PT Snacks Podcast: Physical Therapy with Dr. Kasey Hankins

Send us Fan Mail 🎉 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 certifica...

Send us Fan Mail 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 a...

Send us Fan Mail 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 muscl...

Send us Fan Mail 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 t...

Send us Fan Mail 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 fo...

Send us Fan Mail 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/...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, we defines hip dysplasia, review risk factors (female sex, breech birth, family history, etc), infant screening, adult presentation and functional testing, and outlines PT goals (pain-free motion, strengthening, activity modification) versus surgical consideration such as periacetabular osteotomy and its recovery expectations. 00:00 Welcome to PT Snacks 00:24 Podc...

Send us Fan Mail Kasey welcomes listeners to the PT Snacks podcast for physical therapists and students and introduces a brief episode on Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS). Kasey highlights common patient issues such as joint pain, dislocations, tendinitis, and muscle cramps, and discusses how physical therapy can improve quality of life through resistance training, proprioception, balance, aerobic and...

Send us Fan Mail Host Kasey introduces PT Snacks, a bite-size podcast for physical therapists and students, and covers distal biceps tendon ruptures. The episode reviews relevant anatomy, typical injury mechanism, classic symptoms, and common risk factors and patient profile. Kasey outlines key differentials, exam findings and tests, imaging options, and treatment pathways, emphasizing that timely...

Send us Fan Mail In this PT Snacks episode, host Kasey introduces urinary incontinence for physical therapists and students, emphasizing its prevalence, quality-of-life impact, and the importance of reducing taboo. The episode defines urinary incontinence as involuntary urine leakage, reviews key anatomy and neural control, and explains five types: stress, urge, mixed, overflow, and functional inc...

Send us Fan Mail In this PT Snacks episode, we walk through how to tell when “shoulder pain” might not actually be coming from the shoulder—and why that matters for safe, intentional screening in the clinic. We compare classic musculoskeletal patterns (pain tied to motion/loading and reproducible on exam) versus non-mechanical presentations like constant, poorly localized, deep/pressure-like pain...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, we break down femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) for PTs and students—what it is, how it shows up clinically, and how it’s typically diagnosed. We walk through cam, pincer, and mixed morphologies, quick assessment ideas (including FADIR/FABER and when imaging matters), and what PT treatment commonly focuses on. We also touch on when injections or surgery may come...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the PT Snacks Podcast, host Kasey delves into vertebra basilar insufficiency (VBI), a condition affecting the posterior cerebral circulation. Aimed at physical therapists and PT students, the episode explains the anatomy behind VBI, its symptoms, risk factors, and how to screen for it effectively. Kasey highlights the importance of understanding VBI’s implicatio...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the PTs Snacks Podcast, host Kasey dives into medial epicondylalgia, commonly known as golfer's elbow. This condition involves chronic tendinosis of the wrist flexors and pronators that attach to the medial epicondyle of the humerus. Kasey explains how to assess and treat this condition, noting the importance of proper diagnosis and patient education. Key t...

Send us Fan Mail Welcome to the PT Snacks podcast with your host, Kasey! In this episode, we delve into the role of a clinical instructor (CI) for physical therapists and physical therapy students, addressing common challenges and providing strategies to ensure a successful rotation. From pre-arrival communication to day-one interactions, and ongoing feedback, Kasey covers how to make students fee...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of PT Snacks Podcast, host Kasey dives deep into patellar dislocation and the medial patellofemoral ligament (MPFL). Learn about the anatomy, common causes, and risk factors of patellar dislocations, alongside assessment techniques and treatment options. Whether you're a physical therapist or PT student, this episode offers valuable insights into managing both...

Send us Fan Mail Join Kasey on the PT Snacks podcast as we delve into lumbar spinal stenosis, perfect for physical therapists and students eager to enhance their fundamentals. Understand the basics of stenosis, its impact on patients, and effective treatment approaches. Learn how to differentiate between types of stenosis, evaluate symptoms, and integrate conservative treatments with manual therap...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the PT Snacks podcast, your host Kasey dives into the often-overlooked topic of rib stress fractures. Aimed at physical therapists and PT students, this segment focuses on identifying, understanding, and managing these injuries, particularly in rowers and overhead athletes. Learn about the prevalence, symptoms, risk factors, and treatment strategies for rib stre...

Send us Fan Mail Welcome to the PT Snacks podcast with your host, Kasey! While this episode is geared toward new graduates, the insights are valuable for all physical therapists and students. You'll learn about continuous learning beyond PT school, the importance of rest, the value of mentorship, and the need for emotional intelligence in clinical practice. Tune in next week for a deep dive i...

Send us Fan Mail In this special end-of-year episode of PT Snacks Podcast, host Kasey talks about the importance of setting meaningful and achievable goals for physical therapists and students. Kasey introduces a 90-day challenge designed to help you focus on what aligns with your values and strengths. Learn how to prioritize your actions realistically and make small yet impactful changes. Tune in...

Send us Fan Mail Hey guys, welcome to PT Snacks podcast with Kasey as your host. In today's episode, we dive into Cloward's Sign, its origins, and its significance for physical therapists. We explore how Ralph Cloward's 1959 paper highlighted the connection between cervical discs and scapular pain, providing a map for diagnosing neck-related shoulder and thoracic discomfort. If your...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of PT Snacks, we dive into the often-overlooked pillar of athletic performance: sleep . From injury prevention to muscle repair and hormonal balance, sleep plays a critical role in helping your athletes recover and perform at their best. Learn how sleep quality, quantity, and timing affect strength, endurance, and even muscle regeneration on a cellular level. Plus,...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of PT Snacks podcast, host Kasey dives deep into the topic of osteoporosis, exploring its definition, risk factors, prevalence, and the crucial role physical therapists play in managing it. Kasey explains what osteoporosis is, the impact it has on patients, and provides evidence-based strategies for addressing it through exercise. Learn about the importance of resi...

Send us Fan Mail Join Kasey on the PT Snacks Podcast as we delve into Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome, a compression neuropathy affecting the posterior tibial nerve in the ankle. This episode covers the anatomy, symptoms, risk factors, and differential diagnosis, while also offering useful clinical tests and treatment approaches. Ideal for physical therapists and students, the episode provides bite-sized,...

Send us Fan Mail Need CEUs? Get unlimited CEUs with MedBridge and save over $100 using code PTSNACKSPODCAST at checkout. Students: Use PTSNACKSPODCASTSTUDENT for a discounted annual plan. In this episode of PT Snacks podcast, we delve into the topic of sports hernia, also known as athletic pubalgia. Listeners will learn about what a sports hernia is, how it occurs, and the anatomy involved, includ...