Dr. Joe Tatta | The Healing Pain Podcast

A lot of things have changed since we started the Healing Pain Podcast five years ago. From our conversations with leading names in the pain management and related fields, we have gone down the rabbit hole of no return, exposing us to the wide, wonderful, and in many ways, untamed world of pain science. What exactly is pain science? There is a lot to unpack about this concept, and we're excited to announce that that is going to be the focus of this podcast moving forward. In this episode, Dr. Joe Tatta, PT, DPT, announces the rebrand from Healing Pain Podcast to Pain Science Education Podcast. He explains the rationale behind the move and the new direction this whole initiative is taking. Exciting things are on the horizon starting this year, and it all starts here. Tune in!   Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! Here's How »   Join the Healing Pain Podcast Community today: integrativepainscienceinstitute.com Healing Pain Podcast Facebook Healing Pain Podcast Twitter Healing Pain Podcast YouTube Healing Pain Podcast LinkedIn Healing Pain Podcast Instagram

We've hinted at the start of this show's rebrand that there is a global dearth of attention to pain science education. Today's guest goes even further than that. He believes that pain should be a public health concern and that pain science education should be for everybody. It's hard not to agree with Cormac Ryan, PhD, as he presents a compelling case for raising the general public's pain literacy. After all, we now know that pain is a complex experience that is influenced by a lot of things around us, including society as a whole. Join this conversation and learn why we need to step up our efforts to educate the public and practitioners alike on the latest scientific understanding of pain and what people like Dr. Cormac Ryan are doing about that. Tune in!  

We have read studies on the implementation of integrated pain management programs, but do they apply in the real world? Join us as we explore the realm of integrated pain management programs with Trevor Lentz, PT, PhD, MPH. Dr. Trevor is a distinguished figure in physical therapy and an assistant professor in the Department of Orthopedic Surgery at Duke University School of Medicine. Driven by a commitment to enhancing care for those grappling with chronic pain, his research underscores the significance of non-pharmacologic treatments while addressing systemic healthcare hurdles. In this enlightening episode, Dr. Lentz joins Dr. Joe Tatta to unravel the essence of integrated pain management, drawing from real-world experiences and outcomes. Additionally, he dissects the pivotal implementation challenges faced by both providers and healthcare systems, delving into the unique and innovative strategies these programs employ under Dr. Lentz's insightful guidance. Don't miss out on this insightful conversation on the vital work of delivering integrated pain management programs.

How exactly do we deal with chronic pain? The state of the science suggests that the answer may be different for different people. In this episode, Afton Hassett, PsyD, a renowned expert from the University of Michigan, delves into the complexities of chronic pain and the safe, effective ways to manage it. Drawing from her extensive research and her recently published book, Chronic Pain Reset, Dr. Hassett offers profound insights into the physical, emotional, and social aspects of pain. She emphasizes the importance of addressing the affective component of pain and the significance of behavioral activation in the recovery process. Her innovative approach combines neuroscience, behavioral therapy, and positive psychology to empower individuals living with chronic pain. Discover actionable strategies and practical solutions that can truly make a difference. Tune in to this episode to learn more and unlock a path toward thriving despite chronic pain. Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! Here's How » Join the Healing Pain Podcast Community today: integrativepainscienceinstitute.com Healing Pain Podcast Facebook Healing Pain Podcast Twitter Healing Pain Podcast YouTube Healing Pain Podcast LinkedIn Healing Pain Podcast Instagram

Is the movement system really a system or is it a theory with little clinical application? Should we move beyond impairment-based paradigms as physical therapists? Are we ready to embrace a more holistic approach to rehabilitation and pain management? These are questions that Dr. Joe Tatta addresses in this episode with his guest, Andrew Guccione, PT, PhD, DPT, FAPTA, a distinguished researcher and professor and a visionary thought leader in the physical therapy space. Dr. Guccione explores ideas that challenge the traditional impairment based as well as movement-based paradigms that are common in physical therapy and rehabilitation. Join in and be prepared to receive revolutionary ideas that are going to change the way we do pain management forever!

According to statistics, there is a significant number of people who, at some point in their lives, will experience pelvic pain. Unfortunately, the lack of education about sexual wellness often keeps people from finding the right care they need. Talking about a trauma-informed approach to pelvic pain and sexual wellness, Dr. Joe Tatta interviews Rose Schlaff, PT, DPT, WHC, IF—a Doctor of Physical Therapy, Sexual Health Coach and Sexual Health Fellow (ISSWSH). Dr. Schlaff discusses the importance of bringing conversations around sexual health to the fore, especially in breaking down barriers that keep women and queer people from addressing their issues. Highlighting the benefits of a trauma-informed approach, she also exposes a gentler and easeful patient experience instead of the daunting misconception that tends to cloud people's ideas about seeking help in this area. Dr. Schlaff then takes us deeper into the episode by tapping into topics such as the desire puzzle, the role of the nervous system, successful sex, and the impact of heteronormative portrayals of sex in the media on the LGBTQ community. It is high time for us not to shy away from these important conversations. Let today's show remind you of the need to normalize sexual health simply because it is a vital part of our human life experience.

