In this episode of the Optimal Body Podcast, Doc Jen and Doctor Dom, doctors of physical therapy, discuss how medical diagnoses like "degenerative disc disease" and "chondromalacia patella" can be misleading, unnecessarily alarming, and detrimental to our optimal health journey. They explain that imaging often shows abnormalities in people without pain, emphasizing the importance of focusing on pain management and functional improvement through progressive exercise rather than labels. The hosts encourage listeners to seek education, community support, and conservative treatment options, reminding them that diagnoses and imaging results do not define their health or recovery potential. They want to stress that this is a key tip that can help with health optimization.

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• Pelvic Floor Foundations
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• Dom’s Instagram
• YouTube Channel

For full show notes and resources go to https://jen.health/podcast/412

2:45 Discussion on how overused diagnoses and imaging can be more harmful than helpful.

3:22 Explaining that age-related changes on imaging are common and not always linked to pain.

4:21 How people identify with diagnoses and the importance of not letting them define you.

6:32 Research shows structural knee changes are common and not always related to pain; term “chondromalacia patella” is outdated.

7:57 Studies show patellar alignment changes on MRI have minimal association with pain or function.

9:53 A listener’s story about anxiety from imaging results and the pitfalls of overemphasizing degenerative disc disease.

11:51 Studies show high rates of disc herniation and degeneration in people without back pain.

14:48 Rotator cuff tears are common on imaging, often found in people without shoulder pain.

16:04 Routine imaging for shoulder pain is discouraged unless there are specific severe symptoms.

19:20 “Shoulder impingement” is often misdiagnosed; structural changes don’t always cause pain.

21:01 Research shows surgery for impingement isn’t always better than physical therapy.

22:49 A listener avoided surgery and recovered from a severe disc herniation with time and rehab.