Dr. Joe Tatta | The Healing Pain Podcast

As always, I am delighted and honored to be spending this time with you. I recorded an episode on embodied cognition and the body's role in thought with Psychologist Rebecca Fincher-Kiefer. In that episode, we discuss the importance of using the body as a therapeutic tool for helping modulate difficult emotions or thoughts that people may encounter from chronic pain or other various chronic health conditions. As physical therapists, using the body as a tool for healing from pain or other conditions, whether it's physical or mental, is a big part of what we do. In this episode, we're going to go deeper into how to use the body, including how to use exercise and physical activity to improve pain as well as mental wellbeing with Dr. Jennifer Heisz. She is an expert in brain health. She's an Associate Professor and Canada research chair in Brain Health and Aging in the Department of Kinesiology at McMaster University. She directs the NeuroFitLab, which has attracted over $1 million to support her research progra

If you have been following along with this show for some time, you know the one area that interests me. A question I often ask myself and propose to you is how can we educate the public about effective pain management and raise awareness of the physical therapy profession? I have been working with a select group of professionals one-on-one on different types of outreach projects and protocols as well as connecting with innovative physical therapists who have created practice models or businesses that center on health promotion or raise awareness of the PT profession. In this episode, you will meet Dr. Jazmine Tooles. She is a physical therapist who created the business called Explore the Magic of Motion. Explore the Magic of Motion was created in 2012 to raise awareness of the physical therapy profession. The way Jazmine achieved this was by working with the Girl Scouts of America to develop an approved Girl Scouts patch or badge. Jazmine is also a lifetime Girl Scout herself and created these patch programs

In this episode, we are discussing embodied cognition and the role of bodily processes in thought. In the field of pain care, we strongly lean on theories of how the brain works and how we can use the nervous system to modulate pain. Many of these theories are rooted in the idea that the brain is the seat of cognition and views the brain as a CEO, which controls both thinking as well as our body. However, newer theories such as embodied cognition take a different perspective which emphasizes the significance of the physical body in our cognitive abilities. Embodied cognition is a theory that draws on the work from the fields of psychology, neuroscience, philosophy, physiology, and even artificial intelligence. This new research points towards bodily processes in forming how our cognition is generated. We are joined by Professor Rebecca Fincher-Kiefer, PhD, who is a Professor of Psychology at Gettysburg College and discusses the potential application of embodied cognition. Her research interests include the in

In this episode, we're discussing how mindful movement can shift the experience of exercise or physical activity for people. This is important because the mindful movement can help people exercise in a way that is more fluid and easier, alleviate pain and with body image something they oftentimes struggle with when they begin an exercise program. Some of you may know that as a kid and adolescent and even into college, I was a gymnast. Mindful movement is something that was comfortable for me. However, I didn't fully dive into what mindfulness was with regard to movement until about the year 1997. At my first job at St. Vincent's Medical Center, there was a free yoga class that was offered by a yoga studio down the block called Integral Yoga in New York City's Greenwich Village. It has wonderful yoga classes and I became hooked on yoga as a form of mindful movement. Although I've never become certified in yoga, I've done thousands of hours of many different types of yoga methods and techniques. I always recomm

We're going to talk about psychological aspects of pain rehabilitation that physical therapists perceive as important. When we're talking about research, a new topic or providing new information, oftentimes I'm talking to a pain researcher. It may be someone with a PhD or someone who is actively engaged in investigating different aspects of pain from a lifestyle and a biopsychosocial perspective. In this episode, I'm introducing you to Alexa Knuth, who is a student physical therapist. Alexa is a student at Robert Gordon University in Aberdeen, Scotland. She is in the last year of her program and she is excited to start a career. Even before she started her career, she had already started to delve into the evidence and contribute to the evidence base by writing a paper called Psychological Aspects of Rehabilitation as Perceived by Physical Therapists. You can all access that. It was published in 2018. I came across it and thought it was important to share with all of you so we're going to be talking about that

