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💡 In this episode of PT Pro Talk, host Mariana Parks speaks with Dr. Jessica Workman, PT, DPT, FAAOMPT, FFMT, Partner and Clinical Director at IPA Physio Long Beach. This interview breaks down the physical therapy evaluation and treatment of Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS) and dysautonomia - ranging from identifying clinical subtypes and post-viral vagus nerve entrapment to integrating targeted manual therapy and progressive exercise protocols for complex, unresolved cases.      Download our Free Tendinopathy Clinical Cheat Sheet! 1-page quick-reference guide summarizing diagnostic tests, differential diagnosis, and exercise suggestions for your daily practice. Get your copy here.    💭 "If we only do exercises, we're missing a piece of the puzzle." - Dr. Jessica Workman 👉🏻 Dr. Jessica Workman, PT, DPT, FAAOMPT, FFMT, is a Partner and Clinical Director at IPA Physio Long Beach with over a decade of clinical expertise in treating complex, unresolved conditions. Holding degrees in Physiology and Neuroscience from UC San Diego and a Doctorate in Physical Therapy from the University of St. Augustine, she completed elite advanced fellowships in orthopedic manual therapy and functional manual therapy.  Jessica specializes in complex orthopedic, neurological, and vestibular cases, alongside airway disorders, connective tissue conditions, postpartum recovery, concussion management, and performance optimization. Integrating techniques such as Functional Manual Therapy, Craniosacral Therapy, and Visceral Manipulation, she delivers a compassionate, whole-body approach designed to help patients who feel they have "tried everything" regain their confidence, function, and quality of life.  📚In this episode, you'll learn: How to spot POTS in your caseload, and the key questions to ask The main POTS subtypes and how treatment changes for each Hands-on vagus nerve and fascial work, and what the research shows Building a POTS exercise plan, from lying down to upright 🔎Dr. Jessica's Resource of Information: CHUNG, C.; RAJ, S. R. Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS): A Review. JAMA. https://bit.ly/480Spd6 DIEDRICH, A. et al. Transdermal Auricular Vagus Stimulation for the Treatment of POTS. https://bit.ly/4sKDi0Q INSTITUTE OF PHYSICAL ART. Find a Therapist: CFMTS and IPA Clinics. https://bit.ly/4zzntNg INSTITUTE OF PHYSICAL ART. Schedule of Courses. https://bit.ly/4iJoDyy IPA PHYSIO LONG BEACH. Clinic Overview and Specialized Services. https://ipa.physio/lbc/KWON, H. et al. Vestibular syncope: clinical characteristics and mechanism. https://bit.ly/3WLo4N5PATEL, R.; LELE, P. Anterior Canal BPPV- A Rare Form of Vertical Canalithiasis: Series of 11 Cases. https://bit.ly/4838Buf PURTILL, C. Long COVID leaves thousands of L.A. https://lat.ms/4iDIvmD SEKHON, R. et al. Dizziness in postural tachycardia syndrome and its link to vestibular migraine. https://bit.ly/4jTDmci STAVRAKIS, S. et al. Noninvasive Vagus Nerve Stimulation in POTS: A Randomized Clinical Trial. https://bit.ly/4C32Drh THE CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL OF PHILADELPHIA. CHOP Modified Dallas POTS Exercise Program: Patient Handout. https://bit.ly/4iDIEGH WANG, L. et al. Tragus Nerve Stimulation Attenuates POTS in Post-COVID-19 Infection. https://bit.ly/4BHmiwF 📲 Dr. Jessica's contact information: IPA Physio IG IPAFMT IG IPA Physio Facebook IPA Physio LinkedIn 🚨Try Hanna Health free for 30 days - a customizable HEP platform where you can use your own videos, edit quickly, and track patient access. Start your trial here: https://bit.ly/4pSkYjP 🎥Link to interview on Youtube   👉 ⁠Share Your Feedback 🎙Join our ⁠email list⁠ to receive podcast updates 📸⁠Instagram⁠  📱⁠Facebook⁠ 💻⁠LinkedIn⁠ 🐦⁠Twitter⁠ 📩Email: ⁠[email protected]⁠ PT Pro Talk Podcast is only possible with the support of forward-looking and innovative companies like Hanna Health⁠.

💡 In this episode of PT Pro Talk, host Mariana Parks speaks with Audrey Long, a seasoned clinician and 30-year McKenzie Institute instructor. This interview breaks down the clinical application of Mechanical Diagnosis and Therapy (MDT) through three real-world cases where initial diagnoses and imaging completely missed the mark - ranging from misattributed lumbar stenosis to a refractory tennis elbow hiding a joint restriction.    From overcoming confirmation bias and spotting history clues that "don't fit" to applying end-range passive overpressure and testing joints above and below the site of pain, Audrey shares actionable insights on how to systematically screen mechanical derangements, avoid jumping too quickly into tendon load management, and refine patient communication in everyday practice.    Download our Free Tendinopathy Clinical Cheat Sheet! 1-page quick-reference guide summarizing diagnostic tests, differential diagnosis, and exercise suggestions for your daily practice. Get your copy here.    💭 "Even if you think you have a firm diagnosis, your history and physical exam should always be looking at what doesn't fit." - Audrey Long 👉🏻 Audrey Long has 40 years of clinical experience ranging from work in hospitals, chronic workers' comp multidisciplinary programs, and private practice. For the last 2 decades, she has enjoyed working in a private practice owned by MDT-credentialled therapists.  She completed her MDT Diploma Program in New Zealand in 1993 and was promoted to Teaching Faculty in 1997.  She went on to publish 4 peer-reviewed papers, qualified to order diagnostic imaging, and completed the Canadian Orthopedic Clinical Specialist (MSK) program. Audrey is now enjoying semi-retirement mode: no current research, 3 short clinic days per week, teaching half the number of courses, serving on a few Committees, and keeping up with her 2 Labrador Retrievers.  She enjoys her work most when she encounters patients who are not simple extension responders. 📚In this episode, you'll learn: How to spot symptoms and information that doesn’t match a patient’s referral diagnosis, and what to do next. The specific subjective and objective findings Audrey used to arrive at the real diagnosis in each of the three cases. A model for clinical reasoning that prioritizes assessment findings over the diagnosis already written on the chart. How 30+ years of MDT training and practice shape the way an experienced clinician approaches an ambiguous or misleading case. 📲 Audrey's contact information: Linkedin Audrey's Website 🚨Try Hanna Health free for 30 days - a customizable HEP platform where you can use your own videos, edit quickly, and track patient access. Start your trial here: https://bit.ly/4pSkYjP 🎥Link to interview on Youtube   👉 ⁠Share Your Feedback 🎙Join our ⁠email list⁠ to receive podcast updates 📸⁠Instagram⁠  📱⁠Facebook⁠ 💻⁠LinkedIn⁠ 🐦⁠Twitter⁠ 📩Email: ⁠[email protected]⁠ PT Pro Talk Podcast is only possible with the support of forward-looking and innovative companies like Hanna Health⁠.

