What if you could decrease your pain by covering one eye? In this episode, I speak with my podcast producer, Tony, about inhibition tools and how removing stimulus can actually be the key to success when it comes to decreasing pain and improving movement.  I talk about overactivity in different systems of the brain, and why sometimes staying in that elevated state of activity can lead to pain, anxiety, lack of focus, training imbalances, and more.  By inhibiting some parts of the nervous system, we can focus our training away from areas that are increasing threat, or are simply doing too much of the work so that we can target a weaker system that isn't properly doing it's job.  I relay the stories of several clients that benefited from inhibition tools, and give concrete examples of tools that you can easily purchase or make at home. This is a powerful concept that can be useful for those who keep trying to "train" their problems without success, or have "tried everything" and nothing works.

Thank you to my podcast idea man and coach, Tony Fowler (Instagram: @tone_reverie) for helping me put together this episode!

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What if you could fix your tight hamstrings by gargling water? In this episode, I speak with my podcast producer, Tony, about how we can better understand movement by learning about the structures of the brain.  I go over the main areas of the brain associated with movement, and discuss their location, their function, how to assess them, and how to train them.  This episode ties together a bunch of concepts previously discussed on the podcast, like threat, the opposing joint theory, posture and gait assessment, and more, but with a focus on the brain areas that drive many of the inputs and outputs for the rest of the body.  We also have a free-ranging discussion around our recent experiences with applied neurology in our own training, and discuss the real-world impacts that gargling, humming, pencil pushups, finger tapping, and vestibular drills are having on our lives today. 

Thank you to my podcast idea man and coach, Tony Fowler (Instagram: @tone_reverie) for helping me put together this episode!

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What if you could design your training program based on how you walk?  In this episode, I speak with my podcast producer, Tony, about gait assessment, and how the way you walk can reveal the health of your brain and give you clues about how to improve your movement and decrease pain.  I discuss the difference between running gait and walking gait, the biomechanical rabbit hole, and why gait assessment is one of my most important assessment tools.  I break down four common patterns to look for when assessing gait and give details on how to recognize them, what they mean for the brain and higher order systems, and starting points for training based on each pattern.  I also talk about my earliest experiences with gait assessment, why people on Instagram think I'm crazy, and why my current training program revolves around improving my own walking gait.  

Thank you to my podcast idea man and coach, Tony Fowler (Instagram: @tone_reverie) for helping me put together this episode!

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Are you or is someone you know hypermobile and dealing with pain?  In this episode, I speak with my podcast producer, Tony, all about hypermobility, and how it's often connected to chronic pain, injury, and even autonomic issues.  I use neurology to explain why this might be, as well as discuss how I approach training hypermobile individuals to decrease pain, optimize interoception, and improve strength in end-ranges of motion.  I also discuss how hypermobile individuals are often attracted to modalities centered around flexibility, why this might not be the best training tool for them, and why hypermobility can lead to mapping with pain instead of proprioception, especially at end-ranges of motion.  This episode is a great starting point for tackling common issues associated with hypermobility and lays out practical training tools that you can implement right away to start to assess and improve movement and decrease pain in hypermobile individuals. 

Thank you to my podcast idea man and coach, Tony Fowler (Instagram: @tone_reverie) for helping me put together this episode!

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Did you know that applied neurology isn't actually the goal?  In this episode, I speak with my podcast producer, Tony, about the importance of a balanced strength and movement practice as the foundation for a healthy, fit, and pain-free life.  I discuss my own training practice, the pros and cons of following a strict regimen vs following your intuition, why interoception is one of the most important things I teach, why I prioritize balance and coordination over strength, free weights vs machines, gait cycle, rate of perceived exertion and more.  I outline the programming we follow in our Strength Dojo and how we integrate applied neurology throughout while still building strength, mobility, and resilience.  I also caution the applied neurology enthusiasts against seeing everything in terms of targeted interventions when focusing on the fundamentals may be the solution they are seeking.  This episode will empower you to better understand how your body responds to training, and to think about training in a more comprehensive way than just getting faster or stronger.  

Thank you to my podcast idea man and coach, Tony Fowler (Instagram: @tone_reverie) for helping me put together this episode!

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What if your knee pain can be cured by smelling salts?  In this episode, I speak with my podcast producer, Tony, all about the trigeminal nerve and why this large nerve in the face can have far reaching effects on the rest of the body.  I discuss the anatomy of the trigeminal nerve, its primary functions, its connection to the brainstem and cranial nerves, and how these connections can manifest in surprising ways.  I go over how to assess and train different aspects of the trigeminal nerve, using tools that range from touch, to motor control, to vision, to activating the nasal cavity through scent, and how you can use these tools today to improve trigeminal function, increase map clarity, reduce threat, and potentially reduce or eliminate pain or movement dysfunction.  While the focus is on the trigeminal nerve, we cover a variety of related topics from jaw alignment, scoliosis, autonomic function, blood pressure, botox and more, and underscore the importance of not relying solely on biomechanical connections when dealing with pain and mobility issues.

