Michael Ray, DC, MS
Dr. Ray is a chiropractor based in the Harrisonburg, Virginia area and, strangely enough, he is the chiropractor who doesn’t crack necks, backs, or practice any manipulation. Dr. Ray is as evidence based as it goes when it comes to treating pain and other neuromuscular issues and he has been a part of barbell medicine working as a pain and rehab clinician for several years. Between his own practice, the Shenandoah Valley Performance Clinic, his online clients, and the seminars he has done, he has helped numerous individuals overcome their pain.
In our episode with him we discuss many topics including what pain really is, how to overcome chronic pain, why he doesn’t practice manipulative techniques, and many more topics. This is a very unique episode as pain is a huge issue within the world and something we would all like to prevent. Can we prevent it, or is it just something we have to live with occasionally? Tune into this episode to hear what Dr. Ray has to say about it!
Show Notes
(1:00 – 13:30) – Introductions and Chiropractic
Question 1: What do you do and what is a chiropractor?
Question 2: What is the difference between a chiropractor and someone like a sports medicine physician?
Question 3: How did you get to the point of not using manipulative medicine as a chiropractor and what do you do today?
Question 4: What is the difference between chiropractic care and physical therapists?
(13:30 – 16:30) – Chiropractic Care and Preventive Medicine
Question 4: What does preventive medicine mean to you as a chiropractor?
(16:30 – 31:30) – All Things Pain
Question 6: What is pain?
Question 7: When does pain matter and when should we worry about it, when do you intervene?
Question 8: How do contextual factors and narratives influence what we feel?
Question 9: How do you balance patients wanting a cure for their pain now versus the nuanced and longer-term approach?
Question 10: How can we bring this evidence based approach to pain to the public to someone who might not have the same background in the literature?
(31:30 – 49:30) – Myth Busting
Question 11: Myth or truth – back pain is dangerous most of the time?
Question 12: Myth or truth – are trigger point releases or injections valid treatment modalities?
Question 13: How do you address expert experience and opinion when they say “you don’t have my hands?”
Question 14: Myth or truth – humans should generally live pain free.
Question 15: Is pain a disease?
Question 16: Myth or truth – posture and pain are related
Question 17: Myth or truth – strength imbalances are related to pain in the weaker body parts
(49:30 – 57:00) – Treatments for Pain
Question 18: When do procedures or surgery come into play for helping someone with their pain?
Question 19: Are there specific things you can do to reduce your risk of pain?
(57:00 – 1:00:00 ) – Closing Remarks
Question 20: What do you tell someone in 2 minutes who asks you, “how do I get healthy?”
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 59:55 — 82.3MB)
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