The STA Clinician Podcast

Ep.262: ''MSK Conferences: How Much Do They Affect Your Clinical Practice?"

In Episode 262 of the Sports Therapy Association Podcast, host Matt Phillips is joined by guests Aimi Healey-Bracher, Sports Rehab Therapist at Praia Sports Rehab and Lead Therapist at Cardiff City FC Women, and Tristen Attenborough, educator & founder of Move Massage Pro, to discuss: ‘MSK Conferences: How Much Do They Affect Your Clinical Practice?'.

Aimi and Tristan share honest experiences from the recent 'STA & Hands-On Hub Conference' in Exmouth, and also Therapy Expo, the UK’s largest annual multi-disciplinary event, which is returning to the NEC Birmingham this year on the 26th & 27th of November. They talk about what inspires them, what they implement into every day practice, and how connection, clarity and evidence-informed talks influence their work.

They episode considers both the benefits of MSK conferences, such as networking, renewed confidence, exposure to new populations and topics, and the potential drawbacks, including cost, size, and sales-driven stands, and how conferences may best be used as a jumping-off point rather than a step-by-step solution. 

Useful Links

• Aimi Healey-Bracher on Instagram: @praiasportsrehab
• Aimi Healey-Bracher Website
• Tristan Attenborough on Instagram: @movemassagepro
• Tristan Attenborough Website
• Therapy Expo Website
• Sports Therapy Association Website
  

   

Host Matt Phillips - Speaker at Therapy Expo
If you are a clinician who is interested in improving your communication skills, be sure to attend Matt Phillips' presentation at this year's Therapy Expo: '𝐌𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐟𝐮𝐥 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐬: 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐒𝐤𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐬 𝐅𝐨𝐫 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐖𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐑𝐮𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐬 (and anyone else for that matter!)'. Theatre B, 3.50pm on Day 1 (right before the wonderful Michelle Lyons!). 

Want to join the live recordings?
Episodes of the Sports Therapy Association podcast are recorded live every TUESDAY at 8pm on the Sports Therapy Association YOUTUBE CHANNEL and FACEBOOK page. Everyone is welcome - you do not have to be an STA member! If you cannot join us live, be sure to subscribe to the 'Sports Therapy Association Podcast' on all popular podcast apps to be notified when new episodes are available.

Interested in joining the STA?
Use the code PODCAST25 to get 3 MONTHS EXTRA when you join for a single year! In other words, £75 will get you 15 months instead of 12!  Only valid for NEW members. If you are Level 3 (qualified after 2014) make sure you choose the ‘associate member’ option.

Ep.261: ''Therapy Expo 2025 In Less Than A Month!" with Molly Benson & Charlotte Speer

In this episode, host Matt Phillips is joined by special guests Molly Benson, Therapy Expo Content Producer, and Charlotte Speer, Therapy Expo Show Manager. For those of you unaware, Therapy Expo 2025 is the UK’s largest multi-disciplinary event for professionals dedicated to preventing, treating, and rehabilitating musculoskeletal and neurological conditions, and the 2025 conference is happening in less than a month, on the 26th & 27th of November at the NEC Birmingham.

Molly Benson and Charlotte Spear discuss what’s new for this year’s event - new theatres (Business Advice and Practical Skills), expanded CPD and exhibitor line-up, fresh speakers, and the value of in-person learning. The episode also covers discount codes and the October 31st deadline for getting maximum discount, and the new one-day ticket option that can be purchased by calling the delegate phone line on 0203 978 1665 or visiting the Therapy Expo website.  Full details of the speakers and exhibitors can also be found on the website. 

Matt Phillips - Speaker
If you are a clinician who is interested in improving your communication skills, be sure to attend Matt Phillips' presentation at this year's Therapy Expo: '𝐌𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐟𝐮𝐥 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐬: 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐒𝐤𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐬 𝐅𝐨𝐫 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐖𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐑𝐮𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐬 (and anyone else for that matter!)'. Theatre B, 3.50pm on Day 1 (right before the wonderful Michelle Lyons!). 

Useful Links

• Therapy Expo Website
• Therapy Expo on Instagram: @therapy_expo
• Therapy Expo on Twitter: @therapyexpo
• Therapy Expo on Facebook
• Sports Therapy Association Website
  

   

Want to join the live recordings?
Episodes of the Sports Therapy Association podcast are recorded live every TUESDAY at 8pm on the Sports Therapy Association YOUTUBE CHANNEL and FACEBOOK page. Everyone is welcome - you do not have to be an STA member! If you cannot join us live, be sure to subscribe to the 'Sports Therapy Association Podcast' on all popular podcast apps to be notified when new episodes are available.

