To learn more about The LBP Intensive™ program Click Here
In this episode, Mez sits down with a brilliant chiropractor, Dr. Sean Nealon, DC for a raw convo on what it really takes to evolve as a clinician in this day and age.
They unpack:
Sean's interesting take on "finding your passion" in sports & orthopedic rehab
A "con-ed trap" clinicians need to avoid at all cost.
His thoughts and struggles trying to blend various rehab approaches like McGill, McKenzie, DNS, PNF, neurodynamics, and others into a practical system that logically made sense.
How he finally learned to reconcile these various models instead of getting sucked into unproductive debates.
If you feel overwhelmed by all the rehab approaches or excited about them but unsure how to put it all together, this episode will hit home.
Click Here to follow Dr. Sean Nealon's on Instagram @sean.nealon.dc
To learn more about The LBP Intensive™ program Click Here
Time Stamps 🕰️
[00:00] Intro — Mez sets the stage for a raw conversation with Sean about rehab silos, blending models, and evolving as a clinician.
[01:30] Why Sean as a model for open-minded, critical thinking in rehab.
[04:30] Sean’s backstory — from uncertain chiropractic student to passionate clinician through reps.
[07:00] Navigating burnout, doubt, and early-career grind in high-volume clinics.
[09:30] Mez and Sean reflect on real-world clinical doubt and the need for critical thinking over formulas.
[11:00] Sean’s stance on "rehab silos" (Motion Palpation, McKenzie, DNS), how he uses them AND moves beyond them.
[13:30] The “rehab echo chamber” and how systems can become too myopic.
[15:00] Sean shares how mentorship and exposure to new frameworks reshaped his clinical thinking.
[17:00] Blending McGill, DNS, PNF, and Neurodynamics — building a logic-driven framework.
[19:00] McKenzie & Neurodynamics.. its so much more than just "press ups" & "nerve glides"
[21:00] Mez breaks down the Neuro-Ortho Sensitivities framework — why it’s a practical lens for evaluation.
[24:00] Sean’s current caseload and patient demographics — and how expectations have shifted around rehab.
[26:00] Real talk on outdated orthopedic tests — Kemp’s, Spurlings, etc.
[29:00] Sean’s real-world case story — connecting breathing, leg cramping, and thoracolumbar pain.
[32:00] Discussing pattern recognition and how to “reverse engineer” symptoms.
[34:00] The Bruce Lee mindset — take what works, leave what doesn’t, add your own style.
[36:00] How The LBP Intensive helped Sean integrate everything into a practical, logical system.
[38:00] Mez explains how the program is now a two-part system: acute care + strength bridge (rehab to performance).
[41:00] Sean on applying B2G (Back to Gym) principles in an insurance-based setting.
[43:00] Another patient case — thoracolumbar pain + functional breathing limitations revealed through assessment.
[46:00] Mez and Sean nerd out on gait analysis vs breaking down motor control fundamentals.
[49:00] Advice for early-career rehab clinicians: don’t get stuck in your echo chamber.
[50:00] Where to find Sean online + Mez’s final wrap-up.