Hands On Hands Off

Lifestyle Medicine Meets OMPT: A Conversation with Mark Shepherd

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 leadership A must-listen for clinicians and educators who want a more modern, human approach to reasoning.

How IFOMPT Shapes Global Manual Therapy Education and Practice

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 series 01:29 – Introducing Dr. Paolo Sanzo and IFOMT leadership 03:19 – What IFOMPT is and its role within World Physiotherapy 04:12 – Paolo’s journey through IFOMPT leadership roles 05:21 – IFOMPT’s growth since 1974 07:11 – IFOMPT’s vision and mission explained 09:47 – Education standards and member organization requirements 12:10 – International monitoring and maintaining consistency 17:49 – Evidence-based practice and global context 20:16 – IFOMPT as a research and collaboration conduit 23:14 – Challenges and opportunities of global collaboration 26:18 – Working with international organizations and regions 30:35 – Strategic priorities and future direction 32:46 – Advice for clinicians pursuing excellence 34:02 – Final reflections and closing remarks

Neck Manipulation Myths, Risks & Evidence with Roger Kerry

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 academic This episode is essential listening for anyone who treats neck pain or teaches manual therapy.

Is Physical Therapy Worth the Cost for Plantar Heel Pain? A 3-Year Answer

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 guest 00:01 – Dr. Shane McClinton’s background and research focus 00:03 – Why plantar heel pain referrals to PT are low 00:07 – Rationale for studying cost-effectiveness 00:10 – Study design overview (RCT + pragmatic approach) 00:15 – Description of podiatry-only vs podiatry + PT care 00:17 – Inclusion and exclusion criteria 00:22 – Case series: why eight different heel pain presentations 00:26 – Manual therapy strategies used in the study 00:30 – Clinical practice guidelines and decision-making 00:32 – Pain mechanisms, education, and chronicity 00:35 – Proximal vs local treatment decisions 00:38 – Three-year cost-effectiveness results explained 00:44 – Implications for referrals and collaboration 00:48 – Final take-home message from Dr. McClinton

Low Back Pain Doesn’t Have to Be Confusing | Andreas Remis

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 patient It’s a must-listen episode for clinicians, residents, and fellows treating low back pain.