Pain Is in Your Brain: Beyond Conventional Physical Therapy with the Bodmechanic Andreas Saltas

Welcome to the 42nd episode of the Back to Human Podcast.

On this episode, I had the opportunity to sit down with Andreas Saltas, also known as the Bodmechanic. Andreas is a phyiscal therapist with a unique approach to physical rehabilitation and optimizing the body’s systems for health and performance. From vision and vestibular training to visceral therapy, Andreas shares insights on how focusing on our body’s foundational systems can improve both movement and recovery.

Andreas’ journey is especially inspiring—following a severe accident that left him temporarily paralyzed, he has since developed a deep understanding of rehabilitation, integrating diverse techniques that support the body holistically.

In this episode, we cover:

• Andreas’ rehabilitation journey after paralysis
• How our focus on screens impacts posture and leads to forward head position
•Techniques for improving visual acuity and Andreas’ “eye reset”
• Alternative ways to load exercises beyond just adding weight
• Are MRIs truly helpful or sometimes unnecessary?
• Andreas’ rehabilitation journey after paralysis
• Why eyeglasses may restrict natural eye function
• An introduction to visceral therapy and understanding referred organ pain
• How Andreas uses Kinesio tape for support and recovery
• Why not all treatment modalities work universally
• How the cerebellum supports accuracy, balance, and coordination (the “ABC’s”)
• Integrating vision and vestibular training with movement for better function
• The hierarchy of bodily systems: 1) Vision, 2) Vestibular, 3) Proprioception
• How Andreas uses bone conduction headphones
• Breathing techniques that stimulate specific brainstem areas like the midbrain, pons, and medulla
• Why the central nervous system governs all other body systems

Thank you for tuning in! Andreas’ journey and methods offer invaluable insights for anyone interested in maximizing movement, recovery, and body awareness. Share this episode with friends, family, or anyone you know who’s interested in the mind-body connection!

Follow Andreas on Instagram for more insights and updates on his work:

- @thebodmechanic (https://www.instagram.com/thebodmechanic/)

Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/james-andriella/support