Sports Therapy Association Podcast

STA78 ‘Therapy Expo 2021 - Post Conference Reflections‘ with guests Mike Grice, Catherine Rimer & Stevie Barr.

For the first time in 77 weeks, there was no Sports Therapy Association Podcast episode last week because we were all at Therapy Expo 2021 at the NEC in Birmingham!

For those of who were able to be there with us, it was obviously a fantastic chance to put the 'body behind the face' after 77 weeks of purely social media interaction, but how was it as a conference? What was the content like? Was there actual information soft tissue therapists could take home with them and start implementing immediately? And were sufficient Covid-19 precautions put in place? 

To answer these questions and more, host Matt Phillips of Runchatlive is joined once again by Mike Grice, Director of Movement Therapy  Education, STA regional rep Catherine Rimer and STA member & Sports Massage Therapist Stevie Barr of Fit For Life.

AND if you missed Ep.76, be sure to listen to it as we chatted with Liam Richardson, Head of Content for Healthcare for Therapy Expo. We’ll be joined by Liam at a future date to discuss how as Content Manager he felt Therapy Expo 2021 went.

* * * If YOU have any feedback regarding this year's Therapy Expo, do please feel free to email matt@thesta.co.uk * * * 

And once again, a huge thank you to everyone who came and to the fantastic speakers who spoke in the afternoons in the Therapy Update Theatre:

WEDNESDAY

• 13:15 – 14:00
  The STA Podcast - 77 Hours of CPD Gold
  Speaker: Matt Phillips
  Creator of Runchatlive.com, Host of Sports Therapy Association Podcast
  
  
• 14:00 – 14:45
  Sports Therapists: Stop Pretending To Be Physios!
  Dr David Rhodes
  Senior Lecturer and Course Lead/ Head of Medicine and Performance - UCLan/Motherwell Football Club
  
  
• 14:45 – 15:30
  Safety-Net - How We Can All Be Part Of A Multidisciplinary Team
  Mike Grice, Director of Movement Therapy Clinics 
  
  
• 15:30 - 16.15
  Massage & Cancer: A Look at what The Evidence Says
  The Massage Collective
  Anna Maria Mazzieri & Matt Scarsbrook

THURSDAY

• 13:15 – 14:00
  Strength & Conditioning: Ask Me Anything
  Dr Claire Minshull
  Rehabilitation & Conditioning Specialist - Get Back To Sport
  
  
• 14:00 – 14:45
  Hamstring Rehabilitation: Effectively Rehabilitate the Most Common Sports Injury
  Tim Allardyce, Clinical Director & Founder of Rehab My Patient
  
  
• 14:45 – 15:30
  Endometriosis: How Soft Tissue Therapists Can Help
  Deborah Thurlow-Rowley of the Bedfordshire Support Group for Endometriosis UK
  
  
• 15:30 – 16:15
  Encouraging our aging population to get strong
  Chris Tiley, creator of nevertoooldtolift.com

Websites/Social Media

• Therapy Expo website
• Therapy Expo Twitter 
• Therapy Expo Facebook

Please Support Our Podcast!

If you appreciate what we do, please take a couple of minutes to leave us a rating & review on Apple Podcasts. It really does make all the difference in helping us reach out to a larger audience. iPhone users you can do this from your phone, Android users you will need to do it from iTunes.

All episodes are streamed live to our YouTube channel and remember all soft tissue therapists (non members included) are welcome to join us for the LIVE recording on Tuesdays at 8pm (UK time) on the Sports Therapy Association Facebook Page

Questions? Email: matt@thesta.co.uk

STA77 ‘Therapy Expo 2021 - Who To Watch?‘ with guests Mike Grice, Catherine Rimer & Stevie Barr.

In Ep.77 of the Sports Therapy Association Podcast, we take one last opportunity to talk about the up & coming Therapy Expo 2021, happening next week on Wednesday 24th & Thursday 25th at NEC Birmingham.

