Research and evidence based practise are the cornerstone of the modern clinician - ensuring that we use the best, up to date methods to support our clients and patients. With that said however, there's so much out there, how can you be sure what you're reading is worthwhile, is relevant or of any half decent quality. We have to understand the limitations of the research we're reading to understand the implications and potential application of that research too. It's unfortunate, but when working with people - whatever your discipline - there's no one size fits all approach and there's always nuance. With that said, myself and James spoke about why we need to dig further than *just* the abstract before we make up our minds on a research paper, to fully gage whether it is of clinical or statistical significance! We discuss what are some of the things you should look out for when reading and discerning research as well as some of the wider elements of research to better understand that world.

I speak with the amazing Dr Melissa Farmer, Clinical Psychologist, Neuroscientist, researcher, CCO & co founder of Aivo Health! Melissa and I talk about chronic pain and the influence that has on both the brain & body as well as what we can do in clinic to both utilise these changes as well as how we can manage our patients with chronic pain with our approach to help them both feel seen and heard. We discuss her approach as to how she applies her research in clinic and what the importance is of getting research into clinics quicker rather than how it now trickles down! We touch on a lot of different topics throughout the hour, tune in and find out!

We've returning guest the always fantastic Enda King with us this month to discuss ACL Biomechanics & movement strategies post op - an area where Enda had done his PhD in! We look at how you can objectively help your patients even if you don't have a fancy biomechanics lab, where the idea of a 10% difference for RTP comes from and how that translates into reality as well as how you can coach your patients without coaching through movement constraints! Tune in to find out more!

This months guest is Curtis Anderson, a severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) survivor for a new area we’re looking to dive deeper into on the podcast – the patient’s perspective. We talk to Curtis about his 20 year journey and how he defied what was initially thought possible for the full extent of his rehab. After 3 weeks in a medically induced coma he spent a year in a rehabilitation center and he has since gone on a journey to be a motivational speaker helping other get through their own journeys as the prime example of what can happen when you don’t give up, even after 20 years, when you are determined to treat every day as an opportunity to do better, be better and perform better. In his own words, it took him 8 years to learn to drive again, 8 years to use a staircase with the railing on the left side, 10 years to be able to pick up change from the counter top & 16 years to pick it up off of the ground! He's an inspiration and the personification of never giving up and I hope you enjoy hearing about his journey as much as I have!

On this episode I speak to Dr Sarah Haag about pelvic floor physiotherapy - from what we need to listen to when talking to our patients to when we should refer on for a specialist and beyond! Tune in to this episode as we explore an area of the body that has, for me, for all intents and purposes, been a bit of a black hole that, I admittedly say on the podcast - I'm glad I've worked previously with pelvic floor specialists in the same clinic as I would never have even recognised to refer on in the past! An area under-explored by our education (there's a lot to cover during the education - not hating) I hope this episode can, for you, help shine a light on the area where the sun don't shine!

On this edition of the podcast we talk with Dr Ahmad Malik, foot & ankle orthopedic consultant. We start the discussion looking at surgeries, what constitutes a good or bad candidate for surgery as well as reactions to metal work after the fact. In addition to that, we discuss the importance of listening to your patients and fully exploring their situation and not just writing them off as a complaining patient or the classic "get over it" sort of answer! It's something that we as healthcare professionals should value very highly and a conversation that everyone can take something from, however it's safe to say given the conversations I've had with both patients and fellow colleagues as a result of the podcast that not all healthcare professionals take the time to fully hear what their patient is telling them!  

On this episode of the podcast I talk with Lizzie Marlow, an MSK physiotherapist & educator specialising in lower limbs with special interests in running injuries, lower limb tendinopathies & of course management & treatment of achilles ruptures. We talk about everything surrounding Achilles tendon rupture rehabilitation. From the initial assessment to the rehabilitation - as well as what is important at the initial stages of identifying the rupture (I have unfortunately seen a 1 or 2 missed...) - utilising ultrasound to get the optimal position for the torn tendon to repair as well as decisions on whether or not to operate, then guiding through the rehabilitation process itself! 

This time we speak with Katie Mitchell, a researcher, educator, physical therapist, athletic therapist & clinic owner with a special interest in concussions and rehabilitation as well as the role our neuromuscular connection plays into rehab - not just in the post concussion athlete, but para-athletes, musculoskeletal complaints & rehab as a whole! We discuss compensation strategies - briefly how & why they come about, as well as how Katie tackles that in rehabilitation by getting the patient to indirectly address the compensation strategies through task modification! We also touch on how we can use these strategies for something as simple as an ankle sprain, to post op & more! Tune in to find out more!  

This month we're speaking to Ben Steele-Turner (@PhysiUtrition). Ben is a Physiotherapist with a Msc in nutrition having spoken on the topic in conferences and a lecturer in musculoskeletal health. Next to that he's also a personal trainer and previously competed in body building fitness competitions - he stays busy! We spoke about the importance of nutrition, what counts in your micro's and macro's when you're talking about injury rehabilitation and just how particular one needs to be about their intake! In addition we discuss ethics in the world of social media and how we as healthcare professionals can help to lift the profession

This time we're joined in studio with none other than returning guest, Claire Robertson! Claire is back to talk to us about patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS). From defining what it actually is as an all encompassing term, to rehab strategies and potentially what adjuncts may be useful. Don't forget to head over to www.physiotutors.com/courses to check out our latest course with Claire Robertson on everything you need to know about PFPS including real life case studies and example rehab exercises to complement your programming, everything you need to go back into clinic on Monday feeling more competent and confident!