Reviving resilience and healing from trauma means shifting from a mindset of 'broken' to 'empowered,' and finding the strength within to transform pain into growth. For today's episode, Ray Chen, PT, and PhD candidate dives into integrative physiotherapy and explores the journey of resilience and healing. Tired of conventional pain management models that often leave patients feeling broken and helpless, Ray shares his personal and professional evolution in reimagining healthcare. His profound shift in mindset from pathology to healing has paved the way for a comprehensive and compassionate approach to chronic pain. Intrigued by the concept of meaning and its impact on the pain experience, Ray discusses the significance of helping clients connect with their inner strength, knowledge, and emotional resilience. See how the intersection of physical and emotional health, along with the power of resilience and growth, hold the key to transforming trauma and reviving resilience. Tune in now and start your path to recovery.   Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! Here's How »   Join the Healing Pain Podcast Community today: integrativepainscienceinstitute.com Healing Pain Podcast Facebook Healing Pain Podcast Twitter Healing Pain Podcast YouTube Healing Pain Podcast LinkedIn Healing Pain Podcast Instagram

Weight and race both have direct connections to pain perception, but this aspect is seldom considered by many healthcare professionals. This leads to countless issues that make a person's pain even worse. Joining Dr. Joe Tatta to discuss how to solve this problem is Ericka Merriwether, PT, DPT, PhD. They dissect how to improve methods towards obesity and racial issues by exploring the intersection of weight, race, and pain. Dr. Ericka also explains how PTs should focus on promoting physical activity as medicine before delving deeper into psychological approaches and taking action on a patient's mental health. Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! Here's How »   Join the Healing Pain Podcast Community today: integrativepainscienceinstitute.com Healing Pain Podcast Facebook Healing Pain Podcast Twitter Healing Pain Podcast YouTube Healing Pain Podcast LinkedIn Healing Pain Podcast Instagram

The more we study pain and pain management, the more we realize how much power the person experiencing the pain has over their own experience and healing. This is why our job as practitioners is not to be the solution for our patients, but to help them find the solution for themselves. This powerful perspective is brought to us by Dillon Caswell, PT, DPT, SCS, a groundbreaking expert on using hope as a therapeutic intervention for chronic pain. In this episode, we learn how hope can easily be one of the most effective salves to pain that we have access to. This is not the passive yearning that we often associate with the word “hope”. This is something much more powerful, and it may be the thing that makes a difference in your practice or in your life. Tune in to learn more!

Do you ever find yourself pondering the question: "What's my purpose in life?" Amidst life's trials, purpose becomes the bridge that carries us from pain to newfound strength, igniting a remarkable transformation. In this episode, we have special guest Stephanie Hooker, PhD, Research Investigator at HealthPartners Institute. Today, she explores how having a sense of purpose can go beyond simply giving life direction—it's an elixir for the heart and body, too. Stephanie demystifies the concept of purpose—what it truly means and how it varies from person to person. She unpacks the symbiotic relationship between purpose and behavioral activation, how purpose can change throughout different phases of life, and more. Tune in and get ready to view pain through a different lens—one that turns it into a stepping stone toward wellness.

Physiotherapy's future lies in embracing a kaleidoscope of perspectives, transcending boundaries, and redefining healing itself. For today's episode, we're joined by Dr. Dave Nicholls, author of "The End of Physiotherapy" and "Physiotherapy Otherwise”. Dr. Nicholls is here to challenge conventional perspectives and explore the future of the vital healthcare discipline: Physiotherapy. He reveals the hidden potential in embracing a broader scope that includes social justice, psychology, and even phenomenology. He also uncovers why he advocates for a pluralistic approach, where various perspectives coexist to create a more diverse and effective healing landscape. Throughout the episode, Dr. Nicholls demonstrates that it's time for physiotherapists to bridge the gap between the physical and the psychological, ultimately reshaping the narrative of healthcare itself. Join us in this episode as we challenge the status quo and pave the way for a new era of healing.

Dopamine is a chemical formed in the brain that allows us to experience pleasure, reward, and motivation. The more of it that is released in the synapse, the more likely it can reinforce us to do a specific action all over again. In this episode, Dr. Joe Tatta is joined by Anna Lembke, MD, who discusses how dopamine is not only released through pleasurable activities but also relatively painful ones. She discusses how to achieve a complete pain-pleasure balance in today's world that keeps bombarding us with dopamine hits left and right – and most of the time, even at our own command. Dr. Anna also explains why pain can become addictive and what must be done to secure a healthy dose of pain in our lives.

It is saddening to hear stories from members of the LGBTQ+ community who are denied healthcare services. Most of the time, doctors and medical practitioners refuse to attend to their needs because of personal preferences, political views, and religious beliefs. Alivia Stehlik, PT, DPT dedicates herself to turning this unfortunate situation around. Joining Dr. Joe Tatta, she talks about her advocacy as a queer trans woman currently serving in the US Army as medical team leader for the 3rd Security Force Assistance Brigade at Fort Cavazos, Texas. Alivia shares practical approaches to transform both the military and healthcare, making them more inclusive and accessible to the LGBTQ+ community. He explains why every medical practitioner should openly meet every human being wherever they are, helping them feel safe and secure regardless of sexual orientation or identity.