Joining host Matt Phillips is Mike Grice, Director of Movement Therapy Education, STA regional rep Catherine Rimer, and STA member Stevie Barr.

AND... in two week's time on Tuesday 30th of November in Episode 78 of the podcast, the same group will be back to discuss how the conference went!

We are obviously particularly excited this year as it will be a chance for listeners of the last 76 weeks of our podcast to finally meet up in person, in many cases for the first time face to face! Our podcast was born out of a demand created by the Covid-19 pandemic for communication, with therapists realising that much needed answers & support could be provided by talking with each other, as opposed to the traditional practice of keeping one's guard up in fear of losing clients!

Therapy Expo 2021 will therefore be a huge event on many levels. The Sport Therapy Association are the only professional association of our industry who have been at Therapy Expo every year since it first started in 2013, with a clear goal of providing face-to-face support for current STA members and be a clear, non biased source of information for soft tissue therapists interested in joining a professional association.

To celebrate the return of Therapy Expo in 2021, we have organised EIGHT presentations in the Therapy Update Theatre, which will be directly opposite the STA stand. The speakers are as follows:

WEDNESDAY

• 13:15 – 14:00
  The STA Podcast - 77 Hours of CPD Gold
  Speaker: Matt Phillips
  Creator of Runchatlive.com, Host of Sports Therapy Association Podcast
  
  
• 14:00 – 14:45
  Sports Therapists: Stop Pretending To Be Physios!
  Dr David Rhodes
  Senior Lecturer and Course Lead/ Head of Medicine and Performance - UCLan/Motherwell Football Club
  
  
• 14:45 – 15:30
  Safety-Net - How We Can All Be Part Of A Multidisciplinary Team
  Mike Grice, Director of Movement Therapy Clinics 
  
  
• 15:30 - 16.15
  Massage & Cancer: A Look at what The Evidence Says
  The Massage Collective
  Anna Maria Mazzieri & Matt Scarsbrook

THURSDAY

• 13:15 – 14:00
  Strength & Conditioning: Ask Me Anything
  Dr Claire Minshull
  Rehabilitation & Conditioning Specialist - Get Back To Sport
  
  
• 14:00 – 14:45
  Hamstring Rehabilitation: Effectively Rehabilitate the Most Common Sports Injury
  Tim Allardyce, Clinical Director & Founder of Rehab My Patient
  
  
• 14:45 – 15:30
  Endometriosis: How Soft Tissue Therapists Can Help
  Deborah Thurlow-Rowley of the Bedfordshire Support Group for Endometriosis UK
  
  
• 15:30 – 16:15
  Encouraging our aging population to get strong
  Chris Tiley, creator of nevertoooldtolift.com

Websites/Social Media

• Therapy Expo website
• Therapy Expo Twitter 
• Therapy Expo Facebook

Please Support Our Podcast!

If you appreciate what we do, please take a couple of minutes to leave us a rating & review on Apple Podcasts. It really does make all the difference in helping us reach out to a larger audience. iPhone users you can do this from your phone, Android users you will need to do it from iTunes.

All episodes are streamed live to our YouTube channel and remember all soft tissue therapists (non members included) are welcome to join us for the LIVE recording on Tuesdays at 8pm (UK time) on the Sports Therapy Association Facebook Page

Questions? Email: matt@thesta.co.uk

STA76 ‘Therapy Expo 2021‘ with special guest Liam Richardson, Head of Content.

In Ep.76 of the Sports Therapy Association Podcast, we take a behind the scenes look at Therapy Expo 2021, happening THIS month on Wednesday 24th & Thursday 25th at NEC Birmingham.

To do so, we are joined by special guest Liam Richardson, Head of Content for Healthcare for CloserStill Media, the company that as well as organising Therapy Expo since the inaugural 2013 event, produces more than 80 over events in the UK and abroad, including The London Vet Show, The Pharmacy Show, Learning Technologies, The Dentistry Show, and more.

