam & Thoughtful Questions in Back Pain Rehab
02 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Click here to get "spark note" outlines for Spine PT episodes The longer you've been in practice the clearer it’s becomes ...
E82. Secrets of The Breath, Core, & "neuro tone" : Why “Tightness” & Back Pain Isn’t What You Think
25 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Click here to sign up & get "spark note" outlines for future Spine PT episodes If you’ve ever had a high level back pain patient...
E81. “Expectation Gap”: A Mistake That Quietly Derails Physical Therapists & Raises Patient Skepticism
18 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Click here to get "spark note" outlines for Spine PT episodes One of the quickest ways to derail an eval has nothing to do with your clinica...
E80. 3-Simple Breathing Questions PTs Need to Answer When Assessing Low Back Pain
11 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Click Here to get Fundamentals of Sciatica while it's FREE.There are 3 key questions every PT should be asking when assessing breath — esp...
E79. Fundamentals of Sciatica & Pattern Recognition
04 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Click Here to get Fundamentals of Sciatica while it's FREE.If you find yourself frequently, getting overwhelmed and frustrated with acute sciat...
E78. Smarter Exercise Progressions | The 4 Pillars for Back Pain Rehab
28 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Exercise progressions and programming can get messy once your LBP patients are “out of pain”You know they need strength and load, but the number o...
E77. Dealing with Difficult Patients in the Clinic
21 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Ever felt drained by that one difficult patient?If you’ve ever taken that emotional baggage home because you didn't meeting that patient's e...
E76. Are Your Back Pain Patients Training Hard Enough? | Find Out Using The OMNI Scale & Traffic Light System
14 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of The Spine PT Podcast, we’re blending two of the most powerful tools I use in rehab:The OMNI Scale (0–10 RPE), andThe Traffic Li...
E76. Traffic Lighting Pain: How to Tell If Your Patient's Exercises are Helping or Hurting
07 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Mez breaks down a simple framework to help you decide when to push, pause, or pull back while rehab and training a patient with low b...
E75. The 3 Pillars of Spine Health & Resilience
30 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Most physical therapists want to know what "corrective exercise" or manual therapy technique to use solve back pain. In this behind‑the‑...
E74. Case Study: Progressing Acute Sciatica to Deadlifting Pain Free in 3 months | What We Did & Why We Did It.
25 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Mez walks you through a real patient case study breaking down the exact progression used to take a patient from an acute sciatica fla...
E73. Back Pain & The Uncoordinated Patient: A Motor Learning Principle That Changes Everything
18 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Ever work with a patient who just can’t seem to get it, no matter how many cues you give?In this episode, Mez shares a powerful clinical story that ...
E72. Low Back Pain Intensive™ Program for Physical Therapists | Everything You Need to Know
11 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Click Here to enroll in last round of The LBP Intensive™ 2025 This episode is a direct clip from the end of a webinar where Mez...
E71: A PT's Secrets of Success: A Story of an Ironman Who Fixed His Sciatica, Scaled His Practice, & Became a Lethal BJJ Athlete: Todd Houghton PT, CSCS
02 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
To learn more & enroll in 2025's final round of The LBP Intensive™ Click HereEnrollment doors officially...
E70. Why Do Sciatica Patients Get Stuck in "Rehab Purgatory?
26 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
To learn more about The LBP Intensive™ program Click Here In this episode, Mez pulls back the curtain o...
E69 | 3 Easy Steps to Assess Lumbo-Pelvic Mobility After Acute Sciatica
19 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
To learn more about The LBP Intensive™ program Click Here In today’s episode, you’ll get a behind-the-sce...
E68. What Did The Physical Therapist Say to The Chiro??
14 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
To learn more about The LBP Intensive™ program Click Here In this episode, Mez sits down with a brilliant chiroprac...
E67. Breath Work & Back Pain: It's NOT Just a Relaxation Tool
12 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
To learn more about The LBP Intensive™ Click Here In this episode we zoom in on an ancient yet powerful tool for low back...
E66: Pain Neuroscience & Low Back Pain: Breaking it Down for Patients
01 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Learn about The LBP Intensive™ & enroll now --> Click Here When you first realize that one of your clients REALLY needs to und...
