That’s a huge percentage! Yes, according to recent evidence (Artero et al., 2012) running really does reduce the risk of death by 63%! As the title suggests this relates to cardiovascular disease and all-cause mortality (cause of death), which includes other chronic conditions such as obesity, diabetes and cancer. Lee et al (2014) identified that … More Running reduces the risk of death up to 63%, but that’s not all it does!

  Yeah whales, humans, biomechanics and pain. Thanks to Ben Cormack (a real geezer) from CorKinetic for his contributions to this blog. The video above on whales and their contribution to our planet is not only informative and enlightening but also serves as a great metaphor for our understanding of the human body. Confused? Intrigued? Then … More What can whale poo teach us about biomechanics and pain?

‘Now you see it, now you don’t’ is a popular idiom that magicians use whilst performing illusions, with the intention of leaving the viewer flummoxed. The phrase is used to express that something is gone without clear explanation of how and why. Take the rubber hand illusion (RHI) for example, this is an interesting neurological … More CRPS Series: Hand, you see it? Now you don’t. Hand, you feel it? Now you don’t.

Professor Andy Clark is philosopher of mind and cognitive science. He has taught and written in areas of cognitive science, in particular his publication ‘Natural Born Cyborgs’ is an insightful read about the extended mind. This session of the big naked pain and brain campaign looks at an example of his work on the extended mind. … More TBNPABC - The extended Mind

Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) is a complex and poorly understood problem. There have been several proposed interacting pathophysiological features of the condition including altered sympathetic nervous system function, central sensitisation, inflammatory factors, immune factors, genetic factors, brain changes and psychological factors (Bruehl, 2015; Marinus et al., 2011). Most diagnostic criteria come from clinical features … More Complex Regional Pain Syndrome Series: Peripheral Inflammation

Ready to engage with people living with pain in a creative way? I like to think that with all the courses, blogs and content on social media out there, clinicians have a better understanding of language use, creativity and communication skills. Well, you might think that but then your likely mistaken. There’s still much to do … More Clinicians Get Creative: Creative Ways to Reframe Pain

Ever since I read Moseley et al’s (1) paper back in 2009 on visual distortion I was instantly succumbed to the idea of embodiment and wanting to work with people living with Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS). I admit I didn’t fully understand what embodiment was back then, but there was a small part of … More Complex Regional Pain Syndrome series: Visual distortion

I thought I would have a crack at seeing into the future. No not from a Doc Brown perspective, more from the next exciting and interesting stage of human understanding – predictive processing. Now this is by no means academic at any level however, it may go above some readers heads. This is just my musings … More The Future! Can we predict it?

As you can see this is a very short blog. Yet helpful all the same! I have created my own version of the TSK - 11 adapted from Goubert et al., (2004) and Woby, Roach, Urmston & Watson., (2005). I have also added the Avoidance and Harm sub scales. Please feel free to click the link … More The Tampa Scale of Kinesiophobia - 11

I have a goal, a goal to reduce my social media time. Why? Cause it can make me miserable! It distracts me from more important things and it can engage me in conversations that are just… well… pointless! That’s a whole heap of productive time, lost! Anyway that’s my problem, my own personal issue and something … More Living with Pain and Goals: Should they be SMART, MEANINGful or VAPID?

Please note: This blogpost expresses humorous exchange of language between the nakedphysioette and myself as means of coping when she has a flare up. It is not meant to be taken literally. It is intended that people whom read this blog may relate either through their own choice of verbal, facial or bodily expression. Platitudes are common … More Platitudes at Your Peril

It’s that time of year again when we all wind down for the holidays (I’m still trying to get my head around Christmas in the summer??) and us bloggers share our musings of the year. 2016 has been a very exciting year for me on a personal and professional level. It has delivered some … More The dinosaurs commeth: 2016 round up

Yes it’s Big Naked Pain and Brain Campaign again! I am always on the hunt for new videos, films, educational skits and always on the look out for suggestions from followers that want to contribute to TBNPABC. Understanding pain, it’s as easy as learning to ride a bike! This reprise is a favourite of mine. The … More TBNPABC: Reprise: The Backwards Bike

