Low back pain is one of the most common problems people deal with—but most people are still asking the wrong question.

Instead of only asking:
“What’s wrong with my back?”

This episode explores a better question:
“What am I doing that keeps this problem going?”

In this conversation, we break down why low back pain is rarely just about one body part—and why pain is often the result of a bigger mix of movement issues, lifestyle habits, stress, recovery, and accumulated risk factors.

In this episode, we cover:
Why low back pain is often more than an anatomy problem
The difference between acute vs chronic low back pain
Why medication may help symptoms—but not function
How sleep, stress, diet, inactivity, and body composition affect back pain
Why movement quality and lifestyle both matter
The difference between correlation and causation
How to think about low back pain through a functional wellness lens
Why consistency matters more than a “quick fix”

This episode is especially valuable for:
Physical therapists
Chiropractors
Athletic trainers
Strength coaches
Fitness professionals
Anyone dealing with recurring low back pain
Key takeaway:

Your back may be where the pain shows up…
…but it may not be where the real problem starts.

If you want to improve outcomes, reduce risk, and help people move better for the long term, you have to look beyond the symptom.

Learn more / Explore the tools mentioned

Try Symmio:
https://symmio.com

Explore Functional Movement Systems:
https://www.functionalmovement.com

Movement Podcast:
https://www.movementpod.com

Subscribe for more conversations on:
Movement
Injury risk
Functional wellness
Corrective strategies
Performance and rehab

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In this episode, we sit down with Almir Maljević—FMS partner in Bosnia, educator, and instructor for FMS courses—who has built a thriving system by doing one thing differently:

He starts with the person, not the program.

From rebuilding his own path after injury…
to realizing strength and power weren’t the missing piece…
to going all-in on screening, systems, and education…

This is a real conversation about what actually works—and what most people get wrong.

You’ll learn:
• Why strength and power aren’t enough
• The moment he realized he needed to “empty the cup”
• How screening changed everything
• Why most coaches skip the most important step
• How to build trust before training
• The difference between being busy vs effective
• Why education—not exercise—is the real value
• How he built a business from zero clients to a scalable system

This isn’t theory.

This is what it looks like when you apply the principles—and stick to them.

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More about our guest
Website: https://www.pfhsc.ba/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/team_pfhsc/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ProFit.Health.StrengthAndConditioning/

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#FMS #MovementPodcast #SFMA #Coaching #FunctionalTraining #Performance

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Your gait—how you walk—can reveal a lot about your health, movement quality, and even your risk for injury or falls.

In this episode of the Movement Podcast, Gray Cook and Lee Burton break down why gait analysis alone doesn’t tell the full story. Many people focus on the way someone walks, but the real problem often lies deeper in fundamental movement patterns like squatting, bending, rotating, balancing, and breathing.

As our population ages, gait problems are becoming a major predictor of falls, joint replacements, and loss of independence. But identifying poor gait is only the first step. The real question is: what is causing the gait problem in the first place?

In this conversation, we explore:

• Why gait deviations happen
• How compensations develop subconsciously
• Why muscle strengthening alone often fails
• The movement patterns that drive healthy walking
• How developmental patterns and breathing can restore movement
• Why functional movement matters more than isolated exercises

If you want to better understand how gait connects to movement health, injury prevention, and long-term mobility, this episode is a must-watch.

Learn more about Functional Movement Systems and our tools for assessing movement:
https://www.functionalmovement.com

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In this episode of the Movement Podcast, Gray Cook and Lee Burton sit down with Ryan Como, CEO of Kinetisense, to talk about where movement screening is headed next.

Ryan shares how his background as a chiropractor—and as an injured D1 hockey athlete—pushed him beyond “treat the painful joint” toward multi-segment, 3D movement assessment. The conversation covers how objective scoring, population comparisons, and AI-driven recommendations can enhance—not replace—clinical expertise.

We dig into:

• Why FMS breakpoints hold up when compared to lab-grade systems
• Turning movement screening into trend data (0–100 scoring vs. only 0/1/2/3)
• Using data loops to learn what correctives work best for who
• Planar plasticity: why elite athletes move well in all three planes

The long game: movement epidemiology—catching risk before injury happens

Learn more: https://www.kinetisense.com/fms-kinetisense/

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Asymmetries are normal — but not all asymmetries are created equal. In this episode of the Movement Podcast, Gray Cook and Lee Burton break down the difference between anatomical, functional, and developmental asymmetry, and explain when asymmetry becomes a slippery slope that impacts performance, durability, and injury risk.

They also discuss why the goal isn’t “perfect symmetry,” but keeping asymmetries from getting worse, and how movement screening helps coaches and clinicians make smarter training decisions.

In this episode:

• The 3 types of asymmetry: anatomical, functional, developmental
• When asymmetry becomes a risk factor (and when it’s just sport-specific)
• Why “don’t let it get worse” is the real goal
• Key impairment asymmetries to watch: ankle dorsiflexion + grip strength
• Why dynamic balance + functional patterns matter more than isolated measures
• Practical ways to “scrub the corners” and restore awareness

More from the Movement Podcast: https://www.movementpod.com/

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In this episode of the Movement Podcast, Lisa Chase returns—this time as an author. Drawing from decades of work with professional athletes and everyday patients, Lisa dives deep into the importance of addressing the whole person in rehab, not just the symptoms.

She and Gray discuss:

• The inspiration behind her new book Be Responsible
• Why heart rate variability (HRV) is a game changer in patient care
• How nervous system regulation must come before movement
• Using technology like Newbie, BFR, and Oura Ring to guide interventions
• The five wellness pillars: nervous system regulation, sleep, biology, movement, and environment

Whether you're a clinician or someone navigating your own healing journey, this episode will change how you view recovery and patient outcomes.

-Lisa’s Book: Be Responsible — Because the System Isn’t: https://beresponsiblebook.com/home
-Learn more about Lisa and her clinic
-Tools Mentioned: HRV scanner, BFR, Newbie, New Calm, Oura Ring

More from the Movement Podcast: https://www.movementpod.com/

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In this episode of the Movement Podcast, Gray Cook and Lee Burton dig into what the data really says about wellness. From widespread sleep issues and shoulder mobility limitations to the surprising role of stress, posture, and breathing, they explore how movement and lifestyle are deeply connected.

Learn how Functional Movement Systems uses its Functional Wellness Screen to identify patterns—not just problems—and why tracking individual trends is more effective than chasing general advice.

Topics include:
Why population-level data can’t define your personal health
The top 3 wellness issues FMS is seeing across the board
Why pain is often the hidden culprit sabotaging sleep
Real-world examples from athletes and first responders
The critical need to “track it before you attack it”

If you're a coach, clinician, or just trying to improve your own health, this episode will change how you think about lifestyle change, movement health, and the power of personalized screening.

Get your free wellness assessment today!
https://www.symmio.com/whats-your-wellness-score

Subscribe for more episodes, and don’t forget: First Move Well, Then Move Often.

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What happens when a seasoned physical educator brings 31 years of experience into a conversation about the future of fitness, wellness, and youth health? In this episode of the Movement Podcast, we sit down with Massachusetts Physical Education Teacher of the Year Rick Vittum to talk about the state of youth movement, what’s broken in the system, and how we can fix it.

Rick shares real stories from the trenches of high school PE, how the Functional Movement Screen is changing the game, and why kids need more than just fitness—they need awareness, mentorship, and a physical problem-solving skillset that lasts a lifetime.

Whether you're a teacher, coach, parent, or practitioner, this conversation is packed with insights on movement screening in schools, how technology and culture are reshaping physical health, and what the future of PE should look like.

https://www.functionalmovement.com

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