Back Doctor

Dr Robert G Watkins, III, MD is the pioneer of spine surgery in professional athletes.  This podcast covers the second decade of his life, growing up in the rough streets of Memphis, TN in the fifties.  He got into a lot of trouble, learned many valuable lessons, and made friends for a lifetime. 

Robert Watkins, IV, MD interviews his dad, Robert Watkins, MD, III - about his life, the first decade, lessons learned, the foundations of his personality that have led him to become the most famous spine surgeon of all time.

Robert Watkins, IV, MD, discusses lessons learned from 2020: COVID, homeless, racial justice, evolution, relationships.

Reggie Scott, LA Rams Head Athletic Trainer, and Robert Watkins, IV, MD, orthopedic spine surgeon, discuss Neck Injuries in Athletes. Acute trauma, on-the-field assessment, decision-making, return to play, rehabilitation, prevention, and surgery.

Robert Watkins, III and IV, MD, remember Los Angeles Dodgers Manager Tommy Lasorda: funny stories and the meaning that Tommy had in their lives.

Robert Watkins, IV, MD remembers his professor, mentor, and friend, Lawrence D. Dorr, MD - who was an innovator, author, workhorse, teacher, and humanitarian.

Robert Watkins, IV, MD, spine surgeon to professional athletes and creator of the Back Doctor App, discusses lumbar disc herniations in athletes and non-athletes: diagnosis, treatment, avoidance, surgery, recovery, return to sports, and prevention of recurrence.

Robert Watkins, IV, MD, orthopedic spine surgeon to professional athletes and creator of the Back Doctor App, discusses Spine Surgery in Athletes: diagnosis, treatment, nonoperative, rehabilitation, surgery, fusion, artificial disc replacement, microsurgery, return to play...

Robert Watkins, IV, MD interviews Patricia Murray, MD, Infectious Disease Specialist, on COVID-19: testing, virulence, treatment, Hydroxychloroquine, Remdesivir, going back to school, masks, vaccine, and the future!

Robert G. Watkins, IV, MD, discusses systemic racism in America with Philippe Lemoine, MD: history, genetics, slavery, Jim Crow, red lining, GI Bill, crime, police, criminal justice, and more...

Robert G. Watkins, IV, MD, discusses racism in America with Philippe Lemoine, MD: history, genetics, slavery, Jim Crow, red lining, GI Bill, crime, police, criminal justice, and more...

Sue Falsone PT, MS, AT, Co-Owner Structure and Function Education and Robert Watkins, IV, MD, Ortho Spine Surgeon discuss treatment of back pain in athletes, cupping, and evaluation of new techniques.

Sue Falsone PT, MS, AT, Co-Owner Structure and Function Education and Robert Watkins, IV, MD, Ortho Spine Surgeon discuss treatment of back pain in athletes and dry needling versus acupuncture.

Robert Watkins, IV, MD interviews his wife, Michelle Watkins, Certified Hypnotherapist, on Hypnosis: benefits, process, therapeutics, misconceptions, fears, and success stories.

Robert G. Watkins, IV, MD, orthopedic spine surgeon to professional athletes and creator of the Back Doctor App, discusses Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery: what is it, when does it work, what are the risks, should you do it?

Robert Watkins, IV, MD shares his experience of Tony Robbins' philosophy, methods, books, and recent course. He discusses the basic human needs: how to identify them and how to change them. Ultimately, how we all can get the most out of life.

Robert Watkins, III & IV, MD, orthopedic spine surgeons to professional athletes, discuss multi-level cervical spine surgery in athletes: risks, return to play, rehab, fusion, artificial disc replacement, foraminotomy, and laminoplasty.

Robert Watkins, IV, MD, debates with Scott Blumenthal, MD, Director of Center for Disc Replacement at Texas Back Institute, about artificial disc replacement vs fusion in the lumbar spine: indications, failures, athletes, success and more!

Robert Watkins, IV, MD, interviews Brandon McDaniel, LA Dodgers Strength and Conditioning Coach and Director of Player Performance: preparation for baseball, cardiovascular exercise, monitoring via app, weight lifting, diet, relaxation, and more!

Robert Watkins, IV, MD, orthopedic spine surgeon to professional athletes and creator of the Back Doctor App, discusses Failed Back Surgery: reasons, diagnosis, workup, treatment, and solutions.

Dr Robert Watkins interviews Dr David Schechter: mind body medicine, treatment of athletes, pain management, relaxation techniques, non-operative treatment for spine pain, and more!

Dr Robert Watkins, IV, discusses solutions to the homeless crisis in Los Angeles: drugs, crime, mental health, and housing.

Robert Watkins, IV, MD, discusses the homeless, drug, and crime crisis that has taken over his neighborhood in Los Angeles. This episode focuses on what his neighborhood has done and what laws were passed that contributed to the current situation.

Robert Watkins, IV, MD, discusses the homeless, drug, and crime crisis that has taken over his neighborhood in Los Angeles.

