Move Forward Radio

Attention: Our podcast, “Move Forward Radio,” has moved! To keep listening, go to the iTunes store and search “Move Forward Radio,” where you’ll find an update feed with all previous episodes, or visit MoveForwardPT.com.

June 15, 2017: The fatigue felt by people with cancer is so common that it has a name. Cancer-related fatigue isn’t unique to 1 type of cancer or cancer treatment, and it can occur even after treatment is complete.  When cancer-related fatigue strikes, it’s often extremely debilitating, significantly impacting quality of life, and creating a level of fatigue that rest alone cannot address. Although it might seem counterintuitive, one of the most effective ways to manage cancer-related fatigue is through exercise. In this episode of Move Forward Radio, a physical therapist explains why.  Learn more about how exercise helps during cancer treatment on MoveForwardPT.com. Download the podcast on iTunes.

May 31, 2017: Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disorder that causes joint inflammation and pain. Unlike osteoarthritis, which is the result of wear and tear on a specific joint, the effects of rheumatoid arthritis can be felt across a person’s entire body. In this episode of Move Forward Radio, a physical therapist discusses what we know about rheumatoid arthritis, which affects approximately 1% of Americans, and how to effectively manage its effects. Read more about rheumatoid arthritis on MoveForwardPT.com. Download the podcast on iTunes.

May 11, 2017: Osteoarthritis is a degenerative joint disease that affects somewhere between 27 million and 30 million Americans. It’s a chronic condition that can cause pain and stiffness. Osteoarthritis can make movement difficult, and yet one of the best ways to manage osteoarthritis is to move. In this episode of Move Forward Radio, we’ll talk about hip and knee osteoarthritis with physical therapist Mary Ann Wilmarth, who doesn’t just treat people with the condition, but lives with it too. Read more about hip osteoarthritis and knee osteoarthritis.  Download the podcast on iTunes.

April 27, 2017: These days, whenever ESPN injury analyst Stephania Bell meets an elite athlete who has undergone surgery to perform core muscle repair, she has a good idea about who might have performed the procedure. Dr. William Meyers has been at the forefront of core muscle injury treatment dating back to the late 1980s, when he pioneered efforts to diagnose and treat this problem that somehow gained popular awareness under a different and misleading name: sports hernia. In this episode of Move Forward Radio, Dr Meyers and Stephania provide a fascinating overview of this still sometimes hard to diagnose problem that can hinder an athlete’s power and explosiveness. Read more about core muscle injury at MoveForwardPT.com. Download the podcast on iTunes.

April 13, 2017: As the lead team physician for the Washington Nationals and the head team physician for the Washington Redskins, Dr. Robin West, Chairman of Inova Sports Medicine, knows what good teamwork looks like – and not just on the field of play. To make sure that Nationals and Redskins players return from injury and avoid it in the first place, she constantly collaborates with other members of the health care team, including physical therapists, athletic trainers, surgeons, and more. In this episode of Move Forward Radio, Dr West describes her own experiences with collaborative care, both as a provider and as a patient. She also gives tips for how patients should navigate their journey through health care’s increasingly collaborative environment. Download the podcast on iTunes. Read more about physical therapy at MoveForwardPT.com.

March 23, 2017: Public understanding of concussion risks has improved significantly in recent years, due in large part to increased media attention about head injuries in football. And while many Americans now know to take concussion symptoms seriously, most probably don’t know what to expect when it comes to concussion treatment and management. Treating concussions today is typically a collaborative effort, involving professionals from across health care settings. In this episode of Move Forward Radio, a physical therapist Jessica Schwartz—who has also been on the patient side of the concussion experience—shares what you need to know about concussions today, and how treatment is evolving. Download the podcast on iTunes. Read more about concussion on MoveForwardPT.com.

March 10, 2017: Cerebral palsy (CP) is the most common motor disability in childhood. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, each year about 10,000 babies born in the United States will develop cerebral palsy.  CP is incurable and permanent, but it isn’t life threatening or progressive. It is incredibly unique to each individual. Some may be able to walk, while others cannot. Some have significant intellectual disabilities, and others are not affected in the same way.  In this episode of Move Forward Radio, Brittany Clouse, who writes about her experiences for Cerebral Palsy News Today, describes how she has lived with CP, and how it does not define her.  Download the podcast on iTunes. Read more about cerebral palsy on MoveForwardPT.com.  

February 23, 2017: It’s not often that physical therapists are mentioned in the same sentence as paratroopers, stunt professionals, and martial arts instructors, but that’s what happened in a January 2017 article from the New York Times titled “The Right Way to Fall.” According to the article, falls cause more than one-third of injury-related emergency room visits, and while avoiding falls in the first place is ideal, falling safely when gravity strikes is second best. In this episode of Move Forward Radio, a physical therapist who was interviewed for the New York Times article, discusses what falling safely means, what it entails, and provides tips to help people fall safely. Download the podcast on iTunes. Learn more about falls at MoveForwardPT.com.