E65. Acute Sciatica: Where Do I Start My PT Eval?
01 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Click Here to learn more about The LBP Intensive™ & enroll before doors close on Tues Sept 16th at midnight.Turning “non-spe...
E64. 3 Ways Breath Work Controls The Nervous System
31 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Learn about The LBP Intensive™ & enroll now --> Click Here In this episode, Mez unpacks the neuroscience behind breathwork, not just...
E63. Why is Aerobic Capacity Misunderstood in Physical Therapy & Low Back Pain Rehab?
29 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
To get on the waitlist for The LBP Intensive™ Click Here Why do so many patients flare up 2 weeks after getting discharged from PT & getting ...
E62. The 12-Week Strength & Conditioning Guide to Reduce Fear of Re-Injury after Sciatica
22 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Click Here to learn more about The LBP Intensive™Getting back to lifting after an acute sciatica/LBP flare can be really messy and a whole different...
E61. The Paradox of Choice: Why You’re Overthinking it with Sciatica Patients
15 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Click Here to learn more about The LBP Intensive™ and to get on the waitlist for round 6 this September.If you’ve ever spent more time planning a ...
E60: The Truth About "Bridge Programs" | Why They’re So Damn Hard for PTs After Sciatica
08 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
What do you do when your sciatica patient is pain-free with ADLs… but still terrified of lifting? In this episode, Mez breaks down the critical (and...
E59: When Can You Start Deadlifts After Sciatica?
01 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Deadlifts after sciatica can be a bit chaotic & messy...Do you avoid them altogether? Go light and hope for the best? Or wait until your patient i...
E58: 8 Reasons Why Fixing This Bottleneck Helps LBP Patients Progress Back to & Stay in The Gym
03 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
A big frustration for many performance physical therapists is when patients with LBP get flared up after getting back into core work & lifting in ...
E57. Handling The Difficult - "Just-Fix-Me" - Patient
21 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Ever had a patient walk into the clinic expecting you to do all the work?You know the type, the “just fix me” attitude, minimal ownership, and max...
E56: The Lie PTs Believe That’s Sabotaging Their Evals
14 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Why do so many brilliant physical therapists still feel shaky when tricky LBP evals walk in the door?If its not a lack of courses, skill or effort the...
E55: Coaching Movement Through the Senses: Motor Learning Lessons from Neuro Rehab
06 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
For clinicians who know coaching goes deeper than the spoken word, this episode explores how the sensory system, perception, and context unlock moveme...
E54. Why PNF Reduces Low Back Tone Faster Than Anything Else
29 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Your patient moves OK has decent strength, decent mobility But everything still feels tight... guarded & they always seem to be bracing.What if th...
E53: How Breathing Impacts Low Back Pain & The Nervous System - Rehab & Training Applications
22 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Mez unpacks how breath work directly influences the autonomic nervous system—and why that matters for patients stuck in a cycle of ...
E52: Stop Setback Spirals: Why Exercising Adults with Low Back Pain Flare Up
15 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Why do active adults keep flaring up their low back—even when they're doing “all the right things”? In this episode, Mez breaks down the #1 mist...
E51: What Do I do With a Rib Cage That Won't Move?
01 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Mez dives into a game-changing framework & technique for extremely stiff thoracic spines— i.e the rigid construction worker who...
E50: The Shift From Orthopedics to Neuro
25 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Mez shares his thoughts on the pros & cons of the PT industry's shift from orthopedics/biomechanics to neuro/central nervous system in the las...
E49: What Did I Do Wrong If Flexion Sensitivity Switches?
18 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode Mez discusses a tough and sad case of a 97 year old patient with a long history back pain who was a high fall risk and many issues wit...
E48: Part 2. McKenzie + Neurodynamics progress to the Gym
11 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This episode builds on last weeks case study and Mez quickly reviews the case and discusses how he progressed this patient back to lifting in the gym....
E47: Part 1. Is Mckenzie + Neurodynamic Treatment Magic?
04 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Mez discusses an interesting case study where McKenzie repeat extensions and Neurodynamic treatment would have been magic if he didn&...
E46: Is it Plantar Fasciitis or Sciatica?
