The Back Story

While The Diet Coke vs. Regular Coke debate is multifaceted, involving considerations of caloric content, dental health, blood sugar levels, and cardiovascular health. The concerns over artificial sweeteners add an additional layer of complexity to the decision-making process. Ultimately, the health impact of these sodas depends on various factors, including individual health conditions, lifestyle...

The New York City Marathon will always hold a special place in my heart because it was my first marathon in 2022, in the city where I became a true long-distance runner. With the inclines of five bridges to conquer, the course is not conducive to setting a personal best. However, most people who have run this iconic race would agree that you can’t beat running through all five boroughs in one day...

Staying properly hydrated is one of the keys to comfort and performance while running, whether you’re hitting the trails or roads. The benefits can include more energy and endurance, and a decrease in recovery time after a long, challenging run. Sports Drinks When you sweat, you lose electrolytes (minerals in your body), and if you lose too many, your performance can suffer. To compensate for the...

Why Should I Increase My Running Cadence? Before we discuss how to increase running cadence, it’s important to cover why you might want to increase your running cadence in the first place. As mentioned, your running cadence is one of two things that determine your pace. In a nutshell, how fast you run is determined by your stride length multiplied by your stride rate, or cadence. Running speed = s...

Is Yoga or Pilates Better for Back Pain? Many people rave about Pilates, claiming that it saved their back or improved their posture in a significant way. Others love yoga, saying nothing else comes close to giving them the pain relief they seek. But when it comes to these two popular forms of exercise, is one method better for your back than the other? Ultimately, the choice between yoga and Pila...

Human beings are programmed to approach pleasure and avoid pain. It's an instinct that dates back millions of years, to a time when people needed to actively seek food, clothing and shelter every day, or risk death. Dopamine Nation talks about the importance of living a balanced life in relation to all the pleasure and stimuli we’re surrounded with on a daily basis, such as drugs, devices, po...

When you think about eating, you may think of the work that happens in your stomach and intestines. But the entire digestive process starts in your mouth, with chewing. Benefits of chewing food Chewing is the first step of digestion. Chewing and saliva break down and mix food together in your mouth. From there, food goes into your esophagus when you swallow. Your esophagus pushes food into your st...

On this episode of the Back Story Podcast host Dr. J. Ricky Singh, MD is joined by Dr. Jennifer Soo Hoo, MD to discuss the topic of  Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy (ESWT) We talk about my own experience as a patient undergoing this therapy,  which is used in a variety of clinical applications including the management of musculoskeletal conditions.  In this conversation, he addresses the followin...

Your SI joints are the 2 little dimples you feel at the very bottom of your lower back. It’s a common lower back pain cause and one that is very often self-misdiagnosed as sciatica because of its symptoms. The SI joint causes pain because it takes a large amount of stress from the entire upper body before transmitting that force through those 2 little dimples into your pelvis and legs. Continued s...

This week our host, Faith Salie, talks to Dr. Ricky Singh , a specialist in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Sports Medicine and Pain Medicine at Och Spine at NewYork-Presbyterian and Weill Cornell Medicine, about common cause of neck and back issues. Whether it’s from technology use or a sports injury, Dr. Singh offers guidance for what people can do at home to reduce pain and protect neck a...

You might gravitate to pickleball because it takes less of a toll on your body than sports like tennis. Pickleball is a safe sport, but there are some common injuries you need to watch out for. With a little extra care, you can avoid aches and pains while playing the game you love. There are 5 injuries that new and seasoned pickleball players alike should be aware of, including: Pickleball elbow W...

Knee arthritis is caused by the degeneration of cartilage in the knee joint which can lead to pain, stiffness, and reduced mobility. There are many treatments available for knee arthritis including physical therapy, medications, and even surgery but injectable options have really gained popularity due to their effectiveness and convenience  In today's episode, we're going to explore some...

