I Love Neuro
We are a couple of neurologic physical therapists on the quest to keep the passion, commitment, and possibilities alive for those who love neuro rehab and wellness like us, without burnout and overwhelm. This show is great for neuro therapists and trainers looking to stay up to date and make a greater impact. Join us in this important movement to elevate healthcare!
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335: Fire Yourself From These Tasks: A Business Reset With NeuroBiz Coach Emily Duval Ledger
09/14/2026
335: Fire Yourself From These Tasks: A Business Reset With NeuroBiz Coach Emily Duval Ledger
What tasks do you keep doing in your business that you secretly hate? In this episode, hosts Erin Gallardo, PT, DPT, NCS, and Claire McLean, PT, DPT, NCS, talk with returning guest and favorite NeuroBiz coach Emily Duval Ledger about the reflective milestones of her 20-year entrepreneurial journey — from leaving her full-time job, to closing her brick-and-mortar gym during COVID, to running a leaner, more sustainable solo practice today. The conversation moves through the martyrdom trap so many clinician-business-owners fall into, how to actually trust a virtual assistant or new hire with work you've always done yourself, and the emotional nuance of transitioning long-term one-on-one clients to other team members without them feeling abandoned. Emily closes with a challenge born out of a personal practice of pausing before volunteering for anything: identify at least two things you can fire yourself from, and notice how much better you get at the few things you keep. Listeners will feel seen and inspired to take a new path toward freedom in your business rather than working a job you’d never sign up for if it weren’t your own business.
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334: Aerobic Priming, RAS, OPTIMAL, And Overground Training: Small Shifts, Big Outcomes With Jamie Haines, PT, DScPT, NCS
09/07/2026
334: Aerobic Priming, RAS, OPTIMAL, And Overground Training: Small Shifts, Big Outcomes With Jamie Haines, PT, DScPT, NCS
What if the biggest gains in your patients' outcomes came from four small, free shifts you could start using tomorrow? In this episode, host Erin Gallardo, PT, DPT, NCS, talks with Jamie Haines, PT, DScPT, NCS, who recently left a long career as an associate professor at Central Michigan University for mobile concierge PT in Florida, where she treats patients with a wide range of neurologic conditions in their own environments. Jamie and Erin preview the "amplify your practice" framework, covering aerobic priming to get the nervous system ready to learn, rhythmic auditory stimulation and music-based cueing, the OPTIMAL theory of motor learning (autonomy, enhanced expectancies, and external focus), overground training. Learn how tapping into a patient's identity can be the difference-maker in adherence. You’ll also hear that overground training is NOT simply walking overground. You’ll take away specific examples of how to incorporate these evidence-based boosts to enhance recovery in your patient sessions. Register for the free webinar live on September 10 Join NeuroSpark during our next opening September 14–17 at
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333: Gadgets, Grasp, and Goals: Jenna Barber, MOT, OTR/L, BCPR, Talks Hand Recovery
08/31/2026
333: Gadgets, Grasp, and Goals: Jenna Barber, MOT, OTR/L, BCPR, Talks Hand Recovery
How much hand function can come back after a neurologic injury, and how do you know whether to remediate or compensate? On this episode, host Erin Gallardo, PT, DPT, NCS, talks with Jenna Barber, MOT, OTR/L, BCPR, an occupational therapist who specializes in neurorehabilitation across acute care, inpatient, and outpatient settings. In the show you’ll learn how to assess fine motor deficits through activity analysis and standardized testing, the difference between remediation and compensation and when to use either. We’ll also discuss favorite tools like FES, focal vibration, and rocker knives, how to keep the non-dominant hand and shoulder involved even when it's not the primary focus, and discuss emerging tech including MusicGlove, Vivistim, Bioxtreme, VR, and other devices and their place in rehab. Follow Jenna for tips, tricks and giveaways at @Neuro_OTPT_Nerds on Instagram
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332: Can Transcutaneous Stimulation (TSS) Help Patients With Spinal Cord Injuries Improve? With Dr. Yi-Kai Lo, PhD and Rose Tilton, OTR/L, OTD
08/24/2026
332: Can Transcutaneous Stimulation (TSS) Help Patients With Spinal Cord Injuries Improve? With Dr. Yi-Kai Lo, PhD and Rose Tilton, OTR/L, OTD