February 9, 2017: A recent New York Times article “How to Run Like a Girl,” explored the differences between women and men who run. Running mechanics is a new area of research. Much is still unknown, but this much is clear: women and men do tend to run differently. One of the experts featured in the story is physical therapist Blaise Williams, PT, PhD, who studies running mechanics at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU). In this episode of Move Forward Radio, Williams discusses how women and men run differently, and what’s in the future for running science. Download the podcast on iTunes. Read more about how physical therapists can help runners at MoveForwardPT.com.  

January 26, 2017: When Elizabeth first walked into the Mayo Clinic’s Pediatric Pain Rehabilitation Center and saw someone faint right in front of her, she knew that she was in the right place.  At this point Elizabeth had been struggling with chronic pain and a condition called postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome, or POTS, for several years. Her symptoms included migraine headaches, vision and hearing problems, and fainting also became a daily occurrence for her.  Her symptoms were so severe, they forced Elizabeth out of school, into bed, and out from the activities that she loved. Her friendships dissolved, and she struggled to find effective treatments for her numerous ailments.  That’s when she found the 1-month treatment program at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. Her intensive care included daily physical therapy treatments and significant patient education. Gradually, she became stronger and stronger and in less pain. Her recovery was so significant and profound, Elizabeth is now a sophomore in college studying to become a physical therapist.  Download the podcast on iTunes. Read more about Elizabeth’s transformative story. Read more about chronic pain.

January 12, 2017: In 1993, Clay Walker’s music career was taking off with his debut, “What’s It To You,” at the top of Billboard’s Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart. He followed it up the next year with his single “Live Until I Die.” But in 1996, his future seemed to darken when he was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis.  Multiple sclerosis, or MS, is a chronic disease of the central nervous system. It affects approximately 2.5 million people worldwide, but the symptoms are unpredictable and vary from person-to-person, and over time. Clay was told to expect to be in a wheelchair in 4 years, and dead in 8 years.  In this episode of Move Forward Radio, Clay discusses what it was like to receive that prognosis and then to defy it, learning to manage his chronic disease in order to pursue his career and his other passions. It’s a daily journey he takes with faith, appropriate medication, and a commitment to his physical therapy program.  Download the podcast on iTunes. Read more about multiple sclerosis at MoveForwardPT.com. You can learn more about Clay Walker, information about his Band Against MS Foundation, as well as his upcoming tour dates at claywalker.com.

December 19, 2016: What you might know about Gabrielle “Gabby” Reece is that she is a former professional beach volleyball player, a TV personality, a New York Times bestselling author, a model, and a fitness advocate.  She embodies what it means to live a full and active life.  What you might not know about Gabby is that she has an artificial knee.  In April 2016, after many years of living with the pain from an arthritic knee, Gabby underwent knee replacement surgery. Since then, Gabby has been on the road to recovery, with the goal of not only returning to her physically active lifestyle, but also improving it.  It’s a journey she’s making with the help of physical therapy and, except for during the period immediately following surgery, without the use of prescription opioids. In this episode of Move Forward Radio, Gabby discusses her approach to staying in shape, the difference between discomfort and pain, her opioid-free approach to pain management, and her goals for the future.  Download the podcast on iTunes. Read more about total knee replacement on MoveForwardPT.com.

December 8, 2016: Charlie Plaskon spent most of his life thinking that recreational running was a foolish way to exercise. That’s why he didn’t actually try it until he retired at the age of 55. Quickly, his opinion began to change. Not quite 2 decades later, Charlie has completed more than 50 full 26.2 marathons and 8 full Ironman triathlons. And despite meniscal tears in both knees, multiple hernias, a rotator cuff tear, and a back injury that left him unable to walk, the now 73-year-old is determined to keep going. These are all impressive accomplishments considering his age, and that he is legally blind. In this episode of Move Forward Radio, Charlie discusses how he turned to physical therapy to help him return to an active lifestyle, and shares his story about how his vision has never gotten in the way of accomplishing his goals. Download the podcast on iTunes. Read more about Charlie’s transformative story. Read more about spinal stenosis.

November 22, 2016: When Morgan Hay broke her big toe, she assumed it was a small injury. Weeks later, however, her foot was still discolored and swollen, and the pain was so intense that she passed out. Morgan was referred to a neurologist, who prescribed numerous medications, including opioids, to mask the sensation of pain. The quick-fix approaches created more problems, and Morgan felt like she was living outside of her own body.  She was ultimately diagnosed with complex regional pain syndrome and started working with a physical therapist, and regaining control of her pain.  In this episode of Move Forward Radio, Morgan shares her journey with extreme pain, and details how physical therapy is helping her along the way. Read more about Morgan's transformative story. Read more about complex regional pain disorder. Listen to Move Forward Radio or download the podcast on iTunes.