How to Train Without Pain (Back, Shoulders, Mobility & Strength) | Dr. John Rusin

Introduction to Dr. John Rusin00:00

Dr. Eddie Galpin introduces Dr. John Rusin, a physical therapist and world expert in pain and performance. The conversation focuses on staying out of and returning from chronic pain, covering back, neck, shoulder, and knee issues. Rusin's career has centered on using warm-ups, corrective exercises, soft tissue work, and foam rolling to create measurable changes for people in pain or seeking performance improvements.

Dr. Rusin's Background and Career Path01:31

Dr. Rusin grew up in a household with both parents holding doctorates—his mother had a PhD and worked at Damon College in Buffalo, New York, while his father had a doctorate in education and served as athletic director for 27 schools in Western New York. Rusin played college baseball, then worked as a Division I strength and conditioning coach. He enrolled in a Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) program with a scholarship, completing two semesters before realizing clinical practice was not his path. Out of his graduating class of 74, he was the only one who did not take a physical therapy job, instead returning to sports performance with his new credentials.

The Blend of Physical Therapy and Performance Training03:32

Rusin describes himself as "the ugly duckling" for taking physical therapy training back into performance rather than clinical settings. The key insight from his DPT education was learning how to rebuild a human body in pain, which he knew would serve his athletes and clients. He notes that approximately 90% of kinesiology or exercise science undergraduates intend to attend physical therapy school, though only about 5% actually get in.