Healthy Wealthy & Smart

On this episode, Healthy Wealthy and Smart Combined Sections Meeting Scholarship recipient Becky Bouressa, SPT joins me to discuss CSM from a student’s perspective. Becky is a second year Doctor of Physical Therapy student at A.T. Still University in Mesa, AZ and is most interested in pediatric physical therapy and developing her niche through further clinical rotation experience. Stay tuned to the podcast for next year’s scholarship opportunity to attend Combined Sections Meeting 2018 in New Orleans, Louisiana! In this episode, we discuss: -How to prepare for and make the most of a conference experience -Becky’s conference and networking highlights from CSM -How technology can improve your next CSM experience and social media resources for students -Recommendations for students networking with seasoned clinicians -And so much more!   Combined Sections Meeting has ample opportunities for student engagement both clinically and professionally. Becky recommends preparing activities in advance to make the most of your conference experience as, “There is always an opportunity to learn at CSM.”   Becky encourages students to reach out to many of the lecturers from Combined Sections Meeting with follow up questions. She has found that, “People are happy to respond so don’t be afraid to [email]. They are open to answer any questions. They are there to teach.”   For more information on Becky: Hello! I am a second year DPT student at A.T. Still University in Mesa, AZ. I am originally from Wisconsin where I received my undergraduate degree from Marquette University in Milwaukee. As of now, I am most interested in pediatric physical therapy, but am open to all types and hope to develop my niche through further clinical rotation experience.    Resources discussed on this show: Combined Sections Meeting App Doctor of Physical Therapy Student Group on Facebook   Thanks for listening and subscribing to the podcast! Make sure to connect with me on twitter, instagram and facebook to stay updated on all of the latest! Show your support for the show by leaving a rating and review on iTunes!   Have a great week and stay Healthy Wealthy and Smart!   Xo Karen   P.S. Do you want to be a stand out podcast guest? Make sure to grab the tools from the FREE eBook on the home page! Check out my blog post on the Top 10 Podcast Episodes of 2016!  

On this episode of the Healthy Wealthy and Smart Podcast, I welcome Dr. Sarah Haag, Dr. Sandy Hilton and Dr. Jason Falvey for another installment all about sex. The was recorded live at CSM and we covered a wide range of topics including 50 Shades of Grey. Two of the four of us read the books…guess which two! Make sure to catch up on Part 1 and Part 2 and enjoy the show! In this episode, we discuss: -What’s normal female anatomy? -Graded exposure for women’s sexual health -Can interventions for sex be researched? -Sex education for people with low back pain -What you should and shouldn’t be inserting into the vagina -And so much more!   For a lot of people in today’s society, there is almost no body part which escapes insecurity. Sandy believes the variety of human forms should be celebrated and genitalia is no different. Sandy reminds us that, “The normal human variability is as variable as noses.”   Patients may question whether they should continue sexual activity that is accompanied by chronic pain. Both Sandy and Sarah emphatically agree, “sex should never be painful,” adding, “if it doesn’t feel good, don’t do it.”   Many chronic pelvic pain patients may have adverse experiences with sex. Sarah finds that a graded exposure treatment plan which is sensitive to psychological associations and fears will lead to better outcomes. Sarah finds, “It’s really important to have something that the person doesn’t feel the need to protect against.”   For more information on the panel: SARAH HAAG PT, DPT, MS, WCS CERT. MDT, RYT: Sarah graduated from Marquette University in 2002 with a Master’s of Physical Therapy. Sarah has pursued an interest in treating the spine, pelvis with a specialization in women’s and men’s health. Over the past 8 years, Sarah has seized every opportunity available to her in order to further her understanding of the human body, and the various ways it can seem to fall apart in order to sympathetically and efficiently facilitate a return to optimal function. Sarah was awarded the Certificate of Achievement in Pelvic Physical Therapy (CAPP) from the Section on Women’s Health. She went on to get her Doctorate of Physical Therapy and Masters of Science in Women’s Health from Rosalind Franklin University in 2008. In 2009 she was awarded a Board Certification as a specialist in women’s health (WCS). Sarah also completed a Certification in Mechanical Diagnosis Therapy from the Mckenzie Institute in 2010. Most recently, Sarah completed a 200 hour Yoga Instructor Training Program, and is now a Registered Yoga Instructor. Sarah plans to integrate yoga into her rehabilitation programs, as well as teach small, personalized classes. Sarah looks at education, and a better understanding of the latest evidence in the field of physical therapy, as the best way to help people learn about their conditions, and to help people learn to take care of themselves throughout the life span.   