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In this episode, we discuss how to differentiate Achilles mid-portion tendinopathy from insertional tendinopathy and why the distinction changes rehab. Depending on the patient, some tendon-loading exercises can actually have a negative impact on insertional tendinopathy cases, so being able to differentiate these can help to improve your success with your patients.

00:00 Welcome to PT Snacks

00:19 Episode Focus and Disclaimer

01:08 Achilles Basics and Tendinopathy Terms

03:09 Blood Supply and Watershed Zone

05:30 Insertional vs Midportion Pathology

07:27 Why Each Type Happens

09:47 Treatment Principles and Load Management

11:02 Insertional Rehab and Evidence

14:22 Wrap Up and Resources

Need CEUs?
Unlock unlimited online courses, live webinars, and certification-prep programs with MedBridge. You’ll get thousands of accredited, evidence-based courses. Use code PTSNACKSPODCAST at checkout to save over $100. Student? Use code PTSNACKSPODCASTSTUDENT

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Studying for the NPTE?
Check out PT Final Exam — they’ve helped thousands of students pass with confidence. Use code PTSnacks at checkout for a discount.

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In today's episode, we discuss what VO2 max is, why it matters for physical therapists, and how it predicts cardiovascular risk and all-cause mortality. Join us as we discuss different protocols utilized in research, considerations for different  populations, and how we can help our clients successfully hit their target goals.

00:00 VO2 Max Explained

01:28 Why It Matters

02:50 Physiology Behind Gains

03:58 Training Intensity Basics

05:08 Protocols That Work

07:09 Choosing The Right Plan

07:31 Population Specific Tips

08:46 Key Variables And Caveats

10:40 Measuring Without A Lab

11:35 Main Takeaways

12:10 Wrap Up And Contact

Need CEUs?
Unlock unlimited online courses, live webinars, and certification-prep programs with MedBridge. You’ll get thousands of accredited, evidence-based courses. Use code PTSNACKSPODCAST at checkout to save over $100. Student? Use code PTSNACKSPODCASTSTUDENT

Support the show

Studying for the NPTE?
Check out PT Final Exam — they’ve helped thousands of students pass with confidence. Use code PTSnacks at checkout for a discount.

Stay Connected!

Follow so you never miss an episode. Send your questions via email to [email protected]

Join the email list HERE

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OA is described as the most prevalent chronic joint disease worldwide, involving progressive degeneration of articular cartilage and sometimes subchondral bone, leading to pain, stiffness, and functional limitations. Rather than simple “wear and tear,” OA is a multifactorial whole-joint condition influenced by inflammatory, mechanical, and metabolic factors, with risk increased by age, obesity, mechanical stress, and joint trauma. The episode reviews how this happens, what physical therapists can do to help patients with this, and how to individualize our plan of care to our patients' tolerance and goals.

00:00 Osteoarthritis Overview
00:56 Defining OA Basics
01:48 Beyond Wear and Tear
03:32 Inflammation and Pain
04:51 Exercise First Line
06:21 Load Management
08:40 Treatment Takeaways
09:39 Wrap Up and Resources

Need CEUs?
Unlock unlimited online courses, live webinars, and certification-prep programs with MedBridge. You’ll get thousands of accredited, evidence-based courses. Use code PTSNACKSPODCAST at checkout to save over $100. Student? Use code PTSNACKSPODCASTSTUDENT

Support the show

Studying for the NPTE?
Check out PT Final Exam — they’ve helped thousands of students pass with confidence. Use code PTSnacks at checkout for a discount.

Stay Connected!

Follow so you never miss an episode. Send your questions via email to [email protected]

Join the email list HERE

Support the Show:
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Today, we are answering a listener question about the difference between paratenonitis and tenosynovitis. We'll cover the roles of each of these in the body, how they get agggravated, and what we do to treat them.

00:00 Welcome to PT Snacks
00:42 Fan Mail Questions
02:03 Episode Roadmap
02:36 Paratenon Basics
03:32 Synovial Sheath Function
04:46 Evaluation Differences
05:19 Paratenon Causes
06:47 Paratenon Treatment
07:55 Tenosynovitis Causes
08:19 Tenosynovitis Treatment
09:04 Key Takeaways
10:00 Resources and Wrap Up

Need CEUs?
Unlock unlimited online courses, live webinars, and certification-prep programs with MedBridge. You’ll get thousands of accredited, evidence-based courses. Use code PTSNACKSPODCAST at checkout to save over $100. Student? Use code PTSNACKSPODCASTSTUDENT

Support the show

Studying for the NPTE?
Check out PT Final Exam — they’ve helped thousands of students pass with confidence. Use code PTSnacks at checkout for a discount.

Stay Connected!

Follow so you never miss an episode. Send your questions via email to [email protected]

Join the email list HERE

Support the Show:
Share the episode with someone who'd benefit.

Contributing directly to the "support" link.