Interested in joining the STA?
Use the code PODCAST25 to get 3 MONTHS EXTRA when you join for a single year! In other words, £75 will get you 15 months instead of 12!  Only valid for NEW members. If you are Level 3 (qualified after 2014) make sure you choose the ‘associate member’ option.

Ep.260: '5 Things To Look For In An MSK Conference' with special guest Emily Gilbert

Happy Birthday to us! We’ve reached 5 years of weekly podcasts! 260 episodes, 260 weeks since we decided to record a show back in 2020 to help answer some of the questions that therapists had when they were finally allowed to go back to work after Covid-19 restrictions were lifted.

Since then, we have grown into around 2000 downloads a month, thanks to our amazing guests who give up their time to share their experience & wise words to help, as our tagline says, put some evidence back into Soft Tissue Therapy. We don’t shout, we don’t make you feel stupid, our goal is to simply provide a safe, authentic space for you, the listener, to pause, reflect, connect and grow.

On that note, thank you everyone who joins us for the live recordings, watches on YouTube or Facebook, or listens to the podcast, especially if you have left a rating or review. We couldn’t & wouldn’t do this without you! 

In this 5 Year Anniversary episode, host Matt Phillips is joined by Emily Gilbert of frameworksportsmassage.com, who 8 years ago made a huge career change by moving from Biomedical Science to massage therapy, and in her own words has never looked back. As an evidence-based mobile sports massage therapist, Emily has been sharing some great information on Instagram, including some reflections on her experience at the recent
'STA & Hands ON Hub Conference' in Exmouth, in association with the ST School, and in this episode Emily gives her tips on the ‘Five Things To Look Out For In An MSK Conference."    

Chapter Markers:

• 00:00:00 - Happy 5 Year Birthday To The STA Podcast!
• 00:02:21- Meet Emily Gilbert of frameworksportsmassage
• 00:04:59 - Reflections on the STA & Hands On Hub Conference
• 00:18:52 - Five Things To Look Out For In An MSK Conference
• 00:22:29 - Creating Welcoming Spaces
• 00:23:03 - Diversity in Therapists
• 00:25:10 - Approachability of Speakers
• 00:29:17 - Space for Discussion
• 00:31:02 - Understanding Conference Value
• 00:36:59 - Mindset for Networking
• 00:41:00 - Upcoming Events and Opportunities
• 00:48:12 - Mentoring for Massage Therapists

Questionnaire
What do YOU want from a CPD Conference? We need (and would truly) appreciate YOUR input, by kindly answering the questions on this questionnaire. There is also a link and QR code on the homepage of the STA website and  ST School Website.

Useful Links

• Frameworksportsmassage website
• Instagram: @Frameworksportsmassage
• Mentoring For Massage Therapist: @frameworktalksmassage  

Next Podcast Episode:

• 8pm Tuesday October 28th: Ep261: 'Therapy Expo 2025 In Less Than A Month" with special guests Molly Benson - Content Producer, Charlotte Speer - Show Manager, Vernon Smeed - Business Development Manager. 

Interested in joining the STA?
Use the code PODCAST25 to get 3 MONTHS EXTRA when you join for a single year! In other words, £75 will get you 15 months instead of 12!  Only valid for NEW members. If you are Level 3 (qualified after 2014) make sure you choose the ‘associate member’ option.

Ep.259 'Three Ways Clinicians Can Avoid Physical & Mental Burnout' with special guest Jenny Burrell

In Episode 259 of the Sports Therapy Association Podcast - '3 Ways for Clinicians To Avoid Physical & Mental Burnout' - host Matt Phillips is joined by special guest Jenny Burrell, Founder, CEO, Lead Tutor and Course Curator of Burrell Education.

With over 17 years in the business, Burrell Education is hugely respected in the industry, with courses designed to educate & support Women’s Health, Movement, Fitness, Physiotherapy, Soft Tissue Therapy and Coaching professionals. In this episode, Jenny Burrell talks about her latest course 'BRIEF COACHING', designed to provide the all-important skills to help health professionals avoid physical & mental burnout, skills that are all too often missing from traditional industry qualifications.

Jenny explains how shifting from a ‘fixer’ mindset to a partnership with clients, asking better questions, and setting clear contracts can protect both practitioners and patients. Also discussed is spotting red flags and referrals, pricing and workload adjustments, and why listening more can improve outcomes and career longevity.