SANDY HILTON PT, DPT, MS: Sandy graduated from Pacific University (Oregon) in 1988 with a Master of Science in Physical Therapy and a Doctor of Physical Therapy degree from Des Moines University in December 2013. She has worked in multiple settings across the US with neurologic and orthopaedic emphasis combining these with a focus in pelvic rehabilitation for pain and dysfunction since 1995. Sandy has teaches Health Professionals and Community Education classes on returning to function following back and pelvic pain, assisted with Myofascial Release education, and co-teaches Advanced Level Male Pelvic Floor Evaluation and Treatment. Sandy’s clinical interest is chronic pain with a particular interest in complex pelvic pain disorders for men and women. Sandy is also pursuing opportunities for collaboration in research into the clinical treatment of pelvic pain conditions. Sandy brings science and common sense together beautifully to help people learn to help themselves.   JASON FALVEY PT, DPT, GCS, CEEAA: Jason is a board certified geriatric physical therapist with a strong interest in improving outcomes for both frail older adults and older adults with hospital-associated deconditioning. He has current funding from the Foundation for Physical Therapy (PODS 1 Award, 2015) and the Academy of Geriatric Physical Therapy to support his participation in ongoing research the use of a novel Progressive High Intensity Therapy (PHIT) training program on medically complex older adults after acute hospitalization. He also has funding from both the American Physical Therapy Association Health Policy and Administration Section and the Home Health Section to evaluate how physical therapists can reduce avoidable hospital readmissions. Lastly, Jason is collaborating with local long-term care providers to determine how physical functioning can be assessed and best managed to reduce rates of falls, ER visits, and hospitalization.   Resources discussed on this show: Jason Falvey Twitter Sarah Haag Twitter Sandy Hilton Twitter Pain Catastrophizing Scale Orebro Scale   Thanks for listening and subscribing to the podcast! Make sure to connect with me on twitter, instagram and facebook to stay updated on all of the latest! Show your support for the show by leaving a rating and review on iTunes!   Have a great week and stay Healthy Wealthy and Smart!   Xo Karen   P.S. Do you want to be a stand out podcast guest? Make sure to grab the tools from the FREE eBook on the home page! Check out my blog post on the Top 10 Podcast Episodes of 2016!  

LIVE from Combined Sections Meeting, this episode of the Healthy Wealthy and Smart Podcast features Professor Peter O’Sullivan discussing elements of the biopsychosocial model for chronic pain management. Peter O’Sullivan is Professor of Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy at Curtin University, Perth, Australia. In addition to his teaching and research at Curtin University, he works in clinical practice as a Specialist Musculoskeletal Physiotherapist (as awarded by the Australian College of Physiotherapists in 2005) in Perth, Australia. He is recognized internationally as a leading clinician, researcher and educator in the management of complex musculoskeletal pain disorders.   In this episode, we discuss: -Why you should validate your patient’s pain experience, understand their beliefs and fears, and disconfirm them through behavioral learning -The link between a practitioner’s language and self-efficacy -The informal and non-threatening art of Peter’s initial examination -Maintaining professional boundaries with chronic pain patients and avoiding burn out -And so much more!   One of the strongest influences to better treatment outcomes for chronic pain patients is trust in the therapeutic alliance. “You’ve got to build a strong therapeutic relationship,” Peter suggests if you want to see patient’s engage in their program and take more control over their pain.   Treating chronic pain patients can be challenging. With the right evaluation framework and understanding of neuroscience, Peter believes you can make instant impact for the patient. Peter stresses, “The nervous system is so damn plastic. If you can get to the heart of what someone is thinking and feeling. Validate it and take them on a journey—it can break that schema up.”   Peter is critical of therapeutic techniques in physical therapy when in fact a majority of patients would benefit from relaxation strategies and progressive loading. He suggests, “I think we undermine how smart the body is…someone who gets in trouble is someone who is too hyper vigilant and probably obsessed with their technique.”   