October 7, 2025 • 7 mins
Dr. Larry Benz is founder of Confluent Health (Pro Rehab) and chairman of the University of Louisville board of trustees.
We talked with Larry about the year end push for people to get surgeries instead of taking the path of physical therapy. Larry's got the pros and cons of either path.
Also, where should exercisers commit to stretching...pre or post workout? Larry has insights on preserving your body with the proper dose of stretching every day.
We talked with Larry about the year end push for people to get surgeries instead of taking the path of physical therapy. Larry's got the pros and cons of either path.
Also, where should exercisers commit to stretching...pre or post workout? Larry has insights on preserving your body with the proper dose of stretching every day.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Welcome. Good to have you back on as always, and
I never did say congratulations on being appointed again as
chair of the University of Louisville's Board of Trustees. I
know you've worked hard on behalf of the university for
a lot of years, and that's greatly appreciated. In fact,
because of you, I cross paths with the incoming president
his inaugurations when this week soon.
Speaker 2 (00:21):
This Friday, Yeah, it'd be a great time. Yeah, Friday,
probably mid morning.
Speaker 1 (00:25):
Well, he was delightful. I've spoken to him in your
close proximity the other day at the football game, and
I'm really really taken with doctor Bradley. So hope all's
well on the University of Louisville campus. You and I
we talk about health, pro rehabs, all about physical therapy.
So I thought a good time, this is a good
time of year that we bring up this whole notion
(00:46):
of well, the end of the year's coming and I
might get a surgery here there, But what about some
of the other options for someone who's considering I need
to do this, or maybe I should try physical therapy,
say you, doctor Ben's you know, it's a.
Speaker 2 (01:02):
Great question because it's really common for folks to think
two things, One that surgery is their only option or
that they have to use their insurance benefits. If you
really think about years and years ago, this was a
non phenomenon. We didn't have this sort of recurring deductible
that we had to meet, and so what that has
done is pushed people to make decisions purely for financial concerns.
(01:26):
And what you have to really consider is what is
the evidence behind the surgery that you're doing. In the
case of muscular skeletal cases that you know we talk
about with your shoulders and in arms and legs and
back and spine, you've got a lot more research that
suggests that conservative treatment like physical therapy is is good
or better than surgery. And the reality is you really
(01:48):
need to get a second opinion on it from somebody
who could provide conservative care and tell you whether or
not that's a better option for you. You know, it's fascinating
that we take very good care of our cars, in
part because they have these bells and whistles that tell
us when we need oil changes, and you know, the
tires are a little deflated and all these other kind
(02:08):
of warning signs, and we have to think of our
body in the same way. Oftentimes. Now we have a
lot of I know from time time you have Henry
Sadloe on and there's a lot of very good data
points around. You know, your blood pressure for example, resting
heart rate VO two max APPO B or cholesterol whatever,
whatever your thing is. But you have to look at
(02:29):
your muscular skeletal framework in the same way. And now
what does that look like. Well, the bodies are made
to move, and we really need annual assessments of our
ability to move, our ability to stretch, flexibility and posture
and as we age strengthening. Now there's some good news,
where's a very low bar to maintain your strength and
(02:49):
posture and get better flexibility. But those are the key
things that we recommend folks look at rather than just
jumping in for insurance reasons that they need to have surgery.
It's a tricky, wicked for sure, but think of your body,
think of the warning signs, and think of all the
muscular skeletal things that you want to take care of yourself.
Speaker 1 (03:08):
I think people sometimes get nudged by peer pressure into
going under the knife when really something simpler would suit
the purposes.
Speaker 2 (03:19):
No, it's exactly right, it's preventive maintenance, just like again
you would do on a car. Keep in mind, when
you have conservative treatment, you got a much shorter recovery
and a lot lower risk. Every surgery brings risks of infection,
blood coots, you know, complications, whereas physical therapy really offers
a much stafer and quicker route to regaining function, you know,
(03:40):
without the downtime of an operation. So don't get nudged into,
you know, a guilty feeling or an encouragement of surgery,
nudged into assessing your body and what capabilities you have.
But even if you end up with surgery, that'll still
likely give you a better quicker recovery with prere have,
which is what we call physical therapy before surgery, and
(04:03):
then obviously your post post surgical physical therapy and.
Speaker 1 (04:08):
D we're speaking with doctor Larry Ben some pro rehab.
You mentioned stretching. This is so critically important, So let's
go over this again. Here we come into fall and
temperatures get a little cooler. Is stretching necessary prior to
starting or should it be just light stretching and then
more intense stretching after you've heated your body through your workouts.
Speaker 2 (04:30):
Well, you are a great student, Terry, and you are
exactly what you articulate is exactly what we recommend, which
is you don't want to stress cold muscles. You want
to get them moving, you want to get them warmed up.
