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094 - Alex Murray Making Sense of Pain Management

Podiatry Legends Podcast

Release Date: 07/30/2020

371 - Biomechanics and the Future of Podiatry: Insights from Abid Ali show art 371 - Biomechanics and the Future of Podiatry: Insights from Abid Ali

Podiatry Legends Podcast

In this episode of the Podiatry Legends Podcast, I chat with Abid Ali, a musculoskeletal podiatrist from Coventry, UK, about his journey from the safety and predictability of the NHS to the unpredictability of private practice. Abid is the owner of the  and also runs .  Takeaway Points: Embrace biomechanics for better patient outcomes and a holistic approach. Mentorship is crucial for professional growth and avoiding common pitfalls. A successful practice depends on combining clinical skills with sound business knowledge. Innovation and keeping up with new treatment...

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370 - Managing Stress as a Podiatry Business Owner The Key to Avoiding Burnout show art 370 - Managing Stress as a Podiatry Business Owner The Key to Avoiding Burnout

Podiatry Legends Podcast

In this episode of the Podiatry Legends Podcast, Tyson Franklin dives deep into the crucial topic of managing stress as a podiatry business owner. As many podiatrists juggle patient care with the demands of running a practice, stress and burnout can quickly take a toll on both health and business performance. Tyson shares his personal experience and offers practical strategies to avoid burnout, including time management tips, the importance of work-life balance, and how to build a strong, supportive team. Whether you're struggling to manage your workload or simply looking for ways to...

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369 - VIMAZI Footwear with Simon Bartold show art 369 - VIMAZI Footwear with Simon Bartold

Podiatry Legends Podcast

In this week’s episode of the Podiatry Legends Podcast, Tyson Franklin sits down with Simon Bartold to explore the unique features of VIMAZI Footwear. Do we need another running shoe brand? Yes, we do! Learn about how VIMAZI's scientific approach to footwear design is revolutionising how we think about running shoes and helping athletes of all levels prevent injuries. VIMAZI Footwear is designed based on the physics of running, making it different from traditional shoe brands. To learn more about Vimazi footwear, visit  (There's an easter egg at the end of this episode, so make...

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368 - Point of Care Ultrasound with James Ferrie show art 368 - Point of Care Ultrasound with James Ferrie

Podiatry Legends Podcast

In this week's Podiatry Legends Podcast, I had the pleasure of sitting down with James Ferrie, a sports and musculoskeletal podiatrist from My Sports Podiatry in Docklands, Victoria, to discuss point-of-care ultrasound and its benefits for our patients.  Whether you're just starting out in practice or looking to enhance your existing clinic, this episode will give you the tools and knowledge to incorporate ultrasound into your diagnostic toolkit. Nine Key Takeaways from the Episode: Point-of-care ultrasound enhances diagnostic accuracy by providing real-time imaging of soft...

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367 - The Hidden Benefits of Buying an Existing Podiatry Practice with Jonathan Small show art 367 - The Hidden Benefits of Buying an Existing Podiatry Practice with Jonathan Small

Podiatry Legends Podcast

This episode of the Podiatry Legends Podcast discusses the often-overlooked benefits of buying an established podiatry business. Tyson Franklin and Jonathan Small explore why acquiring a practice could be a game-changing move for aspiring podiatrists. If you're interested in growing your career without the typical start-up headaches, this episode offers practical advice on how to make a successful transition into practice ownership. Ten Key Takeaways from the Episode Buying an established practice gives you immediate cash flow. Systems for patient management, billing, and operations are...

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366 - Why Semi-Custom Orthotics Could Be Your Practices Secret Weapon with Steve Jackson show art 366 - Why Semi-Custom Orthotics Could Be Your Practices Secret Weapon with Steve Jackson

Podiatry Legends Podcast

Have you ever wondered if semi-custom orthotics could improve your practice? In this week's episode of the Podiatry Legends Podcast, I chat with MSK Podiatrist Steve Jackson from Western Australia about the benefits of shifting from custom to semi-custom foot orthotics. Steve shares how this shift has revolutionised his practice and patient care, leading to quicker treatment times, better results, and an overall more efficient workflow. Don’t miss out on these game-changing insights and learn why semi-custom orthotics could be your secret weapon.  If you have any questions about this...

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365 - The Truth Behind Starting Your Own Podiatry Business with Lucinda Mercer show art 365 - The Truth Behind Starting Your Own Podiatry Business with Lucinda Mercer

Podiatry Legends Podcast

In this episode of the Podiatry Legends Podcast, Tyson Franklin sits down with Lucinda Mercer, owner of Poized Podiatry in the UK. Lucinda shares her inspiring journey from the NHS to launching her own practice and how she found success in musculoskeletal podiatry. Learn how Lucinda navigated the challenges of starting a business, including financial hurdles and the importance of systems and self-care. If you’re thinking about opening your own podiatry practice, this conversation is for you! If you have any questions about this episode or want to contact me, please email me at . ...

