Osteo Talk

On this episode we are joined by Rebecca Malon, a Queensland based osteopath and clinical nutritionist whose lived experience led her to a focus on women’s health. Rebecca has undertaken extensive professional development and is passionate about empowering, educating and caring for women. Rebecca discusses endometriosis, a condition that can have a devastating impact on a women’s quality of life. With such a wide range of signs and symptoms, it can take time and involve multiple practitioners to put the pieces of the puzzle together on the journey to diagnosis. You may be the first practitioner to recognise the signs and symptoms, or be part of a multi-disciplinary team caring for a woman with endometriosis. Whatever the role, you can have a significant impact. 

Rebecca discusses:

What is endometriosis;
Current understanding of the cause;
Pain and symptom generating mechanisms;
Common signs and symptoms;
The role of osteopathy in the management of endometriosis;
The role of central and peripheral sensitisation;
The role of pain education and pain down regulating training;
The role of the pelvic floor and abdominal diaphragm;
The role of osteopathic treatment post surgically.

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Dr. Rosalba Courtney discusses symptoms of long COVID, the viral persistence and pathophysiology of COVID-19, management considerations with long covid patients and the role breathing exercises can play.

The content discussed in each episode is the opinion of the participants only and should not be used as medical advice.

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Rosalba Courtney has been driven by curiosity, in particular, discovering why some patients weren’t responding to treatment. That curiosity launched her career into the world of breathing therapy.

Rosalba has undertaken a PhD on the topic, and has published works in textbooks and scientific literature. Through her research and clinical experience, Rosalba has developed her own assessment and therapy protocols.

Rosalba is passionate about sharing the healing potential of breathing with her patients and other health professionals. 

On this episode, Rosalba discusses:

• her career journey as an osteopath, naturopath, Chinese medicine practitioner and breathing therapist;
• how she discovered breathing as a missing link in some patients healing journey;
• development of the dysfunctional breathing (DB) model and assessment tools through her PhD;
• the impact of DB on pain and core strength;
• signs that DB could be playing a fundamental role in a patient’s presentation;
• assessment of diaphragm function; and
• manual therapy for the diaphragm.

The content discussed in each episode is the opinion of the participants only and should not be used as medical advice.

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For this episode, we hear from the highly knowledgeable and inspiring Dr Wael Mahmoud. Wael had the privilege of learning under some of the great names in osteopathy and has followed in their footsteps, becoming an educator, mentor and passionate practitioner. He is the director of CPD Health Courses and in 2021 published Two Hands: The Gamechanger Guide for Manual Therapists, a book that celebrates the unique gift osteopaths have as manual therapists and how they can thrive as healthcare professionals.

This episode explores:

• navigating the role of osteopathy in the current evidence focused world of allied health;
• supporting our new graduates through mentoring and internships;
• the importance of communication and ‘treatment room choreography;’
• an osteopathic approach to lateral elbow pain;
• evidence for dry needling therapy for lateral elbow pain;
• icing and bracing;
• natural history and treatment frequency;
• an osteopathic approach to frozen shoulder; and
• the role of postural strain exercises.

The content discussed in each episode is the opinion of the participants only and should not be used as medical advice.

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This episode of Osteo Talk is focused on the often challenging presentation of dizziness.

We are joined by Melbourne based osteopath, Beth Yule. Being a chronic headache sufferer herself gave Beth unique insight into the impact headaches can have on a patient’s quality of life. This inspired Beth to focus her professional development on headache, migraine and vestibular disorders.

Beth now passionately and generously shares her expertise with patients, colleagues and the wider osteopathic community. She solely treats those experiencing chronic headaches, migraines and dizziness disorders at Melbourne Headache Solutions, where she is also Team Leader and Junior Partner. She co-authored the book ‘Solving the Migraine Puzzle - A Comprehensive Guide to Migraine Relief’ and has presented webinars and articles for Osteopathy Australia. 

Beth helps us simplify our approach to dizziness presentations and discusses vestibular migraines and vestibular disorders. We talk about:

• what is dizziness;
• the impact dizziness can have on sufferers and why it can be challenging to diagnose and manage;
• red flags to be aware of;
• signs, symptoms, triggers and relieving factors for vestibular migraines and vestibular disorders;
• how to differentiate between a vestibular migraine and vestibular disorder and treatment / management strategies for both; and
• the role of manual therapy.

The content discussed in each episode is the opinion of the participants only and should not be used as medical advice.

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For this episode, we have the pleasure of hearing from Dr Oliver Thomson, the creator and host of The Words Matter Podcast. Oliver practices as an osteopath in London, where he works in a multidisciplinary clinic.