💡 In this episode of PT Pro Talk, host Mariana Parks speaks with Professor Tasha Stanton, a clinical pain neuroscientist and physiotherapist who leads the Persistent Pain Research Group. This interview breaks down the clinical application of pain neuroscience for knee osteoarthritis, from debunking the harmful "bone on bone" narrative to addressing systemic, low-level inflammation.    From utilizing the Protectometer to identify danger and safety cues in a patient's life to enhancing exercise adherence with novel technologies like virtual reality, Tasha shares actionable insights on how to properly deliver pain education, reframe the aging process through bioplasticity, and optimize non-pharmacological treatments for chronic joint pain. Download our Free Tendinopathy Clinical Cheat Sheet! 1-page quick-reference guide summarizing diagnostic tests, differential diagnosis, and exercise suggestions for your daily practice. Get your copy here.    💭 "How much we hurt is dependent on the available level of credible evidence of safety versus the available credible evidence of danger." - Prof. Tasha Stanton 👉🏻Professor Tasha Stanton is a clinical pain neuroscientist who leads the Persistent Pain Research Group at SAHMRI and co-directs IIMPACT in Health at Adelaide University. Originally trained as a physiotherapist, her award-winning research focuses on chronic pain, osteoarthritis, and the use of novel technologies like virtual reality to enhance treatment. Working closely with patients and clinicians, she has secured over $17.4m in funding, published more than 150 peer-reviewed articles, and delivered over 130 keynote presentations globally.  📚In this episode, you'll learn: Why the "bone-on-bone" story most patients believe about knee osteoarthritis is outdated, and what the current evidence says instead How a peer-mentorship program is using patients' own lived experience to deliver pain science education that actually sticks A personalized approach to matching patients with the right pain education resources, instead of a one-size-fits-all handout How virtual reality is being used to solve the single biggest barrier in knee OA management - getting patients to actually stick with exercise 🔎Tasha's Resource of Information: https://www.noigroup.com/ 📲 Tasha's contact information: Linkedin IG Facebook X E-mail: [email protected] 🚨Try Hanna Health free for 30 days - a customizable HEP platform where you can use your own videos, edit quickly, and track patient access. Start your trial here: https://bit.ly/4pSkYjP 🎥Link to interview on Youtube   👉 ⁠Share Your Feedback 🎙Join our ⁠email list⁠ to receive podcast updates 📸⁠Instagram⁠  📱⁠Facebook⁠ 💻⁠LinkedIn⁠ 🐦⁠Twitter⁠ 📩Email: ⁠[email protected]⁠ PT Pro Talk Podcast is only possible with the support of forward-looking and innovative companies like Hanna Health⁠.

💭 "I think the biggest mistake is ignoring an irritable knee." - Jill Monson 💡 In this episode of PT Pro Talk, host Mariana Parks speaks with Jill Monson, a physical therapist with over 20 years of experience specializing in complex knee injuries at Twin Cities Orthopedics. This interview breaks down the clinical decision-making behind meniscus tear management, from navigating degenerative changes to handling complex root and radial tears. From avoiding the "downhill cellular spiral" of an irritable joint to setting strict objective criteria for returning to sport, Jill shares actionable insights on how to properly interpret mechanical symptoms, respect surgical timelines, and optimize both non-operative and post-op meniscus rehab. 👉🏻 Jill Monson, PT, OCS is a Board Certified Orthopaedic Clinical Specialist highly focused on treating lower extremity injuries and complex knee conditions. She currently serves as the lead physical therapist for the Complex Knee Injury Clinic at Twin Cities Orthopedics, where she directs clinical care and research initiatives in collaboration with orthopedic surgeon Dr. Robert LaPrade. Beyond her clinical practice, Jill is a prominent figure in international medical education. She is a frequent conference speaker, a prolific author of scientific articles, and an active committee member for the AASPT. Her ultimate professional goal is to help patients overcome challenging orthopedic problems and return to their peak performance in both life and sport. 📚In this episode, you'll learn: What actually makes someone a good candidate for conservative management, versus needing a surgical referral How long conservative treatment should really be given before reconsidering the surgical option How to structure post-op rehab from the first few weeks after repair through return-to-sport criteria The biggest mistakes PTs make when rehabbing a meniscus repair 🔎Jill's Resource of Information: Monson JK, Tollefson LV, et.al. Current Rehabilitation Principles Following Meniscus Repairs. Curr Rev Musculoskelet Med. 2025 Sep. PMID: 40343689 Prill R, Ma CB, et. al. The formal EU-US Meniscus Rehabilitation 2024 Consensus: An ESSKA-AOSSM-AASPT initiative. PMID: 40501314 Pujol N, Giordano AO, et. al. The formal EU-US Meniscus Rehabilitation 2024 Consensus: An ESSKA-AOSSM-AASPT initiative. PMID: 40353298 Dr. LaPrade Website Dr. Chala Website 📲 Jill's contact information: IG: https://www.instagram.com/jillmonsonpt/ Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jillmonsonptocs/ 🚨Try Hanna Health free for 30 days - a customizable HEP platform where you can use your own videos, edit quickly, and track patient access. Start your trial here: https://bit.ly/4pSkYjP 🎥Link to interview on Youtube   👉 ⁠Share Your Feedback 🎙Join our ⁠email list⁠ to receive podcast updates 📸⁠Instagram⁠  📱⁠Facebook⁠ 💻⁠LinkedIn⁠ 🐦⁠Twitter⁠ 📩Email: ⁠[email protected]⁠ PT Pro Talk Podcast is only possible with the support of forward-looking and innovative companies like Hanna Health⁠.