The role of the physical therapist in addiction recovery is multifaceted and it encompasses various aspects of the evaluation, the treatment of and support in recovery and addiction. At first glance, it may not seem that physical therapy fits within the addiction realm, but in fact, physical therapy and physical therapy in mental health and addiction is a perfect fit. This is a new topic for most people in our space, so we're bringing someone who can spearhead this conversation. Holly Johnson, PT, DPT, is a specialist in the intersection between physical therapy, chronic musculoskeletal pain and addiction and mental health. In this conversation, she highlights the need for PTs to educate and train themselves on psychologically informed care so they can make a difference in the lives of people who are recovering from addiction. Tune in and get to know the nuances of care along the intersection of seemingly disparate fields of practice.

In this special episode, Dr. Joe Tatta shares updates on what he is up to and delves into new chronic pain approaches that revolutionize the medical field today. He talks about PRISM, or Pain Recovery and Integrative Model, a cognitive behavioral approach to physical therapy for the management of chronic pain that he has been working on for over two years. He also talks about how the biopsychosocial model is helpful in approaching pain's multidimensional nature. Furthermore, Dr. Joe elaborates the six critical domains involved in pain recovery and the two types of pain mindsets in literature.

Pelvic organ prolapse is something that is not often talked about, but it causes much of the pelvic pain that women experience, especially after childbirth. Although symptoms can vary from patient to patient, pelvic organ prolapse typically involves a lot of discomfort and sometimes even unbearable pain. The fact that not many people talk about it prevents many women from getting access to all the therapies available to mitigate this condition. Maureen Mason, PT, DPT, WCS, joins us today to unpack this topic a little bit more and point us to the direction of care options that are backed by the current scientific consensus. She is the author of a book called Pelvic Rehabilitation: The Manual Therapy and Exercise Guide Across the Lifespan, where she talks about this stuff and more. Join in and learn more from her.   Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! Here's How »   Join the Healing Pain Podcast Community today: integrativepainscienceinstitute.com Healing Pain Podcast Facebook Healing Pain Podcast Twitter Healing Pain Podcast YouTube Healing Pain Podcast LinkedIn Healing Pain Podcast Instagram

Despite the continued advancements in healthcare, pressing issues still make access to care difficult, especially for those with disabilities. There are still barriers that we need to remove to make our systems more inclusive. Tackling the important topic of disability, inclusion, and justice, Dr. Joe Tatta interviews Winston Kennedy, PT, DPT, PhD. Dr. Kennedy is a physical therapist who holds a Master's degree in Public Health as well as a PhD in Kinesiology with a concentration on Adapted Physical Activity. He has been a strong advocate for the health and well-being of people with disabilities and their intersecting identities. In this episode, he dives deep into the value of bringing these conversations to light so we can have a better understanding of disability and translate that into how healthcare providers can better support these clients. Dr. Kennedy also dives deep into the intersectionality of disability, justice, and inclusion, letting us see disability from a cultural lens and the way our care impacts someone's social identity. Take part in this great conversation and help raise awareness on these important issues.   Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! Here's How »   Join the Healing Pain Podcast Community today: integrativepainscienceinstitute.com Healing Pain Podcast Facebook Healing Pain Podcast Twitter Healing Pain Podcast YouTube Healing Pain Podcast LinkedIn Healing Pain Podcast Instagram

Among all other conditions, back pain is probably one of the most unnecessarily and excessively medicalized. Typically someone who exhibits symptoms of back pain would seek the help of primary healthcare providers first. This would kickstart a vicious cycle of imaging, surgery, injections, and opioid medications, most of which is likely superfluous. As a result, these patients often achieve low-quality outcomes from their care, and many even develop opioid dependence. But what if there was another way to deal with most types of back pain we are experiencing? In this episode. Dr. Joe Tatta speaks with Julie Fritz, PT, PhD, a University of Utah professor and researcher focused on examining non-pharmacologic treatments for persons with spinal pain. They discuss why we should be concerned about how we approach low back pain in our medical system, what a typical care pathway looks like for most people seeking lower back care, the impact or use of imaging studies for treating and evaluating lower back pain, the impact of cost on healthcare utilization, the role of physical therapists as primary care providers for the treatment of back pain, and how early physical therapy is associated with decreased opioid use. Tune in of all of these and more!

Disability does not equal inability, but ableism can create barriers that limit opportunities and perpetuate prejudice. It's time for society to recognize and address the harm of ableism and work towards a more inclusive, equitable future for all. In this episode, Dr. Michelle Nario-Redmond, Professor of Psychology and Biomedical Humanities, joins us to discuss the painful realities of ableism and disability prejudice. As an expert in stereotyping, prejudice, and disability studies, Dr. Michelle sheds light on the damaging effects it has on individuals and society as a whole, and the many ways in which ableism intersects with chronic pain and disability. She highlights her work and research on ableism, including her publication, "Ableism: The Causes and Consequences of Disability Prejudice". Through her advocacy work and research, Dr. Michelle has dedicated her life to raising awareness and fighting against ableism and disability prejudice. In this episode, we explore the many ways in which ableism and disability prejudice can be seen, and talk about how to improve the lives of people with a disability. Tune in and be educated about the pain of ableism.

