Understanding the Most Common Causes of Low Back Pain

Midlife, Menopause & Pain: Why Everything Suddenly Hurts and What You Can Do About it.

Midlife, Menopause & Pain: Why Everything Suddenly Hurts (and What You Can Do About It) Why do so many women notice new aches, headaches, joint stiffness, and persistent pain during midlife? Is it "just getting older," or is something else happening? In this episode of What's in Your Head: Tools for Pain and Dizziness, Dr. Pete Schultz, Doctor of Physical Therapy, expands on his recent discussion with physicians from Hospital for Special Surgery to explore why pain often changes during perimenopause and menopause. You'll learn how hormonal changes, sleep disruption, stress, decreased physical activity, and increased nervous system sensitivity all work together to influence pain—and why pain doesn't always mean tissue damage. Pete discusses: * Why pain during midlife is multifactorial * How estrogen influences inflammation and pain sensitivity * The role of the nervous system in persistent pain * Why movement is one of the best medicines for pain * Physical therapy strategies for migraine, frozen shoulder, neck pain, low back pain, and persistent pain * The six pillars of Lifestyle Medicine and how they support recovery * Practical tools including exercise, pain education, breathing, mindfulness, biofeedback, and graded exposure to help people return to the activities they love Whether you're experiencing new pain yourself or you're a healthcare professional looking to better understand the unique challenges of midlife, this episode offers practical, evidence-informed strategies to help you move with greater confidence. Learn more about Dynamic Sports Physical Therapy: https://www.dynamicsportspt.com [https://www.dynamicsportspt.com/] Explore more podcast episodes, articles, and educational resources: https://www.painanddizzy.com [https://www.painanddizzy.com/]

Ménière's Disease: Vestibular Rehabilitation and Other Practical Treatment Approaches

Ménière's disease is a complex inner ear disorder that can cause episodes of vertigo, hearing loss, tinnitus, and a feeling of fullness in the ear. While these symptoms can be frightening and unpredictable, there are many strategies that can help people better manage the condition and improve their quality of life. In this episode of What's in Your Head: Tools for Pain & Dizziness, Dr. Pete Schultz discusses what Ménière's disease is, how it is diagnosed, and why symptoms can vary so much from person to person. You'll learn about hearing tests, vestibular testing, medical management, and the important role of vestibular rehabilitation in helping patients regain confidence and improve balance. The episode also explores practical, evidence-informed treatment approaches including: * Vestibular rehabilitation therapy * Balance and habituation exercises * Education and pacing strategies * Cardiovascular exercise * Neck physical therapy and posture training * Stress management and nervous system regulation * Biofeedback * Mindfulness * Pain reprocessing techniques and somatic tracking for persistent symptoms Whether you've recently been diagnosed, have been living with Ménière's disease for years, or are a healthcare professional looking to better understand current treatment options, this episode provides practical tools to help you navigate the condition. Disclaimer: This podcast is intended for educational purposes only and should not replace medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment from your healthcare provider. To learn more about dizziness, vertigo, headaches, concussion, and persistent pain, visit PainandDizzy.com [https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9992911/?utm_source=chatgpt.com]. If you're looking for one-on-one physical therapy for dizziness, vestibular disorders, concussion, headaches, orthopedic injuries, or chronic pain, visit DynamicSportsPT.com [https://www.dynamicsportspt.com/?utm_source=chatgpt.com] to learn more or schedule an appointment.

Somatic Tracking: A 5-Minute Guided Exercise to Calm Pain, Dizziness, and Other Symptoms