💡 In this episode of PT Pro Talk, host Mariana Parks sits down with Dr. Philomena Commons (Specialist Musculoskeletal Physiotherapist, McKenzie Tutor, and PhD) to explore what it really takes to practice physical therapy in some of the most restricted, dangerous, and under-resourced environments in the world.   From treating endemic leprosy in Bangladesh to teaching the McKenzie Method (MDT) under government surveillance in North Korea and evaluating back pain in Afghan prisons, Dr. Commons shares extraordinary insights on clinical intuition, cross-cultural adaptation, and patient empowerment. Learn how shifting from a purely mechanistic approach to addressing the social determinants of health (like poverty, education, and social stigma) can completely transform patient care and long-term outcomes. 💭 "I didn't really appreciate what the value of freedom until I left North Korea." - Dr. Philomena Commons 👉🏻 Dr. Philomena Commons PhD MSc Dip MDT Grad Dip Phys MCSP is a highly experienced Musculoskeletal Physiotherapist and McKenzie Tutor specializing in evidence-based treatments for complex, recurrent pain. She has held senior clinical roles in the UK's NHS and served as a Senior Lecturer at Leeds Beckett University.  Beyond her clinical and academic work, she integrates her CrossFit and Life Coaching backgrounds to run functional exercise classes for Parkinson's patients. Deeply committed to global and social impact, Dr. Commons has advanced physiotherapy education in developing countries and currently volunteers to provide care for homeless individuals in the UK. 📚In this episode, you'll learn: Adapting hands-on treatment when cultural norms limit what you can see, touch, or demonstrate. Why treating the individual patient isn't always enough - and how one encounter with a paralyzed young man changed her thinking on disability. What it's like to teach under constant government surveillance in North Korea. Trusting clinical intuition and staying safe in unpredictable settings abroad. 🔎Philomena's Resource of Information: McKenzie UK Website 📲 Philomena's contact information: Philomena's LinkedIn E-mail: [email protected]  McKenzie's Facebook McKenzie's IG 🚨Try Hanna Health free for 30 days - a customizable HEP platform where you can use your own videos, edit quickly, and track patient access. Start your trial here: https://bit.ly/4pSkYjP 🎥Link to interview on Youtube   👉 ⁠Share Your Feedback 🎙Join our ⁠email list⁠ to receive podcast updates 📸⁠Instagram⁠  📱⁠Facebook⁠ 💻⁠LinkedIn⁠ 🐦⁠Twitter⁠ 📩Email: ⁠[email protected]⁠ PT Pro Talk Podcast is only possible with the support of forward-looking and innovative companies like Hanna Health⁠ and ⁠SaraHealth⁠.

💡 In this episode of PT Pro Talk, host Mariana Parks speaks with Gregg Johnson, a physical therapist with over 50 years of clinical experience and co-developer of the Functional Manual Therapy (FMT) system. This interview breaks down how shifting your focus from treating local symptoms to evaluating the entire human system can completely transform your daily practice.  From curing the "migrating miseries" in chronic pain patients to understanding the feed-forward mechanism of the core, Gregg shares actionable insights to help you look beyond the joint, integrate PNF, and properly assess mechanical capacity and motor control to unlock life-changing patient outcomes.    💭 "Shift your focus away from symptoms to function. To me, every time I chase symptoms, I chase the migrating miseries in my chronic pain patients..." - Gregg Johnson 👉🏻 Gregory S. Johnson is a world-renowned physical therapist who co-founded the Institute of Physical Art (IPA) and the Functional Manual Therapy® System. A 1971 USC graduate, he revolutionized the field by integrating the fascial system into manual therapy and developing the first Soft Tissue Mobilization course for PTs in 1980. He has trained over 50,000 therapists globally. Today, he continues to treat patients, conduct research, and lead Fellowship programs as the President of IPA and founding partner of Johnson and Johnson Physical Therapy. 📚In this episode, you'll learn: What Functional Manual Therapy is and how the MNM model (mechanical capacity, neuromuscular function, and motor control) guides clinical reasoning Why fascial dysfunction is often overlooked and how to identify and treat it as part of a whole-system approach How to use PNF to assess and facilitate core muscles that have become inhibited by pain, including the multifidus Why passive stretching often fails and how active, resistance-based approaches produce more lasting results 🔎Gregg's Resource of Information: Website Collins CK, Gilden B. A NON-OPERATIVE APPROACH TO THE MANAGEMENT OF CHRONIC EXERTIONAL COMPARTMENT SYNDROME IN A TRIATHLETE: A CASE REPORT 📲 Gregg's contact information: Instagram Facebook LinkedIn YouTube 🎥Link to interview on Youtube  🚨Try Hanna Health free for 30 days - a customizable HEP platform where you can use your own videos, edit quickly, and track patient access.⁠⁠ Start your trial here.⁠  👉 ⁠Share Your Feedback 🎙Join our ⁠email list⁠ to receive podcast updates 📸⁠Instagram⁠  📱⁠Facebook⁠ 💻⁠LinkedIn⁠ 🐦⁠Twitter⁠ 📩Email: ⁠[email protected]⁠ PT Pro Talk Podcast is only possible with the support of forward-looking and innovative companies like Hanna Health⁠ and ⁠SaraHealth⁠.

