Most people believe rest = healing = problem solved. But if you’ve dealt with the same injury over and over, you already know the truth: taking time off usually makes things worse.

In this episode of Past Your Prime, Craig Smith (PT & life professional) and Alex Keicher (pro athlete & busy dad) break down:

• Why time off creates “fake improvement” and the dreaded doom loop

• When rest actually works (and when it doesn’t)

• The difference between tissue capacity and exercise capacity

• Hidden triggers that keep injuries coming back

• How to create a therapeutic gap where healing outweighs irritation

• Practical strategies like lateralization, cool-downs, and trigger management

Whether you’re a weekend warrior, a parent trying to stay active, or someone tired of the same injury cycle, this episode will help you understand why rest alone won’t fix the problem—and how to finally break free.

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Welcome to Past Your Prime – the podcast for active adults balancing training, rehab, family, and real life.

Each episode, hosts Craig Smith and Alex Keicher dive into real-world strategies for overcoming injuries, staying strong, and living pain-free—even when life gets chaotic.

💡 Learn more, access resources, and join our community:👉 ⁠⁠⁠⁠pastyourprime.com⁠⁠⁠

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Follow us on Instagram:

📲 Alex – ⁠⁠⁠@spikerkeicher⁠⁠⁠

📲 Craig – ⁠⁠⁠@craigsmithPT⁠