Building Bulletproof Backs Ep 8 - Mountain Bike STACKS with Andrew Mann

Welcome to the Eight episode of the Building a Bulletproof Back podcast.

This podcast aims to empower listeners with HOPE that healing is possible when you know how. We discuss strategic tools addressing mental, physical and emotional Health.

To Build your own Bulletproof Back go Here
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I am your host, Marion McRae, a physiotherapist & movement addict on a mission to see the existing model of treating back pain evolve. The current model is broken. It focusses almost entirely on the physical body, neglecting the fact that we are all both thinkers and feelers. When the thoughts in our head, and the the emotions in our bodies are less than optimal, we fail to thrive. 

Our Guest for this episode is a humble, athletic, super intelligent Family Man - Andrew Mann. Andrew went for a mountain bike ride with mates and ended up in hospital for weeks after "head butting" a tree at full pace. His insights into traumatically acquired spinal injuries, the affects on family, and the path to recovery are well articulated. We discuss -

Andrew’s tools:

1. Physical - Slow your Breathing to stay calm, walking, pool, gym, modify desk set up
2. Mental - Set yourself Challenges, ask lots of questions to empower yourself and tell yourself "YOU WILL GET BETTER", set yourself a new normal
3. Emotional - Respect the signals from your body, learn about Good Pain vs Bad Pain

Andrew’s Top  3 tips -

1. Mental Attitude - Tell yourself " It will get better" , set yourself small challenges, work with educated team members (physios, osteos, exercise physiologists, etc), eat healthy, cut alcohol. 
2. Understand the Dysfunction in your Spine - ask questions
3. DON'T STOP moving (even from bed if you have to) - Walking 
4. Carry on with Back maintenance ongoing, include variety. 

Links : Compression Fracture of T7, ribs, liver rupture.

Post Fusion Scar
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1u-h5lm0z3xDvqVuRyZN7BN9nSUYQ8oif/view?usp=sharing

Xray - Mind blowing!
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ed8ZsiWIpJ7iCxvMfVq5wcrB2kvp8IU4/view?usp=sharing

If you resonated with any of today's conversations and think perhaps you may like to Build your own Bulletproof Back, or assist a loved one on their journey - Please check out my website.

Marion's Top 3 Tips for creating a Bulletproof Back are Here
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yx8e1dMuDJg&t=188s