Physiotutors Podcast

Summary
This podcast explores the critical role of exercise therapy in oncology, highlighting its importance in cancer treatment, rehabilitation, and survivorship. Experts discuss the evolution of exercise in oncology, current practices, and innovative trials that examine the interactions between exercise and chemotherapy. The conversation also addresses the unique challenges faced by patients with head and neck cancer and the significance of tailored exercise programs in improving patient outcomes. This conversation delves into the critical role of exercise in cancer care, highlighting patient barriers, the importance of personalized exercise programs, and the need for better integration of physiotherapy in oncology. The speakers discuss the life-saving benefits of exercise, the challenges faced in clinical practice, and the necessity of addressing patient fears and misconceptions about exercise. They emphasize the importance of collaboration among healthcare professionals to ensure consistent messaging and support for cancer patients. Looking ahead, they advocate for more research, education, and advocacy to improve exercise oncology practices globally.
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Guests
 

Prof. Dr. Nele Adriaenssens
Prof. Dr. Nele Adriaenssens from the Vrije Universiteit Brussel is an associate professor and leads the Rehabilitation Research group, focusing on cancer rehabilitation and exercise oncology, with a special interest in side effects of chemotherapy and immunotherapy and how exercise can help. She also coordinates cancer rehabilitation and survivorship at the University Hospital in Brussels and has been a key figure in building cancer rehab services and research infrastructure there.
Dr. Grainne Sheill
Dr. Grainne Sheill, clinical specialist physiotherapist in cancer rehabilitation at St James's Hospital in Dublin. Grainne leads work on exercise for people treated for head and neck cancer, looking at the barriers they face and how group based programs can support recovery, fitness and daily function after treatment.
Nirit Rotem
She is the head of the physiotherapy department at Tel Aviv Souraski Medical Center. She is a physiotherapist, educator and long standing leader in national and international physiotherapy bodies, with a strong focus on cancer care, exercise prescription and raising standards of practice and policy.
Time Stamps
00:00:00 - Intro and guest lineup: Exercise therapy in oncology overview
00:01:36 - Why is exercise part of cancer treatment, not just an extra?
00:04:04 - What "exercise" means in cancer care: cardio, strength, or both?
00:05:32 - How the role of exercise in oncology has changed since 2008–2009
00:08:42 - Sponsor: PhysioTutors Premium Membership (ad)
00:09:35 - Policy and health system view: Where oncology rehab stands and gaps
00:12:40 - How drugs/side effects shape exercise plans (exercise–pharmacology examples)
00:16:56 - PAPTOX and FORX trials: What's new vs classic cancer rehab studies
00:20:45 - Exercise goals in palliative care and oncogeriatrics
00:24:17 - Are palliative/fragile patients motivated to exercise?
00:25:30 - Sponsor: WriteUpp practice management (ad)
00:27:05 - Head & neck cancer: Why this group is different and challenging for activity
00:31:34 - National survey findings: Top barriers and surprises to exercise post–head & neck cancer
00:33:49 - Key exercise-oncology messages still missing in day-to-day practice
00:37:33 - Turning position statements into simple clinical routines
00:41:41 - Global online oncology course: Is it available yet?
00:42:15 - Sponsor: PhysioTutors online courses (ad)
00:43:10 - Screening and triage: Group vs 1:1 vs medical referral
00:46:16 - Addressing fear: How to talk about risk and safety to keep patients engaged
00:49:55 - One belief to change among doctors/nurses about exercise in cancer care
00:53:19 - Ten-year outlook: Priorities for research, education, and implementation
00:56:13 - Final messages: Getting physios on board and entry-level competencies
00:58:54 - Congress announcement and closing remarks
Bonus Material
Download the referenced transcript including PubMed Links and a high-resolution infographic on this episode as part of your Physiotutors membership on the Physiotutors App.
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Summary
In this conversation, Dr. Nick van der Horst, a sports physiotherapist, discusses the significant impact of hamstring and groin injuries in football, emphasizing the importance of pelvic control in injury prevention and rehabilitation. He highlights the prevalence of these injuries, the role of eccentric strength training, and the need for comprehensive screening and assessment methods. Dr. van der Horst shares insights on how to modify pelvic posture and control during rehabilitation, providing practical advice for integrating these concepts into injury prevention programs. The discussion also covers the relationship between pelvic mechanics and performance optimization, making it clear that understanding these factors is crucial for effective rehabilitation and injury prevention in sports.
Guest
Dr. Nick van der Horst is a sports physiotherapist and rehabilitation specialist with deep expertise in football medicine. He's currently part of the medical staff at PSV Eindhoven's first team, where he focuses on on- and off-field rehab, return-to-play strategies, and injury prevention.Nick earned his PhD at UMC Utrecht with a thesis on preventing hamstring injuries in male soccer players. Over the years, he has worked with organizations like the KNVB and Go Ahead Eagles, and he's the founder and CEO of SoccerDoc, a platform dedicated to improving football medicine through research, education, and clinical care.His work centers on maximizing football performance by reducing injury burden and creating evidence-based, player-centered rehab and prevention programs.
Timestamps
00:00:00 Intro and guest bio
00:01:00 How big are hamstring and groin injury problems (incidence and time loss)?
00:04:04 Clarifying the topic: SI joint issues vs pelvic position/control
00:04:42 Why are pelvic control and positioning key for hamstring and groin pain?
00:12:44 Sponsor: PhysioTutors Premium Membership
00:15:28 Screening and assessment: Go-to markers for pelvic posture/control issues
00:19:27 Do you need motion capture or other equipment to assess pelvic control?
00:22:17 How do you differentiate pelvic-mechanics-related hamstring issues from tissue-specific or neural problems?
00:27:12 Common lumbopelvic patterns in recurrent hamstring and groin injuries
00:25:38 Sponsor: WriteUpp Practice Management
00:37:54 Groin pain: Is pelvic posture/control a cause or a consequence?
00:41:50 How modifiable is pelvic posture and control?
00:44:51 Rehab progression: Early vs late stages when focusing on pelvic control
00:48:54 Do you use basic core/lumbopelvic exercises (bird dog, dead bug, pelvic tilts)?
00:52:13 Have improvements in pelvic control reduced hamstring/groin injuries in practice?
00:54:46 Sponsor: PhysioTutors Online Courses
00:56:13 Case experience: Moments that shifted perspective on pelvic role
01:03:08 Practical advice for integrating pelvic control into prevention/rehab in football
01:05:49 Where to find Dr. Nick van der Horst
01:06:29 Outro
 