In this episode, host Erin Gallardo, PT, DPT, NCS, talks with returning guest Rose Tilton, OTR/L, OTD, an occupational therapist at Marquette University's Neuro Recovery Clinic, and new guest Dr. Yi-Kai Lo, PhD, CEO and co-founder of ANEUVO, about transcutaneous spinal stimulation (TSS) for people with spinal cord injury. Rose shares how she discovered TSS through her own research, became a clinical trial site investigator at Marquette, and now uses ANEUVO's ExaStim® device — a multi-channel electrode array system that can be individually programmed and timed to match specific functional movements — alongside other TSS devices on the market, including ONWARD Medical's ARC-EX. Dr. Lo walks through the engineering behind ExaStim, how the device is positioned and calibrated for each patient, and the proposed mechanism of amplifying descending brain signals to the spinal cord. Together they cover who's actually a good candidate (spoiler: it's hard to predict), what a typical treatment session looks like from aerobic priming through hand-strengthening work, and real patient outcomes ranging from improved grip and transfers to unexpected anecdotal gains, like bowel and bladder function for some. Dr. Lo also shares results from ANEUVO's ASPIRE clinical trial and home-use study, including a newly designated CPT code that will make TSS billing possible starting January 2027. Whether you're new to TSS or already using it in your practice, this conversation is full of practical, clinically grounded insight into where this intervention is headed. ANEUVO website: Contact ANEUVO here: contactus@aneuvo.com Dr. Lo LinkedIn: Dr. Lo Google Scholar: ANEUVO LinkedIn:
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331: The First 30 Seconds: Winning Patient Trust On The Phone With Danny Bobrow, MBA
08/17/2026
331: The First 30 Seconds: Winning Patient Trust On The Phone With Danny Bobrow, MBA
What if the biggest threat to your practice's growth isn't your marketing budget, but the way your team handles the very first phone call? Getting the phone to ring is necessary, but never sufficient. In this episode, host Erin Gallardo, PT, DPT, NCS, talks with Daniel A. "Danny" Bobrow, MBA — creator of The Art of First Impressions™ and The Persuasion Blueprint, and President of AIM Dental Marketing — about the three pillars of persuasive communication: caring, connection, and collaboration. Danny reframes the moments clinicians tend to fumble, like the "do you take my insurance?" question that quietly hands control of the call to the caller, and "expert override," the well-meaning habit of finishing a patient's sentence that costs you the connection you were trying to build. For neuro clinicians, the throughline lands close to home: therapeutic alliance measurably improves outcomes, and small shifts keep the nervous system out of threat mode so real behavior change can happen. Whether you're fielding first calls in a cash-based practice or trying to get a patient to actually do their home program, it's a practical masterclass in influence as an act of caring rather than coercion. Learn more about Danny's work at dannybobrow.com. Support Danny’s foundation at: Www.Facebook.com/danielabobrow Www.Linkedin.com/In/Danny Bobrow
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330: Working With The "Excluded" Patient: A Case Study Using Modified CIMT After Stroke With Briana Elson, MS, OTR/L, BCPR, CBIS
08/10/2026
330: Working With The "Excluded" Patient: A Case Study Using Modified CIMT After Stroke With Briana Elson, MS, OTR/L, BCPR, CBIS
What do you do when the most evidence-based intervention you have is also the one your patient is "not allowed" to receive? Constraint-induced movement therapy has decades of research behind it, yet its exclusion criteria — especially around cognitive impairment — rule out a huge share of the stroke survivors clinicians actually see. In this episode, hosts Erin Gallardo, PT, DPT, NCS, and Claire McLean, PT, DPT, NCS, talk with neuro OT Briana Elson, MS, OTR/L, BCPR, CBIS, about her decision to try modified CIMT with an 86-year-old stroke patient who had significant cognitive impairment and underlying dementia — a textbook exclusion — and why his profile, a left-handed man whose affected side was his dominant hand, made forced use feel natural and salient rather than confusing. Briana walks through how she built the protocol around safety and supervision in inpatient rehab: getting a physician order for the constraint mitt, educating and enlisting his wife, keeping a consistent daily schedule, breaking the three-to-six hours into non-consecutive blocks, and removing the mitt before late-day sundowning. She shares the outcomes that surprised even her skeptics — meeting the minimal detectable change on the Box and Block Test and a standardized motor scale within roughly thirteen days, plus real gains in grooming and feeding independence — alongside the honest caveats, including that his cognition never improved and that real-world delivery never looks as clean as the published article. It's a practical, encouraging conversation about reading the research, respecting its limits, and giving more patients a shot at an intervention they're usually told they can't have.
