Back In Shape Podcast

The kettlebell swing is often praised as a powerhouse exercise for posterior chain development, but for those rehabilitating a lower back injury, it can be a double-edged sword. While it is fundamentally a hip hinge, the introduction of velocity and the need to rapidly decelerate a heavy load places immense demand on the lumbar spine1111. For someone recovering from sciatica or a herniated disc, a...

In the world of back rehabilitation, the Roman Chair (or back extension machine) is often hailed as a must-have piece of equipment. However, for those recovering from L4/L5 or L5/S1 disc herniations and sciatica, this machine can often introduce unnecessary complexity, cost, and risk compared to the humble hip hinge. In this session, we break down exactly why the standing hip hinge is often superi...

Does your sciatica seem to vanish for a few days, giving you hope that you are finally "fixed," only to return with a vengeance the moment you try to resume your normal life? This cycle of relief followed by relapse is incredibly common and deeply frustrating. In this session, we explain the critical difference between symptom relief (the absence of pain) and structural healing (the repa...

Title: Why Your Herniated Disc Pain Feels Like It’s Spreading — Live Q&A In this live Back In Shape session, Mike explains why an L4/5 or L5/S1 herniated disc can start as “just” lower back or buttock pain and then seem to spread into hamstrings, tendons and other joints over time. He walks through how inactivity, deconditioning and disc thinning work together to make you more vulnerable, why...

Today’s livestream starts with a deep dive into what “engaging your core” really means when you’re rehabbing an L4/L5 or L5/S1 injury. Mike contrasts a lazy, bicycle-style dead bug with the properly braced version, shows how to use diaphragmatic breathing to brace without moving the spine, and explains why filming yourself from the side is essential to spot the tummy rising and then creeping back...

This live session dives into a common problem for people with sciatica and lower back pain: why hamstring stretching can sometimes make everything feel worse. Mike explains how long-standing nerve irritation at L5/S1 and L4/5 can drive powerful hamstring tightness, how that tightness forces the lower back to round during everyday movements and stretches, and why the real issue is often weakness an...

Today we explain why a stiff, painful lower back doesn’t need more stretching (knee-hugs, Child’s Pose, cat-cow). Most disc problems bulge backwards, so repeated forward-bending keeps stressing the very tissues that need protection. We show what to do instead: learn neutral-spine control, practise real-life patterns (squat = stand up, hinge = pick up), and then build capacity. We also cover why im...

Today we show exactly how to get back to lifting safely when you’ve got sciatica or a lumbar disc issue—using the hip hinge to relearn hip motion while keeping the lumbar spine still. You’ll see how to set up with a chair, use hands-down-thighs to limit moment arms, test only aggravation-free ranges, and then progress loads without changing depth. We cover dumbbell → barbell transitions (why ~30 k...

Why are herniated disc/sciatica symptoms so rough first thing in the morning—and what should you actually do? Today we explain the real reason (overnight congestion, not “bad sleep”), why knee-hugs/Child’s Pose and big twisting backfire, and the exact get-out-of-bed & first-15-minutes routine: roll to the side, sit, feet under → brace → stand, then potter about while the stiffness drains. We d...

Today we show exactly how to get back to lifting safely when you’ve got sciatica or a lumbar disc issue—using the hip hinge to relearn hip motion while keeping the lumbar spine still. You’ll see how to set up with a chair, use hands-down-thighs to limit moment arms, test only aggravation-free ranges, and then progress loads without changing depth. We cover dumbbell → barbell transitions (why ~30 k...

Today we tackle the perennial question: “Will my MRI change what I should do?” Short answer: rarely. Imaging can explain quirks (like why a funky position eases symptoms), but it doesn’t replace learning safe, aggravation-free squats & hip hinges that you already do in daily life. We show how to run “hedged experiments,” record your reps to spot errors fast, and why belts/braces create false s...

🧭 Sciatica Relief Guide — Recover for the LONG TERM Need Help With Your Back Pain? Check this full video out now "Fixing Back Pain Master Class" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QIYFt7qQbJwFeeling stuck with sciatica? This video cuts through the noise and gives a clear, practical roadmap to stop chasing symptoms and fix the root cause in your lower back (usually L4–L5 / L5–S1). 🎯📚 Reso...

Today’s live clears up three big themes that keep people stuck: Centralisation is good news—leg pain retreating to the low back usually means you’re reversing the sciatica process. Don’t “elephant-walk” your spine into more flexion to chase flexibility while it’s healing. Relief that helps vs hurts—use massage gun, hamstring work (with a neutral spine), towel/bed decompression, and contrast bathin...

