172. Shoulder pain assessment & clinical reasoning. Physio Edge Shoulder Success podcast with Jo Gibson
Release Date: 07/16/2025
180. Patellofemoral pain 4 - How to get runners back on track (and trails, hills and anywhere else they run!) with Tom Goom
Physio Edge podcast
Patellofemoral pain (PFP) rehabilitation doesn’t end when your patient gets stronger. The real challenge is getting them back to running, training and racing without triggering another flare-up. In this final episode of the four-part series, Tom Goom (Running Physio) and David Pope explore the fourth pillar of successful PFP rehabilitation: a planned return to running. Continuing Alice’s journey from the previous episodes, a HYROX athlete preparing for competition, Tom and David break down exactly how to rebuild running volume, progress training safely, and help runners hit their goals,...
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179. Patellofemoral pain 3 - Effective rehab that won't flare their symptoms with Tom Goom
Physio Edge podcast
Strengthening exercises are a key part of successful patellofemoral pain (PFP) rehabilitation. Squats, lunges and single leg squats are often painful early on and can aggravate your patients pain, but on the flip side, we want to build up their tolerance and confidence with these movements. If you introduce an exercise your patient isn’t ready for, progress too quickly, or overload the knee too early, you’ll often flare your patients pain and set their rehabilitation back. In this episode, Tom Goom (Running Physio) and David Pope explore the third pillar of successful PFP treatment:...
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178. Patellofemoral pain 2 - What to do when runners won't reduce their training with Tom Goom
Physio Edge podcast
Many runners patellofemoral pain (PFP) is aggravated by the activity they love. They either stop running to let their pain settle, and then it returns as soon as they start back up again, or keep running despite the pain getting worse. They may know (and you may have told them) they should reduce their training….but what happens when they can’t? Or won’t? In this episode, Tom Goom (Running Physio) and David Pope explore the second pillar of successful PFP rehab: education and empowerment. Using the real case of Alice, a HYROX athlete preparing for competition, you’ll discover how and...
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177. Patellofemoral pain 1 - Why it has such a high recurrence rate, and what most rehab plans miss with Tom Goom
Physio Edge podcast
Patellofemoral pain (PFP) is one of the most common running injuries, and the high recurrence rate can make it a frustrating injury for patients to experience and clinicians to treat. In this episode, Tom Goom (Running Physio) and David Pope break down why PFP has such a high recurrence rate, and what most rehab plans miss. You’ll also discover: The "Four pillars" framework Tom uses to treat PFP and other running injuries How and when to keep patients running or exercising when it is essential for their mental health and social life How to find a manageable starting point when a...
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176. Neck-driven shoulder pain - 5 common misunderstandings. Physio Edge Shoulder Success podcast with Jo Gibson
Physio Edge podcast
When is your patient's shoulder pain from their neck? Are you missing a cervical spine component in your shoulder patients? After a day in clinic reviewing patients with years of unresolved shoulder pain, Shoulder Specialist Physiotherapist Jo Gibson breaks down the five most common mistakes clinicians make when ruling in — or out — the neck. In this podcast, Jo covers: Why you don't need neck pain to have neck-driven shoulder pain (and which pain locations are most pathognomonic) Why referred symptoms below the elbow don't automatically point to the cervical spine Why active range of...
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175. Tendinopathy treatment: Your guide to isometrics, isotonics & plyometrics with Dr Ebonie Rio
Physio Edge podcast
Should you prescribe isometric or isotonic exercises for your patient's lower limb tendinopathy? When is it safe to add plyometric loading, and how do you progress running or jumping without flaring your patients tendon pain? Why do some "tricky tendons" refuse to respond to your best loading programs? Dr Ebonie Rio (Post-Doctoral Senior Research Fellow, La Trobe University) reveals the evidence-based answers as she guides you through the clinical reasoning and practical strategies for managing patellar, achilles, and other lower limb tendinopathies. In this conversation, you'll follow...
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174. ACJ - The hidden culprit behind stubborn shoulder pain? Physio Edge Shoulder Success podcast with Jo Gibson
Physio Edge podcast
Have any of your shoulder patients improved and then plateaued, unable to regain their full range of movement, or get rid of their painful arc? Sometimes it’s not the cuff, capsule, nerves or neck—it’s the acromioclavicular joint (ACJ) holding things back. In this episode, Jo Gibson sheds light on this often-overlooked contributor to persistent shoulder pain. From real patient case studies to the latest research and simple clinic-ready symptom modification tests, Jo shares practical strategies you can use immediately. Learn how to identify ACJ involvement, and use targeted rehab...
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173. Hip flexor pain in runners: Diagnosis, myths, and rehab. Physio Edge Track record: Running repairs podcast with Tom Goom
Physio Edge podcast
Anterior hip pain is often blamed on the hip flexors, but in runners, that’s rarely the diagnosis. So how can you identify the real cause and guide patients to a safe, effective recovery? In this episode, Tom Goom (Running Physio) explores the function of the hip flexors in running, key differentials for anterior hip or groin pain, and practical rehab strategies you can use right away. You’ll discover: Why true hip flexor tendinopathy is uncommon in endurance runners Red flags and key tests to identify bone stress fractures and intra‑articular pathology Early‑stage loading strategies...
