Self-Treat Injuries & Manage Pain with Dr. Tom Walters
Release Date: 04/30/2026
The Strength Running Podcast
Tom Walters is a board-certified orthopedic physical therapist, former college professor, and author of (a bestseller on Amazon). Besides running his , Tom served as a full-time undergraduate kinesiology professor for eight years, teaching human biomechanics, therapeutic exercise, and pain science. Today, we discuss the science of pain and the injury treatment process: Is all pain bad? Why does some pain feel good? The value of cross-training during injury Why blood flow is so important for healing The timeline it takes to heal from common injuries If you're injury prone, sign up for...
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Duane Scotti is a physical therapist, certified running coach, and host of the Healthy Runner Podcast. Today, we're focusing on IT Band Syndrome. I've personally had ITBS twice - and once so severe that it nearly ended my running career. After seeing 4 PT's, I developed the to build hip and glute strength. You can also get an to the routine. Duane and I discuss: How to know if you have ITBS Common training errors and injury causes What can make this injury worse Can you run through pain? Treatment steps for IT Band Syndrome Thanks Duane for this masterclass on how to approach IT Band...
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Bill Evans has a PhD in Exercise Physiology, coaching experience at the D1 level, and is the founder of . He has more than 20 scientific papers published in his field and was formerly a senior scientist at Johns Hopkins University in their Applied Physics Laboratory. Today, he's helping you improve your running economy. We discuss: The impact of easy running and different types of workouts on economy How to order workouts during a season How drills, plyometrics, and strength training improve efficiency Long-term and short-term perspectives on economy To improve your form, don't miss our...
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Listeners know I'm a relentless advocate of , whether you're doing bodyweight exercises at home or lifting heavy in the gym. But some runners take strength training to a level above and beyond the rest of us - and find great success along the way. Elizabeth Corkum is a fellow running coach and one of my former private coaching clients. Elizabeth - who goes by the nickname Corky - is a 2:58 marathoner and 5-day per week weightlifter. Coach Corky has multiple coaching certifications, including USA Track and Field, Road Runners Club of America, and the Lydiard...
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Vikash Sharma, DPT is going to help you return to running after your next injury - faster and with less fitness loss possible. He's the owner of , a certified running coach, the creator of , and a Board-Certified Orthopedic Clinical Specialist. Our conversation today is about how to come back after your next injury. The "return to run" plan post-injury can be as confusing as planning advanced workouts. Managing load, recovery, strength training, mobility, and more during a period of uncertainty is daunting. Vikash is here to help. We discuss: Specific injuries and their...
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is an ART certified massage therapist, a Stanford All-American in the 3,000m steeplechase, and a former pro runner for Reebok, ASICS, and the Mammoth Track Club. Not only has he competed at the Olympic Trials, he's worked there as a therapist. He's also the founder of in San Diego, a physical therapy and performance center for athletes. Jonathan joins us to discuss his experience working with elite athletes and how they approach the process of staying healthy. We also talk about: The training and mechanical causes of running injuries The role of movement in...
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What if you have to make the hard decision to stop running altogether? That's the heartbreaking choice Dimity McDowell, a long-time runner and sports journalist, had to make a few years ago. In this conversation and in her new book, , we explore what it means to hang up your running shoes for good: The loss of identity, community, and purpose How to fill the hole that running once filled What the experts recommend How to find closure after a running career ends Follow Dimity on and be sure to check out ! Thank you 2Before! We are supported by , a powerful sports...
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Ken Rideout is one of the fastest 50+ runners in the world, clocking 2:28 at age 50. A former addict, he turned his focus to running and became unstoppable, winning the 155-mile Gobi Desert March and the 2021 NYC Marathon Master's Division. His new book, , is now available. Ken's on the podcast today to discuss: His extraordinary and how he stays driven What draws him to extreme events (and how that can help you) His experience at a "Celebrity Beer Mile" How he's built confidence as a runner and his tips for you Follow for even more inspiration. Thank you Lever! Lever is back...
