The Health Hexagon

Episode Blurb: S2 E2 - What Game Are You Playing? Life is a game with simple rules: finite capacity, infinite demands. But how you play that game? That's where things get complicated. In this thought-provoking episode, physiotherapist Kevin Hunt challenges you to step back and ask yourself a fundamental question: What game are you playing—and is it the one you actually want to play? Drawing on nea...

D.A.R.N Exercises The summer holidays are over for most and the kids are back at school. A new academic year is upon us. Over the summer break, it is easy to fall out of the usual routine, especially your fitness routine. This is not uncommon. As much as Christmas and New Year are often a catalyst to start new fitness goals, the summer break can be an opportunity to take your foot off the gas, cha...

This long form episode is an extract from a lecture given by Kevin Hunt in February 2025 to a group of medics involved in treating persistent pain. The lecture explores the pain pathway, the common misconceptions and mythologies around diagnosis and mechanism of injury. How stored data forms and influences our actions and reactions and how buckets and hexagons hold the key to managing the complexi...

In this episode, physiotherapist Kevin Hunt discusses The Purpose of Pain and why hurt and harm are not the same thing. He asks us to question what the role of pain is when it comes to looking after our health and wellbeing and why sometimes these important signals can become fearful triggers if we don't pay attention to their true purpose in the first instance. Sources: Article - Do you know what...

In this episode Physiotherapist and author Kevin Hunt discusses how the brain learns and how it makes associations directly and indirectly. He explores why these circuits of information known as "neurotags" can be helpful and unhelpful. How they influence our view of the world and impact on the choices we make. Such choices have consequences for the health and wellbeing of our current and future s...

This excerpt from Kevin Hunt's "The Funny Thing About Whiskey" uses the analogy of comedy to explain pain management. Hunt argues that, like a comedian eliciting an instinctive laugh before critical thought sets in, pain often involves a reflexive response before conscious analysis. He explains how past experiences and individual differences shape our reactions, impacting both how we find humour a...

This episode discusses a blog post from Spinal Physio exploring the "bucket" analogy to explain health, wellbeing and pain management. It describes the body's capacity to tolerate stress as a bucket that fills with activities and empties with recovery methods. Pain arises when the "bucket" overflows, exceeding the body's capacity. The author proposes a "health hexagon" framework—incorporating phys...

This blog post, "Knock Knock," by Kevin Hunt, discusses the negative impact of constant notifications and interruptions on mental and physical wellbeing, likening it to the smoking of our time. These blog posts discuss the importance of managing stress and maintaining work-life balance for overall health and wellbeing. The author uses analogies, such as a demanding toddler representing overwhelmin...

This episode discusses an article from Spinal Physio debunking five common myths about back pain. The author, Kevin Hunt, a physiotherapist, argues that bending and twisting aren't inherently harmful, slipped discs are a misnomer, muscle pulls are often misdiagnosed sprains, sleep posture isn't a primary cause, and pelvic misalignment is usually overstated. He emphasises the importance of challeng...

The conversation is based on an excerpt from Kevin Hunt's essay, arguing that prioritising one's own wellbeing over accepting appointments, even from high-profile individuals like Elon Musk, is crucial for long-term health and success. Hunt’s rationale centres on his "Health Hexagon" philosophy, which focuses on six key areas for health. He argues that sacrificing his dedicated time for exercise –...