A lot of people wear extra clothing and they start
out with some movement, and if you're going to do
any stretching at all, in that case, you certainly want
(04:52):
to do it do it lighter. We tend to think
of stretching in really two ways. Dynamic stretching, which if
you can just picture somebody kind of know, dynamically moving
their arm up and down or statically, meaning that you're
stretching the joint in a very static or you know,
simple position and getting you know, trying to get more tissue,
(05:12):
you know, enhancement there. But also keep in mind that
stretching does some good things prior to activity. It increases
your blood flow. It actually there's been good, good, you know,
research on that. It helps your performance. And then the
biggest one, of course, is that it reduces your risk
of injury. You've seen in fact Lamar Jackson missing you
know a game maybe more than one for a you know,
(05:34):
stretched or torn or who knows how significant it is hamstring, Well,
those are the types of muscles. Those in your arms
are the type in your shoulder are the ones you
want to take these really long, you know muscles, Get
a warmer, get blood flow going there, and then do
some dynamic stretching along the way, and you'll be much
more facilitated towards success.
Speaker 1 (05:54):
If you went for a run in cooler weather, should
you stretch indoors where it's warm after you finish your
run or does it matter.
Speaker 2 (06:02):
Either indoor or if you're going to be outdoor, make
sure you've got layers of clothing on so that you
do it in as warm a condition as you can
so that you don't risk that injury. Muscles are not
made to be stretched when it's cold outside.
Speaker 1 (06:19):
But the post exercise stretch is really a critical component too.
And it's okay to stretch for a while because you've
overheated your body with the workout.
Speaker 2 (06:31):
That's exactly right. Here's a good way I think about
stretching post workout. That's when you're going to get your
maximum benefit for enhancing your flexibility. Stretching beforehand is to
get you ready for performance. Get you ready for activity.
Stretching afterwards is to try and enhance, elongate, or get
better flexibilities you get older. In fact, if you don't
(06:53):
know whether or not your flexibility is any good, certainly
you can go to your AI of choice and say,
what are some simple to us, or more importantly, try
to get a free screen from a physical therapist what
are called functional movement screens, and they will tell you
relative to your age, your sex, in your activity level,
whether or not your shoulders, your hamstrings, your spine is normal,
(07:16):
below normal, or in some cases above normal. And what
I tell people is you don't want to be too
much above normal. And it's come to stretches. It's like scissors.
If they're too loose, they don't cut. If they're too
tight they don't cut.
Speaker 1 (07:26):
So you got to be careful, Well done, appreciate all
the info.
Speaker 2 (07:29):
Larry always, Thanks Terry.
Speaker 1 (07:33):
There you go, Doctor Larry Ben's founder of Confluent Health
that's known as pro rehab in these parts
Welcome. Good to have you back on as always, and
I never did say congratulations on being appointed again as
chair of the University of Louisville's Board of Trustees. I
know you've worked hard on behalf of the university for
a lot of years, and that's greatly appreciated. In fact,
because of you, I cross paths with the incoming president
his inaugurations when this week soon.
Speaker 2 (00:21):
This Friday, Yeah, it'd be a great time. Yeah, Friday,
probably mid morning.
Speaker 1 (00:25):
Well, he was delightful. I've spoken to him in your
close proximity the other day at the football game, and
I'm really really taken with doctor Bradley. So hope all's
well on the University of Louisville campus. You and I
we talk about health, pro rehabs, all about physical therapy.
So I thought a good time, this is a good
time of year that we bring up this whole notion
(00:46):
of well, the end of the year's coming and I
might get a surgery here there, But what about some
of the other options for someone who's considering I need
to do this, or maybe I should try physical therapy,
say you, doctor Ben's you know, it's a.
Speaker 2 (01:02):
Great question because it's really common for folks to think
two things, One that surgery is their only option or
that they have to use their insurance benefits. If you
really think about years and years ago, this was a
non phenomenon. We didn't have this sort of recurring deductible
that we had to meet, and so what that has
done is pushed people to make decisions purely for financial concerns.
(01:26):
And what you have to really consider is what is
the evidence behind the surgery that you're doing. In the
case of muscular skeletal cases that you know we talk
about with your shoulders and in arms and legs and
back and spine, you've got a lot more research that
suggests that conservative treatment like physical therapy is is good
or better than surgery. And the reality is you really
(01:48):
need to get a second opinion on it from somebody
who could provide conservative care and tell you whether or
not that's a better option for you. You know, it's fascinating
that we take very good care of our cars, in
part because they have these bells and whistles that tell
us when we need oil changes, and you know, the
tires are a little deflated and all these other kind
(02:08):
of warning signs, and we have to think of our
body in the same way. Oftentimes. Now we have a
lot of I know from time time you have Henry
Sadloe on and there's a lot of very good data
points around. You know, your blood pressure for example, resting
heart rate VO two max APPO B or cholesterol whatever,
whatever your thing is. But you have to look at
(02:29):
your muscular skeletal framework in the same way. And now
what does that look like. Well, the bodies are made
to move, and we really need annual assessments of our
ability to move, our ability to stretch, flexibility and posture
and as we age strengthening. Now there's some good news,
where's a very low bar to maintain your strength and
(02:49):
posture and get better flexibility. But those are the key
things that we recommend folks look at rather than just
jumping in for insurance reasons that they need to have surgery.
