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The Flipping 50 Show

Let's start Flipping 50 with the energy and the vitality you want for this second half! I solve your biggest challenges and answer questions about how to move, what to eat, and when, along with the small lifestyle changes that can make the most difference in the least amount of time. Join me and my expert guests for safe, sane, simple solutions for your second (and better) half!

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  2. Save Your Knees and Shoulders Without Surgery

Save Your Knees and Shoulders Without Surgery

May 30, 2025

Save your knees and shoulders from the little discomfort doing usual activities or some swelling and inflammation.

If you aren’t sure whether you need physical therapy, you should get a referral, just need a massage or to lay off for a few days, this is your episode. 

I’m no stranger to physical therapy, but I am a foreigner in seeking support for any issues I’ve got. Mine have all come from some acute trauma or injury. I knew it and the answer was obvious, maybe for you too — to save your knees and shoulders without surgery!

 

My Guest:

Dr. David Middaugh is a specialist physical therapist who helps people avoid unnecessary surgery while getting back to being healthy, active, and mobile. He coaches people online and has a clinic where people are treated in person. His contrarian treatment approaches are focused on addressing the root cause of problems like arthritis and tendon tears so that people have the most control over their health.


Questions We Answer in This Episode:

  • [00:10:58] What makes you different from other physical therapists?
  • [00:14:12] Is it actually possible to heal osteoarthritis without surgery?
  • [00:20:28] What is unique about how you help people with knee pain?
  • [00:37:30] What about people with shoulder pain?

 

What is Manual Physical Therapy?

  • Hands-on body work to manipulate the soft tissues like your muscles, tendons, ligaments tend to be pretty good at moving the joints.
  • Fixing the root problem of knee and shoulder pain issues through movement.
  • Focused on fascia techniques and fascia related treatments.

 

What Really Works to Save Your Knees and Shoulders?

 

Knees

  • What to work on? Glutes.
    • If you have weakness in the glutes, that’s when the quads get over dominant.
  • The Science:
    • Quads have been overused causing knee arthritis or meniscus tear.
  • What to do?
    • Do your exercises primarily with your glutes.
      Your hamstrings and quads will still work – they just need to work secondary.
    • Can you figure out how to make your glutes contract apart from your thigh muscles? It's more gaining mental control over your muscles.
    • Stop walking. Turn on your glutes first.

 

Shoulders 

  • What to work on? Upper traps (trapezius).
    • If you have weak traps, there is more stress and tension holding the weight of the arm, shoulders and maybe chest..
  • The Science:
    • Rotator Cuff tears are one of the biggest problems because of weak upper traps.
  • What to do?
    • Shrug every time you reach up to use your traps.
      This preserves your ball and socket joint.
      If you don’t shrug, the socket faces outwards and compresses tissues.

 

Connect with Dr. David:

 

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