Old injuries that never seem to stay gone?
Taking time off, stretching harder, or grinding through ibuprofen won’t break the cycle. If you keep re-irritating the same spots, it’s not because you’re weak or unlucky—it’s because your programming isn’t addressing tissue capacity and you’re ignoring the feedback that matters.

In this episode of Past Your Prime, Craig uses Alex as a live case study to show how recurring injuries happen and—more importantly—how to stop them. We dig into the body inventory, needs analysis, and therapeutic gap to build a framework that actually reduces flare-ups and keeps you on the court, field, or trail.

You’ll learn how to set up training that builds resilience instead of breakdowns, why key signs are non-negotiable, and why warm-ups and cool-downs are more than box-checking—they’re your chance to test and reset your body so it recovers stronger.

In this episode:– Why old injuries keep coming back (and why “time off” isn’t the fix)– How to use a body inventory and needs analysis to prioritize what really matters– The concept of the therapeutic gap and why athletes with high physical capacity are at higher risk– Why warm-ups and cool-downs should revolve around your key signs– How to design a simple, two-day program that builds tissue capacity without triggering flare-ups– Why avoiding unforced errors in the gym is the key to staying competitive

If you’re tired of living in flare-up mode and want to finally build confidence in your body again, this one’s for you.

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Welcome to Past Your Prime – the podcast for active adults balancing training, rehab, family, and real life.

Each episode, hosts Craig Smith and Alex Keicher dive into real-world strategies for overcoming injuries, staying strong, and living pain-free—even when life gets chaotic.

💡 Learn more, access resources, and join our community:👉 ⁠⁠⁠pastyourprime.com⁠⁠

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Follow us on Instagram:

📲 Alex – ⁠⁠@spikerkeicher⁠⁠

📲 Craig – ⁠⁠@craigsmithPT⁠

“Ever pushed through a workout just because it was on the plan—only to pay for it later?
Most athletes and lifters know the trap: the program says one thing, your body says another. That’s where autoregulation comes in.

In Episode 35 of Past Your Prime, Alex and Craig break down how to adjust a structured program in real time without losing progress. Alex shares what he’s been hearing about “intuitive exercise,” Craig explains why skill and measurement matter, and together they walk through the tools you can actually use to autoregulate training—so you know when to regress, lateralize, or progress.

In this episode:
– Why rigidly sticking to a plan often backfire– The difference between intuitive exercise and autoregulation– Key autoregulation tools: RPE, reps in reserve, fatigue response levels, and key signs– How to use tissue, energy, and exercise capacity to guide decisions– Regression, lateralization, and progression explained– Real-world examples from Alex’s training and injuries

____________________________________

Welcome to Past Your Prime – the podcast for active adults balancing training, rehab, family, and real life.

Each episode, hosts Craig Smith and Alex Keicher dive into real-world strategies for overcoming injuries, staying strong, and living pain-free—even when life gets chaotic.

💡 Learn more, access resources, and join our community:👉 ⁠⁠pastyourprime.com⁠

⁠

Follow us on Instagram:

📲 Alex – ⁠@spikerkeicher⁠

📲 Craig – ⁠@craigsmithPT

Still jumping, landing, and lifting—but your knees don’t feel the same?

In this episode, Craig and Alex break down the 5-Level Framework for keeping your knees healthy, strong, and pain-free—especially if you’re an active adult dealing with old injuries, stubborn swelling, or a history of patellar pain.

Whether you’re playing pickup sports, chasing kids, or just want to train without blowing out your knees, this episode walks you through exactly what to fix—and in what order.

You’ll learn how to spot silent breakdowns like quad inhibition, why force absorption matters more than power production, and how smart loading (not fancy exercises) keeps you in the game.

In this episode:– The 4 non-negotiables for knee health– Why quad inhibition quietly ruins your performance– How to test if your muscles are “shut off” (and what to do)– Force absorption vs. power: why it’s the missing link in injury prevention– Movement patterns that wreck your landings– Why “fixing your glutes” isn’t always the answer– How to spot faulty movement (valgus, stiffness, asymmetry)– Real recovery strategies (not just ice and tape)– Why weekly and monthly load planning matters more than random rest– How to stop masking symptoms—and start managing your knee

____________________________________

Welcome to Past Your Prime – the podcast for active adults balancing training, rehab, family, and real life.

Each episode, hosts Craig Smith and Alex Keicher dive into real-world strategies for overcoming injuries, staying strong, and living pain-free—even when life gets chaotic.

💡 Learn more, access resources, and join our community:👉 ⁠pastyourprime.com

⁠

Follow us on Instagram:📲 Alex – @spikerkeicher📲 Craig – @craigsmithPT