In this episode, Liam guides us through topics including:

• How tricky was the decision to have Therapy Expo go ahead this year?
• What Covid-19 precautions have been put into place?
• How has Therapy Expo changed over the years?
• What goals do you put into place when selecting content?
• What are you particularly excited about this year?

Websites/Social Media

• Therapy Expo website
• Therapy Expo Twitter 
• Therapy Expo Facebook

Please Support Our Podcast!

If you appreciate what we do, please take a couple of minutes to leave us a rating & review on Apple Podcasts. It really does make all the difference in helping us reach out to a larger audience. iPhone users you can do this from your phone, Android users you will need to do it from iTunes.

All episodes are streamed live to our YouTube channel and remember all soft tissue therapists (non members included) are welcome to join us for the LIVE recording on Tuesdays at 8pm (UK time) on the Sports Therapy Association Facebook Page

Questions? Email: matt@thesta.co.uk

STA75 ‘Safety In Practice: Female Massage Therapist Episode‘

Despite it being 2021, we sadly STILL live in an age where Sports & Massage Therapists do not always feel safe during / after work. From inappropriate banter, comments & requests to stalking, attack & abuse, therapists within our industry are subjected to what many of us do not realise is shockingly common abuse, highlighting a total lack of understanding of what Sports & Remedial Massage is all about. 

In Ep.75 of the Sports Therapy Association Podcast, we focus on safety at work for Female Massage Therapists, though the subject of safety of work is obviously one that can affect all therapists regardless of gender.  

We are joined live by nine female massage therapists, each of whom was kind enough to share personal details of their experiences and join each other in thought & discussion. The extent of this issue rapidly becomes apparent, causing us to seriously ask ourselves why this topic is so often ignored or swept under the carpet.

Warning: The subject matter in this episode may cause distress, so please check who is around you when you are listening.

If you are affected by the content of this episode and would like support or simply a chat, please email: events@thesta.co.uk

Topics discussed include:

• Why do we need this episode? - with Catherine Rimer, Becky Carol, Heather Venables

• My experience: Heather Venables

• The importance of trusting your instincts & believing in yourself (shout out to Sue Richards, former Prison Officer & PE Instructor in female & male jails).

• Why do many of us choose to 'laugh off' these stories, make them comical?

• What processes can be put into place to help minimise risk? - with Dr Fiona Higgs, Verity King, Danielle Chandler

• Advice on what to do if a situation arises - with Emma Wardle, Anne Cochrane, Sharon Hedley

• Working in a clinic environment vs. working from home vs. mobile therapy

• You are not alone; the importance of communication.

• Though the topic needs talking about & safety procedures put in place, don't let this episode put you off a fantastically rewarding career in Sports and Massage Therapy.

• What to do if you need support or simply a chat: email events@thesta.co.uk

Websites/Social Media

• Sports Therapy Association Open Group (Facebook)
• Sports Therapy Association (website) 
• Affected by this episode? Want to chat? Support is here. 

Please Support Our Podcast!

If you appreciate what we do, please take a couple of minutes to leave us a rating & review on Apple Podcasts. It really does make all the difference in helping us reach out to a larger audience. iPhone users you can do this from your phone, Android users you will need to do it from iTunes.

All episodes are streamed live to our YouTube channel and remember all soft tissue therapists (non members included) are welcome to join us for the LIVE recording on Tuesdays at 8pm (UK time) on the Sports Therapy Association Facebook Page

Questions? Email: matt@thesta.co.uk

Ep74 ‘Massage 2021 - Year of Change?‘ with special guests The Massage Collective

In Ep.74 of the Sports Therapy Association Podcast, we welcome back to the show The Massage Collective - Anna Maria Mazzieri, Becky DeMott Horton & Matt Scarsbrook.