For more information on Peter: Peter is the Professor of Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy at Curtin University, West Australia and is a Specialist Musculoskeletal Physiotherapist (as awarded by the Australian College of Physiotherapists in 2005). His private clinic is Body Logic Physiotherapy in Perth www.bodylogicphysiotherapy.com.au. Peter has an international reputation for clinical research investigating the development, multi-dimensional assessment and targeted management of chronic spinal pain disorders. He has also developed a management approach for chronic low back pain – called ‘cognitive functional therapy’. He has published over 190 papers with his team in international peer review journals, has presented the findings of his research at more than 90 National and International conferences and has run clinical workshops in over 24 countries. Peter’s expertise is linking of clinical research to the clinical setting. (see www.pain-ed.com)   Resources discussed on this show: Blink by Malcolm Gladwell NOI Group Body in Mind Pain-Ed Adriaan Louw   Thanks for listening and subscribing to the podcast! Make sure to connect with me on twitter, instagram and facebook to stay updated on all of the latest! Show your support for the show by leaving a rating and review on iTunes!   Have a great week and stay Healthy Wealthy and Smart!   Xo Karen   P.S. Do you want to be a stand out podcast guest? Make sure to grab the tools from the FREE eBook on the home page! Check out my blog post on the Top 10 Podcast Episodes of 2016!  

On today’s episode of the Healthy Wealthy and Smart Podcast, I welcome Miye Fonseca to talk about the top strategies you can implement to pass the National Physical Therapy Exam! Miye Fonseca is the Founder and CEO of Therapy Exam Prep, provider of online NPTE and NPTAE exam prep courses focusing on the clinical thinking aspects, test-taking strategies and addressing factors on confidence, fear and test anxiety. She has spoken at student conclaves about exam preparation from a clinical thinking and practical approach. In this episode, we discuss: -Miye’s top 3 most important components for success -Is taking practice exam after practice exam the best strategy for preparation? -Why you need to think clinically and treat exam questions as mini evaluations -How mindset can be the deciding factor to pass the NPTE -And so much more!   The shift from academics to the NPTE’s clinically oriented framework can be challenging for students. From Miye’s experience, she found that she was, “viewing the exam too academically and not like a practicing clinician. Patients aren’t textbooks and they’re not study guides either.”   The NPTE mirrors clinical practice forcing students to deal with ambiguity and use the little bit of information available to start an effective treatment plan. Miye reminds us that, “In the clinic, you’re not going to know everything and you have to grasp onto one particular thing to help that patient.”   With stress levels high, mindset can be a deciding factor in getting a passing grade on the NPTE exam. Miye challenges future test takers, “Are you going to beat the NPTE or are you going to allow that exam to beat you?”   For more information on Miye: Miye Fonseca, PT, DPT is the Founder and CEO of Therapy Exam Prep, provider of online NPTE and NPTAE exam prep courses focusing on clinical thinking, test-taking strategies and addressing factors on confidence, fear and test anxiety. She has spoken at student conclaves about exam preparation from a clinical thinking and practical approach. Miye graduated from the University of Southern California with her class being ranked #1 for PT programs in US News for the first time. When preparing for her own board exam, she felt there had to be a better way to prepare than just reading a study guide book as there were no online prep courses at that time. The idea of Therapy Exam Prep came about after treating in private orthopedic practice for years and recognizing how the exam had transitioned into being more integrated and clinical. Miye started the first online exam prep course for PTs and PTAs preparing for their own exam. She brings the clinical examples into studying and treating the exam holistically by easing fear, stress and feelings of being overwhelmed. With many practical and powerful test-taking strategies as well as receiving training by the FSBPT on writing NPTE format style questions, Miye has been able to help thousands of candidates be successful.   She has worked with recruiting agencies, PT and PTA programs as a curriculum consultant, and also written exam prep articles in publications and blogs.   Resources discussed on this show: Practice Exam Simulation Exam Mistakes Video Series Facebook Twitter LinkedIn YouTube Instagram Snapchat: momohime11 Therapy Exam Prep Email: miye@therapyexamprep.com   Thanks for listening and subscribing to the podcast! Make sure to connect with me on twitter, instagram and facebook to stay updated on all of the latest! Show your support for the show by leaving a rating and review on iTunes!   Have a great week and stay Healthy Wealthy and Smart!   Xo Karen   P.S. Do you want to be a stand out podcast guest? Make sure to grab the tools from the FREE eBook on the home page! Check out my blog post on the Top 10 Podcast Episodes of 2016!