Hi all It’s taken a bit longer than a week to get the second part up. Exams, courses, training, lecturer problems and a holiday took more of a priority. So here’s part 2 of the Low Back Pain case study. Hope you find it interesting, perhaps of some value and of course I’m always open … More TNTOASP: Low Back Pain Case Study: Part 2

Here’s part 1 of my recently submitted assignment. Hope you enjoy and get something out of it. Feedback of course is always welcome! Part 2 will follow in a week. A clinical perspective of pain management for Low Back Pain: A case study Abstract Low back pain (LBP) remains a prevalent health burden according to … More TNTOASP: Low Back Pain case study Part 1

CLINICIANS GET CREATIVE: V2   YES FOLKS, CLINICIANS GET CREATIVE RETURNS! On the success and reception from clinicians get creative at San Diego Pain Summit (SDPS) 2016, it will be returning to SDPS 2017, this time with a podium slot! Wow! Clinicians get creative was inspired by our need and abilities to think critically and creatively, … More Clinicians Get Creative: Version 2

As part of my studies I had to develop a patient resource. So I decided to do one on back pain entitled: ‘My back pain journey’. The presentation (is supposed to) works like a website. It’s interactive and informative, and supported by evidence. All you have to do is click on the screen to interact … More My Back Pain Journey

Welcome to part 2 of my 50 ways of thinking differently in pain science. I got the idea after reading an Auckland chamber of commerce article that applied the title to business. I thought to myself there are a lot of similarities here in thinking in business and pain science. Nothing like a bit of healthy … More 50 ways of thinking differently in pain science: Part 2

I was flicking through an Auckland chamber of commerce magazine recently (it’s nice to draw creativity from other business sectors) and came across an article ’50 ways of thinking differently’ so I decided to create my own for pain science. This list is an attempt to demonstrate the level of creativity we can have when working with people with … More 50 ways of thinking differently in pain science: Part 1

A recent conversation I had with a podiatry colleague proves that translating pain science is difficult!! … More It’s all in your head, that’s ok or maybe not? Reprise

Hi all I recently had the fortunate opportunity to have an article published in NZ massage magazine. I wanted to share my thoughts with the evidence on the changing landscape in understanding pain and its multi-dimensional nature. I decided to share a small reflection on the article to highlight the change in my own personal growth … More Bridging the Pain Gap: My NZ massage article

The 3rd part of this series of naked tales of a studying physio picks up from where we left part 2. Here I talk about my observations and formulate my case for management. You can read parts 1 and 2 here and here. Observations Interestingly, as the patient walked into the examination room it was observed … More Understanding the Biopsychosocial reasoning process in chronic back pain: A single case study part 3

It’s that time again for another helping of the naked tales of a studying physio. So let’s pick up from where we left off. If you want a refresh of part 1 you can do so here   Treatment History The patient’s spinal fractures were managed conservatively over the course of 5 months with a spinal … More Understanding the Biopsychosocial reasoning process in chronic back pain: A single case study part 2

I haven’t had a good guest post in a long time! So I thought, I should really have a guest post. Low and behold ask and you shall receive!! Many of the people I see living with long term pain are on a workers compensation (WC) scheme. It can be a pretty stressful ordeal for them … More The work compensation frustration - a guest post by Joletta Belton

Our clinical practice should demonstrate a good mix of acquired knowledge, clinical experience and supporting evidence. The person seeking care expects to receive a well-reasoned intervention hypothesis that answers questions or concerns, and delivers effective management.   So, evidence based medicine appears to be cropping up everywhere at the moment. That’s not inherently a bad … More The case for and the case against: a short blog on clinical reasoning

Hi all welcome to another naked tales of a studying physio. Here’s the first part of my second assignment for my post-graduate studies. It’s a back pain case study about a thoracic disc herniation and calcification. A small note before you read on. There is minimal evidence (very low quality) (all case studies) that show … More Understanding the Biopsychosocial reasoning process in chronic back pain: A single case study

As part of our professional development we need to maintain a reasonably competent knowledge of evidence base practice. Yet, do you ever feel like you’re chasing your tail? Perhaps you don’t know your left from your right? Maybe you feel like you’re stuck on the fairground Ferris wheel or maybe you’re just going round in circles…? … More Don’t get caught with your pants down - 5 naked tips