In this episode, we are discussing perfectionism and stress in the physical therapy students. Stress and burnout in the PT profession are personal interests of mine. I have done some research and explored how to use ACT in preventing burnout and creating resiliency in physical therapists. We briefly explored this topic of perfectionism in episode 217 with physical therapist Andrea Moore. She is a PT who specializes in treating women in overcoming perfectionism, and the intersection between pain and perfectionism. Perfectionism is often caused by having high standards or having a hypercritical evaluation of oneself. Some doctor or physical therapy students experience increased stress when they go through the rather rigorous academic coursework that we take in physical therapy schools. Yet there is limited research in understanding the intersection between stress and perfectionism in the PT students, what the successful behaviors are that these students have that help them manage this increased stress, especial

We're discussing the intersection between PTSD, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and CRPS, which is Complex Regional Pain Syndrome. My guest is Dr. Deborah Brandt. She is a retired Doctor of Physical Therapy. She teaches about issues regarding chronic pain and the use of somatic therapy practices. Her personal experience with and the study of complex post-traumatic stress disorder as well as complex regional pain syndrome, which she identifies as being complex psychophysical phenomena, has enriched her comprehension of both issues and provided her with unique tools to communicate her insights and knowledge to others. In this episode, we will discuss treatment options, but more importantly, this episode is an opportunity to hear one's lived experience, which includes her knowledge of PTSD and CRPS gained through her direct firsthand experience rather than learning through textbook-like descriptions, which can be challenging to understand the full complexity of what people go through. Without further ado, let's b

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In this episode, we are discussing the impact of physical therapy on long-term opioid use for patients undergoing a total knee replacement. My expert guest is Professor Deepak Kumar. He is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Physical Therapy and Athletic Training at Boston University and the Section of Rheumatology at Boston University School of Medicine. He directs the Movement and Applied Imaging Lab at Boston University. The goal of Dr. Kumar's research is to improve the quality and quantity of movement during everyday life in people with knee osteoarthritis to reduce pain, improve physical function and maintain joint health. We're going to review the findings of Professor Kumar’s study called the Association of Physical Therapy Interventions With Long-term Opioid Use After Total Knee Replacement. You can find that article in the October 2021 edition of the Journal of the American Medical Association. This show has implications for people with chronic pain. Also, there is important information he

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Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! Here’s How » Join the Healing Pain Podcast Community today: integrativepainscienceinstitute.com Healing Pain Podcast Facebook Healing Pain Podcast Twitter Healing Pain Podcast YouTube Healing Pain Podcast LinkedIn Healing Pain Podcast Instagram

In this episode, we were discussing how to build a Stepped Care Model for the treatment and intervention of chronic pain. The Stepped Care Model for chronic pain originated in the VA health system and has been used in a number of other places. This model prioritizes the role of primary care providers in optimizing pharmacological management as well as the timely and equitable access to patient-centered evidence-based non-pharmacologic approaches. Joining us to discuss this model is Dr. Matthew Bair. His principal research focuses on chronic pain, psychological comorbidity, and developing strategies to improve pain management in the primary care setting. He has a strong background in conducting clinical trials, developing and testing interventions that combine pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic treatments, and his funded work often contrasts pharmacological and behavioral approaches for pain management. He has served on several national Veterans Affairs committees related to improving pain management as well

In this episode, we are discussing an important reimbursement issue related to physical therapy, as well as pain care in general. That is value-based healthcare. Value-based healthcare is a healthcare delivery model in which providers, including hospitals, as well as practitioners, are paid based on the patient's health outcome. This model differs from the traditional fee-for-service or a capitated approach in which providers are typically paid based on the amount of services they deliver. Joining me on this episode to discuss the trend of value-based healthcare, specifically in the physical therapy profession, is Dr. Alice Bell.   She earned her Doctorate in Physical Therapy Degree from the University of Montana. Now is on staff as a Senior Payment Specialist in the Public Affairs Unit of the American Physical Therapy Association. Her professional activities include serving as a member of the Centers for Medicare Technical Expert Panel for alternative payment systems, the CPT Editorial Panel, and is an APTA

In this episode, we are discussing how to use functional nutrition to treat and alleviate chronic musculoskeletal pain. My guest is Aparna Natarajan. She is a Certified Nutrition Specialist with a Master's degree in Nutrition and Functional Medicine. She is a clinician, a researcher, and an educationist who has contributed to the Institute for Functional Medicine's Meal Planning Program as a subject matter expert. She's cultivated an understanding of the mind-body connection and combines both the science, as well as the art of nutrition, Reiki, and emotional freedom technique.   We will discuss the importance of nutrition and overcoming chronic pain, as well as the benefits of an elimination diet for those living with chronic pain. If you enjoy this episode, make sure to stay tuned because I have a perspective paper that is being published in PTJ, the Journal of Physical Therapy, on the topic of nutrition and chronic pain, specifically for the physical therapy professional, though it relates to other professi