Robert Watkins, IV, MD, creator of the Back Doctor App and Spine Surgeon for Professional Athletes discusses three parts of Back Pain: sources, causes, and history. Watkinsspine.com

Stephen Lombardo, MD, team doctor for LA Lakers 42 yrs, LA Kings 20 yrs, and '92 Olympic Dream Team, interviewed by Robert Watkins, IV, MD. They discuss sports medicine, stories of great athletes, and the future of treatment of professional athletes.

Robert Watkins, IV, MD, orthopedic spine surgeon to professional athletes, discusses complications in spine surgery: causes, anatomy, expectations, prevention, treatment, and results.

Robert Watkins, IV, MD, interviews Gary Vitti, retired Head Athletic Trainer of the Los Angeles Lakers for 32 years, winner of 8 NBA championships. They discuss basketball stories, athletic training, injury prevention and rehabilitation, and the amazing success that Gary's teams enjoyed.

Robert Watkins, III and IV, MD, orthopedic spine surgeons for professional athletes discuss the complexities of treating athletes with lumbar injuries: diagnosis, treatment, rehab, legality, and return to play.

Lawrence Dorr, MD, orthopedic total joint surgeon, founder of Operation Walk, professor at U.S.C., discusses his inspiration, love, and expertise treating patients, with Robert Watkins, IV, MD.

Robert Watkins, IV, MD, interviewed on Sports Medicine Weekly Radio Show, discusses back pain, athletes, treatment, how to avoid surgery, when surgery works, stem cell injections, and more!

Dr Robert Watkins III and IV, orthopedic spine surgeons for professional athletes and creators of the Back Doctor App, discuss the opioid epidemic in America, treatment of patients with back pain, and solutions for management of chronic pain.

Robert G. Watkins, IV, MD, orthopedic spine surgeon to professional athletes, compares artificial disc replacement versus fusion in the lumbar spine: complications, outcomes, and which is best.

Robert Watkins, IV, MD, debates stem cells with Asher Milgrom, PhD in terms of types, viability, evidence, risks, and costs.

Robert Watkins, IV, MD, interviews Casey Batten, MD, on biologic injections in professional athletes: stem cells, PRP, A2M, and more. Learn how to evaluate whether an injection is worth the time and money for each condition. Dr Batten, 424 320-5872. Dr Watkins, 310 448-7890.

Robert Watkins, III and IV, MD, discuss the evaluation of new technology in medicine and spine surgery; the process of determining if new products are safe, effective, and worth utilizing on their patients.

Robert Watkins, MD, guest appearance on the Tee It Up radio show, explains how to play golf without causing back pain.

Robert Watkins, MD, orthopedic surgeon to professional athletes and creator of the Back Doctor App, debates Dr Shounuck Patel on the research, cost, utility and risks of stem therapy for back and neck pain.

Robert Watkins, IV, MD, orthopedic spine surgeon to professional athletes, provides an update on stem cell therapy. He discusses the risks, benefits, costs, misconceptions, exploitability, and future of this exciting field of medicine and spine treatment.

Robert Watkins, IV, MD, orthopedic spine surgeon to professional athletes, discusses his experience at Deepak Chopra's Infinite Possibilities Meditation Retreat, including awareness of reality, relaxation techniques, and how to get the most out of life.

Robert Watkins, IV, MD, orthopedic spine surgeon to professional athletes, discusses his medical group Watkins Spine, which includes Robert Watkins, III, MD, David Chang, MD, and Shawn Bond, PA.

Robert Watkins, MD, orthopedic spine surgeon to professional athletes, discusses the risks, benefits, and prognosis of microscopic laminotomy in the lumbar spine.

Robert Watkins, MD, orthopedic spine surgeon to professional athletes, explains a preventative program to avoid spinal pain: strengthening, exercise, diet, relaxation, everything that can help.

Robert Watkins, MD, orthopedic spine surgeon to professional athletes, discusses the creation and utility of the Back Doctor App, a free app that has the comprehensive program of exercises and lifestyle used to treat athletes and everyone!

Dr. Robert Watkins, IV, was interviewed on PeerSpectrum podcast with hosts Dr. Keith Mankin and Colin Miller on Sept. 28, 2018. They discuss treatment of elite athletes with spinal surgery.

Robert Watkins, IV, MD, orthopedic spine surgeon to professional athletes, discusses new onset neck pain: signs, red flags, treatment, and prevention.

Robert G. Watkins, IV, MD, orthopedic spine surgeon to professional athletes, compares laminoplasty to fusion and laminectomy for cervical stenosis in neck surgery.

Robert Watkins, IV, MD, orthopedic spinal surgeon to professional athletes, discusses neck surgery. Fusion, artificial disc replacement, and foraminotomy are compared by reason for surgery, risks, benefits, and outcomes.

Robert Watkins, IV, MD, orthopedic spine surgeon to professional athletes, discusses the symptoms and treatment of lumbar stress fractures, stress reactions, pars defects, pars fractures, spondylolysis, and spondylolisthesis.

Robert Watkins, IV, MD, orthopedic spine surgeon to professional athletes, discusses stem cells, PRP, Regenokine, Orthokine, steroid, and biologic spinal injections.