PT Inquest

It is a landmark episode for PT Inquest - the century mark! No article to review but the guys look back on some of our listeners' favorite episodes and topics from over the years. Full list of episodes can be found on the PT Inquest Home Page . Music for PT Inquest: "The Science of Selling Yourself Short" by Less Than Jake Used by Permission "Balkan in the City" by rocavaco Licensed under a Attrib...

We got 99 episodes but a bad one ain't...one! That didn't work. Dammit. Anyway, this episode takes another look at whether or not early range of motion after rotator cuff repair makes a difference during recovery. Also there are balloons... The Effect of Early Range of Motion on Quality of Life, Clinical Outcome, and Repair Integrity After Arthroscopic Rotator Cuff Repair. Mazzocca AD, Arciero RA,...

In this first for PT Inquest, the guys review a letter to the editor. No paper is perfect. When looking in hindsight, papers that seemed to be originally accurate reveal themselves to be flawed. How do we steer clear of those mistakes in the present? What is the responsibility of a journal to catch these issues before publishing a paper? Would any of our listeners like to buy JW a '60s era Oldsmob...

What do you believe about the treatments, screenings, and tests that you use as a clinician? What are the potential benefits? What are the potential harms? How accurate are your beliefs? Does anyone know what a Proth prime is? Clinicians' Expectations of the Benefits and Harms of Treatments, Screening, and Tests: A Systematic Review. Hoffmann TC, Del Mar C. JAMA Intern Med . Published online Janua...

On this episode the guys review a clinical commentary on patellofemoral pain (PFP) written by Rich Willy and some moron (Erik and his dumb face). How should we best conceptualize PFP? Is Scott Dye's "envelope of function" accurate or even useful? Does this understanding change the way we treat this enigmatic diagnosis for the better? We break out the shorts and t-shirts as the temperature in Minne...

It's time for another season of PT Inquest! This first paper does not bode well for the idea of seeing a PT early making much of a difference in long term costs and outcomes for acute low back pain in older patients. How was this study conducted? What does this mean for physical therapists? As a profession, are we promoting ourselves in spite of the research? Are there ethical implications? Is the...

The PT Podcast Network crew are here to spread some holiday cheer with the annual PT Podcast Network Extravaganza! They talk Jedis, rectums, Festivus, and horrible jet lag - all the holiday standards. Some say it's unlistenable...but you get to judge for yourself! Music for The PT Podcast Holiday Extravaganza: Kevin MacLeod -  incompetech.com  

As the fellas wrap up this season of PT Inquest, they discuss the newly released Warwick Agreement on FAI Syndrome. What do we know about this condition? What differentiates "FAI" from "FAI syndrome"? What is the best way to diagnose and then manage this? WHY CAN'T WE ALL GET ALONG?! (We can and do.) What is your favorite crappy action movie? SEE YOU ALL IN 12 WEEKS!!! The Warwick Agreement on fem...

Early evidence suggests that heavy load isometrics may be effective for acute reduction in patellar tendon pain in a laboratory setting, but is it effective for managing patellar tendon pain for athletes during their competitive season? How does it compare to isotonics (heavy slow resistance)? Does the type of contraction matter more than the total time that the heavy load is applied? Is Erik too...

Can we predict which shoulder patients will get better with physical therapy? How much does the psychology of the patient play into their response? Does it have anything to do with the actual treatment provided by the therapist or were these patients going to get better no matter what? Is JW actually DYNOMIIIITE!!!!! Hip Psychological factors are associated with the outcome of physiotherapy for pe...

Running on a treadmill is not the same as running over ground!!! Or is it? It appears that in most respects it's a wash. But what about regarding loads to the patellofemoral joint and the Achilles tendon? Find out as Rich Willy (the author of the paper) joins Erik and JW to discuss this and more! Hip Patellofemoral Joint and Achilles Tendon Loads During Overground and Treadmill Running. Willy RW,...

Clinical depression has a known correlation with chronic pain. Can exercise be an effective treatment for these patients by using it to "treat the depression"? Well, before we can explore that, we need to get a better understanding of the psychological effects of exercise on subjects with clinical depression who DO NOT have pain. Also, JW now has an IQ higher than a sea cucumber! Hip Strength in "...

Deficits in quadriceps strength after ACL reconstruction are a well known problem. Is this specific to the quadriceps or is this just an example of general weakness throughout the lower extremity? What about hip strength? Does this change as well? Is JW smarter than a sea cucumber? In this episode we are joined by Ohio State researcher and clinician Matt Ithurburn ! Hip Strength in Patients with Q...

When treatments don't seem to work for a diagnosis we will often try to see if they work for particular subgroups. Sure, that's a thing, but that is a very difficult thing to determine that demands a very specific process. How have we done with subgroup analysis regarding low back pain? Have JW and Erik found the Ultimate Prime Number?! A systematic review reveals that the credibility of subgroup...

JW and Erik are having a lovely conversation about Bozeman, handball, and the number 86 when they are rudely interrupted by Adam Meakins  from The NAF Physio Podcast to talk about preventing shoulder injuries. Can we prevent overuse shoulder injuries? If we can prevent them, do we know what about the program actually worked? Is it specific to the program? How do numbers needed to treat and time in...

JW and Erik are having a lovely conversation about Bozeman, handball, and the number 86 when they are rudely interrupted by Adam Meakins  from The NAF Physio Podcast to talk about preventing shoulder injuries. Can we prevent overuse shoulder injuries? If we can prevent them, do we know what about the program actually worked? Is it specific to the program? How do numbers needed to treat and time in...

Systematic reviews are a great tool to boil down decades of research into a single paper. But what if those decades of research were full of low quality studies? Can we make strong "Level 1a" statements from that? Well, as long as those statements are vague it looks like you can. What should we do when the evidence doesn't support or refute something? (HINT: Be skeptical!!!)

Running is bad for your knees. It will wear them down and lead to arthritis. We've all heard it and it makes sense, right? But does that really happen? And what does this have to do with Uranus?!

Can we predict injuries in athletes? Is it like screening for disease or is this kind of screening a different animal? Will this episode be the greatest thing since sliced bread?!

What is required for rotator cuff tendinopathy? Scapular stability? Manual therapy? What if you just gave exercises? How about just one exercise? In this episode we explore all of that as Erik explores living in an apartment again for the first time in 15 years.

When engaging in athletic activities, many physical therapists recommend bracing with the abdominals for stability as a better way to manage loads, but is it? Is it possible that bracing actually  increases forces through the body? How might that be? Is Erik's singing in any way tolerable to our listeners?

If your patient has completely torn their supraspinatus, then their humeral head must translate superiorly during arm elevation. Or does it??? In this episode JW and Erik look at a novel kinematic study that found the exact opposite. Remember, there is always more to a hypothesis than, "It makes sense."

Some patients complain of severe pain after rotator cuff repair way more than others. Is this something that can be predicted? Does the extent of the injury have any correlation to postoperative pain? What about specifics of the surgery? Or is it something else? Find out all that and more by listening to "The Gold Episode"!

Erik and JW have a history of skepticism regarding the use of platelet rich plasm (PRP) injections for tendon injuries, but can it have an effect on osteoarthritis? What would they need to see in order to be convinced? Does this article provide that? Or do Erik and JW just hate every new thing no matter what?

Can hamstring injuries be predicted? Does sustaining an injury permanently change something about its function? Is it just a matter of strength or is there something else? How does strength training effect it? Or does it? Time to buy a mfMRI! (Does not stand for "motherf**king MRI" by the way.)