On today’s episode of the Healthy Wealthy and Smart Podcast, Michael Matlack joins me to discuss the Physical Therapy Political Action Committee (PT-PAC). Michael Matlack is the Director of Congressional Affairs with the American Physical Therapy Association which advances the association's legislative priorities on Capitol Hill through federal lobbying, grassroots, and political action. In this episode, we discuss: -Physical Therapy Political Action Committee: What it is and what it isn’t -How the PT PAC attracts the attention of legislators -Important PT PAC initiatives in 2017 -Ways you can get involved with the PT PAC -What is up with all those ducks?? -And so much more!   The most effective way to get past the wall of congressional staff and lobbyists is through direct lines of communication from practitioners and patients. To elicit action from our members of congress, Michael believes, “They need to hear from our members, our patients and how healthcare policy affects them.”   One of the initiatives the PT PAC is targeting for 2017 is physical therapy as an alternative to opioid use for pain management. Michael notes that we need to educate legislators that, “We can manage pain. You don’t need to do drugs to do that. Physical therapy is the answer in many ways.”   Members of congress are there to represent their constituents and physical therapists can get involved in local advocacy and contact their own representatives to make the biggest impact. Michael advises, “What’s most important is to share what you do and how this healthcare policy affects your patients. That’s what resonates with members of congress.”   For more information on Michael: Michael Matlack is currently the Director of Congressional Affairs in the Government Affairs department of the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA). He oversees APTA’s lobbying team, PAC, and grassroots departments. Michael was employed by APTA on April, 1999. Prior to joining APTA, Michael was employed by the National Society of Professional Engineers as their Manager of Congressional Relations for two and half years. Michael was in charge of their political action committee, grassroots programs, and lobbying on education and research issues. Michael also worked at Pearson & Pipkin, Inc, a small consulting firm, the Republican National Committee and interned for former Congressman Richard Pombo (R-CA). Michael is responsible for all political action at the federal level. Michael is in charge of APTA’s political action committee, PT-PAC. In the 2015-2016 election cycle PT-PAC raised more than $1.6 million through the direction of Mr. Matlack. Michael received his Bachelor of Science degree in Political Science from North Carolina State University in 1993. Michael has been married to his wife Cynthia for twent-one years and has two children named, Summer and Kayla.   Resources discussed on this show: Email: michaelmatlack@apta.org Phone: (703) 706-3163 Legislative Action Center Federal Advocacy Forum PT PAC House of Delegates Private Practice Section Annual Conference 2017   Action App   Thanks for listening and subscribing to the podcast! Make sure to connect with me on twitter, instagram and facebook to stay updated on all of the latest! Show your support for the show by leaving a rating and review on iTunes!   Have a great week and stay Healthy Wealthy and Smart!   Xo Karen   P.S. Do you want to be a stand out podcast guest? Make sure to grab the tools from the FREE eBook on the home page! Check out my blog post on the Top 10 Podcast Episodes of 2016!  

