Untold Physio Stories

Is your "3-visit fix" failing on chronic cases? Maybe it’s not the tissue—it’s the ecosystem.In the latest episode of the Untold Physio Stories Podcast, Dr. Wells and I dive into two cases where standard ortho-manual therapy didn't move the needle, but Lifestyle Medicine did.I share a case of a delivery driver with persistent left-sided neck pain. We tried the resets. We tried cervical retraction. Nothing stuck because she wasn't motivated to do the homework. But when we pivoted to what she actually cared about—walking her dog and cleaning up her diet—everything changed. Fast forward a few months: she’s wearing a weighted vest on the job, hanging from a pull-up bar, and her neck pain is history.Dr. Wells hits home with a similar story: a high-level executive dealing with a "whack-a-mole" of chronic issues—from tennis elbow to plantar fasciitis. The secret wasn’t a better mobilization; it was addressing systemic stress, alcohol intake, and sleep apnea.Key takeaways from the episode:Meet them where they are: If they won't do a reset, will they wear a rucksack?The Power of Proactivity: Being embedded in a workplace allows for 5–15 minute coaching "nuggets" that have more impact than a 60-minute clinical lecture.Play the Long Game: Lifestyle changes don't happen in 3–4 visits. Think 6–8 months to truly clean up an ecosystem of sleep, nutrition, and movement.Stop treating just the joint and start treating the person's life.Untold Physio Stories is sponsored by⁠Comprehend PT⁠- Leave Comprehend PT running in the background or record audio when you have time. The AI based SOAP note generator does the rest! No need for accuracy or exact wording! It's a game changer and will give you more time with your patients! Use code MMT50 to save 50% off your first month. Free trial available at sign up!⁠⁠The Eclectic Approach Network⁠⁠ - Check out Dr. E's all new private, non tracking and ad free network for rehab pros! It's free to join, has chat, feed, and all the features of other social networks without the creeping tracking.Check out ⁠⁠EDGE Mobility System⁠⁠'s Best Sellers - Something for every PT, OT, DC, MT, ATC or Fitness Minded Individual https://edgemobilitysystem.com

Ever heard of SAM? No, not the guy from HR—we’re talking about Sustained Acoustic Medicine. 🔊In this asynchronous deep dive, Dr. Sean Wells () joins me to unpack this "new" wearable, low-intensity continuous ultrasound device that’s making waves (literally) in the rehab world. It’s being touted for everything from knee OA to chronic low back pain, with some literature even suggesting it hits those elusive MCID targets for pain relief.But here’s the rub:The Price Tag: We’re talking roughly $8,000 for a retail unit. For a clinic owner? Even at a professional discount, you’re looking at a massive ROI hurdle.The Mechanism: Is it truly mechanotransduction, or is it just the neurophysiological effect of wearing a "prescription-only" device for 4 hours straight?The Competition: Can isometric loading or even a simple roll of kinesiology tape provide the same neuro-modulation for a fraction of the cost?Dr. Wells digs into the systematic reviews, while I play the skeptic, questioning if the "magic" is in the machine or the duration of the stimulus.What do you think? Is SAM a valuable tool for those "failed-everything-else" patients, or is it just an over-engineered subscription model for ultrasound patches? 💸Listen in to hear our take on:Low-intensity vs. traditional high-intensity ultrasound.The "Prescription-Only" placebo boost.Why duration might trump intensity in pain modulation.Love the show? Rate us 5 stars on Apple Podcasts and Spotify—it helps more therapists find the truth behind the tech! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐#PhysicalTherapy #RehabTech #ManualTherapy #SAM #EvidenceBasedPractice #ModernManualTherapy #PodcastHave you used SAM in your clinic yet, or are you sticking to your $20 kettlebells for mechanotransduction? Let’s chat in the comments! 👇

Join Dr. Erson Religioso III and Dr. Sean Wells as they break down a complex hip-to-back connection in a competitive golfer. This episode explores how a childhood hip condition manifests as chronic upper back pain in adulthood through the lens of the "X-Factor" swing mechanics. We discuss the importance of screening the entire kinetic chain, the nuances of bony vs. tonal end-feels in the hip, and how to program for rotational athletes without stepping on the toes of their technical coaches.Untold Physio Stories is sponsored by⁠Comprehend PT⁠- Leave Comprehend PT running in the background or record audio when you have time. The AI based SOAP note generator does the rest! No need for accuracy or exact wording! It's a game changer and will give you more time with your patients! Use code MMT50 to save 50% off your first month. Free trial available at sign up!⁠⁠The Eclectic Approach Network⁠⁠ - Check out Dr. E's all new private, non tracking and ad free network for rehab pros! It's free to join, has chat, feed, and all the features of other social networks without the creeping tracking.Check out ⁠⁠EDGE Mobility System⁠⁠'s Best Sellers - Something for every PT, OT, DC, MT, ATC or Fitness Minded Individual https://edgemobilitysystem.com

