Most people think once they’re pain free, the problem is solved. But pain free doesn’t mean inhibition free. Muscle inhibition—the silent limiter that keeps certain muscles from firing—can stall your progress, cause recurring flare-ups, and make workouts feel harder than they should.

In this episode of Past Your Prime, Craig and Alex break down:

• What muscle inhibition really is (and why it lingers after rehab)

• The difference between the rehab gap and the therapeutic gap

• Key signs that your muscles aren’t firing (tightness, cramps, plateaus)

• Why you can test strong on the table but fail under load

• Common muscles that shut off (glutes, quads, rotator cuff, foot stabilizers)

• How to build warmups that screen and fix inhibition before training

• Why “pain free ≠ firing on all cylinders”

If you’ve been doing the work but keep hitting the same wall, this episode shows you the hidden reason—and how to clear it.

💡 Takeaway: Use your warmup as a daily screen. Treat the joint, wake up the right muscle, clear trigger points, and test your key signs.

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Welcome to Past Your Prime – the podcast for active adults balancing training, rehab, family, and real life.

Each episode, hosts Craig Smith and Alex Keicher dive into real-world strategies for overcoming injuries, staying strong, and living pain-free—even when life gets chaotic.

💡 Learn more, access resources, and join our community:👉 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠pastyourprime.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Follow us on Instagram:

📲 Alex – ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@spikerkeicher⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

📲 Craig – ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@craigsmithPT⁠