💡 In this episode of PT ProTalk, host Mariana Parks speaks with Colin Davies, a physiotherapist with over 50 years of clinical experience who worked directly alongside Robin McKenzie. This interview breaks down how recognizing the spine's hidden role in extremity pain can completely transform your daily clinical practice. From uncovering the true source of recurrent patellar dislocations to solving a professional dancer's 13-year history of hip pain, Colin shares actionable insights to help you look beyond the joint, avoid confirmation bias, and properly assess the spine to unlock life-changing patient outcomes. 💭 “We have to do a better job of examining the spine before we start treating an apparent extremity problem.” - Colin Davies 👉🏻 Colin Davies trained at the New Zealand School of Physiotherapy and graduated in 1971. He worked as assistant to Robin McKenzie in 1974 before immigrating to Canada, where he has been in private practice since 1979. He became a member of the teaching faculty of the McKenzie Institute International in 1984 and has presented over 300 courses on Mechanical Diagnosis and Therapy in 18 countries around the world. He is an examiner for the McKenzie Institute Diploma programme. He served for 15 years as a member of the Advisory Council to the Board of Trustees until October 2009, when he was appointed to the Board of Trustees for the McKenzie Institute International.  📚In this episode, you'll learn: How to assess extremity pain using MDT when the source may not be where the symptoms are Why spinal screening should be part of every lower extremity assessment How MDT assessment can reveal findings that challenge even the most experienced clinicians What three real clinical cases from an MDT course in Argentina teach us about referred pain patterns 🔎Colin's Resource of Information: Rosedale R, et.al. A study exploring the prevalence of Extremity Pain of Spinal Source (EXPOSS). J Man Manip Ther. 2020 Sep. doi: 10.1080/10669817.2019.1661706. 📲 Colin's contact information: Mckenzie Institute LinkedIn 🎥Link to interview on Youtube  🚨Try Hanna Health free for 30 days - a customizable HEP platform where you can use your own videos, edit quickly, and track patient access.⁠⁠ Start your trial here.⁠  👉 ⁠Share Your Feedback 🎙Join our ⁠email list⁠ to receive podcast updates 📸⁠Instagram⁠  📱⁠Facebook⁠ 💻⁠LinkedIn⁠ 🐦⁠Twitter⁠ 📩Email: ⁠[email protected]⁠ PT Pro Talk Podcast is only possible with the support of forward-looking and innovative companies like Hanna Health⁠ and ⁠SaraHealth⁠.

💡 In this episode of PT Pro Talk, we speak with Lukasz Oleksiewicz, a highly experienced physiotherapist and MDT Diplomat who integrates Eastern and Western clinical approaches. This interview breaks down how combining mechanical therapy with tools like shockwave and acupuncture can transform your daily clinical practice.   From using shockwave therapy to desensitize highly reactive tissues for heavy loading to understanding the role of acupuncture in calming a stressed central nervous system before mechanical assessment, Lukasz shares actionable insights to help you look beyond a "one-size-fits-all" method and treat the individual patient.   💭 ‘’I see each patient as a blank canvas that I need to explore and learn about because every single human being is so unique that a one-size-fits-all approach seldom works." - Lukasz Oleksiewicz 👉🏻 Lukasz Oleksiewicz Dip.MDT, Lic Ac is a highly experienced physiotherapist specializing in musculoskeletal conditions, sports injuries, and neurological rehabilitation. With an international background spanning Poland, Ireland, China, and the US, he offers a comprehensive, hands-on approach to patient care that combines mobilization, manipulation, soft tissue techniques, acupuncture, and tailored exercises. In 2008, he founded the AcuPhysio Clinic in Ireland to treat both local residents and athletes.  Dedicated to continuous learning, Lukasz holds an International Diploma in the McKenzie Method (MDT) and is fully qualified in Saebo and Bobath Therapy. Additionally, he provides specialized neurological rehabilitation for patients affected by stroke, multiple sclerosis, and Parkinson’s disease, a focus he developed through his extensive work with local charities. 📚In this episode, you'll learn: How to approach chronic plantar fasciitis when tissue loading, sensitisation, and lifestyle factors are all in play How to use metaphors and patient education to shift pain beliefs and break long-standing habits How to assess and sequence treatment when acute low back pain overlaps with Functional Neurological Disorder How to integrate MDT, acupuncture, and loading strategies without becoming technique-driven 📲 Lukasz's contact information: Website LinkedIn  Instagram AcuPhysio Facebook 🎥Link to interview on Youtube  🚨Try Hanna Health free for 30 days - a customizable HEP platform where you can use your own videos, edit quickly, and track patient access.⁠ Start your trial here.⁠  👉 ⁠Share Your Feedback⁠ Help Us Build Better Solutions for Your Practice! 🚀 Take 60 seconds to answer 3 quick questions and help us build new paths to make your practice run smoother. 🎙Join our ⁠email list⁠ to receive podcast updates 📸⁠Instagram⁠  📱⁠Facebook⁠ 💻⁠LinkedIn⁠ 🐦⁠Twitter⁠ 📩Email: ⁠[email protected]⁠ PT Pro Talk Podcast is only possible with the support of forward-looking and innovative companies like Hanna Health⁠ and ⁠SaraHealth⁠.

