Hands On Hands Off: Manual Therapy & Orthopedic Physical Therapy (AAOMPT)

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 misunderstoodHow strong therapeutic alliance amplifies patient outcomesSafety, intent, and application of spinal manipulation in elderly patientsUsing fellowship training to step into leadership or ownershipKyle’s career path and the mindset that keeps him energizedThis is a must-listen episode for clinicians looking to level up their reasoning, build meaningful patient relationships, and explore new opportunities in the profession.Key Takeaways:Clinical reasoning is more than pattern recognition — it’s dynamic decision-making.Therapeutic alliance isn’t “being nice”; it’s a critical clinical skill.Older adults are often under-treated due to clinician fear, not evidence.Fellowships can be springboards for business ownership and leadership innovation.Growth in PT requires curiosity, reflection, and courage. Guest Info: ???? Kyle Feldman – [email protected] ???? ReEnvision PT ???? WE ARE Physiotherapy

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 ha moments, how to keep clinical problem-solving fun, and what young professionals really need from their teachers and clinical leaders.In this episode, we explore:???? Why movement science is the foundation for great OMPT???? Lee’s favorite teaching moments — and what they reveal???? How to guide learners through complex cases???? Mentorship tips for faculty, fellows, and CI’s???? The origin story of the BU Fellowship???? Why curiosity beats certainty in clinical reasoning???? The mindset that makes clinicians grow faster???? How to “do better” for people with MSK painIf you teach, mentor, or simply want to think better as a clinician — do not miss this one.

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 dysplasia sooner and potentially prevent years of unexplained pain and delayed treatment.In this conversation we discuss: • Why hip dysplasia is commonly missed • Early clinical signs physical therapists should watch for • Why athletes like dancers and swimmers may be at higher risk • New research linking range of motion and adductor strength to dysplasia • Why patients often wait 5–7 years for the correct diagnosis

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 situation.This conversation explores the ethical principles that guide clinical decision-making and the leadership responsibilities that often come with fellowship training.The panel discusses how clinicians can navigate difficult ethical situations while protecting patients, maintaining professional integrity, and supporting colleagues.In This Episode • Ethical responsibilities of physical therapy fellows • Scope of practice considerations for PTAs • Patient expectations vs professional standards • The role of accountability and integrity in clinical practice • Leadership development through fellowship training • How students and clinicians can report ethical concerns • Why ethical issues in healthcare are often underreported

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.Rachel is also this year’s FOMPT scholarship recipient, representing the next generation of OMPT clinicians who are redefining what comprehensive care looks like.In this episode, we dig into:???? Why SDoH screening belongs in musculoskeletal care???? How Rachel is building clinic workflows + resource guides???? Her experience as a Fellow-in-Training at Northwestern/Marquette???? The importance of advocating for patients’ basic needs???? What early-career leadership looks like in AAOMPT???? How lifestyle, access, and equity affect rehab outcomes???? Why clinicians need support beyond biomechanics to serve patients fullyThis one is full of passion, practicality, and vision from one of the profession’s rising voices.

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 uniquely positioned to lead.Clare also shares practical insights from her work designing and testing new health care technologies and services in partnership with patients, clinicians, and health systems.In this episode, we cover:???? Why MSK health care is ripe for redesign???? Digital health tools: what works, what doesn’t, and what’s coming???? Virtual triage & advanced practice physiotherapy models???? How PTs can improve access to MSK care globally???? Leadership skills every clinician needs today???? Tips for reading and interpreting research (without getting overwhelmed)???? How to get your research published???? The mission and work of DigiMSKA deep dive for clinicians, researchers, and leaders who want to be part of the solution in MSK care.

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 likeHow new fellows can become leaders, mentors, and advocatesWhy post-professional opportunities are essential for the growth of PTThe role of clinicians in “raising the tide” for the entire professionA preview of Liam’s AAOMPT platform presentationsHow orthopedic clinicians can screen for pelvic floor dysfunctionWhether you're a student, a fellow, or a seasoned clinician, this episode offers an inspiring look at how PTs can serve, teach, and elevate the profession long after formal training ends.Chapters:00:00 – Opening00:48 – Meet Liam Globensky03:10 – The Fellow → Clinician transition06:20 – Why post-professional opportunities matter10:55 – “Raising the tide” through advocacy15:40 – How new fellows can give back20:10 – Orthopedic screening of pelvic floor dysfunction26:30 – Working alongside his wife: the joint lecture30:20 – What the future of fellowship-trained PTs looks like35:00 – Advice to new grads & future fellows38:50 – ClosingIf you’re passionate about fellowship training, clinical growth, and elevating our profession, be sure to like, subscribe, and share this interview with a colleague.