Though it's not quite Christmas yet, with Therapy Expo 2021 just around the corner it gives us an opportune moment to look back at 2021 at consider changes we have seen in the Sports Massage Industry over the year.

Anna Maria, Becky and Matt started the 'Massage Collective' back in October 2020 and from the outset proved to be key players in the promotion & facilitation of a shift in how massage therapy is presented within healthcare provision.

In this episode, Anna Maria and Matt (Becky could sadly not join us in the live studio) take a look at how far our Industry has come in a year, and what 2022 potentially holds in terms of goals, challenges and continued evolution.

Topics discussed include:

• Massage: 'It's All About The Nerves' 
• Elevator Pitch: What's changed in our understanding of massage?
• Working with Jack Chew and Physio Matters
• Limitations of randomised control trial study design
• Sources for Massage Therapists wanting to become more evidence based
• Communication & education amongst fellow therapists
• Therapy Expo 2021 at NEC Birmingham - November 25th and 26th 

Websites/Social Media

• Massage Collective on Facebook 
• Twitter: @am_mazzieri @beckydemott @TherapyEvolved

Enjoyed the episode?

Please take a couple of minutes to leave us a rating & review on Apple Podcasts. It really does make all the difference in helping us reach out to a larger audience. iPhone users you can do this from your phone, Android users you will need to do it from iTunes.

All episodes are streamed live to our YouTube channel and remember all soft tissue therapists (non members included) are welcome to join us for the LIVE recording on Tuesdays at 8pm (UK time) on the Sports Therapy Association Facebook Page

Questions? Email: matt@thesta.co.uk

STA73 ‘Evidence Informed Pilates‘ with special guest Raphael Bender

In Ep.73 of the Sports Therapy Association Podcast, we bring you an hour with special guest Raphael Bender, CEO of Breathe Education, a hugely popular Pilates training programme based in Australia, Melbourne.

With a Master’s degree in Clinical Exercise Physiology, a Bachelor degree in Exercise and Sports Science, a Diploma of Pilates Movement Therapy and full Stott Pilates instructor trainer certification, Raphael is host of the Pilates Elephants podcast, along with co-host Cloe Bunter.

In this episode, Raphael talks to us about the phases of focus change that Pilates has gone through since its inventor Joseph Hubertus Pilates first developed what he called "Contrology" in the early 20th century:

• 1960's - Joseph Pilates and his wife Clara operate their studio on Eighth Avenue in New York
• 1970's - the era of Romana Kryzanowska (one of Joseph's students)
• 1980's - Frank Philip Friedman and Gail Eisen (two of Romana's students) publish the first modern book on Pilates: The Pilates Method of Physical and Mental Conditioning
• 1990's -  A study by Profesor Paul Hodges of Queensland University Australia on deep abdominal muscle the transversus abdominis (TrA) coins use of the term 'core stability' and the idea that the “drawing in” of this muscle during exercise could provide protection against back pain. Using this information, Contemporary Pilates is born.   

Raphael talks us through the misconceptions that emerged with the era of 'Contemporary Pilates', and explains how pre-1990s Pilates had no mention of 'core stability' or focus on individual muscles. In showing the evolution of Pilates, he draws many parallels to the evolution of soft tissue and manual therapy. Many of the concepts introduced in the late 1990's regarding posture, alignment and their proposed connection with pain have since proved to be less valuable than once considered, if not plain wrong. Does it mean we have to throw everything we have ever learnt away? Of course not, we just need to refocus slightly and continue the great work we can do.  

Raphael is an awesome educator and we offer our sincerest thanks to him for being our guest in this episode. If you are a soft tissue therapist (or indeed a Pilates instructor) looking to keep up with the times, make sure you follow him, Breathe Education & the excellent Pilates Elephant Podcast, for which links are below.    