Useful Links

• Burrell Education Website
• Brief Coaching Course (Save £100 if booked before 31/10/25)
• Burrell Education on Facebook
• Burrell Education on Instagram 

Interested in joining the STA?
Use the code PODCAST25 to get 3 MONTHS EXTRA when you join for a single year! In other words, £75 will get you 15 months instead of 12!  Only valid for NEW members. If you are Level 3 (qualified after 2014) make sure you choose the ‘associate member’ option.

Ep.258 'New Perspectives On Fascia' with Dr Claire Melanie Boucher and Dr Kyra De Coninck

In Episode 258 of the Sports Therapy Association podcast, entitled 'New Perspectives On Fascia', host Matt Phillips is joined by special guests from the University of Kent - Dr Claire Melanie Boucher, Lecturer in Sport, Exercise & Rehabilitation Sciences, and Dr Kyra De Coninck, Senior Lecturer, School of Sport & Exercise Sciences.

The episode looks at the differences between superficial and deep fascia, the limits of current imaging, and why effects of touch often involve fluid, neural and psychosocial factors as well as connective tissue.

Key takeaways for clinicians from this episode include:

• use a patient-centred, individualized approach
• recognise touch and gentle techniques can create a ‘window’ to enable movement and rehabilitation
• be patient—structural fascia changes are slow
• combine fascial work with movement, strength and broader care strategies.

If you are interested in remaining up-to-date on the topic of fascia, pay a visit to The Fascia Research Society website, where there is a wealth of information, including a new webinar series. 


Chapter Markers

• 00:00:18 - Introduction to New Perspectives on Fascia
• 00:03:04 - The Importance of Feedback for Conferences
• 00:04:34 - Meet the Researchers: Dr Claire Boucher and Kyra De Coninck
• 00:07:31 - Claire’s Journey into Fascia
• 00:07:41 - Kyra’s Exploration of Chronic Pain
• 00:13:13 - The Role of Nervous System in Fascia
• 00:18:46 - The Connection Between Systems
• 00:36:29 - Understanding Touch and Fascia
• 00:45:00 - The Interplay of Fascia and Pain
• 00:54:59 - Patient-Centered Approaches in Therapy
• 00:59:30 - Embracing Individualized Treatment
• 01:06:27 - Conclusion and Future Directions in Fascia Research

About The Guests
In 2023, Dr Claire Melanie Boucher completed her PhD at The University of Kent, titled “Can ultrasound imaging be used to detect adaptations in the thoracolumbar fascia of people with lower back pain?” She currently continues her research to investigate fascia.

Dr Kyra De Coninck's PhD thesis investigates how ultrasound imaging can be used to measure the differences in thoracolumbar fascia, in the lower back, in a range of populations with lower back pain. She has presented her research at conferences and scientific meetings in UK, Canada, Italy and Romania, and presented on the subject of fascia & tissue repair at the Defence Medical Rehabilitation Centre at Headley Court, the European School of Osteopathy and the Third International Fascia Research Congress in Vancouver.

Useful Links

• The Fascia Research Society

Interested in joining the STA?
Use the code PODCAST25 to get 3 MONTHS EXTRA when you join for a single year! In other words, £75 will get you 15 months instead of 12!  Only valid for NEW members. If you are Level 3 (qualified after 2014) make sure you choose the ‘associate member’ option.

Ep.257: 'Reflecting On The STA & Hands On Hub Conference' with Anna Maria, Gary, Andy & Matt

In this episode, we reflect on the ‘STA & Hands On Hub Conference’ that took place nearly two weeks ago on 20th & 21st September in Exmouth, in collaboration with the ST School. Host Matt Phillips is joined by Gary Benson, Founder of The Sports Therapy Association, Anna Maria Mazzieri, Director of The ST School, and Andy Hosgood, coach, mentor, and Unlocker of Human Potential.

Together, they discuss what factors are important for a successful educational conference for soft tissue therapists, in what ways the ‘STA & Hands On Hub Conference’ succeeded, and how it could potentially be improved in future events. There is also an in depth discussion on what you SHOULD be getting when you pay for CPD, and useful advice on how to plan ahead & save funds for events you do not want to miss.      

Questionnaire
What do YOU want from a CPD Conference? We need (and would truly) appreciate YOUR input, by kindly answering the questions on this questionnaire. There is also a link and QR code on the homepage of the ST School Website.

Next Podcast Episode:

• 8pm Tuesday October 7th: Ep258: 'New Perspectives On Fascia' with guests Dr Claire Boucher & Dr Kyra De Coninck

Interested in joining the STA?
Use the code PODCAST25 to get 3 MONTHS EXTRA when you join for a single year! In other words, £75 will get you 15 months instead of 12!  Only valid for NEW members. If you are Level 3 (qualified after 2014) make sure you choose the ‘associate member’ option.