26 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Mez discusses the differential diagnostic power of the slump test using a case study of a 60 y/o male with intense burning foot/arch ...
E45: Are Pelvic Tilts Relevant?
18 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Mez discusses his stance on the relevance of pelvic tilts in the management and recovery of low back pain... Some say "they don&...
E44. PNF Patterns of Facilitation. Part 6: PNF Basic Principles Deep Dive
04 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
You know, the PNF patterns you memorized in PT school? The ones you were told "weren't functional" or "evidence-based"?Yeah, w...
E43: Proximal Stability for Distal Mobility: PNF Basic Principles Deep Dive (Part 5)
08 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode we get into proximal stability for distal mobility or distal fixation for proximal mobilization as it relates to open chain vs closed ...
E42: PNF Basic Principles Deep Dive - Part 4: Irradiation
25 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
This week Mez dives into the nuances of the next well known PNF Basic Principle: Irradiation.Topics he discusses:How the practical concept of Irradiat...
E41: PNF Basic Principles Deep Dive (Part 3): The Stretch Reflex
10 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Mez discusses how a basic understanding of the stretch reflex can help guide our clinical thought process & problem solving skill...
E40: PNF Basic Principles Deep Dive (Part 2): Approximation & Traction
30 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In part 2 of this series Mez explains the why and how to apply approximation & traction into your practice from a "neuro" and "orth...
E39: The Inception of Neuropedics Brand before rebranding to Spine PT
23 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
This episode is a re-cast episode that Mez did with Zak Gabor PT, DPT, CSCS at The Level Up Initiative. Zak was Mez's first student who asked him ...
E38. PNF Basic Principles Deep Dive Part 1
15 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Many people hear PNF and think "contract relax stretching" or D1 & D2 diagonal movements.That's like hearing the word "Art"...
E37: Part 2: Achilles Pain: Early Management for the Fitness Enthusiast
08 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode we get an update on how our Badminton athlete (from last week's episode) with achilles pain is doing after the initial evaluation....
E36: Part 1: Achilles Pain: Early Management for the Fitness Enthusiast
02 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode we get into an interesting case study that Mez was asked to consult: A young female badminton athlete trying to qualify for the Olympi...
E35: Back Pain, Fear of Uncertainty, & Managing Expectations
26 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode Mez gets a little personal and shares his experience with fear of uncertainty while his wife was towards the end of the 3rd trimester ...
E33: Ankle Mobility: A Problem Solving Model
11 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode Mez shares some key features of an ankle mobility program that has helped many overcome stubborn ankle mobility problems. He uses the ...
E32: Tough Love Through Questions FIRST: Story Time
05 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode Mez shares a story about a patient he saw in the hospital. He shares how he used questions and basic motivational interviewing princip...
E31: Lumbo-Pelvic Motor Control: A Framework
28 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode Mez provides a general framework for progressing patients from basic lumbo-pelvic drills to more advanced lumbopelvic control drills. ...
E30: Low Back Pain & Desensitizing the Nervous System by Removing Triggers
18 Aug 2021
Contributed by Lukas
If you're a sports rehab practitioner you've probably felt the polarizing tension between the biomedical and the bio-pyschosocial (BPS) models...
E29: Breath Work & The Central Nervous System
10 Aug 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode Mez covers the following topics:The neuroscience behind an ancient mindfulness tool called “cognitive anchors” to stimulating a pa...
E28. Catching a Femoral Neck Fracture in a Young Cross-country Athlete
21 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode Dr. Mike Cavaliere PT, DPT, CSCS shares with us key findings in his subjective and objective exam that made him refer one of his runni...
E27: Rolling Patterns - Nature's Gift?
25 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Wanna a Free Class? "4-Shockingly Simple Steps to Solve 'Unfixable' Sciatica" Click Here...
E26. Breath Work, Manual Therapy, and Mobility Training
16 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Wanna a Free Class? "4-Shockingly Simple Steps to Solve 'Unfixable' Sciatica" Click Here...
E24. Mobility: A Prerequisite for Balance
02 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Wanna a Free Class? "4-Shockingly Simple Steps to Solve 'Unfixable' Sciatica" Click Here...