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329: When the System Sends Them Home: Kim Williams-Feth, BSW, On Why Neuro Patients Need An Advocate
08/03/2026
329: When the System Sends Them Home: Kim Williams-Feth, BSW, On Why Neuro Patients Need An Advocate
What happens to your neuro patients after they leave your care, and who's in their corner when the discharge falls apart? In this episode, host Erin Gallardo, PT, DPT, NCS, sits down with Kimberlie Williams-Feth, BSW, founder of Healthcare Survival Kit and a former hospital social work discharge planner who became an independent patient advocate after living the system's failures firsthand. When her husband's routine spinal fusion led to unexpected paralysis, Kimberlie navigated unsafe discharges, a "ghost network" of providers who didn't actually offer neuro care, and the months it took to find neuro PT and OT all while working full time and holding her family together. She shares the green/yellow/red scripting framework she teaches families, why a rushed discharge can leave patients financially liable the moment they say "no," and the three deceptively simple questions every clinician should ask: what did life look like before, what can you do now, and what are your goals. For neuro PTs, OTs, assistants, and students, this is a candid look at the holes in the system clinicians can't fill alone and the advocates who exist to fill them. Find an advocate by state or diagnosis at GNAnow.org (Greater National Advocates). Greater National Advocates:
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328: Adding Jet Fuel To Stroke Therapy With Mason Hearn, PT, DPT, NCS On Vivistim's Paired Vagus Nerve Stimulation
07/27/2026
328: Adding Jet Fuel To Stroke Therapy With Mason Hearn, PT, DPT, NCS On Vivistim's Paired Vagus Nerve Stimulation
What if a patient who is years — even decades — out from their stroke could still make meaningful gains in their affected arm? In this episode, host Erin Gallardo, PT, DPT, NCS, talks with Mason Hearn, PT, DPT, NCS, about Vivistim, the FDA-approved paired vagus nerve stimulation system for chronic ischemic stroke, and why the "paired" piece — stimulation delivered in the same moment as intensive, task-specific therapy — is what makes it work. Mason breaks down the triple-blinded RCT behind the device, why patients an average of three years post-stroke saw two to three times greater improvement on the Fugl-Meyer, and how the real-world results coming out of clinics are landing even higher. This episode gets into what the protocol actually asks of patients (90-minute sessions, three times a week, 300–500 reps), how at-home "swiping" turns everyday tasks like getting dressed or cutting into a baked potato into neuroplasticity-building practice, who is and isn't a candidate, and how therapists can think about screening and advocacy without feeling like they're "referring someone for surgery." It's a hopeful, practical conversation about giving chronic stroke survivors real agency over the next stage of recovery and the clinicians who can open that door for them. Learn more at: Here is the safety profile:
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327: Hope, Connection, And Care Coordination: Russell Meyerowitz On The Parkinson's Wellness Fund And Raya Health - Tools For Today
07/20/2026
327: Hope, Connection, And Care Coordination: Russell Meyerowitz On The Parkinson's Wellness Fund And Raya Health - Tools For Today