It's a tricky, wicked for sure, but think of your body,
think of the warning signs, and think of all the
muscular skeletal things that you want to take care of yourself.
Speaker 1 (03:08):
I think people sometimes get nudged by peer pressure into
going under the knife when really something simpler would suit
the purposes.
Speaker 2 (03:19):
No, it's exactly right, it's preventive maintenance, just like again
you would do on a car. Keep in mind, when
you have conservative treatment, you got a much shorter recovery
and a lot lower risk. Every surgery brings risks of infection,
blood coots, you know, complications, whereas physical therapy really offers
a much stafer and quicker route to regaining function, you know,
(03:40):
without the downtime of an operation. So don't get nudged into,
you know, a guilty feeling or an encouragement of surgery,
nudged into assessing your body and what capabilities you have.
But even if you end up with surgery, that'll still
likely give you a better quicker recovery with prere have,
which is what we call physical therapy before surgery, and
(04:03):
then obviously your post post surgical physical therapy and.
Speaker 1 (04:08):
D we're speaking with doctor Larry Ben some pro rehab.
You mentioned stretching. This is so critically important, So let's
go over this again. Here we come into fall and
temperatures get a little cooler. Is stretching necessary prior to
starting or should it be just light stretching and then
more intense stretching after you've heated your body through your workouts.
Speaker 2 (04:30):
Well, you are a great student, Terry, and you are
exactly what you articulate is exactly what we recommend, which
is you don't want to stress cold muscles. You want
to get them moving, you want to get them warmed up.
A lot of people wear extra clothing and they start
out with some movement, and if you're going to do
any stretching at all, in that case, you certainly want
(04:52):
to do it do it lighter. We tend to think
of stretching in really two ways. Dynamic stretching, which if
you can just picture somebody kind of know, dynamically moving
their arm up and down or statically, meaning that you're
stretching the joint in a very static or you know,
simple position and getting you know, trying to get more tissue,
(05:12):
you know, enhancement there. But also keep in mind that
stretching does some good things prior to activity. It increases
your blood flow. It actually there's been good, good, you know,
research on that. It helps your performance. And then the
biggest one, of course, is that it reduces your risk
of injury. You've seen in fact Lamar Jackson missing you
know a game maybe more than one for a you know,
(05:34):
stretched or torn or who knows how significant it is hamstring, Well,
those are the types of muscles. Those in your arms
are the type in your shoulder are the ones you
want to take these really long, you know muscles, Get
a warmer, get blood flow going there, and then do
some dynamic stretching along the way, and you'll be much
more facilitated towards success.
Speaker 1 (05:54):
If you went for a run in cooler weather, should
you stretch indoors where it's warm after you finish your
run or does it matter.
Speaker 2 (06:02):
Either indoor or if you're going to be outdoor, make
sure you've got layers of clothing on so that you
do it in as warm a condition as you can
so that you don't risk that injury. Muscles are not
made to be stretched when it's cold outside.
Speaker 1 (06:19):
But the post exercise stretch is really a critical component too.
And it's okay to stretch for a while because you've
overheated your body with the workout.
Speaker 2 (06:31):
That's exactly right. Here's a good way I think about
stretching post workout. That's when you're going to get your
maximum benefit for enhancing your flexibility. Stretching beforehand is to
get you ready for performance. Get you ready for activity.
Stretching afterwards is to try and enhance, elongate, or get
better flexibilities you get older. In fact, if you don't
(06:53):
know whether or not your flexibility is any good, certainly
you can go to your AI of choice and say,
what are some simple to us, or more importantly, try
to get a free screen from a physical therapist what
are called functional movement screens, and they will tell you
relative to your age, your sex, in your activity level,
whether or not your shoulders, your hamstrings, your spine is normal,
(07:16):
below normal, or in some cases above normal. And what
I tell people is you don't want to be too
much above normal. And it's come to stretches. It's like scissors.
If they're too loose, they don't cut. If they're too
tight they don't cut.
Speaker 1 (07:26):
So you got to be careful, Well done, appreciate all
the info.
Speaker 2 (07:29):
Larry always, Thanks Terry.
Speaker 1 (07:33):
There you go, Doctor Larry Ben's founder of Confluent Health
that's known as pro rehab in these parts
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