Sensory Approach to Manual Therapy

Send us Fan Mail If you’ve ever helped a client feel better while secretly doubting the explanation you were taught, this conversation is for you. Pain researcher Mark Johnson joins me to interrogate the quiet “hidden curriculum” in modern health care: a WEIRD, tissue-centric worldview that can be lifesaving in acute injury but can also trap both clinicians and patients when pain lingers. We talk...

Send us Fan Mail Manual therapy is full of confident stories: tight fascia, “alignment,” trigger points that must be released, posture that must be corrected. Then real life shows up and ruins the script. People feel better for a day, or a week, or not at all, and yet many still say massage is essential. We dig into that tension with Paul Ingram of PainScience.com, a former massage therapist known...

Send us Fan Mail What if the biggest gains in manual therapy come from changing how we dose touch, not how hard we press? That question sits at the heart of this conversation with educator and former elite high jumper Jenny Mapes, who brings a coach’s eye to sports massage and recovery. We dig into her Quadrant of Intentional Treatment—a simple, visual framework that maps care across superficial t...

Send us Fan Mail Pain shouldn’t feel like guesswork. We sat down with therapist, educator, and former pro athlete Julie Pitois to pull back the curtain on a smarter, more human way to solve stubborn pain. Julie co-created the Anatomy Assassin approach, a true‑crime style framework where the “victim” is the loud symptom and the “criminals” are the hidden contributors—movement habits, stress loads,...

Send us Fan Mail What if relief starts with being seen, not being pressed? Our conversation with author and massage therapist Rachel Richards follows a surprising path—from the isolating rules of an eating disorder and the highs of stage life to a quiet, practical discovery: slow, kind touch can change how pain feels, and a camera can carry that care to people who may never set foot in a clinic. R...

Send us Fan Mail What happens when the science we rely on and the patients we treat seem to be telling us different things? In this thought-provoking conversation with osteopathic practitioner Sam Jarman, we dive deep into the sometimes confusing relationship between evidence-based medicine and patient-centered care in manual therapy. Sam challenges us to reconsider how we apply evidence in our ha...

Send us Fan Mail The integrity of scientific research is under unprecedented pressure. In this eye-opening conversation, Senior Lecturer Sharmella Roopchand Martin reveals the alarming rise in research paper retractions—10,000 in the past year alone—and the shadowy industry that's emerged to exploit academic publishing demands. Discover the shocking world of "paper mills," businesse...

Send us Fan Mail Ever felt underprepared in your professional role and wondered how to bridge that knowledge gap? Join us as esteemed expert Ruth Warner shares her transformative journey from feeling unprepared as a massage therapist in the early 80s to becoming a beacon of knowledge on massage therapy's intersection with pathology. Ruth passionately advocates for therapists to solidify their...

Send us Fan Mail What happens when the clinical application doesn't match the research results? Musculoskeletal specialist Ben Cormack joins us to explore this critical question and offers his invaluable insights into the world of therapeutic presence in clinical practice. We promise you'll uncover the gap between statistical effectiveness in studies and the real-world outcomes in practi...

Send us Fan Mail What happens when a therapist loses their way? Dr. Jesse Reynolds, a respected practitioner in acupuncture and traditional Chinese medicine, faced this very dilemma. After adopting the persona of "Dr. Jess" to meet external expectations, he found himself burnt out and questioning his path. Together, we navigate his inspiring journey back to authenticity and how redefinin...

Send us Fan Mail Can touch actually alleviate pain? Discover the groundbreaking insights from Pavel Goldstein, head of the Integrative Pain Laboratory at the University of Haifa's School of Public Health, as he unpacks the profound power of touch in pain management. Inspired by his personal experience during his wife's labor, Goldstein's research reveals how empathetic touch from pa...

Send us Fan Mail Unlock the potential of placebo effects in clinical care with insights from our special guest, Guillaume Leonard, a leading physiotherapist and researcher. This episode promises a deep dive into how integrating placebos, especially within manual therapy and pain management, can enhance treatment outcomes when combined with active components. Guillaume discusses the ethical conundr...