💡Why are patients with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS) and hypermobility often dismissed, misdiagnosed, or told their severe pain is "just growing pains"? In this episode of PT ProTalk, host Mariana Parks sits down with Dr. Jan Dommerholt, a globally recognized expert in myofascial, chronic, and orofacial pain, and a leading authority on hypermobility disorders. Dr. Dommerholt breaks down the systemic reality of EDS and explains exactly why physical therapy is the number one profession to help these patients regain control of their lives. 💭 "They used to call it benign hypermobility. Well, there's nothing benign about hypermobility, believe me."   - Dr. Jan Dommerholt 👉🏻 Dr. Jan Dommerholt PT, DPT, MPS is a Dutch-trained physical therapist, widely recognized as a leading expert in myofascial, chronic, and orofacial pain. A pioneer in his field, he introduced dry needling to the United States in 1997 and remains a global authority and consultant on the practice. Leveraging his background as a former musician, he also specializes in performing arts physical therapy, focusing on treating musculoskeletal issues in instrumentalists.  Furthermore, Dr. Dommerholt is a prolific author and educator who has published numerous books, over 130 articles, and nearly 80 textbook chapters, while also lecturing globally and teaching at the University of Maryland. In addition to his extensive academic contributions, he is the president of Bethesda Physiocare®, serves on several editorial boards, and has received multiple prestigious awards for his clinical practice and educational excellence. 📚In this episode, you'll learn: How to identify HSD/hEDS patients you're likely already seeing but missing Why your standard MSK approach often fails this population - and what to do instead How to build a practical treatment plan that accounts for pain flares and nonlinear progress How education and validation can be your most powerful clinical tools with these patients 🔎Dr. Jan's Resource of Information: Mintken, P. E., Dommerholt, J., & Francomano, C. A. (2026). Managing Patients With Hypermobility Disorders: They've Seen You, but Have You Seen Them? Journal of Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy. https://doi.org/10.2519/jospt.2026.13979  The Ehlers Danlos Society Website EDS ECHO Programs & Courses for Healthcare Professionals 📲 Dr. Jan's contact information: [email protected] [email protected] LinkedIn Bethesda Physiocare Website Bethesda Physiocare Facebook Myopain Seminars Website Myonpain Seminars Facebook 🎥Link to interview on Youtube  🚨Try Hanna Health free for 30 days - a customizable HEP platform where you can use your own videos, edit quickly, and track patient access.⁠ Start your trial here.⁠  👉 ⁠Share Your Feedback⁠ Help Us Build Better Solutions for Your Practice! 🚀 Take 60 seconds to answer 3 quick questions and help us build new paths to make your practice run smoother. 🎙Join our ⁠email list⁠ to receive podcast updates 📸⁠Instagram⁠  📱⁠Facebook⁠ 💻⁠LinkedIn⁠ 🐦⁠Twitter⁠ 📩Email: ⁠[email protected]⁠ PT Pro Talk Podcast is only possible with the support of forward-looking and innovative companies like Hanna Health⁠ and ⁠SaraHealth⁠.

💡How often do your chronic low back, hip, or groin patients hit a plateau in their rehab? If you are only looking at traditional musculoskeletal frameworks, you might be missing the hidden driver behind their persistent pain: the pelvic floor.   In this episode of PT ProTalk, host Mariana Parks sits down with Dr. Alex Hill, a physical therapist specializing in pelvic health and oncology, and owner of Oncopelvic PT. Designed specifically for general orthopedic, MSK, and and for general orthopedic, and MSK clinicians, this conversation breaks down how specialized screening tools can completely transform your daily clinical practice.   From diagnosing deep muscular trigger points that masquerade as adductor strains to managing post-operative constipation and understanding the long-term impact of radiation fibrosis, Dr. Hill shares actionable insights to help you look "outside the box, but inside the pelvis"   💭 "If you think you're not working with somebody with pelvic floor issues, you need to think again."  - Dr. Alexandra Hill  👉🏻 Dr. Alexandra Hill, PT, DPT, is a dual Board-Certified Clinical Specialist in Pelvic Women’s Health and Oncologic Physical Therapy and a LANA Certified Lymphedema Therapist. She earned her Doctor of Physical Therapy from the University of Florida and completed the Women’s Health Physical Therapy Residency at Duke Health. Alex is the owner of OncoPelvic PT in Jacksonville, Florida, where she provides specialized pelvic health, lymphedema, and oncology rehabilitation for all genders. She has published peer-reviewed research in pelvic health and oncology rehab, held leadership roles within APTA, APTA Pelvic, and APTA Oncology, developed and teaches several continuing education courses, and creates empowering content across social media. 📚In this episode, you'll learn: How to turn your pelvic health and oncology screening questions into a clinical conversation, not just a checkbox The five functions of the pelvic floor and what signs to look for when each one is failing, even in your MSK patients How a cancer survivor's past treatment (surgery, radiation, chemotherapy) should change your assessment and plan of care today How to recognize and monitor lymphedema early, and when and where to refer 🔎Dr. Alexandra's Resource of Information: APTA: American Physical Therapy Association MedBridge LANA KLOSE Training Website 📲 Dr. Alexandrak's contact information: Email: [email protected] Youtube Instagram Facebook LinkedIn 🎥Link to interview on Youtube  🚨Try Hanna Health free for 30 days - a customizable HEP platform where you can use your own videos, edit quickly, and track patient access.⁠ Start your trial here.⁠  👉 ⁠Share Your Feedback⁠ Help Us Build Better Solutions for Your Practice! 🚀 Take 60 seconds to answer 3 quick questions and help us build new paths to make your practice run smoother. 🎙Join our ⁠email list⁠ to receive podcast updates 📸⁠Instagram⁠  📱⁠Facebook⁠ 💻⁠LinkedIn⁠ 🐦⁠Twitter⁠ 📩Email: ⁠[email protected]⁠ PT Pro Talk Podcast is only possible with the support of forward-looking and innovative companies like Hanna Health⁠ and ⁠SaraHealth⁠.