Breathing is such a natural and unconscious thing that we pay almost no mind to it. But by learning the right breathwork techniques, we can unlock a unique mind-body connection. Dr. Joe Tatta talks with Campbell Will, who delves into the role of breathwork in nervous system dysregulation. He discusses how breathing is tied in a person's autonomic nervous system, how to use it to shift into a more sympathetic state, and the differences between breathing through the mouth and nose. Campbell also explains how he evaluates a person by examining how they breathe and the importance of the relationship between the pelvic floor and the diaphragm. Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! Here's How »   Join the Healing Pain Podcast Community today: integrativepainscienceinstitute.com Healing Pain Podcast Facebook Healing Pain Podcast Twitter Healing Pain Podcast YouTube Healing Pain Podcast LinkedIn Healing Pain Podcast Instagram

Biological structures are indeed a huge thing to consider when managing and treating pain. But since we are living alongside other people, there are also many social factors impacting our pain sensation and exposure. Kenneth D. Craig, OC, PhD, Professor Emeritus of Psychology at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, is here to discuss how family connections, culture, and society largely influences an individual's expression and lived experiences of pain. Dr. Kenneth also explains how these psychosocial factors affect marginalized populations who are typically underserved in terms of pain care and what he is doing to remedy this long-term problem.   Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! Here's How » Join the Healing Pain Podcast Community today: integrativepainscienceinstitute.com Healing Pain Podcast Facebook Healing Pain Podcast Twitter Healing Pain Podcast YouTube Healing Pain Podcast LinkedIn Healing Pain Podcast Instagram

Male pelvic health is something that not a lot of people talk about, even in medical circles. A lot of people experiencing male pelvic pain don't even consult a specialist until it gets unbearable enough that they have no choice. Pelvic health isn't a female thing. In fact, the male and female pelvic floors are essentially the same structurally, and both are prone to dysfunction. But because of toxic masculinity culture, many men suffering from any disorder related to the pelvic floor feel reluctant to talk about it or seek professional help. In this episode of Healing Pain Podcast, Dr. Joe Tatta talks to a pelvic health specialist to clear things up around this sensitive topic. Lance Frank, PT, DPT, helps us understand the different aspects of pelvic floor dysfunction, how it is related to conditions like male pelvic pain, prostatitis, and erectile dysfunction, and how it can be alleviated with stress management techniques and physical therapy.

Pain is one of the most common reasons for people to seek medical help. It's also one of the most difficult things to study. There's no clear way to measure it, and it can vary from person to person. But there are ways we can collect data on pain so that researchers can better understand how patients feel pain and what treatments work best for them. In this episode, Joletta Belton discusses how to integrate the lived experience of pain into treatment and research. Joletta explains how chronic pain affects people's lives, and how it can be used as a tool to help them heal. Joletta also talks about how you can use your own personal experience with pain to make better treatment decisions for other patients. Tune in now and learn what role you can play to help people in pain.

Chronic pain cannot be treated by simply focusing on its symptoms and root cause. Beyond these things are social determinants that directly impact health and disease. Most of the time, these can go back even from a person's childhood. Dr. Joe Tatta is joined by Laura E. Keyser, PT, DPT, MPH to discuss how to embed such factors into the PT practice and education to vastly improve health treatment and patient experience. Laura explains how clinicians, educators, and research should focus on interdisciplinary collaboration and the impact of different social determinants in an individual's lived experience. She also shares how PT practitioners can engage with the government and large corporations to provide better services by sharing all about her consulting firm, Mama, LLC.

We always hear the old adage, “you can't pour from an empty cup.” This is especially true when you look at how we grow students to become practitioners. Before they can take care of and make a good impact on their patients and clients' lives, they first need to take care of themselves. Tessa Wells, PT, DPT and Betsy Becker, PT, DPT, PhD from the University of Nebraska Medical Center's Division of Physical Therapy Education have been implementing this. In this episode, they join Dr. Joe Tatta to discuss all about how they promote student wellness during their professional formation towards becoming DPTs. They talk about curricular interventions using a lifestyle medicine approach, taking wellness from the self to others to the community. Hear about their great program and how they impact the students of the profession and society at large. Tune in to this conversation to not miss out!

In this episode, we're discussing the concept of the embodied mind with internationally renowned author and psychiatrist, Dr. Thomas R. Verny. Our current understanding of the way the human body works is that it is a series of interdependent physiological relationships. No one component works alone or in isolation. But why is it that the accepted understanding of the physical phenomena of the mind is conventionally attributed only to the brain? The work of Dr. Verny is redefining our concept of both the mind and the human consciousness. He has brilliantly compiled a new list of research that points to the fact that the mind is tied to every single part of the body. This has enormous implications for how we view the mind, consciousness, and even human behavior. More specifically, it changes how we think about the experience of pain and pain management. Tune in and discover what it really means when we say the mind is a function of every system in your body.

Stress and burnout have been recognized in many health professions. Specifically, researchers have reported that many Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) students are actively experiencing moderate to high levels of stress each and every day. Joining Dr. Joe Tatta to discuss the topic in depth is Jason Cherry, PT, DPT, EdD. Dr. Cherry is an Assistant Professor in the Division of Physical Therapy at Binghamton University. In this episode, he shares the results of his study on the relationship between psychological flexibility, perceived stress and academic burnout in DPT students, along with practical applications on how professors in the field can model healthier behaviors as preventive measures. Tune in for more valuable insights as Dr. Cherry defines these concepts.