In addition to his clinical role, he also works as an Associate Professor at the University College of Osteopathy where his main research interests are using qualitative methodologies to understand the clinical reasoning, beliefs and behaviours of health professionals and osteopaths and he has published extensively in these areas. Oliver is also an Associate Editor for the International Journal of Osteopathic Medicine.

He is also host of The Words Matter Podcast where he has critical discussions with leading academic-clinicians across the MSK spectrum on topics related to person-centred care, clinical communication, evidence-based practice and the biopsychosocial model. Oliver also offers 1-2-1 clinical mentoring to osteopaths across the globe and online learning through his Words Matter platform. 

The content discussed in each episode is the opinion of the participants only and should not be used as medical advice.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For this episode, we welcome the highly experienced and respected Dr Nick Brasher. Nick is the owner and principal osteopath at Peak Osteopathy in Hawthorn. For the past 14 years, Nick has also worked as an osteopath with the Western Bulldogs and Collingwood AFL teams.

The focus for this episode is athletic groin pain. Nick draws on his experience working in elite sport and private practice to help us simplify and streamline our approach to this often complex presentation.

Nick discusses:

• Important points to cover in our history taking
• Approach to assessment: palpation, pain provocation, orthopaedic testing, muscle and movement assessment
• The role of movement, co-ordination and biomechanics failures
• Creating and reaching short and long term goals
• The role of manual therapy
• Approach to rehabilitation
• Home management, taping and belts
• Return to sport 

The content discussed in each episode is the opinion of the participants only and should not be used as medical advice.

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We are joined by osteopath and educator Dr Grant Burrows. Grant graduated as an osteopath in 2000 and currently works in private practice in Geelong, Victoria. He developed a particular interest in functional movement and chronic pain which led him to extensive study overseas.

For this episode, we discuss aligning patient outcomes with practitioner development and the challenges the profession faces in achieving this. It is these challenges that inspired Grant to embark on a new journey with the development of ProMotion, a series of educational programs for osteopaths and practice leaders designed to help us create career momentum and a cohesive clinic culture.

This episode covers:

• The concept behind ProMotion

• Grant's career journey

• Translating evidence and science into practice

• The importance of establishing patient expectations

• Changes in the osteopathic space in past decade

• The concept of practitioner ‘squeeze’

• Contemporary challenges and obstacles faced by osteopaths and practice leaders

• Challenges faced by the osteopathic profession

• Balancing the pursuit of research and evidence with our ability to utilise and integrate them into practice

The content discussed in each episode is the opinion of the participants only and should not be used as medical advice.

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We are joined again by Dr Steve Dinneen, osteopath, an elite runner, a Melbourne-based osteopath, running coach, business owner, husband and father. 

Steve has competed at the state, national and international levels, and works with professional runners as a coach and osteopath.

Steve completed a Human Movement Sports Science degree before undertaking his osteopathic studies at RMIT University. He currently practices at Doncaster Osteopathic Clinic and, along with his wife Mel, established Dinneen Runners squad, and is part of the coaching team. 

Anyone who watched the Tokyo Olympics men's marathon may have caught the interview with Liam Adams, who finished 24th and gave a shout-out to his osteopath Steve Dinneen, saying “He is incredible and keeps me injury-free”. This was a fantastic promotion for osteopathy in professional sports and personally for Steve. 

In this second episode of our series of podcasts with Steve, he shares his treatment, management, biomechanical and technique considerations in some commonly encountered running injuries.

Steve explores presentations involving:

• tibialis posterior;
• gluteal muscles; 
• the knee joint and iliotibial band (ITB);
• plantar fascia;
• bone stress; and 
• the Achilles tendon.

The content discussed in each episode is the opinion of the participants only and should not be used as medical advice.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As osteopaths we are in a truly privileged position to work with pregnant women and play a role in their journey. Through our healing hands-on work, advice and care, we can facilitate a positive and empowering experience for our pregnant patients. Today’s guests are osteopaths Dr. Daniela Aiello and Dr. Ash Bolton. They have built a successful Melbourne practice with a strong focus on women’s health and pregnancy. 

On this episode, Dan and Ash explore:

• their passion for women's health and career journeys;
• the importance of education and language in explained pelvic girdle pain to patients;
• common clinical presentation of pelvic girdle pain;
• assessment of pelvic girdle pain and load transfer;
• the benefits of exercise as an active management strategy;
• the ‘less is more’ approach to treatment;
• managing a highly irritable case of pelvic girdle pain;
• osteopathic manual therapy approach to pelvic girdle pain, ‘sciatica’ and preparing the body for labour and birth;
• common clinical presentation and causes of reported ‘sciatica;’
• can ‘sciatica’ be due to the babies position; and
• general tips and resources to help women prepare for birth

Dan and Ash are registered osteopaths and practice at Bulleen Osteopathy, located in Melbourne.

The content discussed in each episode is the opinion of the participants only and should not be used as medical advice.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.