Well I’ve had an exciting and challenging year. Blog posts, starting a podcast (yes another fucken podcast), a facebook community page, peer review for a major journal, arranging courses, an AUT study and have met, shared and laughed with many wonderful people along the way. So I wanted to extend my gratitude to a number of people whom I have had some fantastic chats with and have given me some great inspiration.
I want to start by saying a huge thank you to all the people, from all over the world, I have interacted with and met through social media that have given me praise, inspiration, jobs over the last 18 months. I honestly didn’t think the naked physio would get the kind of following it has in that time.
There is no such thing as a new idea. It is impossible. We simply take a lot of old ideas and put them into a sort of mental kaleidoscope. We give them a turn and they make new and curious combinations. We keep on turning and making new combinations indefinitely; but they are the same old pieces of colored glass that have been in use through all the ages. – Mark Twain
The naked physio started as an idea, I really wasn’t sure what I wanted it to be, but I did know I wanted to share my thoughts and opinions and to collaborate with others. So, it all started with the naked physio blog (I got some help from some twits on social media) and since then the naked physio has now evolved into a community facebook page and a podcast. It’s given me some amazing opportunities to work with people I respect highly in the academic and clinical world.
So here goes with the thank yous
Blog – the naked physio
First of all, thank you to all the people that helped me with my blog. The sports physio @AdamMeakins was a great help for getting me off the ground and just telling me to start writing. Others help by proofreading my work (you know who you are), giving me inspiration, providing me with guest posts and musings around my posts, giving feedback on twitter and facebook.
Podcasting – the naked physio podcast
Except for upsetting a certain podcast team, it’s been great putting the podcasts together. I’ve had some great chats with clinicians around the world and have had some brilliant feedback too.
I want to thank Karim Khan @BJSM_BMJ (British Journal of Sports Medicine) and Erik Meira @erikmeira (The Science PT) for their vast knowledge on podcasting production, content, delivery, jingles, makeup, costume design and animatronics (those last 3 really didn’t happen but I think Erik would love the idea of animatronics). It certainly made my life a lot easier!
Facebook Community Page – the naked physio presents…
It was something that I had no idea about. I had heard about community pages on a podcast and how they are more versatile than facebook pages. So I now put up various blog posts, research, trivia, tools, and podcasts on a daily basis. Thanks to all those that asked to join, we are now a nice round sized group of about 60 members and we continue to grow.
AUT study
This was a brilliant study to be part of as it involved assessing physiotherapist / patient engagement, and where a knowledge broker can come in to assist with specific psychological engagement tools to facilitate change in patient beliefs and behaviours. I want to thank Andy Schmidt from @ActiveplusNZ for getting me involved with this study. It’s been an awesome experience and something I will aim to integrate into my teachings next year.
Courses
Finally, courses. I took on the responsibility of organizing two courses this year, Know Pain and NOI group (@noigroup). What a great way to network and meet some awesome people. So thank you to Mike Stewart and David Butler for giving me the nod to organise your courses. Another fantastic learning experience.
Social Media
None of the above stuff could have happened without the use of social media. It has been an amazing networking, learning and development tool and it has been a privilege to be able to engage with some bloody clever people. Those of you who do not use social media I suggest you get on now!
A special thanks
I have had some great conversations with people from all around the world and I want to thank them for their time and knowledge over the last year. A special thanks has to go to Mike Stewart @knowpainmike and Bronwyn Thompson @adiemusfree who have been a real inspiration to me. I can honestly say I have met two people that embrace my outlandish ideas and given me the belief that I could achieve them. Those ideas have been molded into career achievements and further study.
What’s next?
2016 will certainly start off with a bang with the San Diego pain summit. I’m so lucky to have gotten the opportunity to co-host with Karen Litzy on a debate-style podcast interviewing some brilliant clinicians – Dr. Greg Lehman, Dr. Bronnie Thompson, Dr. Ravensara Travillian and Dr. Sandy Hilton. If that wasn’t cool enough, I will also be hosting “Clinicians get creative”. This is an hour long workshop showcasing submissions from clinicians and members of the public all around the world on how they explain pain or experience pain.
After the San Diego pain summit, I will have the amazing opportunity once again to work alongside Mike Stewart and Bronwyn Thompson teaching Know Pain in New Zealand. And if that wasn’t enough, I have decided to take the plunge and return to further studies as the allure of research (and the possibility of a PhD) is calling me. I must be crazy! So 2016 is looking up to be quite a year!
Merry Christmas everyone and a happy new year!
TNP
The Naked Physio / The curiouser 
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