Thank you to my podcast idea man and coach, Tony Fowler (Instagram: @tone_reverie) for helping me put together this episode!

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Have you ever heard someone say your vagus nerve needs a reset?  In this episode, I speak with my podcast producer, Tony, all about the Vagus nerve and navigate the line between fact and fiction with regard to this increasingly popular focal point for health and movement professionals.  I outline the anatomy of the vagus nerve and discuss why it's often called the "wandering nerve" because it connects to so many different vital organs and higher order systems in the body.   By studying the anatomy of the vagus nerve, I show how it can be used therapeutically to target a myriad of different areas and functions of the body, and why its connective power is also why it's often so misunderstood.  I discuss some common points of activation that I use to access the vagus nerve and clarify the map, as well as how to assess these interventions to make sure they are actually helping the client.  This is a massive episode that covers a ton of ground from the parasympathetic system and vestibular system down to the interoceptive system and digestive system, and touches on inflammation, recovery, anxiety, depression, blood pressure, breathing, diet, balance and more.  I also discuss the lymphatic system and some simple drills I use to improve recovery, and why I think it's so important for people to learn to listen to their own bodies.  

Thank you to my podcast idea man and coach, Tony Fowler (Instagram: @tone_reverie) for helping me put together this episode!

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Are you managing chronic pain? Do you have the type of pain that "flares up?" Or, maybe your pain moves from one body part to another and you're constantly playing whack-a-mole with your pain. 

In today's episode, I speak with one of my very first instructors of applied neurology, Matt Bush, about signs and symptoms suggesting your brain and body are in need of fuel support. We talk about how your brain needs two things to stay alive - fuel and activation. And, your brain's preferred source of fuel is glucose along with oxygen. We talk about acute signs of a fuel deficit like decreases performance, increases in pain, a decrease in cognition and coordination, and increased emotional volatility. We cover what it looks like when you have a more longstanding fuel deficit that can lead to more systemic dysfunction, neural degeneration, emotional dysregulation and even metabolic disease. We share the physiology behind increasing oxygenation of your brain and tissues through CO2 tolerance training, the most important categories of breath training to consider to increase oxygen utilization at the cellular level, and styles of breathing to stay away from if you identify with having a fuel issue. We also cover how metabolic dysfunction may be the root of autoimmune illnesses, how ketosis is not a sustainable strategy for long term health, and which sources of carbohydrates are ideal, not just for brain health, but for overall metabolic health and wellbeing. 

Thank you to my mentor and co-host for today's podcast, Matt Bush, for delivering such an awesome lesson on fueling your brain and your body. Click below to follow and work with Matt and his team at Next Level Neuro.

Learn More about Next Level Neuro's Fundamentals of Applied Neurology Course

Contact Matt and Kathy to let them know you listened to The KRUSE ELITE Podcast and you'll receive a free gift:

Instagram: @nextlevelneuro

Facebook: @nextlevelneuro   

Email: [email protected]  

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What if you could solve your carpal tunnel or sciatic problems with a single drill?  In this episode, I speak with my podcast producer, Tony, about a category of drills that directly target the peripheral nerves called neuromechanics.  I discuss how the concept of mobility applies not only to the joints and muscles but also the nerves, how understanding the anatomy of nerves is crucial to understanding how to use neuromechanics correctly, and how to apply these concepts for real-world results with pain and mobility.  I break down neuromechanic drills into three main categories - tensioning, slacking, and sliding, and explain how choosing different drivers can lead to almost limitless combinations with specific targets and effects.  I also discuss how this category of drills is often misunderstood or misapplied, and what to watch out for when applying these drills to resolve specific pain issues or to simply mobilize the nerves for a broader training effect.  Neuromechanic drills can be an extremely powerful tool when used correctly and this episode will help you hit the ground running so you can integrate them into your own practice.  

Thank you to my podcast idea man and coach, Tony Fowler (Instagram: @tone_reverie) for helping me put together this episode!

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Have you ever experienced chronic pain? Maybe you've seen every practitioner and doctor and even tried surgery to resolve your pain, but years later you are still struggling? This is the story of Dojo member and yoga therapist, Krista Quinn.

Over 10 years ago, Krista found us on instagram after battling a decade long of low back pain. A laminectomy at age 22 initially provided relief for a year or two but her pain came back with a persistent vengeance, putting her in and out of the emergency room. In this episode, Krista and I recall how we met, the first few sessions using applied neurology and how sensory work as strange and simple as smelling cinnamon, poking with a paper clip, applying kinesiotape, and some cerebellar training provided tremendous relief. Throughout our work together Krista went from a yogi who couldn't do a forward fold due to her back pain to practicing advanced arm balancing positions with ease and coaching others with chronic back pain.  

We also talk about a realistic timeline for getting out of chronic pain, the role of your mindset, and how behavior change is a huge factor in eliminating pain.

Thank you to Dojo Member, Krista Quinn for sharing your story and for demonstrating the commitment and dedication required to overcome chronic pain. 

If you'd like to connect with Krista, you can find her here:

Krista's Website: https://www.kristaquinnhealth.com/

Krista's Instagram: @happylowbackyogi

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