Somatic Tracking: A 5-Minute Guided Exercise to Calm Pain, Dizziness, and Other Symptoms In this special guided episode of What's in Your Head: Tools for Pain and Dizziness, Dr. Pete Schultz leads you through a simple five-minute somatic tracking exercise designed to help calm an overprotective nervous system. Somatic tracking is a core technique used in Pain Reprocessing Therapy (PRT) and other mind-body approaches for persistent pain and symptoms. Rather than trying to ignore or fight uncomfortable sensations, you'll learn how to observe them with curiosity, reduce fear, and reinforce a sense of safety. During this guided practice, you'll: *  Learn the purpose of somatic tracking  *  Practice slow, calming breathing  *  Use visualization to gently focus on uncomfortable sensations  *  Shift your nervous system from danger and fear toward safety and calm  *  Build a skill you can use anytime you experience pain, dizziness, headaches, or other persistent symptoms  This exercise can be practiced sitting, standing, or lying down and can be repeated whenever you need a few minutes to reconnect with your body in a safe and compassionate way. Remember, the goal isn't to eliminate symptoms immediately—it's to teach your brain that your body is safe, helping reduce unnecessary danger signals over time. If you find this exercise helpful, consider saving this episode so you can return to it whenever you need a moment to reset your nervous system. For more information about pain, dizziness, concussion, headaches, and physical therapy, visit PainAndDizzy.com or DynamicSportsPT.com. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who may benefit from learning these powerful self-regulation techniques.

Fibromyalgia: Understanding the Diagnosis and Tools for Recovery

In this episode of What’s in Your Head: Tools for Pain & Dizziness, Pete Schultz, DPT, OCS, takes a deep dive into fibromyalgia — a chronic widespread pain condition that is often misunderstood, misdiagnosed, and frustrating for patients trying to find answers. Pete discusses how fibromyalgia is considered a clinical diagnosis, what symptoms are commonly associated with it, and why modern pain science now views fibromyalgia as involving a sensitized nervous system and altered pain processing rather than simply a muscle or joint problem alone. Topics covered in this episode include: • What fibromyalgia is and how it is diagnosed  • Common symptoms including widespread pain, fatigue, sleep problems, headaches, dizziness, and “brain fog”  • Central sensitization and how the nervous system can become overly protective  • The difference between tissue damage and pain sensitivity  • Why imaging and lab tests are often normal  • The biopsychosocial model of chronic pain  • Pain neuroscience education and understanding pain as protection  • Physical therapy approaches for movement, strength, mobility, and graded exercise  • The role of sleep, stress, autonomic nervous system regulation, and pacing  • Biofeedback and self-regulation tools to calm the nervous system  • Mindfulness, somatic tracking, and Pain Reprocessing Therapy concepts  • Graded exposure and returning to feared or avoided activities safely  • Why recovery is usually multifactorial rather than one single treatment This episode emphasizes that fibromyalgia symptoms are real, that patients are not “making it up,” and that many people improve through a comprehensive approach that combines education, movement, nervous system regulation, and individualized care. Whether you are someone living with fibromyalgia, a healthcare provider, or a family member trying to better understand chronic pain, this episode provides practical tools and an evidence-informed framework for understanding and treating persistent symptoms. For physical therapy evaluations, vestibular therapy, concussion management, headache treatment, and persistent pain rehabilitation visit: www.DynamicSportsPT.com For more resources, podcast episodes, and education on pain, dizziness, headaches, concussion, and nervous system regulation visit: www.painanddizzy.com Disclaimer:  This podcast is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult your physician or qualified healthcare provider regarding any medical condition or treatment decisions.

Understanding the Most Common Causes of Low Back Pain

In this episode of What’s in Your Head, Dr. Pete Schultz breaks down the different types of low back pain commonly seen in physical therapy — and why low back pain is often much more complex than people think. Pete discusses: * Lumbar disc herniations * Sciatica and lumbar radiculopathy * Spinal stenosis * Lumbar strains and sprains * Segmental stiffness and hypomobility * SI joint and lumbar instability * Pars fractures in adolescent athletes * Chronic and neuroplastic low back pain The episode also explores why imaging findings do not always match symptoms, why two people with the same MRI can have completely different experiences, and how physical therapists evaluate the multiple systems that can contribute to pain. If you are looking for a physical therapy evaluation for pain, dizziness, headaches, concussion, or vestibular issues, visit Dynamic Sports Physical Therapy: https://www.dynamicsportspt.com [https://www.dynamicsportspt.com] For more education and tools related to pain and dizziness: https://www.painanddizzy.com [https://www.painanddizzy.com] Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational purposes only and should not be considered individualized medical advice. Always consult your physician or qualified healthcare provider regarding medical concerns or symptoms.