Hands On Hands Off: Manual Therapy & Orthopedic Physical Therapy (AAOMPT)

Damian Keter joins the show to unpack manual therapy treatment mechanisms and how our profession needs to evolve its education around MT.Damian is a clinician specializing in complex pain at the VA and a clinical researcher whose work centers on MT mechanisms and manual therapy training paradigms. If you’ve ever wondered what actually happens when we deliver manual therapy — and how to teach it more effectively — this episode delivers clarity.Topics:• Manual therapy mechanism research • Contextual effects and clinical reasoning • How MT education needs to evolve • Helping clinicians move beyond outdated models • The future of manual therapy in PT

Mark Shepherd joins the podcast to discuss person-centered clinical reasoning, lifestyle medicine, and how to improve the way PTs make sense of pain.Mark is Program Director of the Bellin College OMPT Fellowship, a DPT faculty member, and a clinician who blends manual therapy, patient values, and lifestyle-based interventions to build clearer clinical hypotheses. His recent publication introduces an updated reasoning model: the person-centered hypothesis, which emphasizes individualized sense-making over rigid diagnostic categories.In this episode: • What “person-centered hypothesis” means in practice • How lifestyle medicine empowers rather than dilutes OMPT care • Improving reasoning in complex pain cases • Why clinicians should anchor decisions in patient values • Mark’s journey through education, teaching, and fellowship leadershipA must-listen for clinicians and educators who want a more modern, human approach to reasoning.

What role does IFOMPT play in global manual and musculoskeletal physiotherapy?In this episode of the Hands-On, Hands-Off Podcast, leaders from AAOMPT sit down with IFOMPT President Dr. Paolo Sanzo to discuss international education standards, evidence-informed practice, and global collaboration. The conversation explores how IFOMPT supports clinicians, educators, and researchers worldwide—and why global consistency ultimately improves patient care.00:00 – Introduction to the AAOMPT–IFOMPT collaborative series01:29 – Introducing Dr. Paolo Sanzo and IFOMT leadership03:19 – What IFOMPT is and its role within World Physiotherapy04:12 – Paolo’s journey through IFOMPT leadership roles05:21 – IFOMPT’s growth since 197407:11 – IFOMPT’s vision and mission explained09:47 – Education standards and member organization requirements12:10 – International monitoring and maintaining consistency17:49 – Evidence-based practice and global context20:16 – IFOMPT as a research and collaboration conduit23:14 – Challenges and opportunities of global collaboration26:18 – Working with international organizations and regions30:35 – Strategic priorities and future direction32:46 – Advice for clinicians pursuing excellence34:02 – Final reflections and closing remarks

Professor Roger Kerry joins the podcast to unpack one of the most debated topics in musculoskeletal care: the risks and benefits of manual therapy for people with head and neck pain.Roger is the lead for the physiotherapy program at the University of Nottingham, an interprofessional curriculum designer, researcher, PhD supervisor, and author of the new textbook The Head & Neck: Theory & Practice. His AAOMPT keynote focuses on cutting through decades of misinformation and helping clinicians understand what the evidence actually says.In this conversation:• Cervical manual therapy: what’s risky, what’s not, and what’s misunderstood• Why head & neck pain is still surrounded by outdated ideas• The problem with the way we teach manual therapy• How educators can break restrictive traditions• What emerging PhD work is revealing about the future of physical therapy• Roger’s personal journey from failed rehab patient → world-class academicThis episode is essential listening for anyone who treats neck pain or teaches manual therapy.

In this episode of the Hands-On, Hands-Off Podcast, Dr. Trenton Rehman sits down with Dr. Shane McClinton to discuss plantar heel pain and the role of physical therapy in both clinical outcomes and healthcare costs.Dr. McClinton walks through a series of studies stemming from his doctoral research, including a randomized clinical trial, a detailed case series, and a three-year cost-effectiveness analysis. Together, they explore how adding physical therapy to usual podiatry care impacts pain, function, quality of life, and long-term costs.Key themes include manual therapy, impairment-based exercise, proximal contributions to heel pain, interdisciplinary collaboration, and why plantar heel pain may deserve the same clinical mindset as low back pain.Key Takeaways (Listener-Facing)Plantar heel pain is a multidimensional condition with local and proximal contributors.Adding physical therapy to usual podiatry care improved outcomes and reduced costs over three years.Manual therapy and exercise were delivered pragmatically and tailored to impairments.Strengthening may be underutilized in plantar heel pain management.Collaboration between physical therapists and podiatrists benefits patients and reduces downstream burden.⏱️ TIMESTAMPED CHAPTERS (YouTube + Podcast)00:00 – Introduction to the episode and guest00:01 – Dr. Shane McClinton’s background and research focus00:03 – Why plantar heel pain referrals to PT are low00:07 – Rationale for studying cost-effectiveness00:10 – Study design overview (RCT + pragmatic approach)00:15 – Description of podiatry-only vs podiatry + PT care00:17 – Inclusion and exclusion criteria00:22 – Case series: why eight different heel pain presentations00:26 – Manual therapy strategies used in the study00:30 – Clinical practice guidelines and decision-making00:32 – Pain mechanisms, education, and chronicity00:35 – Proximal vs local treatment decisions00:38 – Three-year cost-effectiveness results explained00:44 – Implications for referrals and collaboration00:48 – Final take-home message from Dr. McClinton