Welcome back. We're discussing how to beat cancer holistically with Chris Wark. Chris is a cancer survivor, a best-selling author, and a patient advocate. He was diagnosed with Stage 3 colon cancer at the age of 26. After surgery, Chris made the decision to go against his doctor's advice, opted out of chemotherapy, and chose to use nutrition as well as other natural therapies to heal. Chris has become one of the most well-known cancer survivors on the planet and reaches millions of people per year as a blogger, podcaster, speaker, as well as a global health coach. In this episode, we'll discuss how to beat cancer primarily by using nutrition and other lifestyle-based interventions. Without further ado, let's begin and let's meet Chris Wark. Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! Here’s How » Join the Healing Pain Podcast Community today: integrativepainscienceinstitute.com Healing Pain Podcast Facebook Healing Pain Podcast Twitter Healing Pain Podcast YouTube Healing Pain Podcast LinkedIn Heali

In this episode, we're talking about pain education and specifically asking the question, "What do patients value learning about pain?" Our expert guest is physiotherapist and pain researcher Hayley Leake. After working clinically for six years, Hayley embarked on a PhD mission at the University of South Australia with Professor Lorimer Moseley's research group. Her research aims to optimize pain education for adolescents and adults living with chronic pain. Pain education is a popular treatment approach for treating persistent pain that involves learning a variety of concepts related to pain and is thought to be an important part of recovery. In this episode, we discussed targeted concepts and themes that seem to be the most important of value to those living with chronic pain when delivering a pain education intervention. Without further ado, let's begin and meet Physiotherapist and Pain Researcher, Hayley Leake. Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! Here’s How » Join the Healing Pain Podcast

We have an important episode. We're discussing the association between chronic pain and suicide. The information you'll learn in this episode may help you screen for the risk of suicide more effectively. It may help you effectively treat suicide, and by learning and sharing this information, you may save a life. According to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, suicide is the tenth leading cause of death in the United States. In 2019, approximately 48,000 Americans died by suicide. In that same year, there were an estimated 1.4 million suicide attempts. Chronic pain is a risk factor for suicide, and research indicates that chronic pain is present in about 10% of those who die by suicide. It's important as licensed healthcare professionals and loved ones of those who live with chronic pain that we learn how to ask the right questions, assess for risk factors, and intervene to help prevent suicide rates. In a few moments, you'll meet Clinical Psychologist, Dr. Joan Rosenberg, who has conducted resear

We explore how overweight and obesity are linked with persistent pain and the importance of physical therapists promoting combined nutrition, exercise, and weight loss programs when treating chronic pain syndrome. Joining us as an expert guest is Anneleen Malfliet. She is an Assistant Professor, Postdoctoral Researcher, and a member of the Pain in Motion international research group. Research in clinical investigations centers on chronic pain with a special interest in spinal pain, central sensitization nutrition, and diet. In this episode, we will explore the broader lifestyle perspective when considering the link between obesity and chronic pain, how a clinician can assess the presence of obesity or be overweight. Finally, how to approach weight reduction and organize a weight management program in clinical practice. There is a lot packed into this episode. You will gain a lot from the information and data that Anneleen has around the impact of obesity on chronic pain. Let's begin and meet Anneleen Malfliet

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In this episode, we're exploring the concept of interoception, and how it impacts both physical and mental well-being. Interoception can be defined as one sense of their internal state of the body. This is a full-body sensory experience that has both a conscious as well as a subconscious or semi-conscious layer to it. As practitioners, we're able to train the sense just as we would train balance or proprioception. Interoception includes the brain's processing of signals relayed up from the body into specific sub-regions of the brain, such as the brainstem, the insula and the somatosensory cortex. This felt a sense of our body, its organs, and all of our physiologic processes allow for specific, as well as subtle or nuanced representation of our emotional and physical state. Interoception is important for maintaining homeostasis in the body. It improves one’s self-awareness or body awareness. It's a critical component of mindfulness training, especially when you're working with body-based conditions, such as r