What happens to a family when "wellness" stops meaning saunas and cold plunges and starts meaning keeping the lights on? In this episode, host Erin Gallardo, PT, DPT, NCS, talks with Russell Meyerowitz, founder of the Parkinson's Wellness Fund, about how the needs of families living with Parkinson's have shifted from health-and-wellness support toward urgent emergency relief — and what that means for the clinicians who serve them. Russell shares why his organization issues no-judgment relief grants for everything from walkers and ramps to groceries and utility bills, why they're now fielding two to three applications every 24 hours, and how those years on the front lines led to the launch of Raya Health, a subscription-based care-coordination platform that keeps a family's medications, appointments, documents, and clinical notes in one shared place. He and Erin dig into the continuity-of-care gaps neuro clinicians see every day, why care coordination is crucial, and the forthcoming "Ask Raya" feature for surfacing medication and exercise trends over time. It's a warm, candid conversation about being proactive instead of reactive — and about having a stranger in your corner when Parkinson's makes life feel like survival. Links mentioned: Parkinson's Wellness Fund — Raya Health — Instagram: and Use this promo code for 100% free access to Raya Health! RAYALOVESNEURO
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326: Why Standard Heart Rate Formulas Fail People With Parkinson's With Cielita Lopez-Lennon, PT, DPT, NCS
07/13/2026
326: Why Standard Heart Rate Formulas Fail People With Parkinson's With Cielita Lopez-Lennon, PT, DPT, NCS
Are the heart rate formulas we've been using actually working for our patients with Parkinson's? In this episode, hosts Erin Gallardo, PT, DPT, NCS, and Claire McLean, PT, DPT, NCS, discuss with Cielita Lopez-Lennon, PT, PhD candidate in Rehabilitation Science at the University of Utah, her recently published research on refining maximal heart rate estimation for people with Parkinson's disease. The conversation digs into why standard formulas like 220 minus age systematically overestimate max heart rate for people with autonomic dysfunction, what chronotropic incompetence actually means in practice, and how Claire has been applying — and adapting — the research findings in real time at Rogue. If you're prescribing high intensity exercise to your neuro patients, this episode will change how you think about whether they're actually hitting the dose. Research article: Refining Maximal Heart Rate Estimation to Enhance Exercise Recommendations for Persons With Parkinson Disease — Listen to the previously recorded episode where Claire shares the rationale and the formula she created (which you get access to!) Episode 302:
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325: Falls Training For Parkinson's: Why Patients Are Demanding It With Naomi Casiro, BSc., MPT
07/06/2026
325: Falls Training For Parkinson's: Why Patients Are Demanding It With Naomi Casiro, BSc., MPT
What would it look like if your patients stopped fearing the floor? In this episode, hosts Erin Gallardo, PT, DPT, NCS, and Claire McLean, PT, DPT, NCS, discuss with Naomi Casiro, physiotherapist and founder of Neuro Fit Academy, what happened when her falls training sessions at World Parkinson Congress drew over 100 attendees in a room designed for 40. They dig into why patients with Parkinson's are starting to demand falls training themselves, and how that overwhelming response reflects a massive gap in what clinicians are currently being taught. Naomi recently launched her FMF — Functional Movement and Falls Training — Foundations online course through Neuro Fit Academy — a six-hour program built for PTs, OTs, and any neuro rehab clinician who wants practical, immediately applicable falls training skills without needing to wait for an in-person course to come to their city. The course includes PDF clinical guides, problem-solving resources, and twice-yearly office hours with Naomi directly. If you've ever felt unsure about how to actually teach a patient to fall safely, this course was built for you. Learn more about the course here!
