Let's Get Physical (Therapy)
Questions or podcast suggestions? Email us at PTpodcast@medstar.net.
Episodes
201 episodes
ACL Series: Rebuild Stronger: ACL Recovery, RED-S, and the Power of Nutrition with Grace Duffy, RD
ACL rehab isn’t just about what happens in the clinic—it’s also about what happens in the kitchen. In this episode, we’re joined by registered dietitian Grace Duffy from Fit with Food to break down the critical role nutrition plays ...
ACL Series: What PTs Get Wrong About ACL Rehab with Sports PT Jordan Cargile
ACL rehab is a grueling journey, but the hard truth is that standard physical therapy protocols often fall short. In this episode, we’re breaking down what physical therapists get wrong, from rushing the biological healing process and skipping ...
ACL Series: Using Force Plates to Guide Rehab and Return to Play with Dylan Carmody-Ruotolo, PT
In this episode, I sit down with Dylan Carmody, PT, to discuss how force plate testing can be used throughout the rehabilitation process to provide objective data and guide clinical decision-making. We talk about what force plates actually meas...
ACL Series: The Missing Link in ACL Rehab: Working with a Strength & Conditioning Coach, with S&C Coach, Reuben Green
The surgery is only the beginning. For an athlete, the real battle happens in the months of grueling work that follow, bridging the gap between "medically cleared" and "game-ready." In this episode, we sit down with a premier Streng...
ACL Series: Living with a torn ACL: All About Copers with PT Samantha Kind and ATC Kellie Loehr
An ACL tear doesn’t automatically mean surgery, and not every ACL-deficient athlete is the same. In this episode, I’m joined by Kellie Loehr, ATC, who shares her personal journey of tearing her ACL and choosing non-operative management, alongsi...
ACL Series: When an ACL Isn’t Alone: Dr. James Dreese on Complex Knee Reconstruction
In this episode, I’m joined by orthopedic surgeon Dr. James Dreese to explore the additional injuries that can accompany an ACL tear, including MCL, LCL and posterolateral corner injuries, PCL involvement, meniscus repair versus meniscectomy, a...
ACL Series: Who Actually Qualifies for ACL Repair? Orthopedic Surgeon’s Dr. Douoguih’s, Perspective for PTs
ACL repair is showing up more in clinics, but a lot of PTs are still unsure how different it really is from reconstructions, and whether rehab should actually change. Today we’re breaking down what ACL repair really is, who it’s for...
ACL Series: The Evolution of ACL Injuries: From Early Research to Modern Insights with Orthopedic Surgeon Dr. Richard Hinton
We talk about ACL injuries today with a lot of confidence, risk factors, injury rates, prevention strategies, but that understanding didn’t just appear overnight. It evolved through years of research, debate, and plenty of early assumptions tha...
Mental Health Awareness Month: Breaking the Stigma: Mental Health Conversations with Amanda Davis
May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and it’s the perfect time to start important conversations about mental well-being. Nearly 1 in 5 adults in the U.S. experiences a mental health condition each year, yet stigma and lack of resources can mak...
Better Hearing and Speech Month with SLPs Leigh Root and Leah Inger
May is Better Speech and Hearing Month, and on this episode, we’re joined by our amazing SLPs, Leigh Root and Leah Inger. They break down what speech-language pathologists really do, who they work with, and why their role is so important across...
Boston Marathon 2026: A Medical Debrief with PT Diane Dallap, ATC Cece Sullivan & Dr. Sasser
Step inside the medical tent at the Boston Marathon with PT Diane Dallas, ATC Cece Sullivan, and ER physician Dr. Sasser. In this episode, they share what race day is really like—fast-paced, high-pressure, and built on true teamwork across disc...
More than Muscles, Psychology of Injury and Recovery with Kate Ringwood, LPC
When an athlete gets injured, the focus is often on the physical, but the mental side of recovery can be just as challenging. In this episode, licensed professional counselor Kate Ringwood joins us to explore the psychology of injury, including...
