The Vertue Podcast

• #37 - Back Pain and the Brain: Rethinking Chronic Discomfort

  Back pain is one of the most common health problems in the world — but also one of the most mysterious. Scans don’t always match symptoms, treatments don’t always provide relief, and many people feel stuck with ongoing discomfort.In this episode, I explore chronic, non-specific low back pain through a biopsychosocial lens. Basically, we’re looking beyond just the spine to understand how biology, psychology, and environment all shape the way pain is experienced.You’ll hear about:What makes non-specific low back pain so puzzlingHow pain perception actually works (pain ≠ tissue damage)Why the biopsychosocial model is key to understanding painThe role of self-regulation in shaping pain responsesWhat research says about meditation for back painHow to reframe back pain when you feel like you’re hitting a wallJournal prompts to reflect on your own experienceBy the end, you’ll have a new way to think about back pain, one that expands the options for healing beyond the body alone.Engel, G. L. (1977). The need for a new medical model: a challenge for biomedicine. Science, 196(4286), 129–136. (Origin of the biopsychosocial model)Study on self-regulation and pain: Wager, T. D., et al. (2013). An fMRI-based neurologic signature of physical pain. New England Journal of Medicine, 368(15), 1388–1397. (and related follow-up studies on cognitive self-regulation impacting autonomic markers — you summarised one in your notes)Systematic review on meditation and back pain: Cramer, H., et al. (2022). Meditation for adults with non-specific low back pain: a systematic review and meta-analysis. (Included 8 RCTs, ~1,234 participants, moderate-certainty evidence of small benefits for disability and long-term pain

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• #36 - Guided Progressive Muscle Relaxation for Recovery: Relaxation Beats Ice Baths.

  We programme strength, cardio, and mobility — but almost never relaxation. Yet research shows Progressive Muscle Relaxation lowers stress, calms anxiety, improves mood, and even deepens the most restorative stages of sleep.In this episode, I break down the evidence — from large systematic reviews to athlete studies — and then guide you through a full Progressive Muscle Relaxation session. You’ll finish not just knowing why relaxation matters, but experiencing its benefits in real time.Study 1: Muhammad Khir S, Wan Mohd Yunus WMA, Mahmud N, Wang R, Panatik SA, Mohd Sukor MS, Nordin NA. Efficacy of Progressive Muscle Relaxation in Adults for Stress, Anxiety, and Depression: A Systematic Review. Psychol Res Behav Manag. 2024 Feb 1;17:345-365. doi: 10.2147/PRBM.S437277. PMID: 38322293; PMCID: PMC10844009.Study 2: Simon KC, McDevitt EA, Ragano R, Mednick SC. Progressive muscle relaxation increases slow-wave sleep during a daytime nap. J Sleep Res. 2022 Oct;31(5):e13574. doi: 10.1111/jsr.13574. Epub 2022 Mar 30. PMID: 35355351; PMCID: PMC9786620.Study 3: Battaglini MP, Pessôa Filho DM, Calais SL, Miyazaki MCOS, Neiva CM, Espada MC, de Moraes MG, Verardi CEL. Analysis of Progressive Muscle Relaxation on Psychophysiological Variables in Basketball Athletes. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022 Dec 19;19(24):17065. doi: 10.3390/ijerph192417065. PMID: 36554945; PMCID: PMC9778808.

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• #35 - The Most Ignored Health Practice in Fitness: Why You Need to Start Training Relaxation

  In this episode I make the case for why relaxation should be treated as a trainable skill, not a luxury. We’ll explore what guided relaxation actually is, the science behind its benefits, and the fascinating mechanisms from nervous system regulation to dopamine release in the brain. You’ll learn why short daily practices are more powerful than the occasional long session, and how building relaxation into your routine can transform recovery, mood, and long-term performance. We’ll finish with a guided practice so you can experience it for yourself.

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• #34 - How to START AGAIN: When You Don’t Recognise Yourself

  Starting again in fitness can feel overwhelming; like you’ve lost progress in both body and mind. But the truth is, you haven’t gone back to zero. With the right approach, you can rebuild faster, smarter, and with more self-compassion than before.In this episode, I unpack the two sides of starting again:🧠 The Psychology: why restarting feels harder than beginning, how shame and identity play into the “I used to be fit” mindset, and how the stages of change model helps you actually stick with it this time.💪 The Physiology: what really happens to your muscles, cardiovascular fitness, and flexibility during a break, why you don’t lose as much as you think, and how to safely recondition your body without burning out.You’ll also learn:The a really important mindset shift to let go of guilt and rebuild momentumA realistic framework for your first week back, without trying to “make up for lost time”How to measure progress in a way that keeps you motivatedIf you’ve ever felt like you don’t recognise your body anymore or that you’ve failed too many times to start again, this episode will show you how to press reset, with both science and compassion on your side.

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• #33 - Time Poor, Health Poor; Why Busy Isn’t Better

  We often think of time as something we manage, but what if our relationship with time is managing us? In this episode, we explore time poverty as more than a scheduling issue: it’s a psychological, cultural, and physiological phenomenon that shapes how we live, train, and recover. From the neuroscience of cognitive overload to the cultural obsession with busyness as a status symbol, we unpack why so many of us feel like we never have enough time and how that perception impacts our health, motivation, and sense of self.You’ll also learn evidence-based tools to reframe your relationship with time; including values-based scheduling, time blocking as a form of nervous system regulation, and a reflective exercise that helps you reconnect with the moments that matter.

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