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324: When Robots Amplify Mistakes To Drive Recovery: Error Augmentation In Neuro Rehab With BioXtreme
06/29/2026
324: When Robots Amplify Mistakes To Drive Recovery: Error Augmentation In Neuro Rehab With BioXtreme
In this episode, host Erin Gallardo, PT, DPT, NCS interviews BioXtreme CEO Eyal Samuel Shachar and researcher Dr. James Patton, PhD about BioXtreme’s robotics-based neurorehabilitation devices, with a focus on their Plaxtream hand system. Inspired by founder Nini Bluman’s experience helping his father recover hand function after a stroke, Plaxtream combines robotic hardware, engaging game-based activities, and an AI-driven, adaptive error augmentation approach to improve grasp, release, pronation, and supination. Dr. Patton explains how error augmentation—strategically amplifying movement errors within an optimal “sweet spot”—can accelerate neuroplasticity and learning, and he shares clinical findings showing functional gains using standardized measures like Fugl-Meyer and Wolf Motor Function tests. The guests discuss how the device personalizes training based on each person’s range of motion and strength, supports patients from early to chronic stages (with both active and assistive modes), and is designed for in-clinic use. They also highlight BioXtreme’s rapid, feedback-driven development process, the importance of close collaboration between engineers and clinicians, and new opportunities for therapists to get involved in research, education, and U.S. market expansion efforts. Learn more here! Find Dr. Patton here:
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323: Before We Left for Phoenix: Our World Parkinson Congress 2026 Preview
06/22/2026
323: Before We Left for Phoenix: Our World Parkinson Congress 2026 Preview
In this episode hosts, Erin Gallardo, PT, DPT, NCS and Claire McLean, PT, DPT, NCS share their excitement and plans for attending the 2026 World Parkinson Congress (WPC) in Phoenix, Arizona, a unique international conference that brings together people with Parkinson’s, care partners, therapists, physicians, and researchers. Drawing on their past experiences at WPC in Montreal, Portland, and Kyoto, they describe how special it is to attend this event as a full team this year, staying together in an Airbnb and connecting with colleagues and members from around the world. They highlight what makes WPC stand out from typical scientific meetings: its interdisciplinary focus, community-centered vibe, extensive wellness and exercise programming, creative projects, and direct involvement of people with Parkinson’s in scientific discussions. Claire and Erin also walk through the rich scientific and wellness schedule—from plenary lectures on cutting-edge research and prevention to workshops, round tables, debate-style “controversy” sessions, and a robust wellness program featuring exercise, meditation, and caregiver support. They close by emphasizing how WPC advances both research and advocacy, and by promising a follow-up conversation after the congress to share key takeaways and lessons learned. We recorded this before heading to WPC — stay tuned for our follow-up episode with everything we learned!
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322: Find Work-Life Balance With Alignment, Not Productivity Tools
06/15/2026
322: Find Work-Life Balance With Alignment, Not Productivity Tools
Is work-life balance an elusive concept you have yet to master while running your life and neuro biz? In this episode, hosts Erin Gallardo, PT, DPT, NCS and Claire McLean, PT, DPT, NCS discuss the topic with NeuroBiz Coach, Emily Duval Ledger. Many clinicians start businesses to escape traditional job burnout but then recreate the same patterns by overworking and glorifying busyness. In the show we talk about recognizing when “busy” becomes unproductive, using tools like time-blocking, planners, and realistic daily priorities to focus on high-impact tasks and reduce urgency overload, but, really, it is about much more than just “tools.” The topic of metacognition—noticing and questioning automatic thoughts about productivity—comes up. We encourage business owners to listen to signals like dread and frustration, realign work with the clients and tasks that energize you and continually adjust your business models to support long-term well-being for yourself and your team.
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321: How To Use AI Tools To Get Time Back Even When You’re Not Techy With Shanté “Movement Maestro” Cofield, PT, DPT, OCS
06/08/2026
321: How To Use AI Tools To Get Time Back Even When You’re Not Techy With Shanté “Movement Maestro” Cofield, PT, DPT, OCS
