Podcast

STA141: ’Women’s Health & Lower Back Pain’ with special guest Michelle Lyons

In Part2 of this month’s ‘Focus on the Lower Back’, special guest Michelle Lyons, Women's Health Physio and creator of celebratemuliebrity.com, discusses how lower back pain in women can frequently be linked with pelvic floor muscle dysfunction, urinary incontinence, pelvic organ prolapse, the menstrual cycle and more. Michelle has also created a blog on her website here summarising our 'women with lower back pain' chat.

Other Episodes In This Series :

Ep140 - 'Understanding The Core' with guest Owen Lewis, co-founder of Born To Move.
Ep142 - 'Lower back Pain Case History Special' with guests Rob Beaven and Dave Eliott of 'The Back Pain Podcast', to be recorded live Tuesday 28th March 2023

Episode Timestamps:

0:00 - Intro
3:10 - Michelle Lyons - From Sports Medicine To Women's Health
6:10 - Muliebrity: The Art & State of Being A Woman
7:00 - Only 6% of Sports Science Research is done on females
9:20 - 20% discount on Michelle's Courses for STA Members! Details below!
12:20 - Studies show that 95% of women with back pain have pelvic floor muscle dysfunction
14:44 Questions that therapists shoud be asking female clients with back pain
19:50 The importance of breath work
23:30 In the Pilates era of 'tighten your core' there was actually a higher incidence of bladder leakage in Pilates Teachers!
28:33 Live Question: Is there a link between Hysterectomy and lower back pain?
31:20 Twenty percent of hysterectomies are unnecessary
33:40 Focus on Endometriosis
39:00 How soft tissue therapists can help current delays in diagnosis
45:00 Working with female athletes - tracking their menstrual cycle
48:00 Live Question: What are the indicators of a high tone pelvic floor?
49:10 The Coccyx Palpation Test to check for pelvic floor tone.
55:00 The Psoas: Traditional Over Focus
1:05:05 More information on Michelle's Courses and Social Media Links

20% Discount On Michelle's Courses - Valid until The End Of April 2023!
If you are an STA member and would like 20% off of any of Michelle's Courses, please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Useful Links:

Our sincere thanks to Michelle Lyons for giving up her time to be a guest on the show!

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. 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.

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.

Questions? Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

STA140: Focus on Lower Back Part 1: ’Understanding The Core’ with guest Owen Lewis

“Back to Basics: 10 Facts Every Person Should Know About Back Pain” was a 2020 editorial pubished in the British Journal of Sports Medicine (BJSM), with authors Peter O'Sullivan, Kieran O'Sullivan, Mary O'Keeffe, JP Caneiro, Ivan Lin, Samantha Bunzli and Kevin Wernli. In this episode of the Sports Therapy Association Podcast, Part 1 of this month's 'Focus on the Lower Back', special guest Owen Lewis (co-founder of Born To Move) expands on several of these '10 Facts' to highlight some of the common misconceptions that exist in the causes of lower back pain, as well as outdated narratives regarding 'The Core'.

Other Episodes In This Series :

Ep141 - 'Lower Back Pain and Women's Health' with guest Michelle Lyons of www.celebratemuliebrity.com, to be recorded live Tuesday 21st March 2023
Ep142 - 'Lower back Pain Case History Special' with guests Rob Beaven and Dave Eliott of 'The Back Pain Podcast', to be recorded live Tuesday 28th March 2023

Episode Timestamps:

0:16 - Intro
3:05 - Owen Lewis - From Anatomy Trains to Born To Run
8:40 - Born To Move - about the Workshops
13:00 - “Back to Basics: 10 Facts Every Person Should Know About Back Pain” - 2020 editorial
20:09 - 'Persistent back pain can be scary, but it’s rarely dangerous'
26:54 - 'Getting older is not a cause of back pain'
31:45 - 'Persistent back pain is rarely associated with serious tissue damage' and 'Scans rarely show the cause of back pain'
41:14 - 'Pain with exercise and movement doesn’t mean you are doing harm'
41:58 - 'Back pain is not caused by a weak core’ - Owen Lewis talks about his soon to be released book 'Beyond Core'
55:13 - 'Injections, surgery and strong drugs usually aren’t a cure'
56:30 - 'Back pain is not caused by poor posture'
60:40 - Born To Move - The Courses. Follow on Social Media.

