The Thinking Practitioner
 

The Thinking Practitioner

https://www.thethinkingpractitioner.com/feed.xml

427.2K

Downloads

131

Episodes

Join two of the leading educators in manual therapy, bodywork, and massage therapy, as they delve into the most intriguing issues, questions, research, and client conditions that hands-on practitioners face. Stimulate your thinking with imaginative conversations, tips, and interviews related to the somatic arts and sciences.

Episodes

131: Mindfulness, Hands-On Therapy, and Pain (with Bronnie Lennox Thompson)

Wednesday Nov 13, 2024

Wednesday Nov 13, 2024

In this episode Til Luchau interviews Bronnie Lennox Thompson, a pain management expert from the University of Otago in New Zealand. Bronnie shares insights on supporting people with chronic pain to live well, emphasizing pain’s complexity as a personal, multi-dimensional experience. They discuss the value of hands-on therapy, discussing both physical benefits and its comforting, human connection.

The conversation highlights mindfulness as a tool for managing chronic pain, extending beyond meditation to include simple, everyday practices. Bronnie and Til explain how mindfulness helps people observe pain without reacting, fostering a healthier relationship with their bodies. Bronnie also shares her personal approach to mindfulness through activities like walking and savoring positive moments. This episode offers practical advice for both therapists and anyone seeking a mindful, compassionate approach to managing pain.

Key Topics:

00:00 Introduction and Podcast Overview
00:16 Sponsorship and Special Offers
02:04 Guest Introduction: Dr. Bronnie Lennox Thompson
02:15 Exploring Pain and Mindfulness
05:40 Personal Journey with Pain
08:59 The Role of Hands-On Therapy
19:16 Mindfulness in Clinical Practice
25:13 History and Science of Mindfulness
39:17 Responding vs. Reacting: The Power of Mindfulness
40:12 Practical Applications for Manual Therapists
41:08 Guiding Clients Through Sensory Awareness
42:11 Exploring Sensations and Descriptions
43:38 The Role of Curiosity in Therapy
44:40 Hands-On Techniques and Client Interaction
47:17 Movement and Awareness in Therapy
48:52 Changing Pain Perception Through Attention
51:51 The Therapeutic Session: Beyond Touch
01:00:07 Incorporating Mindfulness into Daily Life
01:06:38 Final Thoughts and Resources

Get the full transcript at Til or Whitney's sites! 

Resources mentioned in this episode:

Sponsor Offers: 

About Whitney Lowe  | About Til Luchau  |  Email Us: info@thethinkingpractitioner.com

(The Thinking Practitioner Podcast is intended for professional practitioners of manual and movement therapies: bodywork, massage therapy, structural integration, chiropractic, myofascial and myotherapy, orthopedic, sports massage, physical therapy, osteopathy, yoga, strength and conditioning, and similar professions. It is not medical or treatment advice.)

Read more

130: The Body of Grief (with JS Park)

Wednesday Oct 30, 2024

Wednesday Oct 30, 2024

Joon Park, author of "As Long as You Need" discusses grief and its impact on bodyworkers and their clients with Til Luchau. Park, a hospital chaplain, shares his experiences with grief, trauma, and the importance of acknowledging and integrating pain rather than suppressing it. He emphasizes the role of the body in grief, the concept of "letting in" rather than "letting go," and the significance of rituals and community in processing loss. The conversation also touches on the idea of the "intimate stranger" and the therapeutic power of touch and presence.

Key Topics:

•Grief isn’t about “letting go” but “letting in” and honoring the lost.
•Societal pressures often encourage suppressing grief.
•Parallels between grief and trauma: both require embracing pain rather than avoiding it.
•Physical manifestations of grief and the role of bodywork in processing it.
•Importance of rituals in grief (including the "ritual" of getting bodywork) for emotional and physical healing.
•The significance of community and meaningful connections in combating loneliness.
•The “intimate stranger” concept, where trust can build quickly with clients.
•Touch as non-verbal "prayer" and support in grief.
•Encouraging open conversations about grief and loss, and building authentic relationships.

Get the full transcript at Til or Whitney's sites! 

