93 | Addressing the root cause of pain & treatment with Dr. Leada Malek
Welcome to episode 93 of The Optimal Body Podcast
Addressing the root cause of pain & treatment with Dr. Leada Malek
You are not defined by your injury, your pain, your diagnosis, or what the MRI scan depicts. Dr Malek emphasizes the significance of rapport and her ultimate goals of creating a brain-safe environment for all “athletes of life.” Through her unique and individualized method, Dr. Malek re-iterates how vital it is to explore novelty, optimal sensation, and what “good discomfort” feels like in your body By delving into what works for your body, Dr. Malek rediscovers the role of the brain and how the brain controls the way you perceive your circumstances, address your concerns, consider advice, and move. She discusses her holistic process in deviating focus away from a diagnosis or an MRI scan, but rather towards education and your biopsychosocial context. In her eyes, the brain directs the value and success of your physical therapy. Soon after, she dives into the realm of PT myths, dissecting common preconceptions around manual therapy and emphasizing mind-body connection. In light of her biopsychosocial approach, Dr. Malek speaks to how athleticism, as an aspect of identity, links to overtraining and the athlete trial concept. She explains symptoms of overtraining and the significance of seeking personalized help. Listen in as Dr. Malek inspires you to “trust that people care about you and want you to get better!”
We also mention Vivo Barefoot in this episode. Experience how you can feel something different within the body by addressing the feet. The feet remain the foundations of our bodies. It’s time to free up those feet! Not only are Vivobarefoot shoes beneficial to your health, but the environment as well. Everyone will benefit from a pair (or two) of barefoot shoes! Get your next wide and highly flexible footwear to free your feet, use code ‘OPTIMAL‘ (affiliate code).
What you will learn in this interview with Dr. Leada Malek:
4:51 – What fuels Dr. Malek?
6:54 – Why Dr. Malek continued to specialize
8:20 – The importance of exploring your body
12:49 – Why Dr. Malek steered away from diagnosing herself
17:46 – Multiple approaches to one diagnosis
21:10 – The whole person vs their injury
24:25 – Pain science
28:02 – Dissecting PT myths
35:47 – Symptoms of overtraining
39:10 – Advice for feelings of pain & hopelessness
42:23 – Exploring more with Dr. Malek
About Dr. Leada Malek:
Dr. Leada Malek is a board-certified clinical specialist in sports physical therapy and has worked in outpatient sports & orthopedics for the last 5 years. She recently started her own business offering virtual PT to help reach people who couldn’t receive care in person due to the pandemic. While her primary patient population includes competitive athletes and dancers, she treats a wide range of orthopedic injuries. Her philosophy includes treating the whole person, not just the injury; health and fitness are a lifestyle for longevity and well-being, and mental and physical health are equally important and influence each other.
Items mentioned:
We think you’ll love:
Thank you so much for checking out this episode of The Optimal Body Podcast. If you haven’t done so already, please take a minute to subscribe and leave a quick rating and review of the show!
Follow Me on Insta
Treat Yo'Self!
Sign up to receive NEW updates and exclusive mobility and movement tips! Learn how to relieve pain, prevent injury, and optimize movement through WEEKLY newsletters!