Bonus Material
Download the referenced transcript including PubMed Links and a high-resolution infographic on this episode as part of your Physiotutors membership on the Physiotutors App.
Download the Free App now

 
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Summary
In this podcast episode, neuroathletic performance and pain coach Jannik Schuster discusses neurocentric training, a method focusing on the brain and nervous system to enhance performance and alleviate pain. Schuster explains how he discovered this approach through personal experience with injuries and highlights its effectiveness in reducing inflammation and pain. He defines neurocentric training as targeting brain and nervous system interactions to improve performance, distinguishing it from traditional training methods that focus on biomechanical structures. Schuster emphasizes the significance of understanding the nervous system's role in pain and movement limitations, advocating for individualized approaches to address specific nervous system needs. He also discusses the integration of neurocentric training with traditional practices, the impact of visual, vestibular, and proprioceptive inputs, and the potential for neurocentric training to become more prevalent in both athletic and therapeutic settings. The conversation underscores the importance of neuroplasticity and suggests resources for those interested in exploring neurocentric training further.
Guest
Jannik Schuster — Neuroathletic Performance and Pain Coach, M.Sc. in Sports Science, educator, and former elite footballer. After training in the youth academy of FC Augsburg and the professional squad of FC Schweinfurt, Jannik discovered neurocentric training as a breakthrough method to unlock performance, prevent injury, and resolve pain. Educated through Z-Health and grounded in sports science, he now helps others apply neuro-based strategies for pain-free movement and optimal function
Content
00:00:00 Introduction
00:00:47 Yannick's Background and Introduction to Neuroathletic Training
00:02:49 Definition and Differentiation of Neurocentric Training
00:04:36 Scientific Foundation of Neurocentric Training
00:08:39 Common Misconceptions in Neurotraining
00:10:23 Role of the Nervous System in Pain and Movement Limitations
00:11:55 Neurocentric Training in Rehab
00:14:42 Assessment and Testing in Neurocentric Training
00:21:46 Role of Visual, Vestibular, and Proprioceptive Inputs
00:25:19 Typical Neuroperformance Training Session
00:28:17 Effects Observed in Performance-Oriented Athletes
00:31:01 Athlete Feedback on Neuro Training
00:35:38 Prevalence of Neurocentric Training in Elite Sports
00:37:29 Integration with Traditional Training and Therapy
00:40:08 Incorporating Neurocentric Elements in Daily Work
00:47:03 Striking Changes Observed Through Neuro Training
00:49:23 Resources for Learning About Neurocentric Training
00:51:27 Conclusion and Final Thoughts
Bonus Material
Download the referenced transcript including PubMed Links and a high-resolution infographic on this episode as part of your Physiotutors membership on the Physiotutors App.
Download the Free App now