Send us Fan Mail Can a simple therapeutic interaction release powerful chemicals in your brain like endorphins and oxytocin? Discover how the relationship between a therapist and client can turn an ordinary manual therapy session into a powerful healing experience. Join us as we sit down with Luana Colloca, professor at the University of Maryland and director of the Placebo Beyond Opinion Center,...

Send us Fan Mail Unlock the mysterious efficacy of placebos and their role in pain management as we host neuroscience professor and esteemed author Serge Marchand. Together, we unravel the power of patient-practitioner interactions, where empathy and positive reinforcement can significantly alter a patient's pain experience. Listen to how even the most seasoned professionals must navigate the...

Send us Fan Mail Join us for a riveting journey through the landscape of trauma and healing, where Bethany Ranes Ph. D. and I navigate the mind's labyrinth following traumatic experiences. As a cognitive neuroscience research scientist with notable tenures at United Health Group and the US Army, Ranes lends her profound insights into the ways trauma shapes our physiological and psychological...

Send us Fan Mail Have you ever considered the profound impact that trauma has on the body and the mind, and how manual therapists can provide a beacon of hope for those struggling in its aftermath? We're honored to have Brian Trzaskos join us to shed light on the transformative power of trauma-informed care within manual therapy. Our discussion transcends the traditional view of trauma by foc...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode I have the wonderful fortune of interviewing Hillary Allen, an endurance athlete and former client of mine. We talk about her experience surviving a near-fatal 150-foot fall while trail running. We discuss her road to recovery both physically and mentally, insights gained about being a process-driven versus performance-driven athlete, the value of community support...

Send us Fan Mail In this podcast we explore Mark and Amanda's origin stories and how they got into massage therapy. Did Mark fall into massage therapy after a drunken dare, was Amanda really convinced into it. Listen to find out.  We also explore the evolution of massage therapy and education, public perception and acceptance of massage therapy, the future of massage therapy and what keeps th...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the Sensory Approach to Manual Therap Jon Zahourek and I discuss pain, evolution, belonging and learning.  Jon Z. has an incredible mind that floats from topic to topic with ease but is always profoundly intersting and captivating to listen to. Support the show

Send us Fan Mail In this latest podcast with Michael Hamm, from Integrative Bodywork we dive once more into the conversation of 'Defining Massage Therapy'.  I always love speaking with Michael. His heart felt communication and  genuine love and passion for language make him an amazing guest. His insight into the converging/diverging nature of science was an absolute bullseye in our talk....

Send us Fan Mail In this episode with Doug Nelson we get a little person in exploring his passion and discovery of massage therapy. We explore some of the difficulties of research within the massage therapy community and try to understand what it is that makes massage special.  I hope you enjoy listening. Doug has been a very influential therapist, researcher and educator in the massage community...

Send us Fan Mail In this podcast with ABK, we delve into the idea of defining massage therapy and if that is something our industry is struggling with or needs.  Ann Blair Kennedy has been a long time member of many influential massage organizations. You may not have known her before this podcast but if you are a massage therapist you have likely been influenced or impact day some of her research...

Send us Fan Mail I have known Amanda since our mid-teens and what she is doing with her work at https://www.amandarocheleau.com/ is some of the most important work I have come across in my 20 years of practice massage. If you have not had a chance to listen to her, take it now.  Amanda is a registered social worker who specializes in teaching classes on dealing with burnout.  Amanda shares her per...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode I speak with Benny Vaughn about what it's like to be in the industry for over 45 years now, how he has dealt with burn-out and what he does to stay motivated! Benny opens up and speaks about some of his past mental health struggles, how he has over come them, and what it's like being an interracially married African American man living in Texas. I am so g...

Send us Fan Mail Summary This transcript is a conversation between Troy and Rebecca, a professional mountain biker. They discuss Rebecca's experiences as a three-time Olympian and her journey in the sport, including the mental and emotional challenges she faced during competitions and throughout her career. The conversation covers topics such as dealing with stress, burnout, and the accumulat...