Hi all, after a pretty good response from part 1 here’s the follow-up to the naked tales of a studying physio - using the BPS model in clinical practice. I want to say thanks for the feedback for part 1, but more critical analysis is desirable. I mean I can’t imagine i’m that good a writer that … More Using the BPS model in clinical practice - Part 2

Hi all here’s another instalment of the naked tales of a studying physio. Part 1 of my first assignment from my postgraduate studies. I’ve decided to share it with all my readers as I want your thoughts and opinions on this. The more we engage in collaborative communication and sharing of knowledge the better we can … More Using the BPS model in clinical practice - Part 1

It’s important to acknowledge that we can have two sides of the spectrum when discussing notions of pain with patients. A recent masterclass article in manual therapy by Nijs et al, (2013) highlight that the biomedical framework is the core of most clinicians training and yet ‘it falls short in explaining and treating chronic musculoskeletal … More It’s all in your head, that’s ok or maybe not?

A recent conversation:   Patient: I met a guy recently who was in a mobility scooter. Out of curiosity because of my injury I asked him, “Did you injure your back?” To which the guy in scooter replied, “yup 4 compression fractures and a collapsed disc that ended up pushing on my spinal cord and … More Day of Destruction - The disc collapse

So I decided to take the plunge and return to study. It was an extremely difficult decision as I constantly questioned what the point was? I asked myself questions such as why am I doing it? Am I going to get anymore out of academia that I don’t get from reading myself or going on … More The Naked Tales of a Studying Physio - Nociception

There’s a particular part in the movie Wayne’s World where Wayne and Garth meet Alice Cooper. They both drop to their knees and proclaim “We’re not worthy” because of their admiration of Alice’s talent and fame. This scene reminds me of some of what we see with current pain education practice. This post is a … More We’re not worthy! Being drawn into Wayne’s World

The popular comedy game show “Whose Line is it Anyway?” invites comedians to make up small skits around random topics that are suggested by either the game show host or the audience. The show is a mix of impromptu lines, humour, spontaneity, and sometimes confusion. Listening and acknowledging each others’ lines is a necessary part … More Whose Pain is it Anyway?

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 … More A festive thank you: 2015 round up

Our current assessment procedure is still widely used and taught throughout physiotherapy training. It is in my opinion, an area that requires serious reform. The emergence of the biopsychosocial model has shifted our understanding to a wider clinical landscape, one that lies outside of a biomedical paradigm. Shouldn’t our own assessment procedure reflect that and is … More Pre-surgical biopsychosocial screening: Is there a need? - a guest post by Robin Higginson

I saw this advert on the television last week and also heard the same message over the radio. It shocked me but then got me thinking about how a paradox may exist creating sedentary lifestyles. What did you think of it? Is it a ploy to create dependency? Does it come back to money? I … More Pain and Sedentary lifestyles: Is it a Paradox?

I have worked in the field of persistent pain for 8 years, I am continuously challenged. I get stuck and frozen by the complexity of presentations, because no two presentations are the same, despite the fact that those two very different presentations have a referral for the same pain problem (back pain for example). People experience … More The nervous system - a phenomenological artistic perspective of pain

Extra extra! The big naked pain and brain campaign is back! I have continued to search high and low in the film industry for references towards pain! More wisdom from Yoda! ‘You must unlearn what you have learned’ and ‘do or do not there is no try’ This is a good example of what clinicians … More The Big Naked Pain and Brain Campaign: Extra extra!

This is most definitely and unequivocally a rant! It’s a rant about the shit we say and what possesses us to say it. Actually, I’m not sure I can answer the second part of that question. I was listening to the radio the other day and an interview with a contestant from Dancing with the … More Lack of fat on the toes causes numbness? - The shit we say

Blood flow restriction has gained a lot more attention recently, and it’s certainly an area of interest for me as I have asked the question how useful it would be when applied as a tool for patients suffering with persistent pain. So what better way of getting an understanding than by asking the experts. … More Blood Flow Restriction a guest blog by Dr. James McCarron

Can we please stop pathologising! What does that mean? Well I am pointing the finger at you the clinician. This includes me! There are plenty of us out there who are guilty of pathologising and creating a society of hypervigilance. … More Stop pathologising and wave the green flag