Pain Science Podcast

Dr. Orit Hickman, owner of Pain Science Physical Therapy in Seattle, discusses implementing the latest pain science into clinical practice, focusing on the three types of pain: nociceptive, peripheral neuropathic, and nociplastic pain. Dr. Hickman shares her journey in integrating pain science into patient care and the importance of trauma-informed approaches. Tune in to learn how to evaluate and...

In today's episode, Dr. Tawny Kross, a physical therapist who integrates psychology into her practice, discusses the fusion of psychology and physical therapy, known as psychologically informed physical therapy, and its essential role in pain management. Dr. Kross shares insights from her work at the VA Medical Center and in her private practice, highlighting the importance of a whole person appro...

Physical therapists can and do play a role in promoting mental health wellness in patients, including managing psychological distress and even suicide prevention. In today's episode, Australian physiotherapist Ryan McGrath uncovers the ways that physical therapists can identify and address signs of psychological distress in their patients. He talks about yellow flags as well as red flags and how y...

Dive into the transformative power of Recovery Courts as we explore the groundbreaking integration of exercise into addiction recovery programs in this episode. Dr. Joe Tatta welcomes  Walter Midkiff  and The Honorable H. Lee Harrell as they share their pioneering work in implementing  Recovery Fitness  as part of recovery court programs. Discover how exercise not only aids in substance use recove...

Patients often find themselves in a pickle of having prescribed different medications for different purposes, which eventually overlap and do more harm than good. Thankfully, this alarming situation can be solved through medication reduction and tapering. Dr. Joe Tatta explores the role of physical therapists in this process with  Aimee Perron, PT, DPT . They explain the keystone position every PT...

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 literac...

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...

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...

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 , D...

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 a...

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 Physica...

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 he...

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 intersectio...

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 hop...

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 g...

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 reve...

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 o...

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 advoca...

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...

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 biopsychosoci...

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...

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...

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-qu...

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 an...

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...