💡If you’ve ever felt stuck with a low back pain patient whose physical recovery has plateaued, this conversation is the roadmap you need.  Prof. Yannick breaks down the clinical reasoning behind the Pain and Disability Drivers Management (PDDM) framework, an innovative model designed to help clinicians stop guessing and start measuring the hidden factors driving pain and disability. Moving away from a narrow, outdated focus on isolated structural damage, Dr. Yannick shares how to operationalize the biopsychosocial model using practical, 15-minute digital screening tools.  💭 "Musculoskeletal pain is not only about nociception. It's about nociception, yes, but it's also about nervous system dysfunctions, comorbidities, cognitions, emotions, and contextual factors." - Prof. Yannick Tousignant-Laflamme 👉🏻 Prof. Yannick Tousignant-Laflamme is a physiotherapist and Full Professor at the Université de Sherbrooke, where he also earned his Master’s and Ph.D. in Clinical Sciences following a B.Sc. from the University of Ottawa and a postdoctoral fellowship at the Université de Montréal.  His research program focuses on improving the quality, value, and patient-centered outcomes of musculoskeletal rehabilitation through three core areas: optimizing low back pain management via his innovative Pain and Disability Drivers Management (PDDM) framework, enhancing chronic pain management through structured patient self-management programs, and personalizing care using prognosis and value-based principles. Additionally, he collaborates internationally to develop and validate clinical assessment tools that help therapists accurately measure pain and functional limitations. 📚In this episode, you'll learn: Why standard biopsychosocial care isn't enough, and what the PDDM model does differently to identify the real drivers behind your patient's pain and disability How to screen for the 5 PDDM domains (nociceptive, nervous system dysfunction, comorbidities, cognitive-emotional, and contextual) without adding significant time to your initial assessment How to turn a patient's driver profile into an actual treatment plan, and why 91% of LBP patients have nervous system dysfunction elements you're likely missing What the research shows about patient outcomes when care is matched to drivers, and how to set realistic expectations with your patients from day one 🔎Yannick's Resource of Information: All of Yannick's publications on PubMed 📲 Yannick's contact information: LinkedIn Website 🎥Link to interview on Youtube  🚨Try Hanna Health free for 30 days - a customizable HEP platform where you can use your own videos, edit quickly, and track patient access.⁠ Start your trial here.⁠  👉 ⁠Share Your Feedback⁠ Help Us Build Better Solutions for Your Practice! 🚀 Take 60 seconds to answer 3 quick questions and help us build new paths to make your practice run smoother. 🎙Join our ⁠email list⁠ to receive podcast updates 📸⁠Instagram⁠  📱⁠Facebook⁠ 💻⁠LinkedIn⁠ 🐦⁠Twitter⁠ 📩Email: ⁠[email protected]⁠ PT Pro Talk Podcast is only possible with the support of forward-looking and innovative companies like Hanna Health⁠ and ⁠SaraHealth⁠.

💡 Is dry needling just another tool in your kit, or is it a gateway to deeper clinical reasoning? In this episode of PT Pro Talk, Dr. Zylstra challenges physical therapists to look past the physical technique of inserting a needle and focus on the complex neurophysiological "why" behind the treatment. We dive deep into the radiculopathic model of orthopedics, discussing why many chronic peripheral issues (like that stubborn shoulder or elbow pain) might actually be driven by a silent segmental problem in the spine. Dr. Zylstra also breaks down the precise mechanisms of the twitch response and explains why dry needling should never be used as a standalone treatment if we want to avoid creating patient dependency 💭 ‘’When we get a good twitch response, that's like plugging a plug into a wall socket; you're getting access to the nervous system. And the language of the nervous system is electricity." - Dr. Edo Zylstra 👉🏻 Dr. Edo Zylstra, PT, DPT, is the co-founder of Tactical Physiotherapy and founder of KinetaCare Physiotherapy, with more than 26 years of experience in orthopedic rehabilitation and dry needling. An Orthopedic Certified Specialist, he focuses on identifying the root causes of neuromusculoskeletal dysfunction rather than just managing symptoms.  He has trained clinicians across corporate healthcare systems, private practices, and military and special operations settings, with educational influence reaching providers who work with elite athletes. He is also the founder of KinetaCore, a Functional Dry Needling® education company later acquired by Evidence In Motion. With Dr. Tyler Waterway, he co-developed the Radiculopathic Model of Orthopedics, the foundation of Tactical Physiotherapy. 📚In this episode, you'll learn: When to use dry needling and when not to: identifying good candidates, understanding spinal vs. peripheral targeting, and the neurophysiological mechanisms How dry needling integrates into your treatment plan: using it strategically alongside other techniques rather than as a standalone intervention What happens after the needles come out: the critical session follow-up that determines whether DN creates lasting change or just temporary relief The evidence and mechanisms: understanding the proposed mechanisms and how they inform clinical decision-making 🔎Edo's Resource of Information: Waterway T, et al. Treatment Guidelines and Decision Tree for Dry Needling Musculoskeletal Conditions: A Consensus Statement. IJSPT. 2026;21(5):556-567. doi:10.26603/001c.161025  📲 Edo's contact information: Tactical Physio Website Kineta Care Website Kineta Care IG LinkedIn Tactical Physio LinkedIn Kineta Care Facebook [email protected] [email protected] 🎥Link to interview on Youtube  🚨Try Hanna Health free for 30 days - a customizable HEP platform where you can use your own videos, edit quickly, and track patient access.⁠ Start your trial here.⁠  👉 ⁠Share Your Feedback⁠ Help Us Build Better Solutions for Your Practice! 🚀 Take 60 seconds to answer 3 quick questions and help us build new paths to make your practice run smoother. 🎙Join our ⁠email list⁠ to receive podcast updates 📸⁠Instagram⁠  📱⁠Facebook⁠ 💻⁠LinkedIn⁠ 🐦⁠Twitter⁠ 📩Email: ⁠[email protected]⁠ PT Pro Talk Podcast is only possible with the support of forward-looking and innovative companies like Hanna Health⁠ and ⁠SaraHealth⁠.

