Ep 167 – Pain and the Elite Athlete with Luke Bongiorno

💡 In this episode of PT Pro Talk, host Mariana Parks speaks with Professor Tasha Stanton, a clinical pain neuroscientist and physiotherapist who leads the Persistent Pain Research Group. This interview breaks down the clinical application of pain neuroscience for knee osteoarthritis, from debunking the harmful "bone on bone" narrative to addressing systemic, low-level inflammation. From utilizing the Protectometer to identify danger and safety cues in a patient's life to enhancing exercise adherence with novel technologies like virtual reality, Tasha shares actionable insights on how to properly deliver pain education, reframe the aging process through bioplasticity, and optimize non-pharmacological treatments for chronic joint pain.

💭 "I think the biggest mistake is ignoring an irritable knee." - Jill Monson

💡 In this episode of PT Pro Talk, host Mariana Parks sits down with Dr. Philomena Commons (Specialist Musculoskeletal Physiotherapist, McKenzie Tutor, and PhD) to explore what it really takes to practice physical therapy in some of the most restricted, dangerous, and under-resourced environments in the world. From treating endemic leprosy in Bangladesh to teaching the McKenzie Method (MDT) under government surveillance in North Korea and evaluating back pain in Afghan prisons, Dr. Commons shares extraordinary insights on clinical intuition, cross-cultural adaptation, and patient empowerment. Learn how shifting from a purely mechanistic approach to addressing the social determinants of health (like poverty, education, and social stigma) can completely transform patient care and long-term outcomes. 💭 "I didn't really appreciate what the value of freedom until I left North Korea." - Dr. Philomena Commons 👉🏻 Dr. Philomena Commons PhD MSc Dip MDT Grad Dip Phys MCSP is a highly experienced Musculoskeletal Physiotherapist and McKenzie Tutor specializing in evidence-based treatments for complex, recurrent pain. She has held senior clinical roles in the UK's NHS and served as a Senior Lecturer at Leeds Beckett University. Beyond her clinical and academic work, she integrates her CrossFit and Life Coaching backgrounds to run functional exercise classes for Parkinson's patients. Deeply committed to global and social impact, Dr. Commons has advanced physiotherapy education in developing countries and currently volunteers to provide care for homeless individuals in the UK.

💡 In this episode of PT Pro Talk, host Mariana Parks speaks with Gregg Johnson, a physical therapist with over 50 years of clinical experience and co-developer of the Functional Manual Therapy (FMT) system. This interview breaks down how shifting your focus from treating local symptoms to evaluating the entire human system can completely transform your daily practice. From curing the "migrating miseries" in chronic pain patients to understanding the feed-forward mechanism of the core, Gregg shares actionable insights to help you look beyond the joint, integrate PNF, and properly assess mechanical capacity and motor control to unlock life-changing patient outcomes.

💡 In this episode of PT ProTalk, host Mariana Parks speaks with Colin Davies, a physiotherapist with over 50 years of clinical experience who worked directly alongside Robin McKenzie. This interview breaks down how recognizing the spine's hidden role in extremity pain can completely transform your daily clinical practice. From uncovering the true source of recurrent patellar dislocations to solving a professional dancer's 13-year history of hip pain, Colin shares actionable insights to help you look beyond the joint, avoid confirmation bias, and properly assess the spine to unlock life-changing patient outcomes.