Episodes

Physical therapy has been knocking on the primary care door for decades. But according to Chris Bise, the profession now has to answer a harder question: are we prepared to deliver what we are proposing? In this episode, host Nick Rainey talks with Chris Bise about the future of primary care physical therapy and the infrastructure needed to support it. Their conversation moves beyond first-contact access and into the realities of team-based care, payment models, outcomes measurement, coding, wo...

In this episode, Antigone Vesci, PT, DPT, ATC, SCS, FAAOMPT speaks with Filip Maric, PT, PhD and Emma Swardh, PT, PhD, as they introduce the field of environmental physiotherapy and invite clinicians to think beyond the walls of the clinic. Rather than limiting sustainability to recycling, energy use, or clinic operations, environmental physiotherapy asks a deeper question: What do health, environment, society, and physical therapy have to do with each other? The conversation explores how envi...

In this episode, Seth Peterson talks with Josh Funk, founder of Rehab 2 Perform, about private practice ownership, business growth, staffing, reimbursement, clinical education, and the future of physical therapy. Josh shares how his own rehab experience at Ohio State inspired him to build a more active, performance-oriented community rehab model. He explains how early entrepreneurial experiments, side hustles, personal training, coaching, and customer service roles helped prepare him to launch ...

In this episode, host Leda McDaniel speaks with Dr. Thomas Ibounig, shoulder and elbow surgeon at Helsinki University Hospital and researcher with the Finnish Centre for Evidence-Based Orthopaedics. Dr. Ibounig discusses his 2026 JAMA study, “Incidental Rotator Cuff Abnormalities on Magnetic Resonance Imaging.” The conversation explores how common rotator cuff abnormalities are on MRI, including in asymptomatic individuals, and what that means for clinicians interpreting imaging findings in pat...

In this episode, Seth speaks with Tim Fearon, a respected leader in orthopedic manual physical therapy, about the role of exercise in manual therapy practice. Tim reflects on retirement, mentorship, and the clinical evolution that led him to place exercise and patient responsibility at the center of care. He shares how early mentorship shaped his manual therapy skills, but how recurring patient problems forced him to ask a harder question: if symptoms improve but the problem returns, did we rea...

In this episode, host Dr. Nick Rainey is joined by Dr. Bremen Abuhl and Dr. Dallas Ehrmantraut to discuss their 2025 Physical Therapy Journal article, “First Contact Physical Therapy Compared to Usual Primary Care for Musculoskeletal Disorders: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of RCTs.” The conversation explores whether physical therapists should serve as the first point of contact for patients with musculoskeletal disorders and how first contact PT compares with usual primary care. Dr. A...

In this episode, Seth sits down with Jess Ellis, fellowship-trained physical therapist, former NBA health and performance leader, founder of Rehab Code, and consultant for professional athletes. Jess shares his career path from early burnout in high-volume physical therapy to mentorship with Tim Fearon, fellowship training, EXOS, the Portland Trail Blazers, the New York Knicks, and his current work in mentorship, consulting, and concierge care. The conversation explores the realities of workin...

In this episode, host Dr. Skip Gill welcomes Dr. Matthew Smith to discuss his Clinical Science in Manual Therapy Grant-funded study, “Mapping the Continuum: Enhancing Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapy Education Through Instruction and Training.” Dr. Smith shares how his own OMPT training shaped his interest in clinical reasoning, mentorship, and the way manual therapy is taught across different stages of professional development. He explains why his study looks at the continuum from entry-leve...

Neck pain and headache often travel together. But as Gwen Jull and Zhiqi Liang explain in this episode, that does not automatically mean the cervical spine is driving the headache. In this AAOMPT and IFOMPT collaborative episode, hosts Amy McDevitt and Michael Boney explore the evolving science around cervicogenic headache, migraine-associated neck pain, sensitization, and clinical examination. Gwen Jull discusses the development and validation of physical criteria for cervicogenic headache, e...

Today we’re joined by Liam Globensky, Center Manager at Brooks Rehabilitation and a newly graduated fellow from the Brooks Institute of Higher Learning. Liam’s passion is clear: fellowship is not the finish line—it’s the launch pad for teaching, mentoring, advocating, and elevating the profession. In this episode, Liam discusses: Why post-professional opportunities matter more than ever How early-career fellows can “raise the tide” for PT practice The importance of giving back through mentor...

In this episode, we sit down with Kyle Feldman, National Director of Physical Therapy for ReEnvision PT and owner of WE ARE Physiotherapy. Kyle shares how clinical reasoning, therapeutic alliance, and intentional growth have shaped his work as a clinician, educator, and leader. We discuss: Why clinical reasoning is often misunderstood How strong therapeutic alliance amplifies patient outcomes Safety, intent, and application of spinal manipulation in elderly patients Using fellowship trainin...

What happens when you mix decades of movement science, deep mentorship, and a passion for solving complex MSK problems? You get Lee Marinko — one of the most beloved educators and mentors in OMPT. Lee has been teaching in the Boston University DPT program for more than 20 years, serves as Chair of the AAOMPT Program Director SIG, and launched the BU OMPT Fellowship in 2014 with one goal: “We can do better than that.” In this conversation, Lee shares her philosophy on mentorship, the joy of Ah ...

