February 12, 2026

Ep.273 'Understanding Pain in 2026 - Pt2/4 - Predictive Processing & Active Inference'

1 hour 9 minutes

In Part 2 of our focus this month on ‘Understanding Pain in 2026’, we take a look at Predictive Processing (the brain guessing what is happening and outputting pain when it predicts danger) and Active Inference (the brain acting to confirm or update these guesses, shaping how you move, feel, and interpret sensations).

Joining host Matt Phillips of Runchatlive.com are special guests Professor Dave Newell, Head of The Centre for Pain & Active Inference Research at Health Sciences University, and Anna Maria Mazzieri, a PhD student at Health Sciences University, and Director of The ST School.

The episode discusses how the brain builds models, predicts sensory input, and acts to minimize prediction error - shaping movement, sensation and chronic pain. The conversation covers embodiment, precision, therapeutic alliance, and practical implications for clinicians, including sense-making, creating safe liminal spaces, graded exposure and using touch as a communication tool.

Listeners are invited & encouraged to re-listen for deeper understanding and to use the episode’s insights to rethink clinical reasoning and patient-centred approaches to pain management.

Chapter Markers

00:00:00 - Welcome to the STA Clinician Podcast

00:01:38 - Meet Professor Dave Newell and Anna Maria Mazzieri

00:03:25 - Anna-Maria’s PhD Journey

00:05:22 - The Centre for Pain & Active Inference Research

00:06:58 - Understanding Active Inference

00:15:46 - The Role of Active Inference

00:21:35 - Clinical Applications of Active Inference

00:23:17 - Contextual Factors in Pain

00:29:46 - The Concept of Self-Evidencing

00:37:38 - Chronic Pain and Active Inference

00:38:35 - Listener Questions

00:42:15 - Therapeutic Alliance in Pain Management

00:45:50 - Co-Creation in Therapy

00:48:30 - The Complexity of Pain

00:53:42 - Conclusion and Next Steps

Special Guest Links

Website: The Centre for Pain and Active Inference (PAIn) Research at HSU

Professor Dave Newell on Facebook

Website: The ST School

The ST School on Facebook

Further Reading

An Embodied Predictive Processing Theory of Pain Experience

Therapeutic Alliance as Active Inference: The Role of Therapeutic Touch and Synchrony

MASSAG model: Towards an integrative neuroscience framework linking emotional trauma, pain, and mechanisms of force-based manipulations

Mark Miller on Predictive Processing - Todd Hargrove on Substack

Other Episodes

Part 1 - Ep.272 with Dr. Bronnie Lennox Thompson and Ben Whybrow - available on the Sports Therapy Association YouTube channel and all popular podcast apps.

Part 3 Tues Feb 17th with special guest Dr. Rachel Dewar-Haggart, Postdoctoral Qualitative Researcher within the Medical Sociology & Health Experiences Research Group at the Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, University of Oxford.

Part 4 Wed Feb 25th with special guest Dr. Rachel Zoffness, Pain scientist, International Speaker, Science Writer, with her new book “Tell Me Where It Hurts” coming out March 26th

Want to join the live recordings?

Episodes of the STA Clinician Podcast are recorded live every TUESDAY at 8pm on the Sports Therapy Association YOUTUBE CHANNEL and FACEBOOK page. Everyone is welcome - you do not have to be an STA member! If you cannot join us live, be sure to subscribe to the 'Sports Therapy Association Podcast' on all popular podcast apps to be notified when new episodes are available.

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By Sports Therapy Association