LIVE from Combined Sections Meeting in San Antonio, Texas, Dr. Justin Moore joins me to discuss the American Physical Therapy Association’s initiatives for 2017! Dr. Justin Moore, PT, DPT, a physical therapist and veteran of both the profession and the association with more than 20 years' experience, leads the American Physical Therapy Association in the role of CEO. He has been with APTA for 18 years and has held numerous positions, including executive vice president of public affairs, leading the public policy agenda and payment and communications departments, leading its federal and state affairs advocacy departments and serving as the association's lead lobbyist on Capitol Hill. In this episode, we discuss: -The American Physical Therapy Association’s focus for 2017 -APTA’s renewed focus on building partnerships with others in the healthcare ecosystem -The role of advocacy within the physical therapy profession -Updates on APTA’s progress in new legislative initiatives and the regulatory environment -How can diverse sections within physical therapy work together to promote the profession as a whole -And so much more!   There are many opportunities for physical therapists to participate in advocacy and both individually and collectively impact the profession. Justin notes, “One of the things that physical therapy has is strength in numbers.”   The physical therapy profession nurtures ideal qualities for strong advocacy. Justin notes, “We are naturals at advocacy. We advocate for patients on a daily basis so advocating on that macro level and state capitols and on Capitol Hill is a great function for physical therapists.”   Dr. Moore’s advice to budding physical therapists is to utilize their energy and drive to, “Take more risks early.”   For more information on Justin: Justin Moore, PT, DPT, a physical therapist and veteran of both the profession and the association with more than 20 years' experience, leads the American Physical Therapy Association in the role of CEO. He has been with APTA for 18 years and has held numerous positions, including executive vice president of public affairs, leading the public policy agenda and payment and communications departments, leading its federal and state affairs advocacy departments and serving as the association's lead lobbyist on Capitol Hill. Moore also previously oversaw APTA's practice and research departments. He has been honored for his contributions to physical therapy and public policy by receiving the R. Charles Harker Policymaker Award from APTA's Health Policy and Administration Section and the Distinguished Service Award from APTA's Academy of Pediatric Physical Therapy. In addition, Moore has written, presented, and lectured on health policy, payment, and government affairs issues to a variety of health care and business groups across the country. Moore received his doctor of physical therapy degree from Simmons College in Boston, Massachusetts, in 2005, his master of physical therapy degree from University of Iowa in 1996, and his bachelor of science degree in dietetics from Iowa State University in 1993. He was honored by Iowa State University's College of Human Sciences with the Helen LaBaron Hilton Award in 2014 and the university's Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition's Alumni Impact Award in 2011, and he was the Family and Consumer Sciences' Young Alumnus of the Year in 2003. He also recently completed a 3-year term on Iowa State University's College of Human Sciences Board of Advisors. Moore was part of the inaugural Leadership Alexandria class in 2004 and served on the Northern Virginia Health Policy Forum Board of Directors.   Resources discussed on this show: Email: justinmoore@apta.org Justin Moore Twitter Justin Moore LinkedIn   Thanks for listening and subscribing to the podcast! Make sure to connect with me on twitter, instagram and facebook to stay updated on all of the latest! Show your support for the show by leaving a rating and review on iTunes!   Have a great week and stay Healthy Wealthy and Smart!   Xo Karen   P.S. Do you want to be a stand out podcast guest? Make sure to grab the tools from the FREE eBook on the home page! Check out my blog post on the Top 10 Podcast Episodes of 2016!