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364 - The Benefits of Being A Fit and Health Podiatrist with Zain Hussain show art 364 - The Benefits of Being A Fit and Health Podiatrist with Zain Hussain

Podiatry Legends Podcast

In today’s episode, we dive into the benefits of staying fit and healthy as a podiatrist with special guest Zain Hussain. Zain, the owner of in the UK, talks about how his passion for fitness has shaped his career and enhanced his ability to care for his patients. Tune in to hear his insights on balancing health, fitness, and podiatry to achieve success both professionally and personally. Here are five reasons to listen to this episode: Inspiring Health and Fitness Journey – Zain Hussain shares his personal story of how fitness has shaped his podiatry career, offering valuable insights...

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363 - HR Demystified: A Guide to Covering Your Arse with Phoebe Kitto show art 363 - HR Demystified: A Guide to Covering Your Arse with Phoebe Kitto

Podiatry Legends Podcast

I never thought HR could be remotely interesting, BUT I can honestly say I was wrong. In today’s episode, I’m joined by HR expert Phoebe Kitto, owner of , to talk about the often misunderstood world of Human Resources. Most people think HR is boring, but after you listen to this episode, you will see how HR can be very exciting, and it can also cover your arse in so many areas of small business.  Phoebe explains that HR is not just about rules and compliance, but about creating a thriving, high-performing team. We discuss key strategies for managing staff effectively, the...

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362 - From Olympic Steeplechaser to Sports Podiatry: Matthew Clarke’s Journey show art 362 - From Olympic Steeplechaser to Sports Podiatry: Matthew Clarke’s Journey

Podiatry Legends Podcast

In this episode of the Podiatry Legends Podcast, I had the privilege of speaking with Matthew Clarke, a two-time Olympian in the 3000-meter steeplechase. Matthew’s story is one of perseverance, determination, and an ever-evolving career that has seamlessly blended athletics and podiatry. He shares how his unique experiences in the world of elite sport shaped his approach to podiatry and the lessons he’s learned along the way. Here are the five top takeaways from the episode: The Power of Patient-Centered Care: Matthew emphasises the importance of tailoring injury management to the...

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More Episodes

Alex Murray is a Canberra based Podiatrist working in private practice and the founder of the website Making Sense in Podiatry. He's passionate about helping other clinicians make sense of evidence and clinical practice with a core philosophy of exploring the complexity of human beings, embracing the uncertainty of clinical practice, and avoiding overly reductionist thinking.

He has experience with both national and international athletes and recently transitioned to focusing primarily on helping the general population, and local athletes manage their pain and achieve their goals.

On this episode we discuss:

  • The paradigm shift and changing the ways we think about not only our failures but also our successes.
  • Reductionism & Complexity
  • Guided problem solving: why different problems can be managed successfully in many ways
  • Having more treatment options make us better.
  • Pain Management and managing athletes.
  • Patient beliefs and previous experiences will determine their behaviours. 
  • The long-term benefits of understanding and listening to your patient's goals and how to encourage them back into their activity 

"Reassurance is a great pain killer."

Final Tip

Listen: You need to listen before you begin to educate your patient. If you listen, you'll know everything that you need to address. You'll know what the patient's goal is, and you can take that information and apply it to them.

With listening, we'll know what they're looking for, expecting, and what makes them fearful. Only then can we can reassure our patients. 

Reflective Listening: Reflect what they're saying, so they can either correct us or agree with us. There needs to be a sense of collaboration. 

If you have any questions after listening to this episode, please send me an email at [email protected], or you can contact Alex Murray via his website Making Sense in Podiatry, or his Facebook Page

You'll find a list of  Alex's Reference Articles at the bottom of this page. 

Podiatry Business Coaching & Mentoring

If you want to own and operate a Thriving Podiatry Business, there are four vital pieces to the business puzzle.  

  • Marketing - You need a well thought out marketing strategy, not just more tactics. 
  • Systems - You need systems that will support your marketing strategy and your team.
  • Team - You need to develop a team culture that makes your work-life balance easier, not harder. 
  • Diary - Your diary needs to be structured in a way that maximises patient numbers and increases daily profits. 

You have two choices: There's the slow approach, where you learn by trial and error and do everything yourself, or you can fast-track your education and business success with one-on-one business coaching and mentoring, or group coaching

If you want to know more, please email me at [email protected], and we can set up a Zoom Call and have a quick chat to see if I can be of assistance.  