Knee osteoarthritis is a common condition that affects millions of people around the world.  It's a degenerative joint condition that causes the cartilage  to break down over time which can lead to pain, stiffness and reduced mobility While the exact causes of knee arthritis aren't fully understood there are several factors that are known to increase the risk of developing this condition...

What is brown fat? Brown fat, also called brown adipose tissue, is a type of body fat that keeps you warm when you get cold. Brown fat also stores energy and helps your body burn calories. Brown fat starts working (activates) in cold temperatures. What are the types of fat in my body? There are different types of fat in your body. Healthcare providers identify each type of fat by its color and fun...

What is cold therapy and why should I do it?  Cold plunging and cold therapy are getting more popular - and for good reason.  5 Possible Health Benefits of Cold Water Therapy - Reduce Pain and Speed up Recovery - Boost your Immunity - Improve Circulation - May Boost Your Mood - Weight Loss Support the show

Dr. Singh shares tips to help minimize stress and anxiety over the holidays. We cover: (1:45) being realistic, (3:12) sticking to a budget, (4:15) saying 'no', (5:11) a perfectly-timed snack, and (5:50) taking a breather. Support the show

What is the difference between being thankful and being grateful? You may think both are similar, but gratitude can have multiple positive impacts on your health.  Support the show

Dr. Singh candidly discusses the impact of completing the TCS New York City Marathon. Did he agree to do the marathon on accident? And how did it change his life? We cover: (1:16) how he decided to run in the marathon, (3:21) changes since training for the marathon, (4:21) training confessions, (8:29) lessons learned, and (13:41) Ricky's dare to the listeners. Support the show

With the TCS New York City Marathon less than a week away, Dr. Singh breaks down how you should prepare the week before a big race. He covers: (1:11) the importance of de-stressing, (3:05) tips to make sure you're getting enough sleep, (4:01) nutrition and "carb loading" properly, (5:53) hydration, (6:46) planning tips, and (8:43) recovery tips. Support the show

We take a look at vaping and the health risks that surround it with Dr. Mashal Khan,  Assistant Professor of Clinical Psychiatry at Weill Cornell Medicine and part of the Addiction Psychiatry Team at New York-Presbyterian Hospital. We also cover: (3:28) smoking and vaping trends for teens and young adults, (4:56) the rise of e-cigarettes, (7:33) nicotine and its impact on your body, (14:30) buildi...

On this month's Back Story Beat feature, we spotlight intermittent fasting and consider the question: just how much does it matter when you eat? We also cover: (1:34) common intermittent fasting methods, (2:20) JAMA study on fasting, (4:25) fasting study results, and (6:28) what happens inside your body when you fast. Support the show

We discuss mental toughness or "grit" and its impact on success. We explore how we can strengthen or improve our own mental toughness. We also cover: (1:55) defining mental toughness, (2:17) research on grit and outcomes, (5:37) real world examples of mental toughness, (7:00) small wins, and (8:08) building habits. Support the show

We explore what role vitamin D plays in our bodies and look into its benefits. We also cover: (1:01) what is vitamin D and what are some of the health benefits? (3:46) which vitamin D supplements should you take? (7:00) optimal levels of vitamin D levels, (7:51) benefits of vitamin D, (9:20) vitamin D and fighting seasonal depression, and (10:14) vitamin D and its role in fighting cancer.  Support...

As the summer heat bears down on us, we focus on water just how much we should be consuming to stay healthy and hydrated. We cover: (1:58) why you aren't drinking water just to quench your thirst, (3:09) hydration and joint pain relief, (4:31) how much water do you need?, (4:51) signs you are dehydrated, (5:47) beverages to avoid when you need to rehydrate, and (6:28) recommendations for stay...

We take a look at the science behind 'man flu' and examine if men really do handle illness differently than women. We cover: (1:32) defining man flu, (2:16) the role of hormones, (3:44) genetics and evolution, (5:40) Dr. Singh's conclusion.  Support the show