💡 Are you still treating tendinopathy purely as a "load capacity" or biomechanical failure issue? If you have patients who simply don't improve with isometric exercises or who experience unpredictable pain flare-ups, the problem might not be in the tendon itself, it could be in the nervous system. Grab your notebook! We dive deep into modern pain neuroscience applied to daily clinical practice, busting old myths and bringing you assessment tools you can use in your clinic tomorrow morning. 💭 “We needed to start broadening our minds about pain — whether we can just focus on the tissues or whether we need to think beyond the tissues" - Dr. Brooke Coombes 👉🏻 Dr. Brooke Coombes is a Musculoskeletal Physiotherapist, lecturer, and Postdoctoral researcher at The University of Queensland. She is an internationally recognized expert in tendinopathy and musculoskeletal injuries, with over 65 peer-reviewed publications in prestigious journals such as The Lancet and JAMA.  Her impactful research challenges traditional treatments, like corticosteroid injections, and explores how factors such as obesity, diabetes, and exercise affect tendon and muscle health. Utilizing advanced techniques like ultrasound elastography and quantitative pain measurement, Dr. Coombes is currently focused on developing practical clinical tools to help practitioners identify and match specific treatments to a patient’s dominant pain mechanism based on IASP guidelines.  📚In this episode, you'll learn: Tendinopathy isn't always a loading problem: why pain mechanisms change everything about how you manage these patients How to tell your pain mechanisms apart: the clinical features and tools that help you discriminate nociceptive, neuropathic, and nociplastic pain in tendons The research reshaping tendinopathy science: sensitisation patterns, neuropathic-like features, and what the evidence actually says What personalised tendinopathy care looks like: moving beyond load management to match your approach to the underlying pain mechanism 🔎Brooke's Resource of Information: Wheeler, PC. Up to a quarter of patients with certain chronic recalcitrant tendinopathies may have central sensitisation: a prospective cohort of more than 300 patients. Br J Pain. 2019 Aug;13(3):137-144. doi: 10.1177/2049463718800352. Shraim MA, et.al. Features and methods to discriminate between mechanism-based categories of pain experienced in the musculoskeletal system: a Delphi expert consensus study. Pain. 2022 Sep 1;163(9):1812-1828. doi: 10.1097/j.pain.0000000000002577.  Rio E, et. al. Sensory Processing in People With and Without Tendinopathy: A Systematic Review With Meta-analysis of Local, Regional, and Remote Sites in Upper- and Lower-Limb Conditions. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther. 2021 Jan;51(1):12-26. doi: 10.2519/jospt.2021.9417.  Cancela-Cilleruelo I, et. al. Presence of Neuropathic-Like Symptoms in Individuals With Painful Tendinopathy/Overuse Injuries: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Clin J Pain. 2025 Jul 1;41(7):e1292. doi: 10.1097/AJP.0000000000001292.  Coombes BK, et. al. A new integrative model of lateral epicondylalgia. Br J Sports Med. 2009 Apr;43(4):252-8. doi: 10.1136/bjsm.2008.052738. 📲 Brooke's contact information: [email protected] 🎥Link to interview on Youtube  Help Us Build Better Solutions for Your Practice! 🚀 Take 60 seconds to answer 3 quick questions and help us build new paths to make your practice run smoother. ⁠Click Here⁠ 🚨Try Hanna Health free for 30 days - a customizable HEP platform where you can use your own videos, edit quickly, and track patient access.⁠ Start your trial here.  👉 ⁠Share Your Feedback⁠ 🎙Join our ⁠email list⁠ to receive podcast updates 📸⁠Instagram⁠  📱⁠Facebook⁠ 💻⁠LinkedIn⁠ 🐦⁠Twitter⁠ 📩Email: ⁠[email protected]⁠ PT Pro Talk Podcast is only possible with the support of forward-looking and innovative companies like Hanna Health⁠ and ⁠SaraHealth⁠.

