In this episode, I discuss our recently published BJSM editorial “It’s Not All About Strength” ; what the paper argues, why we wrote it, and what the evidence says about mechanisms of exercise-related pain relief in musculoskeletal conditions.

I then turn to the reaction.
Not to name names or settle scores, but to examine what the response reveals about how we handle criticism, uncertainty, and challenges to familiar explanations in rehabilitation science.

This episode is about evidence, mechanisms, cognitive comfort, and why letting our theories (ideas) be criticised is essential for progress.

It is not all about strength: rethinking mechanistic assumptions in exercise-based rehabilitation for musculoskeletal pain relief

Connect with Jared and guests:

Jared on Instagram: @‌shoulder_physio

Jared on X: @‌jaredpowell12

See our Disclaimer here: The Shoulder Physio - Disclaimer

In this episode, Jared Powell is joined by Dr. Jackson Fyfe, exercise scientist and Senior Lecturer at Deakin University, to explore the science and practicality of resistance training across the lifespan.

They unpack everything from how kids can safely lift weights to how older adults can maintain muscle health and longevity. Jackson also shares insights from his research on training dosage, hypertrophy, minimal effective dose, and how resistance and aerobic exercise can (and should) coexist.

This conversation spans from myth-busting (“weights stunt growth”) to deep physiological insights about muscle as an endocrine organ. It’s a clear, evidence-based discussion that reminds us why lifting weights might just be the most underrated health intervention available.

Key topics include:

Why resistance training matters at every age

The health benefits beyond muscle and strength

How little training you can do and still get results

Strength vs hypertrophy, what actually matters?

Combining cardio and lifting: interference or synergy?

The truth about training to failure

Jackson's profile on research-gate

Connect with Jared and guests:

Jared on Instagram: @‌shoulder_physio

Jared on X: @‌jaredpowell12

Jackson on X: @jacksonfyfe

Jackson on LinkedIn 

See our Disclaimer here: The Shoulder Physio - Disclaimer

In this episode, Jared announces the launch of The Complete Clinician, a new mentorship and education community for MSK professionals who want more than recycled CPD. He explains why this platform exists, what’s inside, and who it’s designed for. From monthly PhD-level lectures to the Brew & Review journal club, structured learning modules, and The Clinician’s Compass, this is a second education for those who refuse to be average.

Jared also shares a quick update on the upcoming 2nd Edition of The Complete Shoulder, set to release in mid-November, with refined content, updated evidence, and new modules.

Connect with Jared:

Jared on Instagram: @‌shoulder_physio

Jared on X: @‌jaredpowell12

See our Disclaimer here: The Shoulder Physio - Disclaimer

In this candid and wide-ranging conversation, Dr Jared Powell is joined once again by Professor Peter O’Sullivan, one of the most influential voices in musculoskeletal care. 

Pete unpacks the rationale and findings of the landmark RESTORE trial published in The Lancet, which provides some of the most compelling evidence to date for cognitive functional therapy (CFT) in people with chronic low back pain. He discusses how CFT works, its philosophical divergence from traditional “find-it, fix-it” approaches, and how it centres the patient’s experience, goals, and context.

You’ll also hear:

A simple explanation of the 3 pillars of CFT

The real-world training model used in the RESTORE trial

The importance of behaviour change, flare-up planning, and self-efficacy

What to do when CFT “doesn’t work”

Pete’s reflections on burnout, clinician support, and the importance of community

A behind-the-scenes look at the Evolve Pain Care Academy: a new initiative to democratize pain education globally

This episode is packed with practical insights, personal reflections, and a compelling vision for the future of musculoskeletal care.

Listen to me, learn from me. Slater et al 2022. 

The RESTORE trial 3 year follow-up

Connect with Jared and guests:

Jared on Instagram: @‌shoulder_physio

Jared on X: @‌jaredpowell12

Evoolve Pain Care

Pete X: @peteosullivanpt

See our Disclaimer here: The Shoulder Physio - Disclaimer

In this solo episode of The Shoulder Physio Podcast, Dr Jared Powell explores a deceptively simple question: How much benefit does rotator cuff surgery need to provide to be considered worthwhile? 

Jared explores a new 2025 study by Harrison Hansford and colleagues, which uses a clever benefit–harm trade-off approach to quantify what patients actually want from surgery.

This episode challenges the way we interpret research, the limits of "statistical significance," and the need for truly patient-centred decision-making. If you're still recommending surgery after failed physio without asking what makes it worthwhile to the person in front of you, this one’s for you.

Key topics include:

The concept of the smallest worthwhile effect

Is “does it work?” the wrong question?