Ever feel like you’re trying to evaluate a fish out of water? 🐟 As PTs, we’ve all been there—mimicking a swimming stroke in the clinic air, knowing it’s just not the same as the real deal in the pool.In our latest episode of Untold Physio Stories, Dr. Wells and I dive into a fascinating case of a swimmer whose coach missed a glaring mechanical flaw: crossing the midline. 🚫We talk about:The "Outside Eye" Advantage: Why a fresh perspective (ours!) is often the missing piece in an athlete's performance puzzle.The Impingement Zone: How that extra-long pull—thinking it adds power—actually drives the shoulder straight into a repetitive stress trap. 🛑Manual Therapy Magic: Using posterior and anterior glides to reset arthrokinematics and get those shoulders moving safely again. 👐Whether it's a baseball player's "funny" gait or a swimmer's midline crossover, the "functional" stuff happens in the wild. If you can’t get to the pool, you’ve got to know what to look for!Untold Physio Stories is sponsored by⁠Comprehend PT⁠- Leave Comprehend PT running in the background or record audio when you have time. The AI based SOAP note generator does the rest! No need for accuracy or exact wording! It's a game changer and will give you more time with your patients! Use code MMT50 to save 50% off your first month. Free trial available at sign up!⁠⁠The Eclectic Approach Network⁠⁠ - Check out Dr. E's all new private, non tracking and ad free network for rehab pros! It's free to join, has chat, feed, and all the features of other social networks without the creeping tracking.Check out ⁠⁠EDGE Mobility System⁠⁠'s Best Sellers - Something for every PT, OT, DC, MT, ATC or Fitness Minded Individual https://edgemobilitysystem.com

In this episode of Untold Physio Stories, Dr. E and Dr. Sean Wells break down a case that is all too common in youth sports: a talented 14-year-old baseball player caught between a painful hamstring strain and a coach who won't take "rest" for an answer.Dr. Wells shares the story of an athlete who was forced to "circumduct" his leg just to run, all while his coaching staff remained silent about his obvious limp. We discuss the critical role of the physical therapist as the ultimate advocate for a minor's long-term health when sports culture prioritizes the "star player" over the person.Key Discussion Points:The Coach vs. Clinician Conflict: How to handle high-pressure environments where coaches push for immediate return-to-play despite significant strength deficits (nearly 50% loss in this case).Breaking the "Stretch It Out" Myth: Why passive care and aggressive stretching can actually hinder a muscle strain, and how to educate parents who are being told otherwise by the sidelines.The Power of Isometrics: Using sub-pain threshold loading to provide immediate analgesic effects and "magic" pain modulation.Goal-Setting for the Future: How Dr. Wells pivoted the athlete’s focus from a minor weekend tournament to a major "East Coast" showcase by explaining the risks of re-injury.Clinical Reasoning & AI: A look at using Gemini AI to cross-reference tissue status and ensure a "mild-to-moderate" strain isn't being mistreated as a complete rupture.This episode is a must-listen for clinicians and parents navigating the tricky waters of competitive travel leagues and the importance of "de-loading" to ensure a young athlete’s career isn't cut short by one mismanaged injury.Untold Physio Stories is sponsored by⁠Comprehend PT⁠- Leave Comprehend PT running in the background or record audio when you have time. The AI based SOAP note generator does the rest! No need for accuracy or exact wording! It's a game changer and will give you more time with your patients! Use code MMT50 to save 50% off your first month. Free trial available at sign up!⁠⁠The Eclectic Approach Network⁠⁠ - Check out Dr. E's all new private, non tracking and ad free network for rehab pros! It's free to join, has chat, feed, and all the features of other social networks without the creeping tracking.Check out ⁠⁠EDGE Mobility System⁠⁠'s Best Sellers - Something for every PT, OT, DC, MT, ATC or Fitness Minded Individual https://edgemobilitysystem.com