The Back Doctors Podcast with Dr. Michael Johnson

Beverly Atkins shares the Feldenkrais Method® with us and explains how gentle movement can relieve pain. Beverly's mission is simple: help people feel better by getting unstuck from old patterns. For most of her life, Beverly had undiagnosed ADHD and compensated with grit. She completed the Hawaii Ironman in 2009. In 2014, while working at Facebook's Los Angeles office, the fast pace was manageable—it was the loud, open-office environment that overwhelmed her nervous system—and put her back out and couldn't walk upright because of the pain. Nothing was helping. Desperate and skeptical, she crawled into a Feldenkrais® Awareness Through Movement®. It seemed strange—until she stood up and her back pain was gone. What just happened? That moment of curiosity changed everything. First, she thought of her mother—a psychologist at a pain care center who went on disability because of debilitating back pain (you can't make that up). Conventional treatments didn't help. At 53, facing what felt like a lifetime of chronic pain, she lost hope and died by suicide. The most heartbreaking part for Beverly when she discovered how gentle movement can relieve pain? That the Feldenkrais Method® had been around for decades. If her mother had access to this whole-body approach, would she have moved out of pain? That question became Beverly's driving force:  make these lessons accessible. As she began doing daily lessons at home, something unexpected happened. Her back stayed better—and her focus improved too. Her work struggles softened. People said she was a better listener. She even found herself adjusting to the open-office culture, by calming her nervous system each morning with a lesson before work. When she was later diagnosed with ADHD, it all made sense—the lessons had been quietly rewiring her brain. Neuroscience confirms that mindful movement can improve executive function, focus, and sleep.  Now Beverly had a second why: nervous system regulation and focus for inattentive brains. Eager to learn more, Beverly enrolled in the four-year training to become a Guild Certified Feldenkrais Practitioner®. In 2020, she left Facebook to open a private practice. Clients often asked if she was a sorcerer. She reminded them: your body is designed to heal. These lessons simply help unstick a nervous system caught in a loop. Today, Beverly personally reviews every lesson published in Pauseture. She added a unique filter—Active vs. Still/Subtle—to help ADHD brains choose what they need. On high-energy days, an active lesson helps ease into focus and calm. Still lessons—like traditional meditation or breath work—can feel irritating.  Now at 59, Beverly still swims, bikes, and runs—injury free—and her back pain has never returned. When small pains arise, she gets curious, and pain resolves by interrupting patterns that lead to the pain. ‍ Pauseture exists to serve several whys:  To prevent others from losing hope, as Beverly's mother did. To help inattentive brains find the regulation they need to thrive. And to give people agency over their own movement and health.  Not someday. Now. Because feeling better shouldn't be a luxury. Resources: Pauseture.com Download the app and get a 30-day free trial using code BACK30 Show Sponsor: Haven Medical

Personal injury attorney Charles Sanders takes us through the legal process involved in spinal "soft tissue" injuries. About Charles "Chuck" Sanders Charles is passionate about helping the injured fight for their rights against insurance companies. Early on in his career, while working as an insurance adjuster and claims counsel for numerous insurance companies, Charles saw first-hand and personally experienced the unfair and deceptive tactics big-name insurance companies employ against injured claimants-even their own insured clients. The best way Charles Sanders describes accident and injury law is as a Venn diagram. "Imagine, if you will, two intersecting circles. One circle represents the law. The other circle represents medicine. Where the two meet in the middle is the epicenter of "personal injury law." Resources: rosesanderslaw.com Show Sponsor Haven Medical

Dr. Ted Siciliano shares insights from his spine care practice on treating patients with the Cox Technic Dr. Ted Siciliano has been in active practice for over 40 years in the Manahawkin, NJ area.  Dr. Siciliano is a long-time certified Cox Technic practitioner who attends courses regularly to keep up on all the latest in research, biomechanics, and application of Cox Technic protocols. He has written several case reports for the monthly Cox Technic Case Report publication and shares cases at Cox Seminars on a regular basis. He conducts practical, hands-on workshops with his colleagues at his Mayetta, New Jersey office. Resources: Dr. Siciliano's website Find a Back Doctor Show Sponsor: Haven Medical