Why do patients with hip dysplasia go years without a diagnosis? In this episode, physical therapist and researcher Dr. Libby Bergman explains why hip dysplasia in young adults is frequently overlooked—and what clinicians can do to catch it earlier. Her research explores whether simple clinical tests physical therapists already use—range of motion, strength testing, and hypermobility measures—might help identify hidden hip instability. The findings could help clinicians recognize hip dysplasi...

What should a clinician do when they discover an ethical breach in the clinic? In this episode, members of the AAOMPT Ethics Committee walk through a realistic clinical scenario involving a physical therapy fellow who discovers a physical therapist assistant performing manipulation techniques outside their scope of practice. When the fellow raises the concern with the clinical director, the issue is dismissed—creating tension, professional risk, and uncertainty for a student observing the situ...

What does it look like when an early-career clinician steps up to solve real barriers patients face — not just their pain? Wisconsin-based PT and Fellow-in-Training Rachel Beilfuss joins us to talk about her mission to integrate social determinants of health (SDoH) into everyday outpatient PT practice. As a Northwestern OMPT fellow with a clinical site at Marquette University, she's building systems to help clinicians screen, identify, and address the life factors that shape recovery and access...

What does the future of musculoskeletal care look like — and how can physical therapists lead it? Dr. Clare Ardern, Assistant Professor at the University of British Columbia and leader of the DigiMSK research team, joins us to break down digital health innovations, access bottlenecks, advanced practice roles, and the tools clinicians need to navigate a rapidly changing MSK landscape. We explore how technology, triage systems, and research literacy can reshape global MSK care — and why PTs are ...

In this AAOMPT interview, we sit down with Liam Globensky, Center Manager at Brooks Rehabilitation and a brand-new fellow from the Brooks Institute of Higher Learning. Liam shares his passion for post-professional development, advocacy, and the responsibility fellows have to give back to the profession. We dive into: What life after fellowship should look like How new fellows can become leaders, mentors, and advocates Why post-professional opportunities are essential for the growth of PT Th...

John Seivert, PT, a clinician with more than 40 years of experience blending skilled orthopedic manual therapy with the art of Motivational Interviewing. Fresh off his conference breakout sessions — Touch, Talk, and Transform — John breaks down what holistic OMPT looks like today, why communication is the foundation of effective care, and how accurate empathy changes outcomes. We explore: The current state of OMPT and where the field is heading Why “How good are you at listening?” might be t...

AAOMPT Fellow and educator Laura Wenger joins us to explore the future of membership, community, and belonging within orthopaedic manual physical therapy. Laura teaches foundational clinical reasoning at the University of Utah’s hybrid DPT pathway, treats patients weekly in a rural outpatient ortho practice, and serves as Co-Chair of AAOMPT’s Inclusive Membership & Engagement Committee (IMEC). Her work sits at the intersection of education, patient care, and organizational leadership. In this ...

The worst pain is unexplained pain. In this episode of the Hands-On, Hands-Off Podcast, physical therapists Amy McDevitt and Paul Mintkin explore why pain without a clear diagnosis is often the most distressing—and how physical therapists can communicate pain more effectively when imaging, MRI findings, and pathoanatomy don’t provide clear answers. This conversation dives deep into pain science, musculoskeletal pain, low back pain, and the limitations of medical imaging in explaining symptoms. ...

Damian Keter joins the show to unpack manual therapy treatment mechanisms and how our profession needs to evolve its education around MT. Damian is a clinician specializing in complex pain at the VA and a clinical researcher whose work centers on MT mechanisms and manual therapy training paradigms. If you’ve ever wondered what actually happens when we deliver manual therapy — and how to teach it more effectively — this episode delivers clarity. Topics:• Manual therapy mechanism research • Con...

Mark Shepherd joins the podcast to discuss person-centered clinical reasoning, lifestyle medicine, and how to improve the way PTs make sense of pain. Mark is Program Director of the Bellin College OMPT Fellowship, a DPT faculty member, and a clinician who blends manual therapy, patient values, and lifestyle-based interventions to build clearer clinical hypotheses. His recent publication introduces an updated reasoning model: the person-centered hypothesis, which emphasizes individualized sense-...

What role does IFOMPT play in global manual and musculoskeletal physiotherapy? In this episode of the Hands-On, Hands-Off Podcast, leaders from AAOMPT sit down with IFOMPT President Dr. Paolo Sanzo to discuss international education standards, evidence-informed practice, and global collaboration. The conversation explores how IFOMPT supports clinicians, educators, and researchers worldwide—and why global consistency ultimately improves patient care. 00:00 – Introduction to the AAOMPT–IFOMPT co...

Professor Roger Kerry joins the podcast to unpack one of the most debated topics in musculoskeletal care: the risks and benefits of manual therapy for people with head and neck pain. Roger is the lead for the physiotherapy program at the University of Nottingham, an interprofessional curriculum designer, researcher, PhD supervisor, and author of the new textbook The Head & Neck: Theory & Practice. His AAOMPT keynote focuses on cutting through decades of misinformation and helping clinicians und...