Miles Across MedStar Health: The 170+ mile ultra journey with professional ultramarathoner Michael Wardian, PT Chris Heydrick and PA Chris Wilde
Miles Across MedStar Health Recap Episode!!!What happens when endurance, healthcare, and purpose collide? In this episode, we sit down with professional ultramarathoner Michael Wardian, PT Chris Heydrick, PA Chris Wilde, and Raj Ratwani ...
The Blank Check Clinic: Our Top 10 Desert Island Essentials for a Physical Therapy Clinic with PT Sports Resident Candidate Abby Alberts
What happens when a Physical Therapist gets a blank check and a dream location? In this special episode, we’re stepping away from the clinical protocols to rank the Top 10 things we’d pack to build the world’s most elite "Desert Island" PT clin...
Occupational Therapy Month: Featuring OTs Mike Duffy and Carly Bland, Certified Hand Therapist
In recognition of Occupational Therapy Month, this episode highlights the vital role occupational therapists play in helping patients regain independence and return to the activities that matter most in their daily lives. I’m joined by occupati...
Athletic Training Month Spotlight: Mary Nadelen on Educating Future ATs from Towson University
In honor of National Athletic Training Month, we’re highlighting the voices shaping the future of the profession. On this episode, I’m joined by Mary Nadelen, Clinical Associate Professor of Kinesiology and Clinical Education Coordinator for At...
Athletic Training Month: Elevating the Profession with Emily Michaelis & Allison Gardiner, ATC
In this special Athletic Training Month episode, I’m joined by Emily Michaelis, ATC, and Allison Gardiner, ATC to spotlight the vital role athletic trainers play in injury prevention, on-field care, and return-to-play. We break down common misc...
Think you know PT? Busting BIG myths in our field today with PT Chris Parker
Think you know PT? Think again! In this episode, physical therapist Chris Parker takes on some of the biggest myths in physical therapy—from “bone-on-bone knees shouldn’t squat” to “pain always equals damage” to “I need an MRI before starting P...
Bone Stress Injuries: From Missed Diagnosis to Smart Return-to-Run with Miranda Gordon-Zigel, MD
Bone stress injuries are often misunderstood—and frequently missed. In this episode, we sit down with primary care sports medicine physician Miranda Gordon-Zigel, MD to break down what physical therapists need to know about stress reactions and...
Lymphedema Awareness Day: Why Lymphedema Needs Specialized Care: A PT & Patient Perspective featuring PT Yvonne Francis and Patient Jean Caldwell
In honor of Lymphedema Awareness Day on March 6th, this episode shines a light on a condition that is often misunderstood and underdiagnosed. I’m joined by Jean Caldwell, who shares her personal journey living with lymphedema, and Yvonne Franci...
The Tendon Playbook: What Clinicians Often Get Wrong with PT and Sports Residency Candidate, Amora Valencia
Tendon pain can be frustrating, especially when you’re told to just rest and wait it out. But what if that advice is actually slowing your progress? Today I’m joined by Amora Valencia, a sports PT resident, to bust some of the most ...
Fueling the Heart: Heart Health Month with Emily Fultz, RD
In honor of Heart Health Month, I’m joined by Registered Dietitian Emily Fultz from Fit with Food to discuss how nutrition supports heart health, performance, and recovery. We break down heart-healthy fueling strategies, common nutrition fads, ...
Heart to Hustle, Optimizing Rehab after a Cardiac Event with Clinical Exercise Physiologist, Eric Cecil
Today we’re talking about how PTs can better support patients after a cardiac event or cardiac surgery. We’re joined by an exercise physiologist, Eric Cecil, to discuss key physiological considerations, red flags, and how to safely progress exe...
Inside Sports Cardiology: Heart Health Month with Dr. Aubrey Grant & Dr. Marius Chukwurah
This Heart Health Month episode brings together sports cardiologists Dr. Grant and Dr. Chukwurah for a deep dive into how cardiac health impacts athletic performance. We explore training adaptations, risk factors, return-to-play considerations ...
Pain Explained: Helping Patients Move with Confidence with PT Chris Palmer, Part Two
In Part 2, we shift from theory to application. Chris Palmer dives deeper into how physical therapists can truly help patients living with pain—breaking down practical metaphors to explain pain, strategies to validate a patient’s lived experien...
