Hands On Hands Off

Practice Doesn’t Make Perfect: Motor Learning, Psychosocial Foundations & Teaching That Sticks — with Dr. Myra Meekins

Today on Hands On, Hands Off, host Moyo Tillery sits down with Dr. Myra Meekins—PT, educator, and curriculum designer—to rethink how we teach and learn OMPT. From “practice makes perfect” to practice with purpose, Myra connects classic motor-learning models to the OPTIMAL theory (expectancies, autonomy, external focus), and shows why you must address the psychosocial to change the psychomotor. We get concrete about designing sticky learning experiences for DPT students, residents, and fellows; building safe, high-expectation lab cultures; and using feedback, simulations, and competency-based education to translate knowledge to performance. Myra also shares her path from MTI fellowship and WashU’s Movement System Impairments work to leading curriculum development for a new DPT program and co-investigating a $1.6M grant bringing PT simulation into high schools. YOU’LL LEARN * Why clear expectations + psychological safety accelerates skill acquisition * How to scaffold from competence → refinement → mastery across DPT, residency, and fellowship * Practical ways to make learning “stick” for a class of 100 (and a class of 10) * Using low-stakes, frequent formative assessment to steer teaching in real time * Designing integrated, case-based curricula (and avoiding silo traps) * What competency-based education and entrustable professional activities (EPAs) look like in PT * Movement as the organizing principle: applying Movement System Impairments to guide exam & intervention * Why educators must adapt to the learner in front of them, not the one they used to be

Context as a Mechanism in Spinal Manipulation

What if context—patient beliefs, provider expectations, and the therapeutic relationship—drives a meaningful share of spinal manipulation outcomes? In this HANDS ON HANDS OFF episode, we break down a single-arm intervention study funded by the Paris Family Foundation via the Foundation for OMPT, why the current mechanisms model zeroes in on the “context zone,” and how to practically weave guidelines + shared decision-making into outpatient practice. Top takeaways * Outcomes vary—and context might be part of the mechanism * Study design links individual providers ↔ individual patients for cleaner signals * Implementation: use shared decision-making to operationalize guidelines * Career notes: pick mentors early, build long-term collaborators, include patient partners

Gender Matters in OMPT: Dr. Shaver on Bias, Equity, and Better Outcomes

In this episode of HANDS ON HANDS OFF, host Dr. Moyo Tillery sits down with Dr. Sarah Shaver, a clinician, educator, and researcher focused on gender considerations in orthopaedic manual physical therapy. Together they explore why common assumptions about female athletes and chronic pain patients can perpetuate inequities—and what OMPT practitioners can do to change that. From ACL injury risk factors to concussion outcomes, manual therapy decision-making, and care for transgender and non-binary athletes, Dr. Shaver challenges listeners to reflect on their own biases, apply equity-based care, and use available research to transform outcomes. What you’ll learn in this episode: * Why gendered assumptions about ACL injuries and concussions can lead to inequitable care * How “hands-off” approaches to chronic pain disproportionately affect female patients * The difference between equality and equity in clinical practice * Practical strategies and resources to recognize and reduce bias in your own treatment * How to create more inclusive environments for transgender and non-binary athletes in OMPT settings

Dr. Amy McDevitt: The Problem with 'Usual Care' in PT Research + Fixing the Gap in Evidence

What does “usual care” really mean in physical therapy research — and why is it so inconsistently applied across studies? In this episode, Dr. Amy McDevitt joins us for a deep-dive conversation into the limitations of current PT research and how vague terms like "usual care" are impacting evidence-informed practice. Dr. McDevitt discusses: * Why “nothing” should never be a control in clinical trials * How heel pain and orthotic studies show cracks in research design * The evolving role of manual therapy and therapeutic alliance * Her collaborative work with Dr. Moyo Tillery on minority faculty representation * Advice for early-career academics and clinical researchers * The connection between burnout, purpose, and academic productivity This episode is a must-listen for PTs, educators, researchers, and anyone passionate about improving the quality of care through better scholarship.

Revolutionizing PT Education: The Case for Competency-Based & Entrustment Models

Seth interviews Carl DeRosa about the shift to competency-based education (CBE) and entrustment in physical therapy. Highlights: * Designing backwards: from competencies to curriculum * How integration dismantles siloed courses * Faculty adoption & team-teaching complexities * The profession's position versus medicine, pharmacy & vet * University of Arizona’s agile 3‑year medical school model * Entry‑level “workforce readiness,” especially in the AI era * The pitfalls of overvaluing NPTE pass rates * Capstones focused on professional identity, not low-value research * Building master adaptive learners using EPAs * Advice for faculty and programs beginning their CBE journey