What really is the “healing process” for a trauma survivor? Many programs, exercises, and advice exist on how to deal with trauma, but do they really address its root cause? Or are they mostly surface-level techniques that only treat the symptoms, not the problem? In this episode, April Gamble, PT, DPT shares how to address trauma by its root cause and how she uses trauma-focused techniques to treat her patients suffering from pain, anxiety, or other effects of trauma. Bringing a bigger vision to the profession, she also shares with us her deeper work on justice and injustice and how they impact our beliefs and engagements with care. Filled with honest realizations and helpful trauma advice, tune in and learn how to start your healing process too!

How does language and logic impact the management and experience of chronic pain? Asaf Weisman, PT, Phd(c), joins Dr. Joe Tatta on the Healing Pain Podcast to discuss this topic. Asaf is a physical therapist, a PhD candidate, and a lab manager of the Spinal Research Laboratory at Tel Aviv University. He has 20 years of clinical experience as a full-time musculoskeletal physical therapist and studies musculoskeletal medicine, spinal health, as well as chronic pain. He discusses how language impacts pain, unpacks the positive and the negative aspects of cognitive approaches to chronic pain, and shares his thoughts around some of the more popular pain neuroscience analogies or metaphors and how they may not be so acceptable to people living with pain. Most crucially, he clearly defines pain as an experience and its relation to nociception. Tune in for more!

For physical therapy to be truly effective in addressing body pain, it must not only concentrate on structure alone. Instead, it must go beyond that and also involve the entire movement system. Dr. Joe Tatta sits down with the pioneer of this very concept, Shirley A. Sahrmann, PT, PhD, FAPTA. She explains how the movement system redefines physical therapy by classifying movement impairments into diagnostic categories. Sahrmann discusses how a kinesio-pathology approach can provide a better look into a person's psychosocial factors and produce a better diagnosis. The two also discuss how to dismiss PT stereotyping of being medical cheerleaders and the right way to navigate PTA's reimbursement cuts to their practice.

Contextualizing care is the process of adopting your treatment approach to a patient specific life context. The failure to do so is called a contextual error, which often results in a care plan that is not likely to achieve its intended aim or produce a positive outcome. In this episode, Dr. Joe Tatta discusses how to contextualize care for improved outcomes with Gail Jensen, PT, PhD, FAPTA, Vice Provost for Learning and Assessment, Dean Emerita and Professor of Physical Therapy at Creighton University. She is internationally regarded as a scholarly expert in clinical practice, clinical reasoning, professional ethics, as well as into professional education within and outside of the physical therapy profession. Join in for more powerful information.

Physiotherapists have a role to play when it comes to saving the environment. You can tell your clients to drive less. You can try to start influencing public policies to be more environment-friendly. There are a lot of ways physios can help save the degradation of the planet. Join Dr. Joe Tatta as he talks to Filip Maric, Ph.D., and Todd Davenport, PT, DPT, MPH, OCS. They discuss the state of the environment today when it comes to carbon emissions and environmental contaminations. Find out how you, as a physiotherapist can help save the environment. If you want to learn more, check out Integrative and Lifestyle Medicine in Physical Therapy, where Filip and Todd have a whole chapter dedicated to this. Find out how physiotherapy relates to the environment today!

Cardiovascular disease is the number one killer of both men and women in the United States. Despite its severity, it is still a preventable and reversible condition. Nolan Peacock, PT, DPT of St. John's Health joins Dr. Joe Tatta to discuss how primary care can better treat heart diseases through physical therapy. She explains why PTs must go beyond being movement experts and start providing lifestyle interventions to heart disease patients. Dr. Nolan discusses how this setup can help promote physical activity to the aging population and empower patients to actively improve their quality of life, all while keeping the impact of cardiovascular disease at bay. Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! Here's How » Join the Healing Pain Podcast Community today: integrativepainscienceinstitute.com Healing Pain Podcast Facebook Healing Pain Podcast Twitter Healing Pain Podcast YouTube Healing Pain Podcast LinkedIn Healing Pain Podcast Instagram

Pelvic girdle pain is typically caused by unevenly moving joints, making the bones less stable and mobile. Pregnant women often experience this painful sensation, but it must never be treated the same way as non-pregnant people. Dr. Joe Tatta reframes pregnancy-related pelvic girdle pain beliefs with Dr. Sinéad Dufour, Associate Clinical Professor in the Faculty of Health Sciences at McMaster University in Canada. She discusses why this chronic pain still has a lot of misconceptions and continues to be mistreated despite the mounting evidence around its psychosocial and physiological factors. Dr. Sinéad also explains how women can stay resilient throughout pregnancy by paying more attention to biomechanics than their individual (and potentially incorrect) beliefs.   Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! Here's How » Join the Healing Pain Podcast Community today: integrativepainscienceinstitute.com Healing Pain Podcast Facebook Healing Pain Podcast Twitter Healing Pain Podcast YouTube Healing Pain Podcast LinkedIn Healing Pain Podcast Instagram

The relationship between autism and pain sensitivity is something that we have not covered in this show, mainly because it's also a relatively new area in pain literature. How does pain management look like in cases where communication might be a challenge? Bethany Donaghy, MSc, BSc And Michelle Failla, PhD join Dr. Joe Tatta in this episode to explain. Dr. Failla is Research Assistant Professor in the College of Nursing at The Ohio State University whose research focuses on understanding the role of social communication in pain responses and management. Bethany is an autistic PhD student at Liverpool John Moores University, UK. Her current PhD project explores pain in autistic children and young people. Tune in and listen to the insights of two trailblazers in this emerging field. Here are some links for two papers and a review on pain in autism: • Increased pain sensitivity and pain-related anxiety in individuals with autism - PubMed (nih.gov) • Initially intact neural responses to pain in autism are diminished during sustained pain - PubMed (nih.gov) • Acute pain experience in individuals with autism spectrum disorders: a review - PubMed (nih.gov) Michelle Failla's website: Michelle Failla | The Ohio State University College of Nursing (osu.edu) If you have a need in the future, Michelle's other line of work is in pain in Alzheimer's Disease, and she works with a number of people trying to understand pain perception and differences in dementia. If that's ever of interest to you and your podcast, reach out and Michelle can connect you with some great people in that work.