E. 22 The Immigrant Who Didn’t Belong
07 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Wanna a Free Class? "4-Shockingly Simple Steps to Solve 'Unfixable' Sciatica" Click Here...
E. 21 Coach The Whole Person: A Clinical Story
03 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Wanna a Free Class? "4-Shockingly Simple Steps to Solve 'Unfixable' Sciatica" Click Here...
E. 20 Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation (PNF): The Basic Principles
01 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Wanna a Free Class? "4-Shockingly Simple Steps to Solve 'Unfixable' Sciatica" Click Here...
E.19 Treatment Planning and Postural Progressions
24 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Wanna a Free Class? "4-Shockingly Simple Steps to Solve 'Unfixable' Sciatica" Click Here...
E18. Joint Isolation vs. Functional Patterns... Which is better?
19 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Wanna a Free Class? "4-Shockingly Simple Steps to Solve 'Unfixable' Sciatica" Click Here...
E17. Indian Clubs and Tension vs. Relaxation
17 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Wanna a Free Class? "4-Shockingly Simple Steps to Solve 'Unfixable' Sciatica" Click Here...
E16. Joint Centration & Movement Variability
12 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Wanna a Free Class? "4-Shockingly Simple Steps to Solve 'Unfixable' Sciatica" Click Here...
E15. Flexibility, Mobility, & Performance
10 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Wanna a Free Class? "4-Shockingly Simple Steps to Solve 'Unfixable' Sciatica" Click Here...
014. Part 2: When Should We Consider an MRI?
05 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Wanna a Free Class? "4-Shockingly Simple Steps to Solve 'Unfixable' Sciatica" Click Here...
013. Hospitality, Healthcare, and Desensitizing the Nervous System with Dr. Dave Melchiorri PT, DPT, OCS, FAAOMPT
03 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Wanna a Free Class? "4-Shockingly Simple Steps to Solve 'Unfixable' Sciatica" Click Here...
012. Part 2: Core Philosophy - Belief 4-7 & Core Values
29 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
In part two of the core beliefs and values series Mez explains core beliefs 4-7 and our core values. Wanna a Free Class? "4-Shockingly Simple St...
O11. Part 1: Core Philosophy to Coaching Humans - Beliefs 1-3
26 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Wanna a Free Class? "4-Shockingly Simple Steps to Solve 'Unfixable' Sciatica" Click Here...
010. When Should We Consider an MRI?
22 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Mez breaks down some of the key features in the subjective & objective physical exam that may help with pattern recognition for s...
009. The Dynamic Systems Approach, Spine Flexion, The Jefferson Curl & Task Specific Cueing with Dr. Brett Scott PT, DPT
20 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Wanna a Free Class? "4-Shockingly Simple Steps to Solve 'Unfixable' Sciatica" Click Here...
008. Managing Load for the Rehabbing Fitness Athlete
14 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, we’re defining “load” as any additional physical/mental stress the athlete is taking on during the rehabilitation process. Mez ...
007. Chronic Low back Pain - Subjective Intake Review During a Live Mentoring Call
13 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Wanna a Free Class? "4-Shockingly Simple Steps to Solve 'Unfixable' Sciatica" Click Here...
006. Exercise Prescription & Dosage
07 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Wanna a Free Class? "4-Shockingly Simple Steps to Solve 'Unfixable' Sciatica" Click Here...
005. Removing Triggers & Desensitizing the Nervous System
30 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Wanna a Free Class? "4-Shockingly Simple Steps to Solve 'Unfixable' Sciatica" Click Here...
004. How do we address joint health?
29 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Wanna a Free Class? "4-Shockingly Simple Steps to Solve 'Unfixable' Sciatica" Click Here...
003. Making Continuing Ed Choices
28 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Wanna a Free Class? "4-Shockingly Simple Steps to Solve 'Unfixable' Sciatica" Click Here...
002. What's the Point of Manual Therapy?
26 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Wanna a Free Class? "4-Shockingly Simple Steps to Solve 'Unfixable' Sciatica" Click Here...
001. Clinical Reasoning & The Art of the Subjective History
26 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
These are some of my thoughts about test-taking vs real-world problem-solving. How the skill of pattern recognition is cultivated by first learning ho...