Resources mentioned in this episode:

Sponsor Offers: 

About Whitney Lowe  | About Til Luchau  |  Email Us: info@thethinkingpractitioner.com

(The Thinking Practitioner Podcast is intended for professional practitioners of manual and movement therapies: bodywork, massage therapy, structural integration, chiropractic, myofascial and myotherapy, orthopedic, sports massage, physical therapy, osteopathy, yoga, strength and conditioning, and similar professions. It is not medical or treatment advice.)

Read more

129: Is Your Touch Aging Out? (with Til Luchau & Whitney Lowe)

Wednesday Oct 16, 2024

Wednesday Oct 16, 2024

A new study shows that our fingertips lose sensitivity as we age. What are the implications for massage and bodywork practitioners? Tune in and listen as Til and Whitney think it through, and along the way, share fascinating tidbits about tactile sensitivity training, and its relevance to actual practice. 

Key Topics:

•Introduction and Sponsor Message (00:00 - 01:30)

•Discussion of Tactile Sensitivity Study (01:30 - 03:30)

•Decline in tactile sensitivity, especially in fingers with age

•Importance of glabrous skin (hairless skin) in mechanoreception

•Mechanoreceptors and Aging (03:30 - 06:00)

•Von Frey monofilament test used to measure sensitivity

•Examples of exercises to improve tactile sensitivity in manual therapy

•Proprioception and Sensory Discrimination (06:00 - 09:00)

•Importance of spatial discrimination in manual therapy

•Stiffness testing for practitioners

•Tactile Acuity and Practice (09:00 - 12:00)

•Training methods for developing tactile sensitivity, including touch games and exercises

•Aging and Mechanoreceptor Deterioration (12:00 - 16:00)

•Impact of aging on nerve function and tissue hydration

•Central processing changes in the brain affecting tactile perception

•Implications for Clients and Practitioners (16:00 - 23:00)

•Loss of sensitivity and its effect on daily activities and manual therapy

•Correlation between pain and reduced tactile sensitivity

•Qualitative vs Quantitative Touch in Therapy (23:00 - 30:00)

•Debate on whether tactile acuity is essential for effective manual therapy

•Importance of qualitative touch and attentiveness in client care

•Social Grooming and Pleasant Touch (30:00 - 38:00)

•The role of pleasant touch in therapy, linked to brain processes

•Sensitivity in non-fingertip areas (forearms, cheeks) and its significance

•Takeaways on Tactile Sensitivity and Aging (38:00 - 45:00)

•Summary of findings on aging and tactile sensitivity

•Importance of listening and touch quality in manual therapy

Get the video and full transcript at Til or Whitney's sites! 

Resources mentioned in this episode:

  • Samain-Aupic, Léonard, Mariama Dione, Edith Ribot-Ciscar, Rochelle Ackerley, and Jean-Marc Aimonetti. “Relations between Tactile Sensitivity of the Finger, Arm, and Cheek Skin over the Lifespan Showing Decline Only on the Finger.” Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience 16 (July 2, 2024): 1387136. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnagi.2024.1387136.
  • Bartsch, Katja Martina, Robert Schleip, Alberto Zullo, Kerstin Hoppe, and Werner Klingler. “The Stiffness Comparison Test: A Pilot Study to Determine Inter-Individual Differences in Palpatory Skill Related to Gender, Age, and Occupation-Related Experience.” Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies 24, no. 4 (October 2020): 1–6. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbmt.2020.06.009.

Sponsor Offers: 

About Whitney Lowe  | About Til Luchau  |  Email Us: info@thethinkingpractitioner.com

(The Thinking Practitioner Podcast is intended for professional practitioners of manual and movement therapies: bodywork, massage therapy, structural integration, chiropractic, myofascial and myotherapy, orthopedic, sports massage, physical therapy, osteopathy, yoga, strength and conditioning, and similar professions. It is not medical or treatment advice.)

Read more

128: Tendon Pain Update (with Jill Cook)

Wednesday Oct 02, 2024

Wednesday Oct 02, 2024

Whitney interviews tendon expert Dr. Jill Cook, who discusses the current understanding of tendinopathy as a degenerative condition, emphasizing the importance of proper loading in rehabilitation. She explains why she advises against traditional treatments like friction massage and stretching, why anti-inflammatory medications are ineffective, and highlights the risks of certain drugs on tendon health. Throughout the conversation, Dr. Cook provides evidence-based insights for all manual therapists on treating tendinopathies effectively.