Thank you for listening to the Healthy Wealthy and Smart Podcast! In this episode I welcome Dr. Suzanne Shugg. Her mission is to change health care for the better by using insurance solutions, telemedicine and preventive care. Sounds familiar right? These are themes that come up regularly on social media and in discussions with fellow PTs and healthcare practitioners. In this episode we discuss: - How Endeavor Plus is shaking up the insurance market - Why and how insurance companies function - The steps telemedicine is taking to change the healthcare market - What it is like to be the only woman in the C-Suite - and much more!   More about Dr. Shugg: Dr. Suzanne Shugg’s mission is to change health care for the better by using insurance solutions, telemedicine and preventive care.   She currently runs a preventive Cardiology clinical treating metabolic and lipid disorders at NJ Cardiology Associates while teaching full time as a professor in the School of nursing at Rutgers, University. She also is the Co founder of Teleplus HealthCare, a telemedicine company that works to improve care and medical outcomes in cardiovascular and chronic care. Finally, she is the director of wellness at a new insurance and technology solution, Endeavor Plus. This solution has been designed to improve the health care choices and management for both the patients and providers while helping small businesses and hospitals save money. Dr. Suzanne Shugg received her Doctor of Nursing Practice at what is now Rutgers in 2010. She has specialized in Preventive Cardiology and clinical lipidology. Prior to that she has practiced in general cardiology and in primary care as a nurse practitioner. She has been published in the Journal of Clinical Lipidology “Low-density lipoprotein particle number predicts coronary artery calcification in asymptomatic adults at intermediate risk of cardiovascular disease”. She has published in the Federal Nurse Practitioner for, “Health Information Technology Presents New Opportunities for Advanced Practice Nurses”. Finally she has recently published in the NP Women’s Health Care Journal for, “Pregnancy’s effects on cardiovascular health: A woman’s first “cardiac stress test”. She has also written medical guidelines for Prevention of Cardiovascular disease and Cardiac Rehab. She has also written a guideline for professional’s treatment of LPa. In 2010 she became a Clinical Lipid Specialist accredited by the National Lipid Association and shortly thereafter was nominated as a fellow. She has given various lectures on Women’s Cardiac Health, Prevention of Cardiovascular Diseases, Nutrition and Supplements, as well as advanced lipid testing.  In addition, she was a consultant to set up a Preventive Cardiovascular Clinic at Oklahoma Heart She sits on various editorial and preventive medicine boards and in   her spare time she has done medical missions. When Suzanne is not working she enjoys being outside; running, kayaking, biking, scuba diving and hiking with her two dogs, Dudley and Maggie.  

Thank you for listening to the Healthy Wealthy and Smart Podcast! LIVE from St. Petersburg, Florida post the Graham Sessions, Dr. Eric Robertson joins me to discuss population health! Dr. Eric Robertson, the founder of PTThinkTank.com and PTCoop.org, is the Director of the Kaiser Permanente Physical Therapy Fellowship in Advanced Manual Therapy in Northern California, and Clinical Assistant Professor at the University of Texas at El Paso. He specializes in orthopaedic manual physical therapy, radiology, evidence-based practice, and the impact of technology on healthcare. In this episode, we discuss: -Population health: The management of total health across different groups and the life spectrum -Why prevention should be a primary focus in healthcare -How population health addresses important objectives such as health literacy, resource management and access to care -And so much more!   Innovators in healthcare reduce costs and improve quality care by intervening before complex conditions arise. Eric notes, “When you look at groups and systems that focus on population health by and large they are almost always focused on prevention.”   Physical therapists should start to think beyond their traditional role in the healthcare system and treat patients as a whole and expand their realm of care. Eric believes physical therapists should, “Conceptualize yourself as a primary care provider.”   Management decisions in population health are aligned to “[help] the patient enable their own pathway to health.” Eric believes prioritizing patient self-efficacy leads to better treatment outcomes and cost reduction.   For more information on Eric: PT Think Tank’s founder, Eric is the Director of the Kaiser Permanente Hayward Fellowship in Advanced Manual Therapy in Northern California and Clinical Assistant Professor at the University of Texas at El Paso, where he teaching musculoskeletal physical therapy management. He received his physical therapy education from Quinnipiac University and Boston University. He is board certified in orthopaedic physical therapy and is a Fellow of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Manual Physical Therapists (AAOMPT). Dr. Robertson is a frequent national speaker on leveraging internet technology in health care and evidence-based practice. Eric is also faculty for Evidence in Motion, LLC and an editor for the EIM Musculoskeletal Learning Academy. Eric has authored several web-based continuing education courses for professional associations and several post-professional educational programs. At Regis University, Dr. Robertson researches the link between low back and hip pain as well as the use of instructional technology with physical therapist education. Dr. Robertson has a passion for the use of technology in healthcare and is a frequent national presenter as well as the founder of PTCoop.org, a curated, open-access collection of physical therapy learning resources. He specializes in information management and the use of social media in healthcare. On the personal side, Dr. Robertson enjoys bonsai trees, hanging with his two weimeraners, fast mountain bike decents, the outdoors, and has a penchant for being interested in way too many things at once!   Resources discussed on this show: Eric Robertson Facebook Eric Robertson Twitter Kaiser Permanente Northern California Orthopaedic Manual Physical Therapy Fellowship and Orthopaedic Residency Kaiser Permanente Northern California Orthopaedic Manual Physical Therapy Fellowship and Orthopaedic Residency Twitter Kaiser Permanente Northern California Orthopaedic Manual Physical Therapy Fellowship and Orthopaedic Residency Facebook PT Think Tank   Thanks for listening and subscribing to the podcast! Make sure to connect with me on twitter, instagram and facebook to stay updated on all of the latest! Show your support for the show by leaving a rating and review on iTunes!   Have a great week and stay Healthy Wealthy and Smart!   Xo Karen   P.S. Do you want to be a stand out podcast guest? Make sure to grab the tools from the FREE eBook on the home page! Check out my blog post on the Top 10 Podcast Episodes of 2016!    