Ep256: 'How To Read A Research Paper' with special guest Ben Cormack

The tagline of the Sports Therapy Association Podcast, heard at the beginning of every episode, is "Putting The Evidence Back Into Soft Tissue Therapy". One way of becoming more evidence informed is to keep up with the latest research, but how easy is it to understand a research paper, to be able to judge its quality, reliability, and significance in what we practice in clinic?

In this episode, host Matt Phillips, freshly back from the recent 'Hands On Hub & STA Conference' in Exmouth, is joined by special guest Ben Cormack, founder of Cor-Kinetic, and co-founder of the Better Clinician Project. Ben explains how clinicians can approach and interpret research papers, breaking them down into study types (RCTs, observational, systematic reviews), key method checkpoints (sample size calculations, blinding, recruitment), and how to read results (p‑values, effect sizes, between‑group vs within‑group changes). It's a super valuable listen to any soft tissue therapist who finds the idea of reading a research paper slightly daunting, and also help the already confident therapist go a little deeper into potential red flags that suggest how the study could have been done better. 

The episode also gives information on Cor-Kinetic courses, including the online 'Mentorship Program' that starts on September 29th, and 'The Better Clinician Project'.  

Ben Cormack is a musculoskeletal therapist with a clinical background/qualification in sports therapy, rehabilitation & exercise,  stretching back over 20 years, with a special interest in pain and its relation to movement. His Cor-Kinetic courses have run in over 25 countries globally, working with individual health care professionals, clinics, health services & hospitals, elite sports teams & pain services/organisations. 

Chapter Markers

• 00:00:18 - Welcome to Episode 256 of the Sports Therapy Association Podcast
• 00:01:28 - Reflecting on the Hands On Hub & STA Conference
• 00:02:28 - Supporting Evidence-Based Practice
• 00:03:38 - Introducing Ben Cormack
• 00:04:31 - How to approach Read a Research Paper
• 00:05:48 - Challenges of Understanding Research
• 00:09:10 - Identifying Quality Research Papers
• 00:09:54 - The Importance of Evidence in Therapy
• 00:11:21 - Diving into Research Methodology
• 00:21:37 - Understanding Research Results
• 00:44:10 - Discussing Research Limitations
• 00:53:50 - Announcing Cor-kinetic Mentorship Programs
• 00:57:50 - Closing Remarks and Future Events

Useful Links

• Cor-Kinetic Website
• Instagram: @Corkinetic
• Facebook: @Corkinetic

Next Podcast Episode:

• 8pm Tuesday September 30th: 'Reflection On The Hands On Hub & STA Conference' with Anna Maria Mazzieri, Andy Hosgood and Gary Benson.  

Interested in joining the STA?
Use the code PODCAST25 to get 3 MONTHS EXTRA when you join for a single year! In other words, £75 will get you 15 months instead of 12!  Only valid for NEW members. If you are Level 3 (qualified after 2014) make sure you choose the ‘associate member’ option.

Ep.255 'Rethinking Anatomy at the STA South West Conference' with James Earls of Born To Move

We reach the last episode before the ‘STA South West & Hands On Hub Conference’ taking place in Exmouth on September 20th and 21st, in collaboration with the ST School. Host Matt Phillips is joined by conference speaker James Earls, Writer, Lecturer & Bodyworker, and founder of Born to Move, who discusses the gains we could all make by re-addressing the way in which we traditionally view anatomy, as well as details of his presentation at the conference: "The Knee: Why Do We Have It All Back To Front?" 

If you are listening to this podcast before the weekend of September 20th , you can still get tickets and full details of all 19 speakers at https://thestschool.co.uk/hands-on-hub-sta-conference-2025/. STA members have a discount code which can be found in the latest STA Newsletter & Facebook Members page.

James also discusses in this episode details of the 'Anatomy al Aperitivo' that he is giving on the Friday before the conference (September 19th) - an exclusive, intimate look at the wonders of the foot, along with a glass of wine and delicious bites at local Exmouth Deli: The Italian Store. Only 20 tickets are available, and you must already be going to the conference. Book at https://thestschool.co.uk/events/anatomy-al-aperitivo/  

Also mentioned in the episode are details of the workshop that host Matt Phillips is giving at the conference:

• “Mindful Strides: Communication Skills When Working With Runners”
• 10.30am Sunday 21st in the Main Theatre.  

