In this episode, Joe Tatta, PT, DPT, speaks with physiotherapist and researcher Tash Pocovi, PhD about her groundbreaking study in the Lancet on the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of an individualized, progressive walking and education intervention for the prevention of low back pain recurrence.

The trial, known as the Walk Back Trial, involved 24 physiotherapists across Australia who delivered an individualized and progressive walking program along with education. The participants, who were mostly sedentary, were given walking prescriptions tailored to their current activity levels, age, BMI, and comorbidities. The goal was to gradually increase their walking to 30 minutes most days of the week over six months.

The results were promising, showing a relative risk reduction in low back pain recurrences and a reduction in care-seeking episodes. This has significant implications for both individual health and healthcare system burdens, highlighting the potential of simple interventions like walking combined with education.

Dr. Pocovi also discussed the cost-effectiveness of the intervention, noting that it was highly likely to be cost-effective based on willingness-to-pay thresholds. The biggest savings were seen in reduced work absenteeism.

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Joe Tatta, PT, DPT  CEO, Integrative Pain Science Institute

In this special webinar episode, Joe Tatta, PT, DPT, and Rose Pignataro, PT, DPT, PhD, FAPTA, a leading researcher and physical therapist specializing in health behavior change, discuss how healthy eating can relieve chronic pain. They also discuss strategies to help patients adhere to and sustain nutritional changes.

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Joe Tatta, PT, DPT CEO Integrative Pain Science Institute

In this episode, Joe Tatta, PT, DPT speaks with Anthony Delitto, PT, PhD, FAPTA a leading researcher in musculoskeletal pain, with over 100 peer-reviewed publications and a career dedicated to improving pain care. Dr. Delitto led the groundbreaking TARGET Trial, a $13-million PCORI-funded study investigating how early intervention with physical therapy—specifically, psychologically-informed physical therapy—can prevent acute low back pain from becoming chronic.

In this episode, we dive into the findings of the TARGET Trial, how primary care providers can be trained to recognize risk factors for persistent pain, and why timely referral to physical therapy matters. We also discuss the critical role of physical therapists as primary care providers, the broader impact of poorly managed pain—including the overuse of opioids, unnecessary imaging, and low-value care—and what all of this means for patients, healthcare systems, and employers.

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Joe Tatta, PT, DPT  CEO Integrative Pain Science Institute

In this episode, Joe Tatta, PT, DPT, and Jeremy Fletcher, PT, DPT present a webinar on the mental health physical therapist and the role of physical therapy in mental health.

This webinar covers many topics, including:

• The role of the physical therapist in mental and behavioral health.
• Opportunities for physical therapy professionals to work in mental and behavioral health.
• Suggested education and training in mental health physical therapy.

For CEU courses and the Mental Health Physical Therapist Certification, please visit integrativepainscienceinstitute.com/course

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Joe Tatta, PT, DPT 

In this episode, Joe Tatta, PT, DPT, speaks with Jeremy Fletcher, PT, DPT, on becoming a mental health physical therapist. Dr. Fletcher has over two decades of experience in clinical practice, education, and administration. His work bridging physical therapy and mental health grew out of his experience in the military, teaching in doctor of physical therapy programs, working at the VA, and as the Chief Operating Officer of a $4M funded SAMSHA Certified Community Behavioral Health clinic. This conversation covers many topics, including:

• how mental health conditions like anxiety, depression, and PTSD affect physical therapy patient outcomes.
• the role of the physical therapist in mental and behavioral health.
• common misconceptions physical therapists hold about integrating mental health into physical therapy practice.
• opportunities for physical therapy professionals to work in mental and behavioral health.
• suggested education and training in mental health physical therapy.

For questions about the Mental Health Physical Therapist Certification program, visit integrativepainscienceinstitute.com or email [email protected]. The next cohort opens on Saturday, Jan 4th. 

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Joe Tatta, PT, DPT 

In this episode, Joe Tatta, PT, DPT speaks with Anna Weissman, a doctoral student in clinical psychology at York University in Canada. Anna’s research focuses on memory and includes developing memory-based interventions to treat chronic pain and further understand how our brains process painful memories. In today’s episode, we discuss how past experiences shape the way we perceive pain, what science reveals about the role of memory and chronic pain and the role of emotion in shaping painful memories.

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Joe Tatta, PT, DPT Founder and CEO Integrative Pain Science Institute

In this week's episode of the Pain Science Education Podcast, we speak with Dr. David Spiegel, a renowned expert in the field of hypnosis. Dr. Spiegel has decades of experience studying the applications of hypnosis in managing chronic pain, non-communicable diseases, and even cancer. Our conversation delved into the evolution of hypnosis from its early misconceptions to its current status as a scientifically-backed therapeutic tool for pain relief.

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In this episode, we speak with globally renowned pain researcher, Professor Lorimer Mosley. Lorimer is a clinician, scientist and educator whose investigates the role of the brain and the mind in chronic pain. He's a professor of clinical neurosciences and a foundation chair in physiotherapy at the University of South Australia. He has authored over 400 research articles and seven books on pain. He also leads a nonprofit organization called Pain Revolution, which you can learn more about by going to the website PainRevolution.org. On today's episode, we discuss new ways a clinician can deliver pain science education and how impactful this approach can be for people living with pain.

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On this week's episode of the Pain Science Education Podcast, we explore the concept of pain resilience with our expert guest Dr. Drew Sturgeon. Dr Sturgeorn is a fellowship-trained licensed clinical psychologist and clinical assistant professor at the University of Michigan School of Medicine Department of Anesthesiology. Dr. Sturgeon shares his journey into pain resilience, influenced by his mentor Dr. Alex Zoutra's work on adult resilience and adaptation in chronic pain. We discuss the growing interest in pain resilience and its distinction from pain vulnerability. Dr. Sturgeon emphasizes that resilience should be viewed as a process rather than a trait, highlighting the importance of sustainability, recovery, and growth in the face of chronic pain. We explore the idea that resilience involves actively pursuing meaningful goals despite pain, rather than merely tolerating it. Dr. Sturgeon explains how positive emotions, acceptance, and cognitive-behavioral strategies can enhance resilience by helping individuals reframe their pain experience and maintain functionality.

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In this week's episode of the Pain Science Education Podcast, we delve into the intriguing and emerging field of psychedelic medicine for pain management. Our guest, Dr. Maya Armstrong, a board-certified physician in addiction and family medicine, shares her insights and research on this topic. Dr. Armstrong discusses her background and how her personal experience with chronic pain and her professional journey in addiction medicine led her to explore the potential of psychedelics in treating chronic pain. We explore the concept of pain as an emergent property of a complex system, emphasizing the importance of understanding pain beyond the traditional biopsychosocial model. 

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