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 headingWhy “How good are you at listening?” might be the most important question in therapyHow MI empowers patients to make meaningful changeWhat John has learned from four decades of treating, teaching, and bike racingHis reflections on retirement, mentorship, and legacyIf you’re a clinician, student, educator, or anyone who cares about whole-person care, this is a conversation that will sharpen your skills — and your humanity.0:00 – Intro0:27 – Who Is John Seivert?1:35 – Touch, Talk & Transform: The Masterclass4:22 – The Current State of OMPT7:50 – Why It All Starts With Communication11:10 – How to Actually Listen in a Clinical Encounter14:40 – Motivational Interviewing in Orthopedic Practice18:55 – Role Modeling Listening for Patients & Learners22:30 – What 40 Years of OMPT Has Taught John26:15 – Bike Racing at 65: Lessons for Clinicians30:02 – Preparing for Retirement & Passing the Torch33:10 – Final Thoughts & Advice for New Clinicians???? Guest: John Seivert, PTFaculty at Kaiser Permanente Fellowship Program, EIM Weekend Intensive Faculty, MINT Trainer

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 episode, Laura shares what IMEC is working on, how AAOMPT can better serve clinicians across training levels, and why belonging and representation matter for the future of the profession.In this episode, we cover:???? Who AAOMPT members actually are — and who we want to reach???? The biggest opportunities for member engagement year-round???? How AAOMPT supports professional + personal growth???? The value of SIGs, committees, and leadership pathways???? Fellowship pathways & mentorship: where they shine???? Why DEI work is essential for OMPT’s long-term health???? How Laura teaches clinical reasoning to a new generation of DPT students???? Practicing in rural settings + hybrid education insightsThis one is essential listening for current AAOMPT members — and anyone curious about joining.

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. We discuss how over-reliance on MRI results can increase fear, catastrophizing, and confusion for patients—and how language, context, and functional diagnosis can dramatically change outcomes.Learn how to reframe pain using the ICF model, why pain does not equal tissue damage, and how PTs can shift from chasing a pain generator to treating the whole person. The episode includes a real-time patient role-play, practical communication strategies, and insights on direct access physical therapy, lifestyle factors (sleep, stress, activity), and the future of PT education.This episode is essential listening for physical therapists, manual therapists, rehab professionals, and students looking to improve patient communication, reduce fear, and deliver truly person-centered care.

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 • Contextual effects and clinical reasoning • How MT education needs to evolve • Helping clinicians move beyond outdated models • The future of manual therapy in PT

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-making over rigid diagnostic categories.In this episode: • What “person-centered hypothesis” means in practice • How lifestyle medicine empowers rather than dilutes OMPT care • Improving reasoning in complex pain cases • Why clinicians should anchor decisions in patient values • Mark’s journey through education, teaching, and fellowship leadershipA must-listen for clinicians and educators who want a more modern, human approach to reasoning.

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 collaborative series01:29 – Introducing Dr. Paolo Sanzo and IFOMT leadership03:19 – What IFOMPT is and its role within World Physiotherapy04:12 – Paolo’s journey through IFOMPT leadership roles05:21 – IFOMPT’s growth since 197407:11 – IFOMPT’s vision and mission explained09:47 – Education standards and member organization requirements12:10 – International monitoring and maintaining consistency17:49 – Evidence-based practice and global context20:16 – IFOMPT as a research and collaboration conduit23:14 – Challenges and opportunities of global collaboration26:18 – Working with international organizations and regions30:35 – Strategic priorities and future direction32:46 – Advice for clinicians pursuing excellence34:02 – Final reflections and closing remarks

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 understand what the evidence actually says.In this conversation:• Cervical manual therapy: what’s risky, what’s not, and what’s misunderstood• Why head & neck pain is still surrounded by outdated ideas• The problem with the way we teach manual therapy• How educators can break restrictive traditions• What emerging PhD work is revealing about the future of physical therapy• Roger’s personal journey from failed rehab patient → world-class academicThis episode is essential listening for anyone who treats neck pain or teaches manual therapy.