Websites/Social Media

• Website: Breathe Education 
• Website: Pilates Elephant Podcast
• Instagram: @the_raphaelbender
• Facebook: @BreatheEducation

Enjoyed the episode?
Please take a couple of minutes to leave us a rating & review on Apple Podcasts. It really does make all the difference in helping us reach out to a larger audience. iPhone users you can do this from your phone, Android users you will need to do it from iTunes.

All episodes are streamed live to our YouTube channel and remember all soft tissue therapists (non members included) are welcome to join us for the LIVE recording on Tuesdays at 8pm (UK time) on the Sports Therapy Association Facebook Page

Questions? Email: matt@thesta.co.uk

STA72 ‘Tokyo: Working With Elite Athletes‘ with special guest Poora Singh

In Ep.72 of the Sports Therapy Association Podcast, we have the great pleasure of chatting with special guest Poora Singh, Clinic Director & Osteopath at the Edgbaston Performance Clinic.

His experience of working with elite athletes includes:

• Senior Osteopath for British Athletics Team GB at the recent Tokyo Olympic Games.
• Part of the Medical Team for Team GB at the Rio Olympics in 2016.
• Lead Therapist for the PGA European Challenge Tour, working on the Race to Dubai Physio Unit with the World's Elite Golfers travelling worldwide to Golf events.
• Consultant Osteopath to Birmingham City Football Club for the last 11 years and for Aston Villa Football Club for 4 years, and others.

In this episode, Poora shares some of his great experience of working with elite athletes, including discussion on:

• the differences & similarities of working with elites vs recreational athletes
• the take homes from working with elites that can be put into practice in everyday clinic.
• the importance of multidisciplinary care, for both the patient and the therapist
• the role of confidence & an ego-free-approach in achieving your career goals
• the balance between evidence informed practice, patient expectation and what you see working in clinic.

This was a fantastic hour and we sincerely thank Poora Singh for his time. A truly inspirational clinician, educator and mentor - well worth following & reaching out to for advice. Also, be sure to keep an eye out for the "Trackside/Pitchside Therapy for Elite Athletes" workshop run with Mike Grice at Birmingham Movement Therapy

Websites/Social Media

• The Edgbaston Performance Clinic
• Twitter: @PooraSingh
• Instagram: @PooraSingh

Enjoyed the episode?
Please take a couple of minutes to leave us a rating & review on Apple Podcasts. It really does make all the difference in helping us reach out to a larger audience. iPhone users you can do this from your phone, Android users you will need to do it from iTunes.

All episodes are streamed live to our YouTube channel and remember all soft tissue therapists (non members included) are welcome to join us for the LIVE recording on Tuesdays at 8pm (UK time) on the Sports Therapy Association Facebook Page

Questions? Email: matt@thesta.co.uk

Ep.71 ‘NSAIDs - Uses & Abuses‘ with special guest Dr Fiona Higgs

As therapists, some of you will be aware of the controversy that surrounds the use of NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) like Ibuprofen and Naproxen, particularly if taken prior or during endurance events such as triathlon, marathons & ultras. The organizers of the Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc (UTMB) World Series recently announced that they will be banning the use of painkillers within 24 hours and during all races.

In Ep.71 of the Sports Therapy Association Podcast, we welcome back special guest Dr Fiona Higgs of move-well.co.uk, a Sport & Exercise Scientist, Educator, Sports Massage & Exercise Therapist and published scientific author.

During an online discussion about the UTMB announcement, Fiona raised the point that for some athletes, NSAIDs play a vital part in allowing participation, eg. those with physical disability and also athletes suffering from pain related to their menstrual cycle.

This developed rapidly into a discussion about how this decision by the UTMB happened without female members of the organisation not speaking up.

• Were there women involved in this management decision?
• Did they speak up?
• Were the many many female endurance runners who participate in these races asked for their input?
• Did they speak up?

We also discussed reports that when women are invited to speak on for example public podcasts or forums, the take up is often disappointingly low, including a surprising number of no replies to invitations.

• Is that women are too busy?
• Lack confidence?
• Have less desire to argue points in public?
• Or are we in danger of generalising and adding to gender stereotypes? 

