The Health Hexagon

In this episode, physiotherapist Kevin Hunt discusses The Purpose of Pain and why hurt and harm are not the same thing. He asks us to question what the role of pain is when it comes to looking after our health and wellbeing and why sometimes these important signals can become fearful triggers if we don't pay attention to their true purpose in the first instance.

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Article - Do you know what your pain system is trying to tell y...

In this episode Physiotherapist and author Kevin Hunt discusses how the brain learns and how it makes associations directly and indirectly. He explores why these circuits of information known as "neurotags" can be helpful and unhelpful. How they influence our view of the world and impact on the choices we make. Such choices have consequences for the health and wellbeing of our current and future self. He compares the understanding ...

This excerpt from Kevin Hunt's "The Funny Thing About Whiskey" uses the analogy of comedy to explain pain management. Hunt argues that, like a comedian eliciting an instinctive laugh before critical thought sets in, pain often involves a reflexive response before conscious analysis. He explains how past experiences and individual differences shape our reactions, impacting both how we find humour and how we perceive pain. The author...

This episode discusses a blog post from Spinal Physio exploring the "bucket" analogy to explain health, wellbeing and pain management. It describes the body's capacity to tolerate stress as a bucket that fills with activities and empties with recovery methods. Pain arises when the "bucket" overflows, exceeding the body's capacity.

The author proposes a "health hexagon" framework—incorporating physical load, cognitive load, emotiona...

This blog post, "Knock Knock," by Kevin Hunt, discusses the negative impact of constant notifications and interruptions on mental and physical wellbeing, likening it to the smoking of our time. These blog posts discuss the importance of managing stress and maintaining work-life balance for overall health and wellbeing. The author uses analogies, such as a demanding toddler representing overwhelming emails to illustrate how prioriti...

This episode discusses an article from Spinal Physio debunking five common myths about back pain. The author, Kevin Hunt, a physiotherapist, argues that bending and twisting aren't inherently harmful, slipped discs are a misnomer, muscle pulls are often misdiagnosed sprains, sleep posture isn't a primary cause, and pelvic misalignment is usually overstated. He emphasises the importance of challenging the tendency to attribute pain ...

The conversation is based on an excerpt from Kevin Hunt's essay, arguing that prioritising one's own wellbeing over accepting appointments, even from high-profile individuals like Elon Musk, is crucial for long-term health and success.

Hunt’s rationale centres on his "Health Hexagon" philosophy, which focuses on six key areas for health. He argues that sacrificing his dedicated time for exercise – which costs him financially – is a ...