Today, I am talking with Dr. Greg Lehman who is a physiotherapist, chiropractor, and coach who specializes in treating musculoskeletal disorders. He teaches a course called Reconciling Biomechanics with Pain Science. He has worked alongside back specialist Dr. Stuart McGill, and he sometimes disagrees with him. I’ll let you decide how controversial that is. Dr. Greg Lehman is a clinician, but prior to that, he was a strength and conditioning coach.
He loves research, but he also wanted to work with patients. He was fortunate during school because he was able to work on quite few different research projects. They investigated simple concepts that answered fitness questions. He specializes in biomechanics and the importance of movement and pain science. The course that Dr. Greg Lehman teaches meshes performance and biomechanics and how that applies to pain. He is also is a runner and teaches a running course. It’s his goal to simplify body mechanics and look at the psychological aspects as well.
Today’s topics include:
- How Greg’s running course is for everyone from trainers to doctors
- Loading makes bones and muscles stronger
- How the theory of you’re going to pay for it later isn’t substantiated
- Stress is a good thing
- Running, races, and barefoot running
- Transition to barefoot running slowly
- It changes gait style and there is less stress on the knee
- The role the brain plays in perception of pain
- The brain takes all of the information it has then makes the decision of how dangerous something is and applies pain accordingly
- How the brain can limit performance and expectancies
- Tissue builds up a tolerance over time we can habituate
- Flexion moments and flexion movements
- Exploring movement and springfree trampolines
- Range of motion for hinges and back extensions
- Running technique and knee injuries and biomechanical flaws
- There are studies to support opposing theories
- Making gait changes or running the way that it feels best
- Getting stronger improves performance
- Distance runners should run and do squats, lunges, deadlifts or big basic exercises then add more like push-ups
- Also add in some plyometrics like weighted jumps or jumps
- After a few months having a coach is important
Links and resources:
- Reconciling Biomechanics With Pain Science
- Greg Lehman on Twitter @GregLehman
- Back Fit Pro Stuart McGill
- Is Posture Important YouTube Video
Quotes:
“If it hurts, move around and do other things.” Greg Lehman
“Posture is very important for performance and less for pain and injuries.” Greg Lehman
“We should question the idea of whether stress on the body is bad for us.” Greg Lehman