Dr. Keith Bartley shares a story of a young man who had been bent forward in back pain for 4 months prior to treatment. Dr. Bartley graduated from Indiana University with an Athletic Training and Sports Medicine degree and after interning with the New England Patriots entered Logan University. He has been practicing in Jasper, IN since 1990 and is certified in Cox® Technic of the Cervical and Lumbar spines, and has Full Body, Biomechanics and Long Nerve Entrapment certifications in Active Release Technique (ART). He is an avid triathlete and has completed the Boston Marathon. Resources: Contact Dr. Bartley 812-482-6600 Find a Back Doctor Show Sponsor: Haven Medical

Spine specialist, Dr. Ryan Lawrence shares a story about a man with a "pinch" in his neck that progressed to arm numbness and tingling. Dr. Ryan Lawrence Doctor of ChiropracticDC If you've tried other treatments without lasting results, or you're not quite sure chiropractic is for you, that's exactly the kind of patient Dr. Ryan wants to hear from. With clinical experience spanning California, Florida, and Tennessee, including work with military veterans and within multidisciplinary care teams, he has learned that pain rarely tells the whole story. Dr. Ryan takes a genuinely curious approach to every visit: he wants to understand your history, your daily life, and what you're trying to get back to, not just the symptoms that brought you in. Patients who feel unheard elsewhere often say his appointments feel different. Because they are. You don't need to have everything figured out before you come in. He'll help with that part. Resources: Summit Spine The Cox 8 Table by Haven Medical Find a Back Doctor

Massage therapist, Ken Moench shares several client stories including a grandmother with 40-years of back pain.  He also shares his journey that led him to author the book "Every Baby Hurts". Ken Moench With over 30 years of massage therapy experience, Ken Moench is a trailblazer in the field of healing. His method, known as The Moench Method, is a testament to his unique approach and expertise. Specializing in injury rehabilitation, Ken has honed his technique by integrating elements of myofascial release, deep tissue work, and trigger point therapy. Undeniably, this innovative blend delivers comprehensive and effective treatments that address the root causes of pain. Resources: "Every Baby Hurts" Moench Method Bodywork Show Sponsor: The Cox 8 Table by Haven Medical  

Spine specialist, Dr. Peter Meyer shares a story of a dance instructor with debilitating pelvic pain caused by a disc protrusion. Dr. Peter Meyer, Education and Memberships In addition to earning his Doctor of Chiropractic from the National College of Chiropractic, Dr. Meyer earned his BA in biology from Illinois Wesleyan University. He is also a Certified Chiropractic Sports Physician® (CCSP®). He also has a degree in sports injuries, and took an additional 200 hours of sports education. Additionally, Dr. Pete has postgraduate training in the following:  Acupuncture  Dealing with motor vehicle accidents Dr. Pete is also a Cox Certified physician for both the cervical and lumbar spines. "I like the fact that we have required continuing education hours as I love learning." Dr. Pete loves updating his skills and learning what's new in the field of chiropractic. He also stays active professionally as a member of the American Chiropractic Association and the Illinois Chiropractic Society. Resources: Dr. Meyer's website Call Dr. Meyer's office 773-725-4979 http://thebackdoctorspodcast.com/ The Cox 8 Table by Haven Medical Find a Back Doctor

Dr. Nikolaos Kalogeropoulos shares a story about a 41-year-old male with a disc extrusion who was told he needed immediate surgery.  Listen as Dr. Nikolaos shares how he successfully treated this patient who ultimately did not require back surgery. Nikos Kalogeropoulos was born and raised in Johannesburg, South Africa. He qualified as a Chiropractor from the now University of Johannesburg in 1998 and in 1999 qualified as a Chiropractic Sport Physician. Along with his private practice he worked at many sporting events, from local events to international events, like the IAAF All African Games. In 2002 he starts his career in a private practice in Athens, Greece while parallel working with the top track and field Athletes of Greece for the upcoming Olympic Games in 2004. He continued to work at local and international sporting events. His experience with athletes expands his field of work in tennis, cycling, basketball, gymnastics, golf and football, rowing, swimming and many more. His main concern is the restoration of normal functioning of the vertebral column and generally the whole neuromuscular system. The main technique used for restoring normal functioning of the spine is the adjustment. The adjustment is a high velocity, short lever thrust directed specifically to alter the state of the three-joint complex, bringing ease and self-healing. Realizing that perfect functioning of the human body needs more than just perfect workings of the neuromusculoskeletal system. He believes that our emotional state plays a large role in our wellbeing. He therefore engaged in the teachings of Donald Epstein's Network Spinal Analysis now know as Epienergetics from 2005. From 2011 and for six consecutive years Nikos Kalogeropoulos voluntarily offers his services to the athletes of the 'Spartathlon', an ultra-marathon from Athens to Sparta covering a distance of 246 km non-stop. In 2015 he follows Pete Garbutt's seminars and becomes a certified Enhanced Running instructor. This technique is designed to identify and correct errors in your running technique that can put extra stress on areas such as knees and back. In 2015 he was the president of the organizing committee which organized the joint World Federation of Chiropractic and European Chiropractors Union convention in Athens Greece. As a further personal need to understand and approach patients in 2017 Nikos Kalogeropoulos embarks in a three-year course to become a health counsellor through Athens Synthesis Centre which is affiliated with COSCA (Counselling and Psychotherapy in Scotland). He is a member of the Hellenic Chiropractors Association (and was part of the executive council for 6 years), the European Chiropractors Union, the World Federation of Chiropractic. He is a Specialist Fellow in Sports with the European Academy of Chiropractors. A certified Rock Doc and certified in the Functional Range Release technique and Functional Anatomy. Resources: Connect with Dr. Kalogeropoulos Find a Cox Certified Doctor The Cox 8 Table by Haven Medical

