PT Pro Talk Ep 201. How Do You Reconcile Biomechanics with Pain Science? With Dr. Greg Lehman
Mar 31, 2026
Dr. Greg Lehman, physiotherapist, chiropractor and educator specializing in spine biomechanics and pain science. He explores why biomechanics and pain science are not opposed. Topics include when movement patterns matter, how manual therapy and exercise influence confidence, practical graded exposure vs protecting tissues, simple pain explanations, and movement-focused rehab strategies.
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Explain Pain With The Cup Analogy
- Use the cup analogy to explain pain: multiple life stressors fill a cup until it overflows as pain, then identify changeable stressors and capacity-building strategies.
- Ask patients about sleep, work stress, mood to populate the framework.
Prepare The Person Before Fixing Movement Quality
- Movement preparation focuses on correct loading and life context rather than micro technique; manage volume, speed, sleep, and psychosocial factors before blaming form.
- For runners, adjust training progression and other stressors first.
Use Symptom Modification To Keep People Doing Tasks
- Use symptom modification to temporarily shift stress: change stride, squat posture, or joint position to reduce provocation so patients can keep doing valued tasks.
- Combine with exposure by gradually reintroducing the original movement.