On today’s episode of the Healthy Wealthy and Smart Podcast, Andrew Vigotsky joins me to answer audience questions and translate biomechanics literature to clinical practice. Andrew is currently a Master's student in Biomedical Engineering at Northwestern University in Evanston, IL, concentrating on musculoskeletal biomechanics. His thesis work aims to elucidate the relationship between the shear-wave velocity of muscle, as measured using Supersonic Shear Imaging, and muscle stiffness in vivo. In this episode, Andrew answers: -What is your biggest surprise on engaging clinical practitioners with research evidence? -How much do you feel biomechanics matter when looking at injury and pain development across various exercises? -If you were building your own program to maximize muscle hypertrophy what parameters would you use? -What can we draw from EMG studies and what conclusions are fair to make? -And so many more!   The goal of biomechanics research is to ultimately translate results to the clinic and enhance how clinicians treat their patients. Andrew states, “It’s only after you find those answers that you really understand what your results mean and how your question can affect society.”   Despite the large amount of research done each year in university labs, very little reaches practioners. Andrew notes, “There is a time lag from research to practice in the medical field of about 17 years.” Andrew believes clinicians can improve this transmission rate through a greater focus on science literacy and improved dissemination of new findings.   Best evidence based practice encompasses all elements of a biopsychosocial framework. Andrew believes, “Biomechanics still matters… It’s just in what context does it matter. From the people that are purely biomechanical, the neurophysiological and the pain science stuff matters a lot and we can’t ignore that.”   For more information on Andrew: Andrew is currently a Master's student in Biomedical Engineering at Northwestern University in Evanston, IL, where he is concentrating on musculoskeletal biomechanics. His thesis work aims to elucidate the relationship between the shear-wave velocity of muscle, as measured using Supersonic Shear Imaging, and muscle stiffness in vivo. He is completing this work in two different labs: the Neuromuscular Biomechanics Laboratory and the Neurobionics Lab, under Drs. Sabrina Lee and Elliott Rouse, respectively. Before attending Northwestern, Andrew graduated with a BS in Kinesiology from Arizona State University (ASU). It was during those undergraduate studies that he started getting involved in research; Erin Feser supervised him in ASU's Motion Analysis Laboratory, where he carried out two data collections that resulted in three publications. The studies investigated the effects of load on good morning kinematics and EMG amplitude, the acute effects of anterior thigh foam rolling, and the validity of the modified Thomas test. In addition to Erin's mentorship, I also grew close to Dr. Rick Hinrichs, who taught me a lot about biomechanics both inside and outside of the classroom.  While at ASU, Andrew was also able to secure an internship under Dr. Bret Contreras while he was completing research for his Ph.D. Bret has had a profound impact on how he thinks about movement and sports science. Together, they have published over a dozen papers related to strength, muscle hypertrophy, and physical performance, and have much more in the pipeline. Moreover, he has introduced Andrew to other great minds and researchers, such as Chris Beardsley and Dr. Brad Schoenfeld. After graduating from ASU, Andrew completed pre-requisites for graduate school (i.e., math, physics, and engineering courses) at a local community college while splitting time between two laboratories: the Leon Root, MD Motion Analysis Laboratory, at the Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS), and the Human Performance Laboratory, at CUNY Lehman. At HSS, he worked under Dr. Andrew Kraszewski to develop a 3D-mesh model of the gluteus maximus. At CUNY Lehman, he worked under Dr. Brad Schoenfeld to train participants and collect data for a training study, and also designed and carried out a cross-sectional study that investigated the determinants of squat strength, which is currently in peer-review.   