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172. Shoulder pain assessment & clinical reasoning. Physio Edge Shoulder Success podcast with Jo Gibson
Physio Edge podcast
Your patient presents with shoulder pain, and straight away you need to identify: Is it rotator cuff related shoulder pain, frozen shoulder, instability, or something else entirely? Is it rotator cuff related shoulder pain, frozen shoulder, instability, or something else entirely? Is the pain actually coming from the shoulder? Could it be the cervical spine? Is there a tear that needs urgent referral? Should you order imaging? Refer to a surgeon? Or confidently continue with rehab? In this podcast, Jo Gibson (Upper Limb Rehabilitation Specialist Physio) guides you through a simple,...
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171. Achilles tendon ruptures: Rehab & recovery with Prof. Peter Malliaras
Physio Edge podcast
Your patient is running, playing sport, or jumping or lunging forward - an activity with fast eccentric or concentric activity in dorsiflexion,and suddenly they feel like they’ve been kicked in the back of the leg. They might hear a snap and have difficulty weightbearing, walking and pushing off. What’s your likely diagnosis? You picked it - an Achilles tendon (AT) rupture. AT ruptures are a devastating injury that can drastically impact a patient’s ability to walk, run, or return to sport. Despite their frequency, there’s a lot of uncertainty among clinicians, patients, and even...
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Your patient presents with shoulder pain, and straight away you need to identify:
Is it rotator cuff related shoulder pain, frozen shoulder, instability, or something else entirely?
- Is it rotator cuff related shoulder pain, frozen shoulder, instability, or something else entirely?
- Is the pain actually coming from the shoulder?
- Could it be the cervical spine?
- Is there a tear that needs urgent referral?
- Should you order imaging? Refer to a surgeon? Or confidently continue with rehab?
In this podcast, Jo Gibson (Upper Limb Rehabilitation Specialist Physio) guides you through a simple, evidence-informed clinical reasoning framework to help you confidently assess and treat patients with shoulder pain.
Drawing on decades of clinical experience and the latest research, Jo breaks down four essential questions you need to ask in every shoulder assessment—helping you identify red flags, tailor your treatment plan, and avoid common diagnostic pitfalls.
In this episode, you’ll discover:
- How to distinguish shoulder pain from cervical spine referral
- Key subjective clues that guide your diagnosis and treatment decisions
- Whether it’s “torn”—and how to know if a surgical referral is appropriate
- Clinical signs that help differentiate frozen shoulder from other causes of stiffness
- Why pain irritability matters—and how it impacts your rehab approach
- When to use (and when to avoid) imaging
- How to identify instability and assess the likelihood of recurrence
- What assessment tests to perform in your objective examination
- The real value—and limitations—of special tests like the Hawkins-Kennedy, drop arm, Hornblower’s, and more.
- How to modify testing to better isolate rotator cuff contributions
- Why symptom modification tests are useful—and what they tell you
- How to help your patient overcome fear, regain confidence, and move again
- What research says about exercise prescription, and how many exercises you should give patients
Listen in to strengthen your clinical reasoning and give your shoulder assessments a clear structure that helps you feel more confident—and gets better outcomes for your patients.
Chapters:
- 00:00 - Intro
- 03:12 - Subjective clues that guide diagnosis
- 04:33 - What to call shoulder pain? RCRSP or SAP?
- 06:04 - 4 key questions to ask
- 06:29 - Cervical spine driven shoulder pain
- 10:03 - Is it torn and does it matter?
- 11:29 - Traumatic dislocations
- 12:37 - Special tests in the "Is it torn" group
- 15:56 - Is it stiff?
- 17:36 - Is it irritable?
- 20:38 - Can I change it?
- 23:05 - Summary
Click on an image below to access these free resources from Jo Gibson and Clinical Edge
The handout for this podcast consists of a transcript associated with this podcast.
Shoulder: Steps to Success online course with Jo Gibson
Improve your assessment and treatment of shoulder pain with the Shoulder: Steps to Success online course with Jo Gibson, now available for enrolment at clinicaledge.co/shouldersuccess
Free trial Clinical Edge membership
Use a fresh approach to your musculoskeletal and sports injury treatment with a free trial Clinical Edge membership at clinicaledge.co/freetrial
Links associated with this episode:
- Free video series - How to be a shoulder detective: Solving acute shoulder pain with Jo Gibson
- Get your access to the free video series “Frozen shoulder assessment & treatment” with Jo Gibson
- Improve your shoulder assessment & treatment with the Shoulder: Steps to Success online course with Jo Gibson
- Improve your confidence and clinical reasoning with a free trial Clinical Edge membership
- Join Jo Gibson live on Facebook & ask your shoulder related questions every Monday
- Download and subscribe to the podcast on iTunes
- Download the podcast now using the best podcast app currently in existence - Overcast
- Listen to the podcast on Spotify
- Jo Gibson on Twitter
- Let David know what you liked about this podcast on Twitter
- Review the podcast on iTunes
- Infographics by Clinical Edge
Chapters:
- 00:00:00 - Intro
- 00:03:12 - Subjective clues that guide diagnosis
- 00:04:33 - What to call shoulder pain? RCRSP or SAP?
- 00:06:04 - 4 key questions to ask
- 00:06:29 - Cervical spine driven shoulder pain
- 00:10:03 - Is it torn and does it matter?
- 00:11:29 - Traumatic dislocations
- 00:12:37 - Special tests in the "Is it torn" group
- 00:15:56 - Is it stiff?
- 00:17:36 - Is it irritable?
- 00:20:38 - Can I change it?
- 00:23:05 - Summary