 
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Summary
In this episode, Melvin Pitz and Cornel Tol from the Headache, Pain, and Concussion Training Institute (HPCTI) delve into the intricacies of managing concussions and post-concussion symptoms. They advocate for using the term "prolonged post-concussion symptoms" over "mild traumatic brain injury" to reduce the nocebo effect associated with the latter.
The discussion highlights the importance of a multidisciplinary and biopsychosocial approach in diagnosis and treatment, emphasizing the significance of early intervention and patient education. Melvin and Cornel share insights into diagnostic criteria, the impact of framing on patient outcomes, and the gaps in current practices, particularly in the Netherlands. They stress the need for physiotherapists to be proactive in education and networking to bridge the knowledge gap in concussion management.
The episode also touches on the neurophysiological aspects of concussion, the shortcomings of monodisciplinary approaches, and the potential of a treatable traits approach for better patient outcomes. Listeners are encouraged to rethink the role of physiotherapy and consider the broader implications of prolonged symptoms, including psychological and social factors. The episode provides practical advice for physiotherapists and healthcare professionals on how to improve their practice and patient care in the context of concussions.
Guests
Today's guests are Melvin Pitz and Cornel Tol from the HPC-TI — short for Headache, Pain & Concussion Training Institute.
They're on a mission to educate and empower healthcare professionals with cutting-edge, evidence-based strategies to manage headache, pain complaints, and mild traumatic brain injury. With a strong clinical background and a critical view on how care is currently delivered, they're pushing for a multidisciplinary and biopsychosocial approach that actually works — in the clinic, and beyond
Content
00:00 Intro
00:41 Definition of PPCS
03:06 Diagnostic Criteria
06:35 Gaps in recognizing PPCS
09:47 Why patients are misdiagnosed
14:24 Sponsor
15:00 Prognostic Factors to develop prolonged symptoms
18:48 Rethinking Physiotherapists' role in treating PPCS
24:40 Neurophysiology of PPCS
28:28 Why monodisciplinary approaches fail
33:12 Diagnosis & Decisionmaking
35:48 Sponsor
37:04 Biggest pitfalls
38:44 Treatment
50:48 Interesting Case Studies
57:38 Return to work/play
01:03:21 Opinion on high-impact sports
01:05:25 Myths to bust
01:06:26 Closing thoughts
01:07:37 Contact info & Outro
Bonus Material
Download the referenced transcript including PubMed Links and a high-resolution infographic on this episode as part of your Physiotutors membership on the Physiotutors App.
Download the Free App now

 
Follow our Podcast on:
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Summary
In this episode, we welcome Dr. Sue Mayes, a distinguished physiotherapist and senior lecturer at La Trobe University, who is renowned for her expertise in injury prevention and rehabilitation, particularly in elite dancers and athletes. Dr. Mayes discusses the significance of foot intrinsic muscles, focusing on their role in ballet and sports injuries. She explains common issues like hallux valgus and foot arch control, emphasizing the importance of intrinsic muscle strengthening to enhance performance and reduce injury risk.
Dr. Mayes shares insights into effective foot strengthening techniques, such as banded exercises and stair running, while highlighting the limitations of traditional exercises like toe doming. She also explores the impact of footwear, advocating for a gradual adaptation to minimalist shoes. The conversation covers the role of intrinsic muscles in chronic conditions like ankle instability and shin splints, and the need for a comprehensive approach that includes calf and hip strengthening.
Listeners gain practical tips on creating foot strengthening programs, selecting appropriate exercises, and understanding the nuances of rehabilitation across different sports. Dr. Mayes underscores the importance of balancing foot strength and emphasizes the need for proper footwear to prevent stress fractures. The episode concludes with a call to acknowledge the lateral foot muscles and their role in distributing load effectively.
Content
00:00 Intro
01:01 What are Foot Intrinsics?
01:40 Most common foot/ankle injuries in Ballet
02:20 Hallux Valgus
04:30 Taping for Hallux Valgus
06:12 Quantifying intrinsic muscle strength
08:03 Foot Arch
09:45 Sponsor
10:35 The dome exercise
12:30 Common misconceptions
13:43 Footwear
17:40 Intrinsic Foot muscle weakness as risk factor
19:50 Performance Impact
22:25 Building a foot strengthening program
27:32 Sponsor
28:44 Strength program progression
30:50 Balance program
32:43 Focus on Abductor Hallucis
34:42 What else to focus on?
36:15 Plyometrics
38:25 Footballer are like Ballerinas
41:12 What clinicians should know about feet
42:26 Sue's closing thoughts
44:10 Contact info & Outro
 
Bonus Material
Download the referenced transcript including PubMed Links and a high-resolution infographic on this episode as part of your Physiotutors membership on the Physiotutors App.
Download the Free App now

 
Follow our Podcast on:
Spotify | Apple Podcasts