In today's episode of Healing Pain Podcast, Dr. Joe Tatta is joined by Laverene Garner, PT, DPT, to discuss how to treat comorbid chronic pain, orthopedic conditions, and neurologic conditions. Dr. Gardner is a board certified neurologic clinical specialist, and currently works as an assistant professor in the Department of Physical Therapy at Winston-Salem State University. Prior to her role as professor, Dr. Gardner developed the vestibular therapy, mindfulness and integrated health components of a concussion recovery clinic at Camp Lajune, where she treated individuals with chronic neurologic conditions. On today's episode, we discuss how Dr. Gardner's passion for integrative healthcare shaped her early career and research interests, why exercise intensity matters in neurologic conditions, how to prescribe physical activity for individuals with neurologic problems, and a lot more. Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! Here's How »   Join the Healing Pain Podcast Community today: integrativepainscienceinstitute.com Healing Pain Podcast Facebook Healing Pain Podcast Twitter Healing Pain Podcast YouTube Healing Pain Podcast LinkedIn Healing Pain Podcast Instagram

Diabetes is one of the fastest-growing chronic conditions affecting physical health, physical function, mental health and mental well-being. In the United States, most Americans are either prediabetic or diabetic, and most of them go undiagnosed. In this episode, Dr. Joe Tatta is joined by diabetes researcher and diabetes management expert Rupal M Patel, PT, PhD to discuss who a group-based culturally-tailored lifestyle intervention program can help in addressing the diabetes epidemic in the country. She discusses who she developed and tested a 12-week community-based group diabetes management program, which uses nutrition, exercise and other lifestyle interventions. Join in and learn about the results of Dr. Patel's inquiry and how it can change the way diabetes is addressed by the healthcare system. Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! Here's How »   Join the Healing Pain Podcast Community today: integrativepainscienceinstitute.com Healing Pain Podcast Facebook Healing Pain Podcast Twitter Healing Pain Podcast YouTube Healing Pain Podcast LinkedIn Healing Pain Podcast Instagram

It's one thing to experience tragic events in our lives and another to continue living life with trauma. If you are someone suffering from physical, psychological, and emotional trauma or someone who knows of anyone who is experiencing post-traumatic stress, this is the podcast for you. Richard Tedeschi, Ph.D., Psychologist and Distinguished Chair of Boulder Crest Institute for Posttraumatic Growth, talks about the concept of post-traumatic growth and how it differs from resilience. He also shares its five components and more about how trauma affects our heroes after rendering service. He gives us a glimpse into the programs that bring together veteran path guides to help train and support struggling veterans and their families to rediscover hope and purpose as they transition back to their lives out of duty.

Dr. Lance Mabry did a very large study with 4,800 subjects on the topic of a physical therapist's ability to refer for musculoskeletal imaging. This research shows that most people that are using imaging skills are not PTs. So the concept of the overutilization of imaging is not really correct. The imaging is instead being used inappropriately. More than 28% of PTs are actually using all nine imaging skills routinely. So there is definitely a say when it comes to opening diagnostic imaging across different states. Join Dr. Joe Tatta as he talks to Dr. Mabry about the findings of his recent study about imaging. Dr. Mabry is a board-certified orthopedic specialist and a Fellow of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Physical Therapists. Learn what skills you need as a PT when it comes to imaging. Start practicing those skills today so you can expand the rights of physical therapists around the world.

Pain is universal, and there should not be a language barrier to keep us from learning about it and healing. Join your host Dr. Joe Tatta as he talks with Tania Parker, PT, and Jolyane Aubé, BSc OT, about filling the gap in pain education for French-speaking Canadians. Tania graduated in physiotherapy from the University of Ottawa in 2004 with experience in acute care and home care, from pediatrics to geriatrics. Jolyane is a registered Occupational Therapist in New Brunswick, Canada. In this episode, they discuss how they help people with chronic pain to feel good again in their lives. Sharing studies, Tania and Jolyane reveal the effects of this healthcare gap among francophones when delivering essential pain education. As such, they offer a wide range of programs on chronic pain, education on pain management, and others. Tune in to learn more!

Pelvic health may not be the first thing that comes to mind when you think of women's health, yet it is an important issue that deserves attention. In today's episode, Theresa Feola , PT, WCS, PRPC, of Pelvic Room joins Dr. Joe Tatta. Theresa is a board-certified women's health therapist. She has served in clinical management roles throughout her career, but her clinical focus has been on the education and treatment of women's and men's pelvic health. Today, Theresa discusses the current state of women's health, the challenges women face in accessing appropriate pelvic health and physical therapy, and her creation and ongoing development of community-based childbirth and postpartum model called the Perinatal Partners Network. 