Shared decision-making and expectation alignment

How the evidence stacks up (or doesn’t)

Why patient-defined outcomes matter more than p-values

Connect with Jared:

Jared on Instagram: @‌shoulder_physio

Jared on X: @‌jaredpowell12

See our Disclaimer here: The Shoulder Physio - Disclaimer

In this episode of The Shoulder Physio Podcast, Dr Jared Powell sits down with Dr Mervyn Travers, physiotherapist, S&C coach, and researcher, to explore one of the most compelling frameworks in contemporary pain science: active inference.

They discuss how this predictive brain model helps explain persistent musculoskeletal pain, why traditional exercise-based interventions might miss the mark, and how clinicians can use movement and context to shift a patient’s pain experience. Merv blends philosophy, neuroscience, and clinical pragmatism in a way that's accessible, challenging, and highly relevant.

Key talking points:

What is active inference and how does it relate to predictive processing?

The role of prior beliefs, culture, and clinical language in shaping pain

Movement experimentation as a tool for model updating and recovery

Why it’s time to rethink how we prescribe exercise in pain rehab

Clinical implications from landmark studies within the field that lend themselves to active inference

A call for compassion, curiosity, and nuance in patient care

Connect with Jared and guests:

Jared on Instagram: @‌shoulder_physio

Jared on X: @‌jaredpowell12

Merv website:  Home - Optimise Rehab

Merv X: @‌mervtravers

Merv Instagram: @‌optimise_rehab

See our Disclaimer here: The Shoulder Physio - Disclaimer

 In this episode, Jared Powell sits down with Professor Gordon Guyatt, the physician and researcher who coined the term evidence-based medicine (EBM). They unpack the origins of EBM, why it’s often misunderstood, and how it continues to shape modern healthcare.

Rather than being rigid or formulaic, EBM is about integrating the best evidence with clinical expertise and—crucially—patient values and preferences.

🎙 Key talking points:

The surprising history behind the creation of EBM

Why randomised trials matter—and when they’re not enough

How to practice medicine in the face of low-certainty evidence

The role of shared decision-making in everyday care

Why acknowledging uncertainty is a sign of strength, not weakness

How EBM is sometimes misunderstood or misused

What the future holds for EBM—including education in schools

🎧 A must-listen for anyone navigating the grey zones of clinical care.

Key Papers:

Professor Guyatt has too many high impact papers to mention and he has one of the highest H-Index scores in the world (number 13 worldwide and number 1 in Canada). Here is his Google Scholar profile. 

Connect with Jared and guests:

Jared on Instagram: @‌shoulder_physio

Jared on X: @‌jaredpowell12

Gordon on X:@GuyattGH

See our Disclaimer here: The Shoulder Physio - Disclaimer

In this episode of The Shoulder Physio Podcast, Dr. Jared Powell sits down with Dr. Charlotte Ganderton, a physiotherapist, researcher, and senior lecturer at RMIT University. Charlotte shares insights from her latest research on gluteal tendinopathy, breaking down common misconceptions about imaging, corticosteroid injections, and the infamous clam exercise.

From understanding the role of compression in tendinopathy to discussing effective treatment strategies, this episode is packed with clinically relevant takeaways for musculoskeletal healthcare professionals. Tune in to hear Charlotte’s perspective on how education, exercise, and progressive loading can make all the difference in patient outcomes.

🔹 What is gluteal tendinopathy and how does it differ from other tendon issues?
🔹 Should we rethink the role of imaging and injections?
🔹 Is it finally time to ban the clam?
🔹 Practical treatment strategies for improving patient care.

If you're looking to refine your approach to gluteal tendinopathy, this is an episode you don’t want to miss!

Key Papers:

Grimaldi A, Ganderton C, Nasser A. Gluteal tendinopathy masterclass: Refuting the myths and engaging with the evidence. Musculoskelet Sci Pract. 2025 Apr;76:103253. doi: 10.1016/j.msksp.2025.103253. Epub 2025 Jan 3. PMID: 39854929.

Connect with Jared and guests:

Jared on Instagram: @‌shoulder_physio

Jared on X: @‌jaredpowell12

Charlotte on X:@C_Ganderton

Cliniko free trial, click here!

See our Disclaimer here: The Shoulder Physio - Disclaimer

In this episode of The Shoulder Physio Podcast, I am interviewed by my wife, Tara, about my recently completed PhD.

For the past 7 years of my life I have been engaged in a research based PhD investigating the causal mechanisms underpinning the effectiveness of exercise therapy for rotator cuff related shoulder pain. This research program has produced 6 published pieces of research that is contained with the thesis. In this episode I briefly discuss the premise of the thesis, its main findings, and recommendations for future research. I also gives some tips and tricks and to prospective PhD or current PhD students which may help their journey. 