Dr. Kurt Olding shares with us the latest published recommendations for conservative treatment for spinal stenosis. Dr. Kurt Olding has been in practice for over 40 years, opening Minster Chiropractic Center in 1986 after graduating from National College of Chiropractic in Lombard, IL in 1984. Through the years Dr. Kurt has enjoyed treating all age groups, from infants to athletes and parents to grandparents. He took special interest in sports medicine during his early years in practice, completing 300 hours of continuing education through the Certified Chiropractic Sports Physician program. Dr. Kurt earned Cox® Technic certification in 2009. In 2012 he began co-instructing the technique, and since 2015 has been a full-time instructor alongside Dr. James Cox, Dr. Ralph Kruse, and Dr. George Joachim. Through his work with Cox® Technic, Dr. Kurt has had several exciting opportunities. In March of 2016, he taught Cox® Technic in Bern, Switzerland as part of the Swiss Chiropractic Academy's "technique series" program. Later that month, he presented research on Cox® Technic with his mentor Dr. James Cox at the annual Association of Chiropractic Colleges Research Agenda Conference. Dr. Kurt co-authored a paper published in the June 2016 edition of the Journal of Chiropractic Medicine titled Chiropractic Distraction Spinal Manipulation on Post-surgical Continued Low Back and Radicular Pain patients: A Retrospective Case Series. In 2015, Dr. Kurt became board certified as a Chiropractic Orthopedist, and a Fellow of the Academy of Chiropractic Orthopedists (FACO). He is also a board member of the Academy of Chiropractic Orthopedists, serving since early 2016. Dr. Kurt and his wife Jackie are Minster natives. They have three children: Sunni, Kregg, and Jack. Sunni and her husband Tyler joined the practice in 2014. Resources: Minster Chiropractic Center [email protected] Find a Back Doctor thebackdoctorspodcast.com The Cox 8 Table by Haven Medical References: Young I, Dunning J, Butts R, Bliton P, Zacharko N, Garcia J, Mourad F, Charlebois C, Gorby P, Fernández-de-Las-Peñas C. Spinal manipulation and electrical dry needling as an adjunct to conventional physical therapy in patients with lumbar spinal stenosis: a multi-center randomized clinical trial. Spine J. 2024 Apr;24(4):590-600. doi: 10.1016/j.spinee.2023.12.002. Epub 2023 Dec 14. PMID: 38103739. Ammendolia C, Hofkirchner C, Plener J, Bussières A, Schneider MJ, Young JJ, Furlan AD, Stuber K, Ahmed A, Cancelliere C, Adeboyejo A, Ornelas J. Non-operative treatment for lumbar spinal stenosis with neurogenic claudication: an updated systematic review. BMJ Open. 2022 Jan 19;12(1):e057724. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2021-057724. PMID: 35046008; PMCID: PMC8772406.   Schneider MJ, Ammendolia C, Murphy DR, Glick RM, Hile E, Tudorascu DL, Morton SC, Smith C, Patterson CG, Piva SR. Comparative Clinical Effectiveness of Nonsurgical Treatment Methods in Patients With Lumbar Spinal Stenosis: A Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Netw Open. 2019 Jan 4;2(1):e186828. doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2018.6828. PMID: 30646197; PMCID: PMC6324321.   