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🎉 MedBridge Days Sale is Here! MedBridge's Bridge Days sale runs June 15–30! Use code PTSNACKS15 for:

• $126 off an Individual Subscription → Get your discount
• 15% off Group Subscriptions → Group pricing

MedBridge is also celebrating their 15-year anniversary, with tons of CEU courses for PTs, OTs, and SLPs — plus built-in exam prep for OCS, SCS, and other specialty certifications. Don't wait — this offer is only live for two weeks!

In this episode, Kasey breaks down the high-level reasons why certain tendons are more predisposed to injury than others. Rather than memorizing isolated facts, this episode is designed to help you build a framework for understanding tendon behavior under load.

00:00 Welcome to PT Snacks
01:27 Why Tendons Get Injured
02:15 Load Mismatch Basics
03:27 Mechanical Risk Factors
04:45 Tissue Quality and Healing
05:26 Junctions and Tendon Size
07:21 Composition and Demographics
08:52 Intrasynovial vs Extrasynovial
10:07 Framework and Wrap Up
11:01 Resources and Farewell

Need CEUs?
Unlock unlimited online courses, live webinars, and certification-prep programs with MedBridge. You’ll get thousands of accredited, evidence-based courses. Use code PTSNACKSPODCAST at checkout to save over $100. Student? Use code PTSNACKSPODCASTSTUDENT

Support the show

Studying for the NPTE?
Check out PT Final Exam — they’ve helped thousands of students pass with confidence. Use code PTSnacks at checkout for a discount.

Stay Connected!

Follow so you never miss an episode. Send your questions via email to [email protected]

Join the email list HERE

Support the Show:
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Contributing directly to the "support" link.

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Not all rotator cuff tears are the same, and understanding why can completely change how you set expectations and build a plan with your patients. In this episode, we break down tendon anatomy and physiology, the different ways rotator cuff tears develop (degenerative vs. traumatic), the difference between partial- and full-thickness tears, and the factors that influence healing and prognosis for both conservative and surgical patients.

In this episode you'll learn:

• What a tendon actually is and why its structure (and blood supply) matters for healing
• The difference between degenerative and traumatic rotator cuff tears
• Risk factors that make someone more likely to develop a tear
• Articular-side vs. bursal-side partial thickness tears — and why bursal tears tend to hurt more
• What "massive" and "irreparable" tears mean, and how outcomes differ
• Predictors of good outcomes with conservative care (hint: baseline ROM and strength matter)
• A quick look at steroid injections vs. PRP for rotator cuff tears

Test yourself:

1. What is a tendon's main job, and what structures help it do that job?
2. What are the main categories of rotator cuff tears?
3. What are the two types of partial thickness tears, and how do they differ?
4. What factors affect healing after a rotator cuff tear — for both conservative and surgical patients?

🎉 MedBridge Days Sale is Here! MedBridge's Bridge Days sale runs June 15–30! Use code PTSNACKS15 for:

• $126 off an Individual Subscription → Get your discount
• 15% off Group Subscriptions → Group pricing

MedBridge is also celebrating their 15-year anniversary, with tons of CEU courses for PTs, OTs, and SLPs — plus built-in exam prep for OCS, SCS, and other specialty certifications. Don't wait — this offer is only live for two weeks!

Resources:

• 📋 Free rotator cuff study guide
• 📱 Follow along on TikTok @ptsnackspodcast for visual study tools
• ✉️ Questions or topic requests? Email [email protected] or join the email list for episode highlights

If this episode helped you, please take a moment to leave a review — it helps the show grow more than you know! 🙏

Need CEUs?
Unlock unlimited online courses, live webinars, and certification-prep programs with MedBridge. You’ll get thousands of accredited, evidence-based courses. Use code PTSNACKSPODCAST at checkout to save over $100. Student? Use code PTSNACKSPODCASTSTUDENT

Support the show

Studying for the NPTE?
Check out PT Final Exam — they’ve helped thousands of students pass with confidence. Use code PTSnacks at checkout for a discount.

Stay Connected!

Follow so you never miss an episode. Send your questions via email to [email protected]

Join the email list HERE

Support the Show:
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Welcome to this brief episode on dry needling and what current research suggests may explain its pain-relieving effects. The episode clarifies why it’s called “dry” needling (no medication injected) and emphasizes the importance of being able to explain why it may help patients. Dry needling is presented as working locally and systemically through four main mechanisms: local muscle and tissue effects, biomechanical and inflammatory biomarker changes, peripheral and spinal pain modulation, and supraspinal/autonomic pathways. We also discuss who this is appropriate for, and how to combine it with other techniques to help our patients get to their goals successfully.