Don't miss this episode with myself, Dr Jared Powell, and my wife, the amazing Tara Powell. Buckle up!

Key Papers:

Powell JK, Lewis JS. Rotator Cuff-Related Shoulder Pain: Is It Time to Reframe the Advice, "You Need to Strengthen Your Shoulder"? J Orthop Sports Phys Ther. 2021 Apr;51(4):156-158. doi: 10.2519/jospt.2021.10199. PMID: 33789431.

Powell JK, Schram B, Lewis J, Hing W. "You have (rotator cuff related) shoulder pain, and to treat it, I recommend exercise." A scoping review of the possible mechanisms underpinning exercise therapy. Musculoskelet Sci Pract. 2022 Dec;62:102646. doi: 10.1016/j.msksp.2022.102646. Epub 2022 Aug 8. PMID: 35964499.

Powell JK, Schram B, Lewis J, Hing W. Physiotherapists nearly always prescribe exercise for rotator cuff-related shoulder pain; but why? A cross-sectional international survey of physiotherapists. Musculoskeletal Care. 2023 Mar;21(1):253-263. doi: 10.1002/msc.1699. Epub 2022 Sep 11. PMID: 36089802.

Powell JK, Costa N, Schram B, Hing W, Lewis J. "Restoring That Faith in My Shoulder": A Qualitative Investigation of How and Why Exercise Therapy Influenced the Clinical Outcomes of Individuals With Rotator Cuff-Related Shoulder Pain. Phys Ther. 2023 Dec 6;103(12):pzad088. doi: 10.1093/ptj/pzad088. PMID: 37440455; PMCID: PMC10733131.

Powell JK, Lewis J, Schram B, Hing W. Is exercise therapy the right treatment for rotator cuff-related shoulder pain? Uncertainties, theory, and practice. Musculoskeletal Care. 2024 Jun;22(2):e1879. doi: 10.1002/msc.1879. PMID: 38563603.

READ THE WHOLE THESIS!

Check out the Shoulder Physio Online Course here

Connect with Jared and guests:

Jared on Instagram: @‌shoulder_physio

Jared on Twitter: @‌jaredpowell12

See our Disclaimer here: The Shoulder Physio - Disclaimer

Cliniko free trial, click here!

In this episode of The Shoulder Physio Podcast, I am joined by Rich Willy, PhD to discuss bone stress injuries. Rich is one of the foremost experts in the world on bone stress injuries, and it was a real pleasure to sit down with him for an hour to chat all things bone.

Bone stress injuries can be quite common in athletic populations and the consequences of a poorly managed bone stress injury can be severe. As such, it is so important to be able to accurately detect a bone stress injury, know how to manage it, and give appropriate advice and education around what causes it and what is their probably prognosis. Rich gives us a masterclass on all of this and much more. 

Don't miss this wonderful episode with Rich Willy, PhD.

Key Papers:

Nunns M et al. Four biomechanical and anthropometric measures predict tibial stress fracture: a prospective study of 1065 Royal Marines. Br J Sports Med. 2016 Oct;50(19):1206-10. doi: 10.1136/bjsports-2015-095394. Epub 2016 Jan 8. PMID: 26746906.

Warden SJ, Edwards WB, Willy RW. Preventing Bone Stress Injuries in Runners with Optimal Workload. Curr Osteoporos Rep. 2021 Jun;19(3):298-307. doi: 10.1007/s11914-021-00666-y. Epub 2021 Feb 26. PMID: 33635519; PMCID: PMC8316280.

McLellan M, Allahabadi S, Pandya NK. Youth Sports Specialization and Its Effect on Professional, Elite, and Olympic Athlete Performance, Career Longevity, and Injury Rates: A Systematic Review. Orthop J Sports Med. 2022 Nov 4;10(11):23259671221129594. doi: 10.1177/23259671221129594. PMID: 36353394; PMCID: PMC9638532.

Tenforde AS, Outerleys J, Bouxsein ML, Buckless CG, Besier T, Davis IS, Bredella MA. Metatarsal Bone Marrow Edema on Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Its Correlation to Bone Stress Injuries in Male Collegiate Basketball Players. Orthop J Sports Med. 2022 Jan 17;10(1):23259671211063505. doi: 10.1177/23259671211063505. PMID: 35071655; PMCID: PMC8777350.

Check out the Shoulder Physio Online Course here

Connect with Jared and guests:

Jared on Instagram: @‌shoulder_physio

Jared on Twitter: @‌jaredpowell12

Rich on Twitter: @rwilly2003

Rich on Instagram: @montanarunninglab

Rich's website: www.montanarunninglab.com

See our Disclaimer here: The Shoulder Physio - Disclaimer

Cliniko free trial, click here!