Today’s live is a Monday reset: yes - you absolutely can end up stronger and more resilient than before your disc injury/sciatica. We show why the basics work (squat & hip hinge done with a still spine), how to use objective load milestones (20% - 45% - 75 -100% body-weight) to track progress, and why most setbacks come from everyday habits, not the gym hour. We also cover: surgery context (it...

If you’re still doing knee-hugs, Child’s Pose and “cat-camel” while being told to avoid squats/hinges… that’s why you’re stuck. Today we show how to turn rehab into something that actually works: control the spine first, practise real-life patterns (squat = chair-stand, hip hinge = pick-up), and then build capacity with sensible loading. We also demo towel decompression vs cobra (elongation/tracti...

Today we fix core engagement (use breathing-led bracing, not pelvic tucks), and we reframe the “best stretch for sciatica”: relief tools help short-term, but lasting change comes from technique → repeatability → then load on squat/hinge patterns. We also cover plateau-busting (micro-progress with smaller jumps & last-set tests), DOMS vs flare-ups, kit choices (DBs/KBs → barbell), where to read...

Today we break down why barbell hip thrusts/bridges often backfire during rehab—not because the rep itself is “bad,” but because the setup and dismount force uncontrolled rounding, plate shuffling, and awkward bar moves that can spike your lumbar load. Then we show the smarter path: use squat & hip-hinge patterns to rebuild a still, braced spine you can use in real life, and progress through P...

Today’s live shows exactly how to use the squat (and hip hinge) to fix lower-back pain and sciatica. We cover why squats are the daily-life surrogate for getting out of chairs, how to protect a neutral spine, and what to prioritise first: technique → repeatability → then load. We dig into depth vs load (why most people have far more headroom to add safe load than to chase depth), the 20% → 45% bod...

Today’s live shows you how to measure recovery in a way that actually drives healing. We ditch the “how it feels today” yardstick and replace it with objective markers: technique you can repeat, aggravation-free training, and real-world load targets (e.g., why sitting can add ~20–40% more load vs standing and how to use that fact to set early milestones). We also clear up common traps: microdiscec...

In Episode 248 we give a clear tour of the program: where to find the Courses (Phases 1→4), how the Core Relief Work runs alongside training, how to use Strategy → Tutorials → Live Routine, and exactly how often to do the Phase 1 live workout. We also cover: belts/braces (why they don’t protect L4/5–L5/S1), a safe bed-to-stand sequence, doorway-squat calibration for long femurs, how to pace traini...

Quick fixes can feel great—but they rarely heal a herniated disc or sciatica. In today’s live we explain the 3 types of relief (what helps directly, what helps indirectly, and what feels good but harms), then show how real progress comes from strengthening: learning neutral-spine control first, then building load tolerance with squat/hinge patterns. We cover how to measure healing objectively (you...

Your body is trying to heal every day—nerves and discs included. Today’s live shows how everyday habits (the way you sit, stand up, bend, and “rest”) often block that process, and what to do instead: start with technical control (learn to brace and keep the spine still), then build capacity with the Core 5 (Dead Bug, Marching Bridge, Squat, Hip Hinge, Step-Up) before adding load. We cover realisti...

Worried you’ll make a herniated disc or sciatica worse, so you do… nothing? Today’s live explains why “doing nothing” usually means doing the wrong things all day (and staying stuck), and what to do first: education → strategy → tutorials → then careful practice. We show why daily life (chairs, shoes, kids, work) often provokes more than a controlled squat, how to troubleshoot towel vs bed decompr...

💡 How to Safely Activate Your Core with a Herniated Disc👉 Need Help With Your Back Pain? Check this full video out now "Fixing Back Pain Master Class" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QIYFt7qQbJw 📚 Resources: 📖 https://backinshapeprogram.com/2025/09/how-to-safely-activate-your-core-with-a-herniated-disc/Confused about core bracing vs. core activation? You’re not alone! With so much co...

Today’s live sorts popular “lower-back-pain stretches” into two buckets: the ones that feel good but slow healing (e.g., knee hugs/forward-flexion flossing, long dead hangs) vs the ones that actually help (towel or bed decompression done gently, with a neutral spine focus). You’ll learn why repeated flexion eases symptoms but strains the injured L4/5–L5/S1 tissues, how to set up towel decompressio...