Dive into AI tools in your personal life, work life and business by learning what to use, how to use it and how NOT to use it. In this episode, hosts Erin Gallardo, PT, DPT, NCS and Claire McLean, PT, DPT, NCS talk with physical-therapist-turned-entrepreneur Dr. Shanté “Movement Maestro” Cofield, PT, DPT, OCS about what AI is and how it can practically support health and fitness professionals. Shanté explains AI in simple terms as powerful computer programs called large language models (LLMs) that use math and probability to predict the most likely next word, making it possible for us to just “talk” to a chatbot and get useful outputs, even though the AI itself doesn’t truly understand what it’s saying. The conversation covers how AI can help with everyday, non-hands-on tasks like writing recommendation letters, drafting emails, creating presentations, automating small workflows (like forwarding utility bills), and building custom dashboards, all of which save time and let clinicians focus more on people instead of paperwork. The episode also touches on valid concerns about privacy and environmental impact, with Shanté encouraging a nuanced, “both-and” mindset: be informed and cautious, but also recognize that many of our tools already use AI and that the biggest gains come from offloading repetitive, non-client-facing work while keeping human creativity and connection front and center. The episode closes with resources for learning more, including Shanté’s AI-focused project “Prompting Curiosity” and her main platform, The Movement Maestro, and an invitation for clinicians to simply start experimenting so they can see for themselves where AI helps and where it falls short. Prompting Curiosity website - Instagram:
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320: AI Documentation As A Game-Changer For Neuro Rehab: How-To
06/01/2026
320: AI Documentation As A Game-Changer For Neuro Rehab: How-To
Has your clinic adopted AI for documentation yet? If not (or if so!) check out this episode to learn about how it can transform your time and allow you to do your job unfettered. Hosts Erin Gallardo, PT, DPT, NCS and Claire McLean, PT, DPT, NCS interview Sparky instructor Jamie Haines, PT, DScPT, NCS about how AI-powered documentation is transforming her life in the clinic, and how without it she would not have returned to the clinic after being in academia. Neuro physical therapists have long struggled to balance hands-on care with time-consuming paperwork. In this conversation, Jamie, a PT of over 30 years, who would not call herself “techy” shares how using an AI scribe layered onto her EMR has been a true game changer after returning to full-time clinical work. By wearing a microphone and letting the system transcribe and organize her notes, Jamie can stay fully present with patients, capture richer and more accurate subjectives, and generate skilled, compliant documentation in just a few minutes. Over time, the AI learns her common tests, goals, and language, even translating lay terms into professional wording and clearly articulating clinical decision-making. While some clinicians are initially hesitant to learn a new system, Jamie’s experience highlights how AI can reduce burnout, improve audit readiness, and finally let therapists do what they do best—focus on creative, high-quality care—without being buried by documentation. You’ll get tips for teaching it how to write things the way you want and what to do if your administrators are reluctant to get it for your clinic. Let us know which system you’re using and whether or not you love it! Send us a DM on IG
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319: How And Why You Should Train Neuro Clients In More Positions With Dr. JJ Mowder-Tinney, PT, PhD, NCS
05/25/2026
319: How And Why You Should Train Neuro Clients In More Positions With Dr. JJ Mowder-Tinney, PT, PhD, NCS
In this episode, hosts Erin Gallardo, PT, DPT, NCS and Claire McLean, PT, DPT, NCS and JJ Mowder-Tinney, PT, PhD, NCS discuss the critical but under-addressed role of transitional movements in neurologic rehab, especially for people with conditions like MS, Parkinson’s disease, stroke, and spinal cord injury. In the show we’ll highlight how traditional therapy often focuses on sitting, standing, and walking, while many real-life challenges involve moving through positions such as supine, prone, quadruped, kneeling, and floor-to-stand. Claire and JJ share clinical experiences showing that training mobility in these varied positions can transform posture, confidence, bed mobility, fall recovery, and functional independence, even when research and standardized assessments lag behind. We also emphasize the need for objective, time- or repetition-based measures of transitions, discuss safety and buy-in for both therapists and patients, and note how clinicians may be able to use more creative, high-skill interventions. We’ll talk you through what a session could look like taking a patient through the transitional movements you want to train them in and why it matters. For more education on this - and a visual - join us for a free webinar on June 2nd! Register here: To get mentorship and continuing education on the latest evidence-based techniques you can apply immediately, join NeuroSpark! Learn more at
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318: Using RTM With Neuro Clients For Increased Revenue, Motivation, And Data Metrics To Justify Therapy
05/18/2026
318: Using RTM With Neuro Clients For Increased Revenue, Motivation, And Data Metrics To Justify Therapy