Andreas Remis joins the podcast to unpack low back pain in a way that finally makes sense — bridging APTA CPG classifications, real-world clinical diagnosis, and the confusing world of radiographic findings.As faculty across multiple fellowships and residencies within the Duke Health System — and an educator shaped by his own poor rehab experience as a patient — Andreas brings a thoughtful, grounded approach to one of PT’s most complex conditions.In this episode:• LBP classification: CPG vs imaging vs clinical reasoning• How expert clinicians simplify diagnosis• Why radiographs often mislead clinicians and patients• The turning point when PTs begin to feel “value-confident”• Teaching LBP across OMPT pipelines• Lessons Andreas learned from being a failed patientIt’s a must-listen episode for clinicians, residents, and fellows treating low back pain.

When the cost of delay is measured in millions of dollars and operational readiness, guesswork isn’t an option.In this episode, we sit down with Josh Kidd, physical therapist, researcher, residency director, and embedded clinician working with special operations personnel and fighter pilots. Josh shares how directional preference plays a central role in clinical decision-making when time, performance, and safety all matter.We explore what directional preference actually is (and what it isn’t), why it should be viewed as an assessment rather than an exercise, and how inconsistent definitions in the research have led many clinicians to misunderstand or abandon it altogether.Josh also walks through real-world data from a tactical setting, where his team has used directional preference to help service members return to duty 36% faster, while empowering patients to self-manage and reducing recurrence.This conversation connects research, clinical reasoning, and performance-based care—challenging clinicians to rethink not just what they do, but how they think.???? In This Episode, You’ll Learn:Why directional preference matters beyond the spineThe most common misconceptions clinicians have about directional preferenceHow inconsistent research definitions affect real-world practiceHow directional preference can guide prognosis and return-to-duty decisionsWhat clinicians can learn from high-stakes military performance environmentsOne mindset shift that can immediately improve clinical reasoning

Faith Stokes joins the podcast to talk about treating the patients many clinicians feel least prepared for — those navigating trauma, addiction, suicidality, chronic pain, pelvic health conditions, and complex biopsychosocial presentations.Faith practices in rural North Georgia, where she blends manual therapy, psychologically informed care, and lifestyle medicine. As a residency coordinator and adjunct faculty across multiple programs, she’s passionate about helping clinicians develop clarity when treating patients whose stories involve trauma, fear, avoidance, social instability, or chronic stress.In this episode:• Simple vs. complex PTSD in clinical practice• Why trauma-informed care is essential in OMPT• Yellow flag screening and why it’s our responsibility• The PT’s role in addiction and suicidality• Integrating pelvic health with orthopedics and manual therapy• Using lifestyle medicine without shame or judgment• How experts reason through overwhelming complexityThis is a deep, human, and incredibly practical conversation for every PT.

Most physical therapists will treat TMJ pain. Almost none will ever encounter a full bilateral TMJ replacement—paired with mandibular advancement and upper palate expansion. When that rare case appeared, there was no rehab playbook… so this clinician built one.What listeners will learn:How TMJ replacement compares (and doesn’t) to hip and knee replacementsWhy outcomes research exists—but rehab pathways don’tHow to apply total joint principles to a jaw jointWhat to do when surgical restrictions limit “normal” movementThe role of nutrition, SLPs, and interdisciplinary careHow lived experience changes clinical decision-makingWhy it matters: This episode isn’t really about TMJ—it’s about how clinicians think when evidence is thin and responsibility is high.Guest: Katie Berry — sports & orthopedic clinician, adjunct professor, and OMPT fellow-in-training.

Dr. Moyo Tillery sits down with Dr. Ron Shank to explore the evolving relationship between Orthopaedic Manual Physical Therapy (OMPT) and Mechanical Diagnosis & Therapy (MDT). Drawing from decades of clinical practice, mentorship, and research, Ron reframes the debate — arguing that integration, not ideology, leads to better patient outcomes.Together, they unpack directional preference, centralization, test–retest frameworks, patient empowerment, and the leadership principles that shape great clinicians. This is a must-listen for anyone navigating modern manual therapy practice.Key Topics Covered:Directional preference vs centralizationEnd-range testing as common groundHands-on vs hands-off decision-makingPatient self-efficacy and dependencyMentorship, leadership, and legacy in OMPT