Smith Performance Center - Physical Therapy & Strength Training

10/22/2026

Struggling with pain during a shoulder workout, or press movements, or even when putting on a seatbelt?

In this episode of Past Your Prime, pro volleyball player Alex Keicher and physical therapist Craig Smith break down the truth behind shoulder impingement. Most active adults treat shoulder pain like an isolated joint issue: resting, avoiding pressing, or stretching without addressing the true root causes.

Dr. Craig Smith reveals why blaming your rotator cuff alone often misses the real culprits: thoracic spine stiffness, neck dysfunction, and poor scapular control.

Watch the full episode: https://youtu.be/_GGdLwAskAs

Learn the clinical breakdown of subacromial vs. coracoid impingement, how your shoulder mechanics work, and the step-by-step loading progression needed to create space in the joint, achieve pain-free living, and build resilient upper-body power.

10/20/2026

10/20/2026

Most Walk-Run Programs Fail After an Injury

Think you just need more cardio endurance to return to running after an injury?

Dr. Craig explains why standard walk-run programs fail for active adults: they treat rehab as a cardiovascular issue instead of building tissue capacity.

When returning to running or overcoming injuries, progressing too fast without monitoring tissue tolerance causes the wheels to come off.

10/18/2026

The Best Way To Warm Up For Running | 2-3 Minutes Guide

Are you warming up for your runs just by jogging or walking? Dr. Craig Smith breaks down why walking warm up can actually lead to muscle inhibition and injuries.

For active adults and professional runners overcoming injuries, activating force absorption muscles is everything.

Instead of standard stretching, learn a quick 2-to-3 minutes activation routine: targeting glute activation with isometric clamshells, quad engagement with straight leg raises, and calf raise variations. This will help your joints, improves "muscle tightness" feeling, and builds tissue capacity for pain free living.

10/15/2026

Getting back to running after an injury is frustrating. You take time off, feel better, lace up your shoes, and suddenly the exact same pain flares back up. The problem isn't running itself: it's jumping back in without understanding tissue capacity, tolerance and force absorption.

In this episode of the Past Your Prime Podcast, Alex and Craig walk you through a step-by-step framework for returning to running after an injury.

Watch the full episode: https://youtu.be/Id1MB2aVz4Y

You’ll learn how to identify the specific structure getting overloaded during gait, how to vet your "key sign," and how to use a structured discovery run to find your exact edge of tolerance. We also detail an essential pre-run muscle activation routine (targeting the glutes, quads, calves, and feet) and explain how breaking your runs into workable sets allows active adults to rebuild endurance while keeping pain away for good.

10/13/2026

How To Pick the Right Shoe For Your Feet

Are your shoe wear patterns signaling a problem? Learn how your footwear choices impact your foot health and calluses.

We often focus on the miles we log, but the specific wear on your soles tells a story about how your feet function. When comparing a wide toe box design to more traditional, snug trail running shoes, the distribution of pressure changes significantly. This shift in how your foot interacts with the ground can be the difference between natural movement and developing specific grip calluses on your toes.

Understanding this relationship helps you make better decisions about your gear. If you are noticing persistent foot calluses or uneven wear, it might be time to evaluate whether your current footwear aligns with your foot mechanics. Small adjustments in your shoe selection can lead to better comfort and long-term foot health.

10/11/2026

Why You Keep Missing Your Workout

When it comes to building sustainable fitness habits, overcoming fitness plateaus, and maintaining a pain-free routine, motivation isn't the real issue: it's calendar management. Learn why carving out dedicated time in a busy schedule is the essential skill active adults need to build lasting workout consistency and prevent burnout.

Struggling to stay consistent with your workout routine? Physical therapist Craig Smith addresses a common comment debate about finding time to train.



Struggling to stay consistent with your workout routine? Physical therapist Craig Smith addresses a common comment debate about finding time to train. Discover more: https://youtu.be/6d1_jIl0Dbk

10/08/2026

Join us for an audience Q&A session on Past Your Prime to discuss injury recovery, chronic pain management, and physical therapy tips.

Watch the full episode: https://youtu.be/6cmpF0mKPEs

In this episode, we address specific viewer questions ranging from humorous training inquiries to serious discussions about living with hemiplegia and managing a fused knee. Whether you are navigating a complex injury recovery or looking for practical advice on maintaining movement quality, these insights provide actionable steps for your own health journey.

10/06/2026

Why Experts Don't Get Stuck: Are You Actually Practicing or Just Having Fun?

Are your training sessions purposeful or are you just staying in your comfort zone? Peak performance requires deliberate practice.

As adults, this quality practice often means actively targeting your weaknesses rather than just doing what feels easy or fun. It is the key difference between mindless repetition and purposeful training, if you truly want to unlock real performance gains.