Case Study: How “Alex” Overcame the Fear of Bending Over

“Alex” (changed for patient confidentiality) came to me with a 2-year history of sciatica. The pain wasn’t constant anymore, but the fear was. Alex hadn’t bent over to tie their shoe or pick up their kid.

Alex was stuck in Protective Guarding. Every time they thought about bending, their back muscles seized up, causing the very pain they were trying to avoid.

The Strategy: The Success Ladder We didn’t force Alex to touch their toes on day one. We used the Traffic Light System discussed in this week’s podcast.

1. Week 1 (Green Light): We started with a hip hinge while sitting. Zero spine movement, just hips. Alex’s brain registered this as “Safe.”
2. Week 3 (Yellow Light): We introduced a standing hinge with a dowel rod for support. There was tension, but we used “somatic tracking”—focusing on the sensation without fear.
3. Week 6: We added a light weight (resistance).

The Result By Week 10, Alex wasn’t just bending over; they were deadlifting 45 lbs. The tissue hadn’t changed miraculously—the brain’s reaction to the movement had changed.

Don’t let fear rule your life. Book your Strategy Call.