Most people think back pain means something is “out of place.” But recurrent low back pain isn’t a structural problem—it’s a capacity problem.

In this episode, Craig and Alex dig into why back pain keeps coming back, why stretching often makes it worse, and how to rebuild the ability to handle load again.

They cover:• The real cause of recurrent low back pain (tissue capacity mismatch)• Hidden triggers like sitting, exercise timing, and regional weakness• Why “feeling better” isn’t the same as healing• How to use traction, soft tissue work, and coordination training safely• The difference between activation, strength, and endurance• How to maintain your progress using the “therapeutic gap”

If your back keeps flaring up no matter what you do, this episode will finally help you understand why—and what to change for lasting relief.

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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 (PT & coach) and Alex Keicher (pro athlete & busy dad) unpack 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

Follow us on Instagram:
📲 Alex – @spikerkeicher📲 Craig – @craigsmithPT

Most people think shin splints are just part of running. But “shin splints” isn’t a diagnosis—it’s a location.
In this episode, Craig and Alex break down what’s really happening when your shins hurt, why rest rarely fixes it, and how to rebuild the ability to absorb force.

They cover:• The two main causes—medial tibial stress syndrome and posterior tibialis overload• Why “overpronation” isn’t the problem (it’s pronating too fast)• How force absorption errors lead to recurring pain• The role of taping, bracing, and load management• When to use tools like orthotics—and when they become crutches• How to actually fix the root cause and get back to running pain-free

If you’ve dealt with shin splints that never seem to go away, this episode will finally make sense of why.

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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

Follow us on Instagram:

📲 Alex – ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@spikerkeicher⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

📲 Craig – ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@craigsmithPT⁠

Our second Past Your Prime comment section is here — where we take your comments from Spotify and YouTube and turn them into full conversations.

In this one, we cover everything from dietary fiber to what actually happens when tissues are injured, joint replacement training tips, and even the wild mechanics of reverse shoulder replacements. We also get into cramping, neuromas, and the connection between the foot and Achilles tendon.

Basically — if you drop a comment, we’ll talk about it.

What we hit in this episode:

• Fiber intake and Alex's bean strategy

• What “tissue damage” really means

• Training tips after knee, hip, and shoulder replacements

• Reverse shoulder replacement (and why it’s so different)

• Flexor digitorum brevis, neuromas, and cramping connections

• Why fast “fix knee pain” videos are clickbait (yep, we said it)

• Craig’s family vs. Alex’s family in the comment section battle

Keep the comments coming — we’ll keep breaking them down.