We are keen to hear from anyone stimulated by this episode to add share experience and add comment, either anonymously or in person. Please feel free to email:
matt@thesta.co.uk
fiona@move-well.co.uk

Websites/Social Media

• move-well.co.uk
• Twitter: @fiona_higgs1

Enjoyed the episode?
Please take a couple of minutes to leave us a rating & review on Apple Podcasts. It really does make all the difference in helping us reach out to a larger audience. iPhone users you can do this from your phone, Android users you will need to do it from iTunes.

All episodes are streamed live to our YouTube channel and remember all soft tissue therapists (non members included) are welcome to join us for the LIVE recording on Tuesdays at 8pm (UK time) on the Sports Therapy Association Facebook Page

Questions? Email: matt@thesta.co.uk

STA70 ‘Back Pain: Cast Study Special‘ with guests Rob Beaven and Dave Elliott

In Ep.70 of the Sports Therapy Association Podcast, we welcome special guests Rob Beaven & Dave Elliott - hosts of The Back Pain Podcast, who share with us three of their own case histories involving clients with back pain, selected due to the fact that they each played a big part in their personal learning experience. Together, these case histories provide fantastic real life examples of how we can learn from the oversights & mistakes we as therapists typically make in the early days of our career, and how important self reflection is in helping us evolve and get better at what we do.

Rob was a guest back in Ep56 of the Sports Therapy Association Podcast in June, in which he discussed common myths relating to lower back pain, and it was a pleasure to have him back with fellow host of The Back pain Podcast Dave Elliott. Be sure to check out all episodes of their excellent podcast, available on all popular players and on their website.

Case Studies discussed focus on:

• Cauda Equina: the importance of screening 
• Safety-netting: advising a patient that their condition could worsen
• Trusting your judgement: not automatically giving the patient what they want  

Websites/Social Media

• The Back Pain Podcast Website 
• Twitter: @thebackpainpod
• Facebook: @thebackpainpodcast 
• Instagram: @thebackpainpodcast 

Enjoyed the episode?
Please take a couple of minutes to leave us a rating & review on Apple Podcasts. It really does make all the difference in helping us reach out to a larger audience. iPhone users you can do this from your phone, Android users you will need to do it from iTunes.

All episodes are streamed live to our YouTube channel and remember all soft tissue therapists (non members included) are welcome to join us for the LIVE recording on Tuesdays at 8pm (UK time) on the Sports Therapy Association Facebook Page

Questions? Email: matt@thesta.co.uk

STA69 ‘STA Catch Up‘ with Gary Benson, Ryan Smith and Becky Carrol.

In Ep.69 of the Sports Therapy Association Podcast, host Matt Phillips of Runchatlive is joined by STA founder Gary Benson for a Sports Therapy Association Monthly Catch Up, along with Ryan Smith, STA regional rep East Midlands and Becky Carol STA regional rep for South West of England.

Together they take a look at recent developments & changes within the Sports Therapy & Sports Massage Therapy Industries and ways in which the STA has/could help therapists to meet modern demands.

Topics discussed include:

• Shadowing
• Current recommended protocols for Covid19
• Therapy Expo 2021 (November 24th & 25th)  

Websites/Social Media

• STA website
• STA on Twitter @UK_STA
• STA on Facebook
• STA on Instagram @UK_STA
• Therapy Expo 2021 

Enjoyed the episode?
Please take a couple of minutes to leave us a rating & review on Apple Podcasts. It really does make all the difference in helping us reach out to a larger audience. iPhone users you can do this from your phone, Android users you will need to do it from iTunes.

All episodes are streamed live to our YouTube channel and remember all soft tissue therapists (non members included) are welcome to join us for the LIVE recording on Tuesdays at 8pm (UK time) on the Sports Therapy Association Facebook Page

Questions? Email: matt@thesta.co.uk