Useful Links:

Our sincere thanks to Owen Lewis for giving up his time to be a guest on the show!

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. 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.

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.

Questions? Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

STA #139: ’ASK TIM 2’ with special guest Tim Allardyce

It’s the first Tuesday of a new month, so we bring you our regular series ‘Ask Tim’, recorded as always LIVE on the Sports Therapy Association Youtube Channel. Tim Allardyce, founder of Rehab My Patient clinical software, Group Clinical Director and NHS England Clinical Entrepreneur, answers YOUR questions on anything to do with the soft tissue therapy industry. If you have questions for future episodes, email me at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., OR come join us LIVE on the first Tuesday of the month and ASK TIM yourself, face to face!

What's happening in the rest of March?
In Ep140, Ep141 and Ep142, our focus will be on Lower Back Pain, starting MARCH 14^th with guest Owen Lewis, part of ‘Born To Move’ education providers (with James Earls, author of Born To Walk). Owen will be taking us through some of the common misconceptions in causes and rehab of lower back pain, as well as highlighting outdated narratives regarding the 'core'.

Topics in this episode of 'Ask Tim':

0:00 Intro
6:00 Latest episode of 'Women In Sports Therapy Association Podcast'
9:19 - Ask Tim Q1: As evidence informed practitioners, how do we compete with the “easy fix” claims marketed across social media but still maintain our ethics?
15:25 - Ask Tim Q2: I had a client who wanted me to take pictures before and after to see ‘postural changes’ (rolled/winged shoulder). There was a difference and I could have easily posted this as a win but ethics got the better of me. Should I have taken the photo for them?
21:30 - Ask Tim Q3: Hey Tim, do you have any tips on finding ways to use Sports Therapy abroad? I love experiencing new countries & cultures, but don’t know where or how to start looking.
29:07 - Live Question: You said in a previous episode that for therapists 2023 would be 'a year to survive not thrive'. Is this still your plan?
42:30 - Ask Tim Q4: I have read that shockwave therapy is very effective in treatment of tendinopathies, and that it can also help as treatment for chronic pain. Would you say it is worth the financial investment?
51:28 - Ask Tim Q5: As a Sports Therapist, how important is it to have experience in the sport of the client you are treating? How can you help & give advice if you don’t know the demands of that particular sport?
52:09 - How to follow/contact Tim Allardyce & Dr Fiona Higgs

Useful Links:

Tim Allardyce on Twitter: @timallardyce
Rehab My Patient on Twitter & Instagram: @rehabmypatient
Dr Fiona Higgs on Twitter and Instagram: @fiona_higgs1
Women In Sports Therapy Podcast on Twitter & Instagram: @UK_WIST
Dr Fiona Higgs email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Our sincere thanks to Tim Allardyce, Dr Fiona Higgs and Gary Benson for giving up their time to be guests on the show!

STA138: 'Mental Health Part 3: Lets Be Frank' with Jack Coward & Ryan Smith

In Ep.138 of the Sports Therapy Association Podcast, we bring you Part 3 of our 'Focus on Mental Health & Learning Disability', with special guests Ryan Smith & Jack Coward, creators & hosts of 'Let's Be Frank Podcast' – a mental health awareness podcast that gives men a platform and a safe space where they can stand up and speak out about their life struggles and mental health challenges.

Reminder Of Other Episodes:

Ep136 with James Chapman of AllAboutTheMind.com, an instructor for MHFA (Mental Health First Aid)
Ep137 my Alistair Beverley of TheLDPhysio.com (LD standing for Learning Disability)

Content Warning
The content on this episode is not suitable for all age groups. It includes real life stories of mental health, suicide and the effects of suicide on individuals and families. If you decide to continue listening and are affected by the content please feel free to email:
• This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
• This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Episode Timestamps:

6:20 - Content Warning
7:15 - How & why 'Let's Be Frank' started
8:30 - How much support is out there for men with mental health problems?
12:00 - 2021 & 2022: Over 10,000 suicides in the UK, two thirds of whom were men.
15:25 - How to make a difference
21:00 - Should mental health be taught earlier at school?
22:30 - A look at the podcast content
24:10 - Was it difficuilt to be so open in the podcasts?
29:38 - Support for ex-military
37:14 - How can soft tissue therapists look after their own mental health
45:00 - Duty of care for clients & patients
51:00 - The power of active listening
57:00 - Follow Lets be Frank & LDPhysio on TikTok and other Social Media!