Key Topics:

  1. Shift from thinking of tendinopathies as inflammatory conditions to degenerative conditions (03:01 - 04:24)
  2. Factors that contribute to pain in tendinopathies (04:40 - 05:41)
  3. Clinical signs and symptoms of tendinopathy (06:06 - 08:34)
  4. The role of loading and compression in tendon pathology (08:54 - 16:45)
  5. Treatment strategies for tendinopathies, including friction massage and anti-inflammatory medications (19:06 - 31:48)
  6. Medically-induced tendinopathies, such as those caused by fluoroquinolone antibiotics (32:05 - 35:04)
  7. The role of active movement and soft tissue treatments in tendinopathy rehabilitation (35:30 - 38:29)

Get the full transcript at Til or Whitney's sites! 

Resources mentioned in this episode:

  • Jill Cook: J.Cook@latrobe.edu.au
  • Fairclough J, Hayashi K, Toumi H, et al. The functional anatomy of the iliotibial band during flexion and extension of the knee: implications for understanding iliotibial band syndrome. J Anat. 2006;208(3):309-316. doi:JOA531 [pii] 10.1111/j.1469-7580.2006.00531.x

Sponsor Offers: 

About Whitney Lowe  | About Til Luchau  |  Email Us: info@thethinkingpractitioner.com

(The Thinking Practitioner Podcast is intended for professional practitioners of manual and movement therapies: bodywork, massage therapy, structural integration, chiropractic, myofascial and myotherapy, orthopedic, sports massage, physical therapy, osteopathy, yoga, strength and conditioning, and similar professions. It is not medical or treatment advice.)

Read more

127: Low Back Pain Update (with Whitney Lowe & Til Luchau)

Wednesday Sep 18, 2024

Wednesday Sep 18, 2024

In this episode, Til and Whitney dive into strategies for addressing low back pain (LBP) with hands-on work, exploring LBP's prevalence, causes, and treatments. Sharing the insights they've gained from experts such as Nikolai Bogduk, Stewart McGill, Paul Hodges, Lorimer Moseley, Helene Langevin and Antonio Stecco, they lay out the diverse views on both the structural and non-mechanical origins of LBP. Listeners will also learn about therapeutic approaches, the significance of practitioner confidence, and the importance of comprehensive evaluations. Tune in for a fascinating look at how practitioners and clients alike can better understand and work with low back pain.

Key Topics:

1. Prevalence of low back pain

  • Over 60-70% of people have episodes of low back pain at some point [01:51] 
  • Leading cause of disability worldwide
  • Huge economic impact

2. Potential evolutionary factors contributing to low back pain

  • Transition to bipedalism and upright posture
  • Differences in spinal curvature and hip mobility between cultures [05:45]

3. Causes and contributors to low back pain - [07:39]

  • Overemphasis on disc and structural issues in the past
  • Importance of comprehensive evaluation beyond just structural issues
  • Role of soft tissue, muscular, and neural factor

4. Influence of practitioner perspective and confidence on outcomes [30:20]

  • Importance of the therapeutic relationship and rapport
  • Unexpected interventions can sometimes be effective [35:53]

5. Personal experiences with low back pain

  • Overuse vs. underuse/immobility as contributors
  • Debates about the significance of posture, load, and context [41:31]
  • Limits of expertise vs. scope of practice for massage therapists

Get the full transcript at Til or Whitney's sites! 

Resources mentioned in this episode:

  • ABMPs’ CE Summit on LBP: live Oct 1, 2024 and free to everyone in the profession: abmp.com/summit
    Portions also available by recording to ABMP members and next year, to A-T Subscribers 

Sponsor Offers: 

About Whitney Lowe  | About Til Luchau  |  Email Us: info@thethinkingpractitioner.com

(The Thinking Practitioner Podcast is intended for professional practitioners of manual and movement therapies: bodywork, massage therapy, structural integration, chiropractic, myofascial and myotherapy, orthopedic, sports massage, physical therapy, osteopathy, yoga, strength and conditioning, and similar professions. It is not medical or treatment advice.)

Read more
Load more

Copyright 2021 All rights reserved.

Podcast Powered By Podbean

Version: 20240731