ALEX'S REFERENCES

THE ESSENTIAL PAIN PAPER

Moseley, G. L. (2007). Reconceptualising pain according to modern pain science. Physical Therapy Reviews, 12(3), 169-178. doi: 10.1179/108331907X223010

 

Pain papers:

Atlas, L. Y., & Wager, T. D. (2012). How expectations shape pain. Neuroscience Letters, 520(2), 140-148. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neulet.2012.03.039

 

Hainline, B., Turner, J. A., Caneiro, J. P., Stewart, M., & Lorimer Moseley, G. (2017). Pain in elite athletes—neurophysiological, biomechanical and psychosocial considerations: a narrative review. Br J Sports Med, 51(17), 1259-1264. doi: 10.1136/bjsports-2017-097890

 

Harvie, D. S., Broecker, M., Smith, R. T., Meulders, A., Madden, V. J., & Moseley, G. L. (2015). Bogus visual feedback alters onset of movement-evoked pain in people with neck pain. Psychol Sci, 26(4), 385-392. doi: 10.1177/0956797614563339

 

Rio, E., Moseley, L., Purdam, C., Samiric, T., Kidgell, D., Pearce, A. J., . . . Cook, J. (2014). The pain of tendinopathy: physiological or pathophysiological? Sports Med, 44(1), 9-23. doi: 10.1007/s40279-013-0096-z

 

Testa, M., & Rossettini, G. (2016). Enhance placebo, avoid nocebo: How contextual factors affect physiotherapy outcomes. Man Ther, 24, 65-74. doi: 10.1016/j.math.2016.04.006

 

Understanding complexity/complex systems theory:

Bittencourt, N. F. N., Meeuwisse, W. H., Mendonça, L. D., Nettel-Aguirre, A., Ocarino, J. M., & Fonseca, S. T. (2016). Complex systems approach for sports injuries: moving from risk factor identification to injury pattern recognition—narrative review and new concept. Br J Sports Med, 50(21), 1309-1314. doi: 10.1136/bjsports-2015-095850

 

Stern, B. D., Hegedus, E. J., & Lai, Y. C. (2020). Injury prediction as a non-linear system. Phys Ther Sport, 41, 43-48. doi: 10.1016/j.ptsp.2019.10.010

 

Biopsychosocial model of health

Engel, G. L. (1977). The need for a new medical model: a challenge for biomedicine. Science, 196(4286), 129-136. doi: 10.1126/science.847460

Engel, G. L. (1980). The clinical application of the biopsychosocial model. Am J Psychiatry, 137(5), 535-544. doi: 10.1176/ajp.137.5.535

 

 

Muscloskeletal Pain/Injury:

Caneiro, J. P., Roos, E. M., Barton, C. J., O'Sullivan, K., Kent, P., Lin, I., . . . O'Sullivan, P. (2020). It is time to move beyond ‘body region silos’ to manage musculoskeletal pain: five actions to change clinical practice. Br J Sports Med, 54(8), 438-439. doi: 10.1136/bjsports-2018-100488

 

Lewis, J., & O’Sullivan, P. (2018). Is it time to reframe how we care for people with non-traumatic musculoskeletal pain? Br J Sports Med, 52(24), 1543-1544. doi: 10.1136/bjsports-2018-099198

Lin, I., Wiles, L., Waller, R., Goucke, R., Nagree, Y., Gibberd, M., . . . O’Sullivan, P. P. B. (2020). What does best practice care for musculoskeletal pain look like? Eleven consistent recommendations from high-quality clinical practice guidelines: systematic review. Br J Sports Med, 54(2), 79-86. doi: 10.1136/bjsports-2018-099878

 

Shared Decision Making:

Hoffmann, T. C., Lewis, J., & Maher, C. G. (2020). Shared decision making should be an integral part of physiotherapy practice. Physiotherapy, 107, 43-49. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.physio.2019.08.012

 

Clinical Decision Making:

Simpkin, A. L., & Schwartzstein, R. M. (2016). Tolerating Uncertainty - The Next Medical Revolution? N Engl J Med, 375(18), 1713-1715. doi: 10.1056/NEJMp1606402

 

Walton, D. M. (2019). The critical skill of asking why? An endorsement of critical reflection in physiotherapy research and practice. Musculoskelet Sci Pract, 41, iv-v. doi: 10.1016/j.msksp.2019.04.005

 

Zou, K., Wong, J., Abdullah, N., Chen, X., Smith, T., Doherty, M., & Zhang, W. (2016). Examination of overall treatment effect and the proportion attributable to contextual effect in osteoarthritis: meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials. Ann Rheum Dis, 75(11), 1964-1970. doi: 10.1136/annrheumdis-2015-208387

 

Communication:

 

Soklaridis, S., Hunter, J. J., & Ravitz, P. (2014). Twelve tips for asking and responding to difficult questions during a challenging clinical encounter. Med Teach, 36(9), 769-774. doi: 10.3109/0142159x.2014.916782

 

Zolnierek, K. B. H., & Dimatteo, M. R. (2009). Physician communication and patient adherence to treatment: a meta-analysis. Medical care, 47(8), 826-834. doi: 10.1097/MLR.0b013e31819a5acc