If you are interested in learning more about what Andrew has done or reading works that he has published, you can check out it out at ResearchGate, Google Scholar, PubMed, or my CV.   Resources discussed on this show: Andrew Vigotsky Twitter Movement Science Blog   Thanks for listening and subscribing to the podcast! Make sure to connect with me on twitter, instagram and facebook to stay updated on all of the latest! Show your support for the show by leaving a rating and review on iTunes!   Have a great week and stay Healthy Wealthy and Smart!   Xo Karen   P.S. Do you want to be a stand out podcast guest? Make sure to grab the tools from the FREE eBook on the home page! Check out my blog post on the Top 10 Podcast Episodes of 2016!  

On today’s episode of the Healthy Wealthy and Smart Podcast, Dr. Sharon Dunn, PT, PhD, OCS, the President of the American Physical Therapy Association, joins me to discuss the Combined Sections Meeting in San Antonio, Texas and the APTA’s vision for 2017. Dr. Dunn is currently an Associate Professor and Chair of the Rehabilitation Sciences Department at Louisiana State University and was most recently elected APTA President. In this episode, we discuss: -The #ChoosePT campaign and its progress in promoting physical therapy as a pain management alternative -The already record shattering CSM 2017 and what’s in store for attendees -Themes APTA is pursuing in 2017 including the “quadruple aim” and encouraging a “therapeutic alliance” -Looking forward to the 7 for 2017: New CPT Codes, MIPS Benchmarking, Continued #ChoosePT, Student Loan Support, Enhanced PTJ Online, Diversity Milestone, and Registry Revolution -And so much more!   Dr. Dunn takes a practical and straightforward approach to working with the White House. She says the best advice she received was to, “Show up and offer the solutions” to halt the growing opioid crisis with physical therapy.   Dr. Dunn is supervising the launch of the Physical Therapy Outcomes Registry which capitalizes on more clinical data to encourage policy makers to support physical therapy. Dr. Dunn stresses, “We need more data to justify a change in payment.”   To meet the 7 for 2017 goals set by the APTA, Dr. Dunn believes, “The challenge is always alignment of stakeholder roots towards the collective vision of the profession.”   For more information on Sharon: Sharon Dunn, PT, PhD, OCS received her BS in PT in 1987 from LSU Health Sciences Center in her hometown of Shreveport, LA. She has since completed a Master’s of Health in ’96 and a PhD in Cellular Biology and Anatomy in ’06. She has been a faculty member at LSU since 1990, currently as an Associate Professor and Chair of the Rehabilitation Sciences Department. Since beginning service through the professional organization as a student, Sharon has served as the State Government Affairs Chair; Louisiana chapter President, Vice President, and Delegate; and was most recently elected APTA President.     Resources discussed on this show: Sharon Dunn Twitter Combined Sections Meeting 2017 CSM Presentation: The Role of Physical Therapy in Exercise is Medicine: A Collaborative Symposium with the ACSM Sharon Dunn LinkedIn APTA Coding and Billing   Thanks for listening and subscribing to the podcast! Make sure to connect with me on twitter, instagram and facebook to stay updated on all of the latest! Show your support for the show by leaving a rating and review on iTunes!   Have a great week and stay Healthy Wealthy and Smart!   Xo Karen   P.S. Do you want to be a stand out podcast guest? Make sure to grab the tools from the FREE eBook on the home page! Check out my blog post on the Top 10 Podcast Episodes of 2016!