Useful Links

• Born To Move Website
• STA & Hands On Hub Conference: Details & Tickets

Next Podcast Episode:

• 8pm Tuesday September 23rd: 'How To Read & Understand Research Papers' with special guest Ben Cormack 

Interested in joining the STA?
Use the code PODCAST25 to get 3 MONTHS EXTRA when you join for a single year! In other words, £75 will get you 15 months instead of 12!  Only valid for NEW members. If you are Level 3 (qualified after 2014) make sure you choose the ‘associate member’ option.

Ep.254 'Evidence Informed Practice In Massage Therapy' with Anna Maria Mazzieri of The ST School

We continue our countdown to the STA South West Conference happening in Exmouth this September 20th and 21st, in collaboration with the ST School and Hands ON Hub. Host Matt Phillips is joined by Director of The ST School Anna Maria Mazzieri, who discusses what evidence-informed practice means in Massage Therapy.  

The episode explores topics including how trauma and chronic pain interact, the somatic effects of touch, and practical, evidence‑based approaches to working with scars. Anna Maria talk about the online CPD Webinar offered by The ST School: "Evidence Based Practice in Massage Therapy: What Social Media Doesn’t Tell You!" (see link in notes), including some of the surprises & benefits that attendees typically experience. Also discussed is the value of reflective CPD, and how therapists can better communicate, debate and apply research in clinic and online forums.

Anna Maria Mazzieri is giving the following presentations at the conference in September: 

• Sat Sep 20th 3.10pm Main Theatre: "When Pain Echoes Trauma & When Massage Echoes Embodiment"
• Sun Sep 21st 9.00am Breakout Room: "Massage & Manual Therapy for Scars"

Full details & conference tickets are available at https://thestschool.co.uk/hands-on-hub-sta-conference-2025/. STA members have a discount code which can be found in the latest STA Newsletter & Facebook Members page.

Useful Links

• CPD Webinar "Evidence Based Practice in Massage Therapy"
• Website: The ST School
• Conference Details & Tickets

Next Podcast Episode:

• Tuesday September 16th 8pm: James Earls, Writer, Lecturer & Bodyworker, and founder of Born to Move.

Interested in joining the STA?
Use the code PODCAST25 to get 3 MONTHS EXTRA when you join for a single year! In other words, £75 will get you 15 months instead of 12!  Only valid for NEW members. If you are Level 3 (qualified after 2014) make sure you choose the ‘associate member’ option.

Ep.253 'Countdown To STA South West Conference' with speakers Dr Claire Minshull & Serena Simmons

In Ep.253, we continue our countdown to the STA South West Conference that is happening in Exmouth this September 20th and 21st, in collaboration with the ST School and Hands ON Hub. Host Matt Phillips is joined by conference speakers Dr Claire Minshull, Rehab & Conditioning Specialist & Founder of Get Back To Sport, and Serena Simmons, Chartered Psychologist & Founder of The Psychology School.

Together they discuss the importance & value of clinicians combining exercise, education and psychological skills in practice, with strategies to improve patient adherence and practical takeaways from real case studies. For details on Serena Simmons ‘Behaviour Change Psychology for Therapists’ course and Dr Claire Minshull's 'Strength & Conditioning for Therapists' course, see website links below. 

At the conference, Dr Claire Minshull will be presenting on Saturday Sep 20th 10.30am in The Main Theatre: "Strength & Conditioning For Preserving Joint Health". Serena Simmons at 12.15pm: "Beyond the Treatment Couch: The Hidden Power of Words, Belief, and Behaviour". Then, at 1.40pm, Claire and Serena will be joining each other in the Breakout Room to deliver "Why Rehab Needs A Joint Approach".

Full details & conference tickets are available at Hands On Hub & STA Conference 2025 - The ST School. STA members have a discount code which can be found in the latest STA Newsletter & Facebook Members page.

Useful Links

• Get Back Top Sport Website
• Instagram: @GetBackToSport
• The Psychology School Website
• Instagram: @ThePsychologySchool.co

Next Podcast Episodes:

• Tuesday September 9th 8pm: Anna Maria Mazzieri, Soft Tissue Therapist & Director of The ST School.
• Tuesday September 16th 8pm: James Earls, Writer, Lecturer & Bodyworker, and founder of Born to Move.

Interested in joining the STA?
Use the code PODCAST25 to get 3 MONTHS EXTRA when you join for a single year! In other words, £75 will get you 15 months instead of 12!  Only valid for NEW members. If you are Level 3 (qualified after 2014) make sure you choose the ‘associate member’ option.