
Tissue Capacity and Training Through Pain for Lifters Over 40 (Dr. Tom Walters) | Ep 492
transcript
show notes
Can resting an achy joint actually make it weaker? What should you do when pain flares during strength training?
Dr. Tom Walters, board-certified orthopedic physical therapist and founder of Rehab Science, joins me to challenge the idea that pain always means you should stop moving.
Learn why there are no inherently bad movements, only loads and positions your body may not be prepared to handle yet. We cover heavy, slow resistance training for tendinopathy, why mild discomfort can be acceptable during rehab, and how your 24-hour response helps guide your next workout.
We also break down low back pain, mid-set flare-ups, range-of-motion modifications, explosive training, bone density, mobility, and strength training over 40.
Join Eat More Lift Heavy to build strength, lose fat, and learn what works for your body, 1 week at a time. Learn to eat more and lift heavy with confidence.
Timestamps:
0:00 – Why rest can backfire
2:09 – No bad movements, only dosage
8:28 – Tendons become the tissue bottleneck
10:38 – Heavy slow loading for tendinopathy
19:55 – Low back pain patterns explained
25:20 – Returning to lifts without fear
29:20 – What to do mid-set
35:31 – Power training for lifelong resilience
46:29 – Rehab science resources and takeaways
Episode resources:
- Tom’s book – Rehab Science: How to Overcome Pain and Heal from Injury
- Website: rehabscience.com
- Instagram: @rehabscience
- YouTube: @RehabScience
💪 Join Eat More Lift Heavy - a 26-week evidence-based strength training for men and women over 40 and fat loss program to build muscle after 40, lose fat, and maintain your results (even in perimenopause and menopause)
📱 Get Fitness Lab - AI-powered coaching app for strength training after 40, body recomposition, and evidence-based nutrition. Daily coaching that adjusts to your energy, recovery, and schedule. No calorie counting, no guesswork.
👥 Join our Facebook community - Build muscle after 40, improve body composition, and lose fat with evidence-based nutrition. Support for lifting weights, hypertrophy, fat loss, and hormones.
👋 Ask a question or find Philip Pape (strength training & fat loss nutrition coach) on Instagram & thanks for making us one of the best fat loss podcasts for men & women over 40! 🙏





