The Back Story

We introduce a new monthly feature: Back Story Beat where we explain new medical findings and what they mean to you. This episode looks at a new study regarding how effective opioids and non-opioid medications are in terms of pain management after surgery.  See the full study here: https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(22)00582-7/fulltext Support the show

Our miniseries on abortion concludes with our guest Dr. Aileen Gariepy, Director of Complex Family Planning in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Weill Cornell, as we discuss contraception and options when it comes to abortion. We also cover: (1:44) what complex family planning is, (4:26) the least and most effective contraception, (8:43) pregnancy options counseling, (10:43) medicatio...

We do a deep-dive into obstetrics and gynecology as we broach the subject of abortion. Our guest is Dr. Stephen Chasen, Professor of Clinical Obstetrics and Gynecology at Weill Cornell Medicine and Vice Chair for Education and Director of Obstetrics Ultrasound. Together we cover: (3:46) high-risk pregnancy, (5:21) what every woman can do before getting pregnant to promote a health pregnancy, (8:39...

What is sacroiliac (SI) joint pain and how can you recognize it compared to normal back pain? In this episode we cover:   (1:15) what the sacroiliac joint is, (2:51) what SI joint pain feels like, (4:32) causes of SI joint pain, (7:15) diagnosing SI joint issues, (8:03) SI joint treatment,  and (12:11) preventing SI joint dysfunction.  Support the show

When you feel a burning pain around your joints, how do you know if it's acute tendonitis or the chronic issue of tendonosis? Dr. Singh covers both conditions as well as how to diagnose and treat these issues. We also cover: (1:26) distinguishing between tendonitis and tendonosis, (4:42) diagnosing tendonitis and tendonosis, (7:14) treatment options, (8:48) importance of stretching and ice, a...

A recent bout with inflammation sparks the topic for this episode. Why do we feel sore or slow sometimes after exercising? Dr. Singh breaks down inflammation and what we can do to fight it. We cover: (1:42) what inflammation actually is, (4:02) chronic inflammation, (4:38) preventing inflammation, (6:22) three beverages that can help with inflammation, and (10:05) foods to avoid when it comes to i...

We take a look at coffee and the effects of caffeine (both positive and negative) on our bodies. Dr. Singh also shares four tips to get the most out of your morning coffee routine. We also cover:   (2:04) the history of coffee, (2:35) what happens when you drink coffee and what the effects of caffeine are, (4:45) the benefits of caffeine, (6:56) negative effects of caffeine, (9:12) getting the mos...

This week we explore the science behind osteoarthritis and joint pain, and examine whether supplements are an effective way to help with inflammation and pain. We cover:   (1:04) what happens when you have arthritis, (4:01) how arthritis is typically treated, (5:13) Curcumin and its benefits, (9:51) Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids and their impact on inflammation, and (13:54) glucosamine and chond...

We welcome back Dr. Ashley Brissette to discuss how social media and the internet is impacting eye care trends and how we can do a better job when it comes to taking care of our eyes. We also cover: (2:19) a hair-raising TikTok beauty trend, (3:30) causes and prevention for dark circles under our eyes, (8:23) safety of cosmetic products, (8:59) the benefits of Eye Revive and Daily Practice, (14:04...

Does most of your knowledge on stretching come from what you learned in grade school? The science of stretching has evolved and Dr. Singh dispels myths of stretching and shares tips to prevent injury. We also cover:   (1:17) the benefits of stretching, (3:09) post-exercise stretch vs. pre-exercise stretch, (7:18) static stretching vs. dynamic stretching and when to use them, (9:23) how often you s...

We go in-depth on the science of weight loss and discuss what's most effective and least effective for losing weight. We also cover:   (1:36) is diet more important than exercise? (2:40) the role of metabolism, (5:56) not all weight loss if fat loss, (8:58) how to burn fat, and (13:00) the bad news when it comes to weight loss. Support the show

Have you ever experienced muscle knots or muscle spasms? Dr. Singh breakdown possible causes of these events, also known as trigger points, and also covers: (1:25) what myofascial pain is, (4:12) what causes myofascial pain, (9:33) treating trigger points and myofascial pain, (11:23) heat vs. cold therapy, (13:09) topical creams and ointments, and (14:59) stretching and a popular mistake. Support...