Useful Links:

Website: https://letsbefrank.org.uk/
TikTok: ryanandjack_letsbefrank
Twitter: @L3tsBFrank
Instagram: @letsbefrankpodcastuk
Facebook Page & Lets Be Frank Private Group

Our sincere thanks to Jack Coward & Ryan Smith for giving up their time to be guests on the show!

STA137: 'Healthcare for People with Learning Disabilities' with guest Alistair Beverley

As a soft tissue therapist, how well equipped are you to assess an MSK condition for an individual with a learning disability? Would you fall prey to the all too common trait of 'diagnostic overshadowing', i.e. where symptoms of physical ill health are mistaken or attributed to that person's learning diasability?

In Part 2 of this month's 'Focus on Mental Health & Learning Disabilities', we are joined by special guest Alistair Beverley of TheLDPhysio.com, discussing how we as soft tissue therapists can help promote & improve healthcare services for those with learning disabilities.

Topics discussed:

3:40 - Alistair Beverley at Therapy Expo 2022
6:50 - Diagnostic Overshadowing - one of the biggest killers of people with Learning Disabilities
10:40 What causes diagnostic overshadowing?
15:15 TheLDPhysio.com - 'Jon & Al': a personal blog about a normal childhood growing up with an older brother with a Learning Difficulty.
19:40 Definitions - What Is A Learning Disability?
26:50 What can Soft Tissue Therapists do to help people with Learning Difficulties?
36:50 NEW ONLINE COURSE: 'Learning Disabilities for Mainstream Practicioners'- Saturday April 22nd - Register your interest by emailing: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
41:10 Putting the FUN back into therapy
52:20 Follow Alistair Beverley on Social Media

Useful Links:

Twitter: @theLDphysio
Instagram: @_theLDphysio_
Facebook: @TheLDphysio
TikTok: @_theldphysio_
Website: TheLDphysio.com

Our sincere thanks to Alistair Beverley for giving up his time to be a guest on the show! In Part 3 of this month's 'Focus on Mental Health & Learning Disabilities' (to be recorded LIVE on Feb 28^th), our special guests will be Ryan Smith & Jack Coward, creators & hosts of 'Let's Be Frank Podcast' – a mental health awareness podcast that gives men a platform and a safe space where they can stand up and speak out about their life struggles and mental health challenges.

STA136: ’Focus on Mental Health & Learning Disability’ Part 1 with guest James Chapman

Ep.136 of the Sports Therapy Association Podcast, we start this month's focus on 'Mental Health & Learning Disability', looking at how as soft tissue therapists we can play a part in the healthcare of patients & clients with mental health issues and / or learning disabilities, as well as keeping an eye on our own mental health.

This Month's Guests:

IN THIS EP.136 - James Chapman of AllAboutTheMind.com, an instructor for MHFA (Mental Health First Aid)
Ep.137 (live recording date Feb 21^st) - Alistair Beverley of TheLDPhysio.com, promoting & improving healthcare services for those with learning and lifelong physical disabilities.
Ep.138 (live recording date Feb 28^th) - Ryan Smith & Jack Coward, creators & hosts of 'Let's Be Frank Podcast' – a mental health awareness podcast that gives men a platform and a safe space where they can stand up and speak out about their life struggles and mental health challenges.

Topics discussed in this episode:

4:50 - A little about James Chapman, MHFA (Mental Health First Aid) and what MHFA can offer soft tissue therapists.
8:50 - Does the modern soft tissue therapist need new skills to be able to know what to do when faced with clients with mental health problems?
11:50 SOUND IMPROVES!
12:10 Are mental health problems becoming more common?
17:40 How do adults help educate the natural rebellious tendencies of the young?
24:00 The responsibility & opportunity that soft tissue therapists have
26:25 The skill of Active Listening
36:50 Safeguarding
43:20 The 'Stress Container' - a great tool for keeping an eye on mental capacity
61:39 How to get in touch with James Chapman, including a discount code for STA members!

Useful Links:

Our sincere thanks to James Chapman for giving up his time to be a guest on the show!