💡 Are bunions strictly a surgical problem, or can physical therapy make a measurable difference? In this episode of PT Pro Talk, Mariana sits down with sports physiotherapist Andrew Wynd to challenge the common belief that conservative care can't change a hallux valgus (HAV) angle.   Drawing from over 15 years of clinical experience specializing in foot and ankle issues, Andrew breaks down a comprehensive, non-surgical approach to treating bunions. By addressing the biomechanical roots of the issue (from hip rotation to big toe muscle activation) therapists can empower their patients with real alternatives to surgery. 💭 “I do believe that you can change the angles. And I'm well aware that the vast majority of higher-quality research suggests otherwise."  - Andrew Wynd 👉🏻 Andrew Wynd is an APA-Titled Sports Physiotherapist and is the founder and director of Balwyn Sports & Physiotherapy Centre in Melbourne. He also is the CEO of Freestyle Feet, an innovative company that aims to solve foot/ankle issues through education and products.  Andrew is globally recognised for his foot & ankle clinical work, holding a Post Graduate Master’s Degree in Sports Physiotherapy.  Andrew has been a casual academic teacher at La Trobe University and is passionate about ongoing clinician development and mentoring. 📚In this episode, you'll learn: What the current evidence tells us about non-surgical treatment for hallux valgus A practical approach to conservative management that combines manual therapy, exercise, and orthotic interventions How to identify which patients are good candidates for physical therapy versus surgical referral Realistic treatment timelines and outcomes you can expect with conservative care 🔎Andrew's Resource of Information: Freestylefeet Youtube Freestyle Feet Website Banished Bunion Course Abdalbary, S. A. (2018). Foot mobilization and exercise program in combination with toe separator improves outcomes in women with moderate hallux valgus at the one-year follow-up: A randomized clinical trial. Journal of the American Podiatric Medical Association, 108(6), 478-486. https://doi.org/10.7547/17-026  Hurn SE, et. al (2022). Effectiveness of Nonsurgical Interventions for Hallux Valgus: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Arthritis Care Res (Hoboken). 2022 Oct;74(10):1676-1688. doi: 10.1002/acr.24603 Ferreyra, M, et. al. (2020). What do we know about hallux valgus pathogenesis? Review of the different theories. Journal of the Foot & Ankle, 14(3):223-230. https://doi.org/ 📲 Andrew's contact information: Freestylefeet IG Freestylefeet Facebook Andrew's Linkedin Balwyn Sports Facebook Balwyn Sports IG Balwyn Sports Website Balwyn Sports Youtube 🎥Link to interview on Youtube  Help Us Build Better Solutions for Your Practice! 🚀 Take 60 seconds to answer 3 quick questions and help us build new paths to make your practice run smoother. ⁠Click Here⁠ 🚨Try Hanna Health free for 30 days - a customizable HEP platform where you can use your own videos, edit quickly, and track patient access.⁠ Start your trial here.  👉 ⁠Share Your Feedback⁠ 🎙Join our ⁠email list⁠ to receive podcast updates 📸⁠Instagram⁠  📱⁠Facebook⁠ 💻⁠LinkedIn⁠ 🐦⁠Twitter⁠ 📩Email: ⁠[email protected]⁠ PT Pro Talk Podcast is only possible with the support of forward-looking and innovative companies like Hanna Health⁠ and ⁠SaraHealth⁠.

💭 "The second you try to isolate a muscle to create stabilization, you will fundamentally create dysfunction."  - Dr. Michael Maxwell 👉🏻 Dr. Michael Maxwell, DC, BHK is a chiropractor and educator whose mission is to deliver research-backed, practical MSK education. He is Canada’s only Certified Instructor for Michael Shacklock’s Clinical Neurodynamics and a Certified Instructor for Dynamic Neuromuscular Stabilization (DNS). With over 20 years of experience, from personal training and medical exercise to chiropractic practice, Michael integrates movement-based manual therapy and exercise interventions. He has organized more than 300 continuing education courses across Canada featuring world-renowned clinicians, and he regularly teaches at postgraduate courses and conferences internationally. This unique combination of clinical experience, extensive training, and exposure to leading educators positions him to offer exceptional continuing education for health professionals. 📚In this episode, you'll learn: What DNS actually is (and common misconceptions) How motor control shapes movement and stability A new perspective on the “core” (breathing vs hollowing/bracing) How to apply it in rehab (including strengths and limitations) 🔎Michael's Resource of Information: Courses by Michael Kolář, P., et al. (2012). Postural function of the diaphragm in persons with and without chronic low back pain. Journal of Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy, 42(4), 352–362.   Sembera M, et al. Postural-respiratory function of the diaphragm assessed by M-mode ultrasonography. PLoS One. 2022;17(10):e0275389. Rabieezadeh A, et al. The effects of an 8-week dynamic neuromuscular stabilization exercise on pain, functional disability, and quality of life in individuals with non-specific chronic low back pain. BMC Sports Sci Med Rehabil. 2024;16:161. Kolář P, et al. Analysis of Diaphragm Movement during Tidal Breathing and during its Activation while Breath Holding Using MRI Synchronized with Spirometry. Physiol Res. 2009;58:383-392. Lee NG, et al. Best Core Stabilization for Anticipatory Postural Adjustment and Falls in Hemiparetic Stroke. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 2018;99(11):2168-2174. Cha YJ, et al. The Best Lumbothoracic-Cervical Chain Stabilization Exercise for Longus Colli Activation. J Med Imaging Health Inform. 2018;8(1):84-87. Son MS, et al. Effects of dynamic neuromuscular stabilization on diaphragm movement, postural control, balance and gait performance in cerebral palsy. NeuroRehabilitation. 2017;41(4):735-743. Yoon HS, You JSH. Reflex-mediated dynamic neuromuscular stabilization in stroke patients: EMG processing and ultrasound imaging. Technol Health Care. 2017;25(S1):99-106. doi: 10.3233/THC-171311. Kobesova A, et al. Can Exercise Targeting Mid-Thoracic Spine Segmental Movement Reduce Back Pain and Improve Sensory Perception in Cross-Country Skiers? Clin J Sport Med. 2021;31(2):e86-e94. • Frank C, et al. Dynamic neuromuscular stabilization & sports rehabilitation. Int J Sports Phys Ther. 2013;8(1):62-73. 📲 Michael's contact information: Website LinkedIn IG Facebook Youtube 🎥Link to interview on Youtube  Help Us Build Better Solutions for Your Practice! 🚀 Take 60 seconds to answer 3 quick questions and help us build new paths to make your practice run smoother. ⁠Click Here⁠ 🚨Try Hanna Health free for 30 days - a customizable HEP platform where you can use your own videos, edit quickly, and track patient access.⁠ Start your trial here.  👉 ⁠Share Your Feedback⁠ 🎙Join our ⁠email list⁠ to receive podcast updates 📸⁠Instagram⁠  📱⁠Facebook⁠ 💻⁠LinkedIn⁠ 🐦⁠Twitter⁠ 📩Email: ⁠[email protected]⁠ PT Pro Talk Podcast is only possible with the support of forward-looking and innovative companies like Hanna Health⁠ and ⁠SaraHealth⁠.