00:00 Welcome to PTs Snacks
00:48 Why Dry Needling Matters
01:15 What It Is and Isn't
02:39 Four Mechanisms Overview
03:24 Local Tissue Effects
04:19 Inflammation Biomarkers
05:14 Spinal Pain Modulation
06:35 Autonomic Brain Pathways
07:16 Who Should Avoid It
07:58 Patient Education and Training
08:52 Wrap Up and Next Steps

Need CEUs?
Unlock unlimited online courses, live webinars, and certification-prep programs with MedBridge. You’ll get thousands of accredited, evidence-based courses. Use code PTSNACKSPODCAST at checkout to save over $100. Student? Use code PTSNACKSPODCASTSTUDENT

Support the show

Studying for the NPTE?
Check out PT Final Exam — they’ve helped thousands of students pass with confidence. Use code PTSnacks at checkout for a discount.

Stay Connected!

Follow so you never miss an episode. Send your questions via email to [email protected]

Join the email list HERE

Support the Show:
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In this PT Snacks episode, host Kasey introduces Baxter’s nerve (the first branch of the lateral plantar nerve, also called the inferior/anterior calcaneal nerve) as an under-recognized source of medial plantar heel pain that can mimic plantar fasciitis and may account for up to 20% of chronic heel pain. We review the nerve’s motor and sensory roles, common entrapment zones near the distal tarsal tunnel and medial calcaneal tuberosity, and typical presentation including burning neuropathic pain, possible paresthesia, focal tenderness, and potential abductor digiti minimi weakness or atrophy. This episode outlines key differentials, relevant imaging and testing findings (ultrasound, MRI, EMG/NCS), and a treatment progressions.

00:00 Welcome to PT Snacks
00:14 Baxters Nerve Overview
02:14 Why It Matters
03:03 Anatomy and Entrapment
04:45 Symptoms and Differentials
06:11 Imaging and Testing
07:22 Clinical Exam Clues
09:04 Treatment Options
11:12 Key Takeaways
12:58 Wrap Up and Contact

Need CEUs?
Unlock unlimited online courses, live webinars, and certification-prep programs with MedBridge. You’ll get thousands of accredited, evidence-based courses. Use code PTSNACKSPODCAST at checkout to save over $100. Student? Use code PTSNACKSPODCASTSTUDENT

Support the show

Studying for the NPTE?
Check out PT Final Exam — they’ve helped thousands of students pass with confidence. Use code PTSnacks at checkout for a discount.

Stay Connected!

Follow so you never miss an episode. Send your questions via email to [email protected]

Join the email list HERE

Support the Show:
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In this PT Snacks episode, Kasey breaks down the posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) for PTs and students, covering what it is, how it’s injured, and how we assess and manage it clinically. We review the PCL’s role, common mechanisms of injuries, plus what combined injuries may indicate. We also hit key exam findings and tests, imaging options, grading, and broad rehab principles focused on protecting against posterior shear, progressing quad strength, and using protocols thoughtfully while testing readiness stage to stage.

00:00 Welcome to PT Snacks
00:31 Support the Podcast
01:13 What the PCL Does
01:35 Anatomy and Bundles
02:49 Injury Mechanisms
04:08 Symptoms and History
05:09 Clinical Tests and Imaging
06:04 Grading and Treatment Paths
07:18 Rehab Principles and Progression
09:14 Protocol Reasoning and Homework
11:34 Wrap Up and Contact

Need CEUs?
Unlock unlimited online courses, live webinars, and certification-prep programs with MedBridge. You’ll get thousands of accredited, evidence-based courses. Use code PTSNACKSPODCAST at checkout to save over $100. Student? Use code PTSNACKSPODCASTSTUDENT

Support the show

Studying for the NPTE?
Check out PT Final Exam — they’ve helped thousands of students pass with confidence. Use code PTSnacks at checkout for a discount.

Stay Connected!

Follow so you never miss an episode. Send your questions via email to [email protected]

Join the email list HERE

Support the Show:
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This episode explains how exercise can act as pain relief, addressing common patient concerns about exercise hurting and offering an alternative or complement to medications and passive treatments. We outline four key pain-modulating mechanisms: central modulation at the brain and spinal cord, immune and inflammatory changes, peripheral tissue and nerve effects, and psychological/behavioral pathways. 

00:00 Welcome to PT Snacks
00:57 Does Exercise Hurt?
03:08 Four Pain Relief Pathways
03:44 Brain and Spinal Cord
05:28 Immune Inflammation Shift
06:10 Peripheral Tissue Effects
06:50 Psychology and Behavior
07:24 Choosing the Right Dose
09:44 Educate Without Jargon
10:48 Wrap Up and Connect

Need CEUs?
Unlock unlimited online courses, live webinars, and certification-prep programs with MedBridge. You’ll get thousands of accredited, evidence-based courses. Use code PTSNACKSPODCAST at checkout to save over $100. Student? Use code PTSNACKSPODCASTSTUDENT

Support the show

Studying for the NPTE?
Check out PT Final Exam — they’ve helped thousands of students pass with confidence. Use code PTSnacks at checkout for a discount.

Stay Connected!

Follow so you never miss an episode. Send your questions via email to [email protected]

Join the email list HERE

Support the Show:
Share the episode with someone who'd benefit.

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Thanks for tuning in—your support makes this all possible!