In this episode, I’m sharing the story of a young, athletic patient who did everything “right” after a meniscus injury—PT, injections, surgery—but still couldn’t get back to playing the sport they loved: soccer. Sound familiar?

We dig into the mental and physical challenges of recovery when pain lingers, even after everything looks fine on imaging. I introduce a tool I use often with frustrated athletes and weekend warriors—the Movement Bucket Framework. It’s my way of helping people understand how to keep moving forward, even when they’re not 100% yet.

🎯 Key Topics & Time Stamps:

• [00:37] The case of the soccer player – Doing everything “right” and still not better
• [02:03] Exhausting all the options – PT, surgery, injections... then what?
• [04:51] When “everything looks fine” doesn’t feel fine – Navigating invisible barriers
• [06:18] The cost of waiting – The real price of standing still
• [08:00] Introducing the Movement Buckets – Everyday, Most Days, and Challenge Day
• [11:04] How the buckets work together – And how to know if you’re doing too much
• [12:00] Momentum is medicine – Why some movement is better than none
• [13:00] Getting buy-in (or not) – What happens when people don’t like the plan
• [14:00] Why movement is non-negotiable – The bottom line in rehab

This one’s for the folks stuck in limbo—the “I’m not in crisis, but I’m not myself” crew. Whether you’re a clinician or a patient, I hope this episode helps you see rehab as a journey, not a single moment of “healed.”

🧠 Movement isn’t just medicine—it’s a mindset. Let’s talk about how to build that mindset, even when it’s tough.

🎧 Thanks for tuning in to the Talking Rehab Podcast. If this episode spoke to you, I’d love it if you subscribed, shared it with a friend, or left a review.

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