Chronic back pain that no scan explains? Dimple Jangda sits down with Prof. Dr. Ali Irani — the first sports physiotherapist in the Indian subcontinent and physiotherapist to the Indian cricket team from 1987 to 1997 — to unpack why pain persists, why vitamin deficiencies are so widely missed, and what actually supports a long, mobile life.

In this episode, Dimple shares her own diagnosis publicly for the first time: eight episodes of being bedridden with sciatica-like pain, MRIs, X-rays and blood tests that explained nothing — until one question from Dr. Irani led to an HLA-B27 diagnosis and ankylosing spondylitis.

WHAT YOU'LL LEARN

▪ The one question that changes a pain diagnosis: if pain is worst in the evening it's usually mechanical; if it's worst on waking and eases as you move, it points to something pathological.

▪ Why vitamin D and B12 deficiency is so common — Dr. Irani estimates over half of Indians are deficient — and why sunlight alone isn't enough. In a study of eight Mumbai football teams training 3–4 hours daily in the sun, almost all players were still deficient.

▪ The missing mineral: without enough magnesium, your body can't hold on to vitamin D3 and B12. Pumpkin seeds and roasted chana are traditional sources.

▪ Why standard blood panels don't include D3 and B12 — you have to ask for them.

▪ Swimming for spinal conditions, why extension exercises undo a day spent bending forward, and the posture problem behind widespread neck pain.

▪ Brain mapping and the five states of mind — delta, theta, alpha, beta, gamma. Athletes recalling their best games measured in alpha; those recalling their worst measured in beta or gamma. Why chanting Om and echo sounds shift you into alpha.

▪ Lung capacity and lifespan: why breathing rate correlates with longevity across species, and what pranayama does to vital capacity.

▪ Grounding and earthing — why two-pin phone chargers have no earth, and what that means for your nervous system.

▪ Flat feet, foot arches and why insoles change posture, knees and spine.

▪ Colon health and medication absorption — why cleaning the gut can matter more than increasing a dose.

▪ Ice versus heat, cold plunges, pelvic floor health, Indian versus Western toilets and hip replacement rates.

▪ Dr. Irani's 40-day no-gossip challenge, and why he believes your relationship with your parents predicts your success.

ABOUT DR. ALI IRANI

Head of Department, Physiotherapy and Sports Medicine & Rehabilitation Centre, Nanavati Max Super Speciality Hospital, Mumbai. Physiotherapist to the Indian cricket team 1987–1997. Two PhDs, in Sports Medicine and in Anatomy of Body Movement and Dance. Chairperson (International Affairs), Indian Association of Physiotherapists.

ABOUT DIMPLE JANGDA

Ayurvedic health coach, author of Heal Your Gut, Mind & Emotions, and founder of Prana by Dimple. Trained at Harvard in Lifestyle Medicine and at Stanford in Gut Health and the Microbiome.

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This conversation is for general education and is not medical advice. Persistent pain, and any suspected vitamin deficiency, should be assessed by a qualified doctor. Do not start supplements or change medication without medical guidance.

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Ayurvedic Health Coach Dimple Jangda breaks down why fries can harm your health and how to enjoy potatoes safely.