Want to learn more about Remote Therapeutic Monitoring in neuro? In this episode, host Erin Gallardo, PT, DPT, NCS speaks with physical therapist and former clinic owner turned digital health leader Sarah Anestam, PT, MSPT and practice owner Katie Wadland, PT, DPT, GCS about how the OneStep app and remote therapeutic monitoring (RTM) are transforming outpatient and home-based rehab. Sarah explains how OneStep uses smartphone sensors to turn everyday walking into objective gait and fall risk data, giving clinicians “gait lab in a pocket” insight into how patients move in real-world environments without extra hardware. Katie shares how her practice, Healthy Aging Physical Therapy, an outpatient-at-home practice has integrated OneStep to better serve older adults and people with neurologic conditions like Parkinson’s disease, using the platform to track progress between visits, support home programs, and even synthesize large datasets for documentation and clinical decision-making. In the episode we’ll break down the challenges and opportunities with different RTM systems, discuss the evolving RTM billing rules, give practical workflow tips, and demonstrate how RTM has created a meaningful new revenue stream while enhancing patient engagement, long-term monitoring, and community-based wellness initiatives such as fall prevention events. If you’ve wondered if RTM would work for your neuro clients and be worth your while, this is the episode for you! Healthy Aging is on FB, IG and Youtube OneStep
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317: Maximize Progress In Neuro Rehab Using Rhythmic Auditory Stimulation With MedRhythms
05/11/2026
317: Maximize Progress In Neuro Rehab Using Rhythmic Auditory Stimulation With MedRhythms
If you’ve used music in therapy sessions and found it helpful you’re going to love this one! In this episode, host Erin Gallardo, PT, DPT, NCS interviews Brian Harris, MA, MT-BC, NMT/F, FACRM, a board-certified music therapist and founder of MedRhythms, about how music, neuroscience, and technology are being combined to transform neurorehabilitation. Brian shares the powerful clinical experiences that led him from traditional music therapy into developing neurologic music therapy programs at Spaulding Rehab Hospital, where rhythmic auditory stimulation (RAS) produced remarkable gains in gait and function for people with stroke and brain injury. To scale access beyond what one clinician can provide and take this evidence-based intervention into the home, he founded MedRhythms. They created prescription digital therapeutics that use wearable gait sensors, bone-conduction headphones, and “clinical thinking” algorithms to deliver personalized, music-based gait training at home for people with chronic stroke and Parkinson’s disease. Now FDA-listed and supported by Medicare reimbursement, MedRhythms’ products marry evidence-based neurorehab with user-friendly design, familiar music via a partnership with Universal Music Group, and ongoing clinical research to expand into additional neurologic conditions—bringing high-quality music-based rehab to more people who need it. MedRhythms
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316: Proven Fall Prevention Strategies To Implement Today With Dr. Tiffany Shubert, PT, PhD
05/04/2026
316: Proven Fall Prevention Strategies To Implement Today With Dr. Tiffany Shubert, PT, PhD
Fall risk for older adults is manageable, modifiable and, guess what? They are capable of owning more of the responsibility than we’ve been giving them credit for! In this episode, host Erin Gallardo, PT, DPT, NCS interviews Dr. Tiffany Shubert, PT, PhD, a physical therapist, researcher, and healthcare innovator dedicated to turning strong evidence into practical tools for clinicians and older adults. Tiffany shares how her journey from clinician to PhD and then into digital health led her to champion the Otago Exercise Program and other proven fall prevention strategies. She discusses the realities of implementing programs in the U.S. healthcare system, the need for user-friendly technology, and the power of simple, consistent strength and balance training to meaningfully reduce fall risk at any age. Tiffany gives practical advice for what to implement in your practice today to start making a difference and encourages listeners to think bigger about the impact you can make. Open source videos of Otago Exercise Program to share with everyone: Video 1 - Video 2 - Video 3 - Video 4 -
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315: A Beginner’s Path To Using AI To Improve Your Workflow
04/27/2026
315: A Beginner’s Path To Using AI To Improve Your Workflow
Are you using AI to improve your workflow as a clinician or a business owner? Are you really? Or are you still scared of it? This episode explores how Claire McLean, PT, DPT, NCS and the Rogue Physical Therapy & Wellness team are integrating AI into their practice to save time, improve documentation, and enhance client care so they can do more of what they love and bring enjoyment to the tasks they used to dread. Claire shares how tools like the Plaud NotePin and Claude have transformed consultations and one-on-one notes, streamlined standardized Parkinson’s wellness assessments, and supported data management projects. She also explains how AI has helped her overhaul hiring and HR processes, from interview forms and training programs to a comprehensive benefits manual, as well as solve technical issues with their video library and build a more efficient, automated timesheet system. Beyond operations, Claire is using AI to design an onboarding “roadmap” for new online members and to quickly generate polished, research-informed handouts from her presentation slides. AI isn’t replacing therapists, but instead offloading repetitive administrative tasks so clinicians can spend more time doing the work they love with people. Get on board and get inspired. New ideas will sprout while you listen to this episode! For more learning check out Dr. Shanté Cofield aka The Maestro’s podcast