In this episode of the Hands-On, Hands-Off Podcast, Dr. Trenton Rehman sits down with Dr. Shane McClinton to discuss plantar heel pain and the role of physical therapy in both clinical outcomes and healthcare costs.Dr. McClinton walks through a series of studies stemming from his doctoral research, including a randomized clinical trial, a detailed case series, and a three-year cost-effectiveness analysis. Together, they explore how adding physical therapy to usual podiatry care impacts pain, function, quality of life, and long-term costs.Key themes include manual therapy, impairment-based exercise, proximal contributions to heel pain, interdisciplinary collaboration, and why plantar heel pain may deserve the same clinical mindset as low back pain.Key Takeaways (Listener-Facing)Plantar heel pain is a multidimensional condition with local and proximal contributors.Adding physical therapy to usual podiatry care improved outcomes and reduced costs over three years.Manual therapy and exercise were delivered pragmatically and tailored to impairments.Strengthening may be underutilized in plantar heel pain management.Collaboration between physical therapists and podiatrists benefits patients and reduces downstream burden.⏱️ TIMESTAMPED CHAPTERS (YouTube + Podcast)00:00 – Introduction to the episode and guest00:01 – Dr. Shane McClinton’s background and research focus00:03 – Why plantar heel pain referrals to PT are low00:07 – Rationale for studying cost-effectiveness00:10 – Study design overview (RCT + pragmatic approach)00:15 – Description of podiatry-only vs podiatry + PT care00:17 – Inclusion and exclusion criteria00:22 – Case series: why eight different heel pain presentations00:26 – Manual therapy strategies used in the study00:30 – Clinical practice guidelines and decision-making00:32 – Pain mechanisms, education, and chronicity00:35 – Proximal vs local treatment decisions00:38 – Three-year cost-effectiveness results explained00:44 – Implications for referrals and collaboration00:48 – Final take-home message from Dr. McClinton

Andreas Remis joins the podcast to unpack low back pain in a way that finally makes sense — bridging APTA CPG classifications, real-world clinical diagnosis, and the confusing world of radiographic findings.As faculty across multiple fellowships and residencies within the Duke Health System — and an educator shaped by his own poor rehab experience as a patient — Andreas brings a thoughtful, grounded approach to one of PT’s most complex conditions.In this episode:• LBP classification: CPG vs imaging vs clinical reasoning• How expert clinicians simplify diagnosis• Why radiographs often mislead clinicians and patients• The turning point when PTs begin to feel “value-confident”• Teaching LBP across OMPT pipelines• Lessons Andreas learned from being a failed patientIt’s a must-listen episode for clinicians, residents, and fellows treating low back pain.

When the cost of delay is measured in millions of dollars and operational readiness, guesswork isn’t an option.In this episode, we sit down with Josh Kidd, physical therapist, researcher, residency director, and embedded clinician working with special operations personnel and fighter pilots. Josh shares how directional preference plays a central role in clinical decision-making when time, performance, and safety all matter.We explore what directional preference actually is (and what it isn’t), why it should be viewed as an assessment rather than an exercise, and how inconsistent definitions in the research have led many clinicians to misunderstand or abandon it altogether.Josh also walks through real-world data from a tactical setting, where his team has used directional preference to help service members return to duty 36% faster, while empowering patients to self-manage and reducing recurrence.This conversation connects research, clinical reasoning, and performance-based care—challenging clinicians to rethink not just what they do, but how they think.???? In This Episode, You’ll Learn:Why directional preference matters beyond the spineThe most common misconceptions clinicians have about directional preferenceHow inconsistent research definitions affect real-world practiceHow directional preference can guide prognosis and return-to-duty decisionsWhat clinicians can learn from high-stakes military performance environmentsOne mindset shift that can immediately improve clinical reasoning

Faith Stokes joins the podcast to talk about treating the patients many clinicians feel least prepared for — those navigating trauma, addiction, suicidality, chronic pain, pelvic health conditions, and complex biopsychosocial presentations.Faith practices in rural North Georgia, where she blends manual therapy, psychologically informed care, and lifestyle medicine. As a residency coordinator and adjunct faculty across multiple programs, she’s passionate about helping clinicians develop clarity when treating patients whose stories involve trauma, fear, avoidance, social instability, or chronic stress.In this episode:• Simple vs. complex PTSD in clinical practice• Why trauma-informed care is essential in OMPT• Yellow flag screening and why it’s our responsibility• The PT’s role in addiction and suicidality• Integrating pelvic health with orthopedics and manual therapy• Using lifestyle medicine without shame or judgment• How experts reason through overwhelming complexityThis is a deep, human, and incredibly practical conversation for every PT.

Most physical therapists will treat TMJ pain. Almost none will ever encounter a full bilateral TMJ replacement—paired with mandibular advancement and upper palate expansion. When that rare case appeared, there was no rehab playbook… so this clinician built one.What listeners will learn:How TMJ replacement compares (and doesn’t) to hip and knee replacementsWhy outcomes research exists—but rehab pathways don’tHow to apply total joint principles to a jaw jointWhat to do when surgical restrictions limit “normal” movementThe role of nutrition, SLPs, and interdisciplinary careHow lived experience changes clinical decision-makingWhy it matters: This episode isn’t really about TMJ—it’s about how clinicians think when evidence is thin and responsibility is high.Guest: Katie Berry — sports & orthopedic clinician, adjunct professor, and OMPT fellow-in-training.