The Better Movement Podcast

Joletta Belton writes and speaks about her experience with chronic pain, so that clinicians and researchers can understand the patient perspective. I’ve heard her speak several times at pain conferences in San Diego and Oslo, and each time she had one of the most informative and engaging presentations. Joletta is co-chair of IASP’s Global Alliance of Partners for Pain Advocacy, which integrates the patient perspective into the study, research, and treatment of pain. She is also the first Patient and Public Partnerships Editor at the Journal of Orthopaedic and Sports Physical Therapy.In this podcast, Joletta tells her story about how she went from being an athletic firefighter to a disabled patient within just a year, after what seemed like a minor injury in her hip. She also explains how she eventually recovered, and how her sense of identity and meaning were profoundly impacted during her journey. We talked about her injury and subsequent surgery, the pain of losing her job and sense of identity, her experience in the medical and worker’s comp system, and how some deep realizations helped with her healing process. We also talked about the value of stories and personal narrative to patients, how clinicians can help patients create those stories, and what researchers can learn from Joletta’s experience. Highly recommended for clinicians, patients and anyone impacted by chronic pain.Links Joletta’s website and blog Joletta on TwitterThe Global Alliance of Partners for Pain Advocacy This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit toddhargrove.substack.com/subscribe

Rob Gray is an expert on motor learning, especially as applied to sports.I’ve been following his research for years, as well as his excellent Perception & Action Podcast, which is one of the best sources of online information about skill acquisition for sports. Rob is an associate professor and undergraduate program chair in human systems engineering in the Polytechnic School at Arizona State University.Just last week he released an excellent new book summarizing his ideas: How We Learn to Move: A Revolution in the Way We Coach & Practice Sports Skills. It’s a practical and highly readable summary of complex research. Highly recommended. I had great time taking to Rob about his book and about all things motor learning, including variability, attractors, self-organization, Bernstein, and ecological psychology. We also discussed: * why baseball players can help elbow problems by landing on sand* how occlusion glasses can help soccer players keep their eyes up* the problem with using cones to train soccer players* my golf game* why Albert Pujols struck out on three straight pitches facing an underhanded pitcherFor related topics, check out my podcast with Nick Winkleman.LinksRob’s new bookRob on TwitterRob’s podcastRob’s research This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit toddhargrove.substack.com/subscribe

Dr. Tasha Stanton is a physiotherapist and a clinical scientist. After completing her PhD at the University of Sydney, she did post-doctoral work under the mentorship of professor Lorimer Moseley. She now leads her own research group as a senior research fellow at the University of South Australia Adelaide, studying perception, multisensory integration, cortical body representation, and pain.I've been following Tasha's work for at least seven years, especially her studies where she uses perceptual illusions to modulate the perception in pain. These are very fun studies with cool effects that really get you thinking. In one of them, people with knee pain get a knee massage while viewing their knee through a device that makes it look like its being stretched. This reduces pain. In another study, people with stiff backs listen to the sound of a creaky door when their back is being pushed on. We talked about these studies and used them as a base to jump off into all sorts of discussions about perception, reality, and other body mind issues. It was a very fun conversation!Links Tasha’s websiteTasha on TwitterList of published research This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit toddhargrove.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode I talked with Kieran O’Sullivan, a senior lecturer at the University of Limerick in Ireland, about his back pain research and his experience as a physical therapist helping people in chronic pain. I have been following Kieran’s research and writing for many years, and I've always been struck by its relevance and clarity. He does a great job simplifying many different threads of complex research into an approach that is evidence-based, common sense and actionable. He also has a talent for translating back-and-forth between language that is appropriate for researchers, clinicians, and patients. We talked about: * simple versus complex pains and how to tell the difference* risk factors for transition from acute to chronic pain * whether patient education about pain can help prevent the transition* how NOT to deliver pain science education * sitting and lifting at work and their connection to chronic pain Recommended!LinksList of Kieran’s research publicationsKieran on TwitterPain-Ed This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit toddhargrove.substack.com/subscribe

Here’s the second of a series of lessons to help you sit with more comfort. The first focused on flexion/extension movements, this one is more about side bending. You don’t have to do the lessons in order, but they go well together. Let me know what you think in the comments. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit toddhargrove.substack.com/subscribe

Today's episode features an interview with Nick Winkleman, the author of the excellent book The Language of Coaching, which gets my highest recommendation for books on the science and practice of developing movement skill. It’s really a great book, and if you like this blog you would like the book, no question. Nick is currently head of athletic performance & science for the Irish Rugby Football Union and was previously director of education and training at EXOS, where he worked with some of the Best athletes in the world, including college football players getting ready for the NFL combine. Nick also completed a PhD with a focus on motor skill learning. In this podcast we talked about deep connections between language and movement, the difference between implicit and explicit knowledge, how to cue someone to run, squad or jump, differences in culture between sports and dance, and many other topics.LinksNick’s book, which you should buy right now.Nick’s website The Language of Coaching Nick on TwitterDynamic Alignment Through Imagery by Eric Franklin This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit toddhargrove.substack.com/subscribe

For today’s podcast I am providing a ten minute Feldenkrais-style movement lesson. The goal is to explore different ways to sit with comfort in a chair, mostly though variable flexing and extending of the spine. Enjoy and let me know what you think. (Credit to Umberto Salvagnin for cat pic.) This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit toddhargrove.substack.com/subscribe

My guest this week is Bronnie Lennox Thompson. Bronnie is an expert on chronic pain and has fibromyalgia. She holds a PhD, has published research, and is a senior lecturer at the University of Otago in New Zealand. She's also an occupational therapist and teaches courses about helping people with chronic pain. I've been reading Bronnie’s excellent blog Health Skills for many years, as well as her contributions to debates about pain on Facebook (where demonstrates the patience of a saint.) I've met her in person a few times at the San Diego Pain Conference. My impression is that she radiates intelligence, wisdom and kindness. In this podcast we talked about the symptoms of fibromyalgia, controversies over diagnosis, and its pathophysiology. We talked about treatments, and how to live well with fibromyalgia or other chronic pain conditions. If you have chronic pain or you know some someone who does, or if you treat people in chronic pain, I highly recommend listening to what Bronnie has to say. Listen onApple PodcastsSpotifyGoogle PodcastsLinksBronnie’s academic websiteList of Bronnie’s researchBronnie’s blog Health Skills This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit toddhargrove.substack.com/subscribe

Ebonie Rio talks about her research on tendon pain: how they adapt to stress, how they can degenerate, why they hurt, and how to make them feel better.   This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit toddhargrove.substack.com/subscribe

Sports scientist Israel Halperin has traveled the world competing in and coaching elite level kickboxing and MMA. In this podcast we talk about why athletes perform better when they can choose their exercises, the complexity of assessing fatigue, the use of RPE to guide training intensity, internal versus external cues, and the replication crisis in sports science. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit toddhargrove.substack.com/subscribe