Bussières A, Cancelliere C, Ammendolia C, Comer CM, Zoubi FA, Châtillon CE, Chernish G, Cox JM, Gliedt JA, Haskett D, Jensen RK, Marchand AA, Tomkins-Lane C, O'Shaughnessy J, Passmore S, Schneider MJ, Shipka P, Stewart G, Stuber K, Yee A, Ornelas J. Non-Surgical Interventions for Lumbar Spinal Stenosis Leading To Neurogenic Claudication: A Clinical Practice Guideline. J Pain. 2021 Sep;22(9):1015-1039. doi: 10.1016/j.jpain.2021.03.147. Epub 2021 Apr 12. PMID: 33857615.   Comer C, Williamson E, McIlroy S, Srikesavan C, Dalton S, Melendez-Torres GJ, Lamb SE. Exercise treatments for lumbar spinal stenosis: A systematic review and intervention component analysis of randomised controlled trials. Clin Rehabil. 2024 Mar;38(3):361-374. doi: 10.1177/02692155231201048. Epub 2023 Sep 16. PMID: 37715644; PMCID: PMC10829420.   Bise CG, Schneider M, Freburger J, Fitzgerald GK, Switzer G, Smyda G, Peele P, Delitto A. First Provider Seen for an Acute Episode of Low Back Pain Influences Subsequent Health Care Utilization. Phys Ther. 2023 Sep 1;103(9):pzad067. doi: 10.1093/ptj/pzad067. PMID: 37379349.   Hernandez-Martínez J, Cid-Calfucura I, Vásquez-Carrasco E, Perez-Carcamo J, Herrera-Valenzuela T, Aravena-Sagardia P, Barramuño-Medina M, Valdés-Badilla P. Timed Up-and-Go as a predictor of fracture risk: a systematic review and meta-analysis in a population of over 1.6 million people. Front Public Health. 2026 May 11;14:1841017. doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2026.1841017. PMID: 42200137; PMCID: PMC13199231.   Henn MC, Rae A, Fecker AL, McIntyre M, Larsen A, Wright J. A Nationwide Survey of the Spine Education of Medical Students. Cureus. 2026 Apr 4;18(4):e106443. doi: 10.7759/cureus.106443. PMID: 42093772; PMCID: PMC13139429.   James G, Ahern B, Goodwin W, Goss B, Hodges P. ISSLS Prize in Basic Science 2025: Structural changes of muscle spindles in the multifidus muscle after intervertebral disk injury are resolved by targeted activation of the muscle. Eur Spine J. 2025 May;34(5):1600-1613. doi: 10.1007/s00586-025-08646-x. Epub 2025 Jan 15. Erratum in: Eur Spine J. 2025 May;34(5):2046. doi: 10.1007/s00586-025-08744-w. PMID: 39810036.   Gong G, Yan Z, Lai Q, You P, Yu P, Li X, Wang Z, Lin S, Dai Y, Jiang H, Liu J. Inflammation preservation strategy: reconciling pain control and disc resorption in lumbar disc herniation. Front Immunol. 2025 Sep 2;16:1653681. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2025.1653681. PMID: 40963597; PMCID: PMC12436131.

Dr. Lloyd Redington shares a story of a gentleman who experiences neck pain and arm symptoms.   Dr. Lloyd M. Redington, Jr. graduated from Palmer College of Chiropractic in 1999. He has been practicing chiropractic in Michigan since 1999.  In 2001 he opened the doors of Complete Chiropractic in Buchanan.  In 2006, the office relocated to Niles-Buchanan Road where we continue to serve the people of southwest Michigan and northern Indiana.  Dr. Redington is a Cox Certified practitioner and is knowledgeable in many different techniques including Gonstead, Activator, Diversified, Thompson and Pierce-Stillwagon. In addition to the different adjusting techniques, Dr. Redington has experience in the Active Release Technique (A.R.T), Sacral Occipital Technique (S.O.T) and Kinesio Taping. Dr. Lloyd Redington is a member of the Michigan Association of Chiropractors and the Colorado Chiropractic Association. Resources: Contact Dr. Redington Find a Back Doctor Discat-Plus-Enhanced The Cox 8 Table by Haven Medical