Have you ever felt 'hangry'? Anger brought on by being hungry? We explore the science behind the feeling as we cover: (1:28) why we feel 'hangry', (3:16) a research study on hunger and your personality, (6:03) what to do when you feel 'hangry', (7:10) mindful eating and the role of ghrelin and leptin, (8:48) the relationship between sleep and hunger, (9:21) stress and...

This episode is all about minimizing the effects of aging through exercise and how to stay active throughout our lives. We cover:  (1:13) what exercise should look like in your 20's, (2:40) why regular exercise is needed in your 30's, (4:11) lifestyle changes in your 40's, (6:14) 50's and why exercise becomes essential, (7:48) your 60's and the need for resistance training...

This episode focuses on runner's knee and how Dr. Singh has identified and treated it in his patients. Dr. Singh also shares his recent experience with runner's knee during marathon training. We cover:   (1:33) why runner's knee is a misnomer, (1:53) what runner's knee is, (2:58) a higher occurrence in women, (3:16) what runner's knee feels like, (4:18) causes of runner&ap...

We discuss red wine and its potential health benefits, with a spotlight on the phenol resveratrol. We cover:   (1:30) resveratrol and how it helps your body (3:42) how resveratrol works, (5:15) resveratrol and lowering your blood pressure, and (7:13) resveratrol and weight loss.  Support the show

What type of mattress is best for optimizing sleep and helping with back pain? We tackle those questions as well as covering:   (1:10) the optimal amount of sleep, (2:48) what is the best mattress type for back pain, (4:28) medium firm mattresses, (6:29) determining if your mattress needs to be replaced, and (9:26) pillows and sleep posture.  Support the show

The final episode in our three-part series covering the science of six-pack abs is all about the core and how to keep your core strong. We cover:   (2:58) situps and crunches and burning calories, (4:43) muscles of your back and target exercises, and (8:22) the power of planks, (10:25) the three exercises to strengthen your core. Support the show

We continue our mini-series on the science behind having six-pack abs with our second installment, centered on exercise. We cover: (1:10) jogging has only recently become mainstream, (4:25) high-intensity interval training, (6:33) high-intensity vs. low/moderate-intensity cardio, and (10:27) HIT and metabolic rate. Support the show

This is the first in our three-part series on the science behind having six-pack abs. Our first focus is on diet and we cover: (0:45) you have a six-pack!, (2:14) "abs are made in the kitchen", (2:49) the role of carbohydrates, (6:58) fallacy of the low-fat diet, and (8:07) the Atkins Diet. Support the show

About 75-80% of people abandon their New Year's Resolutions six weeks into the year. With that in mind, we check in on your resolutions and share some tips to help you succeed. We cover:   (0:51) the origin of New Year's Resolutions and why it's so hard to make changes to our life, (2:40) setting yourself up for failure, (4:42) finding your 'why', (5:32) how to be successf...

Our miniseries on women's and men's health concludes with a comprehensive look at low testosterone, erectile dysfunction and sexual health. We welcome Dr. James Kashanian, the Director of Male Sexual Health and Assistant Professor of Urology and Reproductive Medicine at Weill Cornell Medical College and a Urologist at New York-Presbyterian Hospital, Cornell Campus. We cover: (2:56) sympt...

As we continue our miniseries on women's health and men's health, we talk pregnancy and pain management with our guest Dr. Jaclyn Bonder. Dr. Bonder serves as the Medical Director of Women’s Health Rehabilitation in the Department of Rehabilitation Medicine at New York Presbyterian – Weill Cornell Medical Center. Together we cover: (5:16) common conditions during pregnancy, (6:41) the tr...

We welcome Dr. Susan Loeb-Zeitlin, Assistant Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology, as we take a look at women's health and menopause in particular. We cover: (1:15) what menopause is, (2:12) symptoms of menopause, (4:38) body systems affected by menopause, (6:14) treatment options for menopause symptoms, (8:37) hormone replacement therapy, (13:19) popular misconceptions and misinformation,...

The tables are turned on Ricky as we get his own 'back story', patient stories, insight into how the podcast came to be, and tips for staying active. We also cover: (2:42) understanding what physiatry is, (4:34) Ricky finds his calling, (7:44) types of patients we typically see, (15:58) revisiting regenerative medicine, (21:55) five tips to stay active, (29:04) and what's next for &...