Peripheral neuropathy is the result of damage to the nerves located outside of the brain and the spinal cord. People who have this condition typically suffer from persistent long-term pain as well as other symptoms. There is no shortage of conventional treatments for neuropathy, but these do not address the condition at its root. Over the years, integrative approaches have become more popular in treating both diabetic and chemo-induced neuropathy, and there is a strong evidence base to back their use.  Heather Carlyle, PT, DPT, FIPSI, specializes in using integrative and lifestyle medicine in her physical therapy practice. Heather has a passion for helping people improve their quality of life in a natural way. She created Path to Less Nerve Pain , a hybrid online health education program that she developed to treat and reverse neuropathy. In this conversation with Dr. Joe Tatta, Heather discusses the different components of her program. She also talks about the causes of neuropathy, its symptoms, and the various traditional, complementary alternative and integrative medicine approaches that can be used for its treatment.

In my profession of physical therapy, the lack of gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, and queer-specific education has given rise to deficiencies in our cultural competence and our humility. When deficiencies exist in a profession's educational system, as well as its continued education system, it can create a climate of discrimination and disparity. This ultimately leads to decreased access to health and effective healthcare. In the context of chronic pain, which is what we discuss on this show, LGBTQ+ people are more likely to suffer from a long-term chronic pain condition than heterosexuals. To begin this episode, I would like to share with you a couple of reasons why this community or this population of people experience more pain before we meet our expert guests. The first reason is that a larger portion of the LGBTQ+ community lacks access to health insurance or lives in poverty, more so than their heterosexual counterparts. They're more likely to delay medical care or, at times, just forgo it completely because they can't afford it or they simply just don't have access to quality healthcare.

We are discussing the power of peer support and group learning and chronic pain recovery. My expert guest is Dr. Amber Richard Bauer. Amber is a doctor of Physical Therapy focusing on Chronic Pain Recovery and Pain Education. She's also a certified instructor for Empowered Relief and a facilitator for mental health ten-week virtual pain care program. Amber uses elements of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Pain Neuroscience, Education, and Mindfulness paired with her knowledge as a Physical Therapist to help clients recover from chronic pain and return to living meaningful lives.   Amber is a lifelong dancer and a believer in the power of the mind-body connection to heal from chronic pain, trauma, as well as illness. In this episode, you will learn about the benefits of group training for people with chronic pain, why it's important for people with pain to get support from other people, dealing with a similar condition, and the role of a licensed health professional in facilitating group care.   At the beginning of this episode, we talk about Amber's journey, both her educational journey from being a dancer to a physical therapist through psychologically informed care and then back as well as her personal experience in living with and overcoming chronic pain, which we know is vitally important. Without further ado, let's begin and meet Dr. Amber Richard Bauer.   Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! Here's How » Join the Healing Pain Podcast Community today: integrativepainscienceinstitute.com Healing Pain Podcast Facebook Healing Pain Podcast Twitter Healing Pain Podcast YouTube Healing Pain Podcast LinkedIn Healing Pain Podcast Instagram

