#47: Active Inference, Pain, and Movement with Dr Mervyn Travers

In this episode of The Shoulder Physio Podcast, Dr Jared Powell sits down with Dr Mervyn Travers, physiotherapist, S&C coach, and researcher, to explore one of the most compelling frameworks in contemporary pain science: active inference.

They discuss how this predictive brain model helps explain persistent musculoskeletal pain, why traditional exercise-based interventions might miss the mark, and how clinicians can use movement and context to shift a patient’s pain experience. Merv blends philosophy, neuroscience, and clinical pragmatism in a way that's accessible, challenging, and highly relevant.

Key talking points:

• What is active inference and how does it relate to predictive processing?

• The role of prior beliefs, culture, and clinical language in shaping pain

• Movement experimentation as a tool for model updating and recovery

• Why it’s time to rethink how we prescribe exercise in pain rehab

• Clinical implications from landmark studies within the field that lend themselves to active inference

• A call for compassion, curiosity, and nuance in patient care

Check out the Shoulder Physio Online Course here

Connect with Jared and guests:

Jared on Instagram: @‌shoulder_physio

Jared on X: @‌jaredpowell12

Merv website:  Home - Optimise Rehab

Merv X: @‌mervtravers

Merv Instagram: @‌optimise_rehab

See our Disclaimer here: The Shoulder Physio - Disclaimer