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Brent Edwards is a professor of Kinesiology at the University of Calgary. He's an expert on how mechanical load affects the body and influences musculoskeletal health and injury risk. Learn with my best advice! In addition to running experiments in the lab, he’s also working with the smart shoe company Avelo to help them figure out how to keep runners healthy. His expertise ensures Avelo’s impact metrics reflect what is really happening with your stride so you can learn from it and train smarter. You can preorder a pair of smart running shoes . In this conversation, we discuss: How Brent...
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Dr. Jordan Metzl is a Harvard-trained medical doctor, bestselling author, and a highly sought after international speaker. His new book, , is now available! Jordan is the creator of the immensely popular Iron Strength workout, a medical columnist for Triathlete Magazine, and a 37-time marathon finisher (not to mention an Ironman Triathlete!). In this conversation, we focus on running longevity: The training habits that need to change in your 40's and 50's Potential tension between performance and longevity The role of as we age a lot more... . Thanks for a great conversation, Jordan! Thank...
info_outlineTom Walters is a board-certified orthopedic physical therapist, former college professor, and author of Rehab Science (a bestseller on Amazon).
Besides running his clinical practice, Tom served as a full-time undergraduate kinesiology professor for eight years, teaching human biomechanics, therapeutic exercise, and pain science.
Today, we discuss the science of pain and the injury treatment process:
- Is all pain bad?
- Why does some pain feel good?
- The value of cross-training during injury
- Why blood flow is so important for healing
- The timeline it takes to heal from common injuries
If you're injury prone, sign up for our complimentary prevention series here.
You can also follow Tom on IG or subscribe to his YouTube channel.
Thank you Wahoo!
We’re supported by our newest partner - Wahoo Fitness and the best treadmill in the game, the Wahoo KICKR Run. I have been fortunate to run on a KICKR Run treadmill and they’re unique - you will immediately know that you’re experiencing one of the smoothest, sturdiest treadmills you can buy.
Go to Wahoo Fitness and use code STRENGTHRUNNING to get a free KICKR Headwind Bluetooth Fan ($319.99 value) with your purchase of a Wahoo KICKR Run treadmill.
They like to say that it’s the treadmill that follows you, not the other way around. And that’s because it’s dynamic - there’s a lateral tilt feature that mimics real-world terrain. So as you’re running, it varies the side-to-side angle by half a degree every few seconds to keep your muscles ready for outdoor running.
And the KICKR Run’s dynamic pacing is straight out of a sci-fi movie: the treadmill will match your pace automatically: no controls needed. You’ll get a more natural running experience with no breaking to reach controls or setting the pace manually.
See what all the pros are raving about with the Wahoo KICKR Run Treadmill. They changed the game for bike trainers in the cycling industry - and now they’re doing the same for runners. Don’t forget to use code STRENGTHRUNNING to get a free KICKR Headwind Bluetooth Fan!
Thank you Lever!
Lever is back as a sponsor and I couldn't be more excited. They make a treadmill attachment that reduces your body weight, letting you run more mileage than you typically could with less injury risk.
They’re also trusted by physical therapists, where they’re commonly used during injury recovery so you can keep running with less load and impact. They're a "secret weapon" during rehab of many pro runners.
Lever attaches to any treadmill and you hook into it like a harness. It effectively makes you lighter, allowing you to do more running with less risk. So maybe you want to build more mileage, or run hard workouts but you’re hesitant because of injury concerns. The pro’s have been using Lever for years, letting them get the advantage of more training with fewer injuries.
I had the chance to go for a run using Lever and it was deceptively easy to set up and use. All of a sudden, I was running 7min mile pace with the heart rate of 8:30 pace. You can see it in action on our YouTube channel.
Go to levermovement.com and use code Strength20 (with a capital S) for 20% off any system!