It is great to be here with you again. In each episode, we generally discuss the impact of physical therapy treatments on the management of chronic pain and other chronic diseases. From there, we have explored other overlapping problems and conditions, such as things like opioids, the over-prescribing of opioids or addiction, and the movement to choose physical therapy as an alternative to opioid medication. A clear movement also exists for a physical therapist to play a more pivotal role in treating and managing non-communicable diseases such as diabetes, metabolic syndrome, hypertension, and cardiovascular disease. This should not be too much of a leap because, as physical therapists, we have had a specialty in cardiopulmonary physical therapy for many decades. Something happened during the COVID-19 pandemic which changed our profession as well as changed our personal lives. America's mental health declined, with anywhere between 28% to 40% of adults struggling with depression during the height of the pandemic. Many of those numbers have stayed consistent. More people have been prescribed antidepressant medications and the mental health care shortage intensified with many providers in clinics having waitlists of 4 months to 1 year, which left many people without essential healthcare or mental health care services. As licensed doctoral trained healthcare professionals, we, physical therapists, whether realize it or not, see people with mental health concerns daily in almost every practice setting. Our profession, like many others, has begun to advocate for ways to improve mental health and mental well-being. We now know that the epidemic of depression requires a supporting role by physical therapists. The reason is that the influence of physical therapy extends way beyond the physical benefit. It improves mental health and promotes mental well-being. Screening and addressing behavioral and mental health concerns are within the scope of physical therapy practice guidelines. The American Physical Therapy Association published these guidelines in 2020 in the House of Delegates' position statement. This position is generally in line with the best evidence and the growing trend in psychological uniform physical therapy, which incorporates bio-psycho-social treatments for chronic pain and other health conditions. A few decades before the American Physical Therapy Association published these guidelines, there was the International Association for Physical Therapy and Mental Health, which is a sub-chapter of the World Confederation of Physical Therapy, which described the need and scope of physical therapy and mental health, behavioral health, and psychiatry. What we are seeing is the construct of psychologically informed physical therapy is the same, similar to, or compliments mental health physical therapy, which is used to facilitate body awareness, problem-solving skills, cognitive restructuring, and ways to cope, which reinforce self-efficacy and improve quality of life in the face of poor mental health. It would then appear inherent that a physical therapist can use biomedical treatments as well as psychosocial treatments based on their key role in reducing disability and fostering positive human growth. Occasionally, as physical therapists, we sell ourselves short and fail to understand the depth and the breadth of the impact we can have on someone's quality of life. What I am referring to is the emotional and psychological benefits that can increase the value of care that we provide as individuals and as a profession. Now more than ever, it is important that we understand and explain the breadth of the therapeutic benefits that we provide because studies demonstrate that approximately a quarter of all Americans may have a mental health condition. 25% to 50% of patients in a general outpatient physical therapy clinic have a mental health condition and upwards of 70% of patients with low back pain that report to physical therapy have some level of depression. We are already seeing this in practice. There is a place for us to be primary care and entry point providers into the mental health care system. However, that does not mean that we simply “refer out.” It means that. As professionals, we stay engaged in patient care, and we continue to play a role independently or in the code management of the mild, moderate, and severe depression or other mental health conditions that exist in the populations of patients that we treat. In fact, there is some literature that mild to moderate depression improves over the course of physical therapy, regardless of whether or not a mental health provider is engaged in the plan of care. How can that be or why is that? It is because movement, body awareness, physical activity, exercise, and many other interventions that we use as professionals are a catalyst for positive mental health and improved psychological well-being. When you combine physical activity with cognitive reappraisal, there is generally a greater impact on outcomes and the quality of life of the patients that you care for. Joining us to discuss the role of the physical therapist in treating depression is Dr. Tony Varela. He is a physical therapist who brings many years of experience in musculoskeletal health, including pain management. His professional principles were paved through residency and fellowship, grounded and rich patient experiences, and reinforced by serving those surviving chronic pain, cancer, as well as trauma, and PTSD from war. He believes there is a better version of ourselves ready to push through and he is an Assistant Professor at Arkansas College of Health Education. Tony authored a paper in the February 2022 edition of Physiotherapy Theory and Practice called The Theatre of Depression: A Role for Physical Therapy, which we will discuss in this episode. Without further ado, let's begin. Let's meet Tony and discuss the role of physical therapy in the treatment of depression. Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! Here's How » Join the Healing Pain Podcast Community today: integrativepainscienceinstitute.com Healing Pain Podcast Facebook Healing Pain Podcast Twitter Healing Pain Podcast YouTube Healing Pain Podcast LinkedIn Healing Pain Podcast Instagram

Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! Here's How » Join the Healing Pain Podcast Community today: integrativepainscienceinstitute.com Healing Pain Podcast Facebook Healing Pain Podcast Twitter Healing Pain Podcast YouTube Healing Pain Podcast LinkedIn Healing Pain Podcast Instagram

It's great to be here with you. Thanks for joining. In this episode, we are discussing a new assessment tool to guide behavior change, which is called The Physical Therapy Healthy Lifestyle Appraisal. It was developed by Dr. MarySue Ingman, who you will meet in a couple of moments. This is the first validated assessment tool for a physical therapy practice, where we can look at nutrition, physical activity, stress, sleep, and tobacco use. What I like and appreciate about this tool is that it's quick, easy, fits well into physical therapist practice, and especially if you are using integrative or lifestyle medicine approaches to treat chronic pain or chronic disease management.   Let me share a little bit about our guest. Dr. MarySue Ingman is an Associate Professor in the Doctor of Physical Therapy Program at St. Catherine University in St. Paul, Minnesota. Her research interests include the role of a physical therapist, health promotion, and clinical practice. She's published studies on motivational interviewing and the role of physical therapists in health promotion and wellness. In this episode, you will learn a lot about counseling, assessment, and the science of behavior change. In fact, this episode is a sneak peek into some work that all of us have been working on for years. Some of you may know that I co-edited a textbook. That textbook is called Integrative and Lifestyle Medicine in Physical Therapy. My co-editor was another physical therapist, who you might know, whose name is Dr. Ginger Garner. In that textbook, we invited about 40 physical therapy professionals, researchers, and educators, to contribute to this book on Integrative and Lifestyle Medicine in Physical Therapy. Chapter 3 in this textbook, which is called Coaching, Counseling, and the Science of Behavior Change, was written by MarySue and her colleague, Dr. Janet Bezner, a Professor in the Department of Physical Therapy at Texas State University. That textbook is on track to come out soon. We are excited because we think that this will be useful for physical therapy educators, as well as clinicians who are using integrative and lifestyle medicine in physical therapy. As I mentioned, Chapter 3 is written by MarySue, where we go into Coaching, Counseling, and the Science of Behavior Change, which we will discuss in this episode. Without further ado, let's begin and learn about the Physical Therapy Healthy Lifestyle Appraisal and meet Dr. MarySue Ingman.   Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! Here's How » Join the Healing Pain Podcast Community today: integrativepainscienceinstitute.com Healing Pain Podcast Facebook Healing Pain Podcast Twitter Healing Pain Podcast YouTube Healing Pain Podcast LinkedIn Healing Pain Podcast Instagram

Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! Here's How » Join the Healing Pain Podcast Community today: integrativepainscienceinstitute.com Healing Pain Podcast Facebook Healing Pain Podcast Twitter Healing Pain Podcast YouTube Healing Pain Podcast LinkedIn Healing Pain Podcast Instagram