Davis Horn Fitness
At thirty years old, I had undergone 8 steroid Injections and 2 back surgeries. No traditional treatments cured my back pain: surgery, steroid shots, acupuncture, chiropractic, physical therapy, ice baths, or meditation. The journey out of chronic pain lead me to a higher purpose, and to a friend, mentor, and motivation for this program, Brendan Backstrom. Brendan is leader in the low back pain and fitness community. He shepherded me into a realm of mindful training and collaborative discovery of the human anatomy. Through working with Brendan I discovered a higher passion to help people, understand pain patterns, and the healing value of an empathetic community. I am a leader in Brendan's program called Low Back Ability, and his inspiration to help others is the reason for this website and training program. I've curated my own approach on the Low Back Ability program while honoring the tenants of Brendan's "Back Breakthrough Blueprint," which make up the foundations of the back strength program for DH Fitness. The program offers a comprehensive analysis on the Low Back Ability Program, which I call Low Back Ability Unpacked.
Back pain is the leading cause of disability in the United States, and conventional back pain treatment is inconveniently mired in tradition and resistance to evidence based change. Brendan helped me to adapt me rehabilitate my back in light of a medical system plagued with a reluctance to change. The western clinical system keeps millions in a pain loop. In The DH Fitness adaptations there is value in areas that are overlooked by western medicine. While Brendan did not invent these exercises (save for the outer hip drop set!), he revived their relevancy. I am continuing this calling to guide as many people as possible toward a life that is free from confusion and alienation due to back pain. I owe my entire journey to Brendan Backstrom, who is helping thousands of people, including myself continue to banish back pain. The primary message in this training is mindfulness, and directional encouragement to HEAL YOURSELF with a push in the right direction. The primary goal in the Low Back Ability and DH Fitness programs is to help challenge the status quo within a culture of systemic shortcomings associated with the treatment of back pain. If you have a low back then you should train it!
Explore and redefine your relationship with low back pain.
I was stuck in a loop of back pain for 15-years. I found a new training method, based on building evidence in pain free ability. I not only eliminated my back pain, but became a superior athlete and stronger version of myself!
Upon injuring your back, most clinical professionals will advise you to “preserve” the spine. Exercises like "bird dogs, planks, bridges, and clam shells" are prescribed with little to no explanation as to why or how these movements build resilience in the spine - because they don't. These exercises are excellent for bracing the spine, but we are mobile creatures and cannot move through life like a robot, always bracing our core to pick up our child or move through life in fear of a back spasm when rounding forward.
Spinal bracing and the McGill Big 3 are excellent bracing protocols to practice immediately after acute injury, but these exercises do not build resilience in the spine when going into flexion and extension. This is because bracing exercises do not provide direct stimulus for the spine in everyday, normal human movements. When injuring ANY other body part, you are told to strengthen the area... but with a spinal injury the clinical dogma prescribes preservation. The spine craves direct strength training, blood flow, and resilience that translates to tolerance in natural human movements, like rounding the spine, and moving through life thoughtlessly and pain free.
So why is the spine any different?
Answer: It's not...
The spine heals the same way as every other body part, which is through direct blood flow to injured areas. It just so happens that a column of 33 joints needs special attention through slow and careful exercises regressions that slowly reinforce confidence is previously vulnerable movements while stimulating healing blood flow to the site of injury.
DH Fitness provides this protocol through hands on explanation of key exercises, mindful focus, and intentional movements to identify a clients window of pain-free ability, and slowly expand the size of that window. Eventually, through consistent deposits, celebration of progress, and nueroplastic reprograming, you will not longer resemble someone with low back pain.
This program teaches how to safely begin training the spine, altering an avoidance mindset, teaching confidence in flexion, and expanding pain-free abilities.
I will guide and show the framework to achieve success. Embark on a holistic rehab and fitness journey with emphases on strength based training through pain-free entry points.