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314: Get Advanced Real-Time Gait Analytics With NUSHU With Erica Demarch, PT
04/20/2026
314: Get Advanced Real-Time Gait Analytics With NUSHU With Erica Demarch, PT
In this episode, hosts Erin Gallardo, PT, DPT, NCS and Claire McLean, PT, DPT, NCS interview physical therapist and inventor Erica Demarch, PT, MSPT about her work at the intersection of neuro rehab, motor learning, and wearable technology. Erica shares how her background founding her company, Step and Connect where she developed the Balance Matters system led her to join Magnes, a Swiss company that created NUSHU, a smart shoe with embedded sensors and vibrotactile feedback designed to analyze and improve gait in real time. She explains how the shoes capture over 35 gait parameters, support both assessment and treatment, and can be used in the clinic or at home, particularly for people with Parkinson’s disease and those experiencing freezing of gait. Erica discusses current and ongoing research, practical clinical use cases, challenges like individual variability in vibration perception, and the need to individualize cueing strategies. She also describes implementation models for clinics, emerging possibilities for remote monitoring, and her efforts to train and collaborate with clinicians through demos, courses, and networking events to further refine and expand the clinical applications of this technology. Learn more at: Follow on IG:
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313: Vision, Autonomics & Neuro Rehab: What PTs and OTs Should Know Now
04/13/2026
313: Vision, Autonomics & Neuro Rehab: What PTs and OTs Should Know Now
Eager to learn more about vision rehab in neuro? In this episode, host Erin Gallardo, PT, DPT, NCS talks with optometrist Melissa Zarn, OD, FAAO, FNAP and occupational therapist David Katz, OTR/L, CBIS about current advances in neuro-visual rehabilitation and updates within the Neuro Optometric Rehabilitation Association (NORA). They describe how NORA’s clinical skills fellowship program has evolved into a hybrid model with asynchronous online coursework plus in-person hands-on training across three levels, increasingly emphasizing interdisciplinary collaboration among OTs, PTs, speech therapists, and neuro-optometrists. A major focus of the conversation is the role of the autonomic nervous system in post-brain injury visual symptoms such as light sensitivity, headaches, dizziness, and sensory overwhelm, and how tools like tinted lenses, environmental modifications, and team-based care can help calm the system and improve function. They also highlight new opportunities for PTs and OTs to deepen their vision rehab skills through NORA’s annual conference, the growing community of practice within AOTA around neuro-visual remediation, and starter resources like NeuroCollaborative’s vision rehab course for clinicians who want to go further in this specialty area. Learn more about Neuro Optometric Rehabilitation Association (NORA) here: Learn about NORA’s annual conference: email:
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312: Upleveling Vestibular Rehabilitation With The Vertigenius
04/06/2026
312: Upleveling Vestibular Rehabilitation With The Vertigenius
Vestibular rehabilitation is incredibly effective at treating dizziness, yet barriers exist. Just to name a few - access to expert care, scheduling, ability for patients to adhere to home programs and billing. What if there were a device that helped not only with all of those issues while also helping clinicians get vestibular patients better? The Vertigenius may just be the answer! In this episode, host Erin Gallardo, PT, DPT, NCS interviews experienced physiotherapist and Vertigenius inventor and founder, Dr. Dara Meldrum, PhD as well as Sparky and neuro biz owner using Vertigenius in practice, Hilary Register, PT, DPT, NCS, AVPT, NCPT to explore how it works. Dara explains how the FDA‑listed medical device combines a small head sensor worn behind the ear, a patient app, and a clinician portal. Vertigenius offers clinicians the opportunity to prescribe precisely dosed gaze, balance, gait, and habituation exercises with real‑time color‑coded feedback, while capturing objective data on symptoms and adherence. She shares the origin story of the technology, its validation against gold‑standard measures, and its role in expanding access to care and supporting both novice and expert clinicians, especially in telehealth and remote therapeutic monitoring. As an experienced vestibular rehab clinician and researcher herself, she ensures the device is completely evidence-based and constantly evolving as the research grows. Hilary describes how she uses Vertigenius in private practice and concussion rehab to reduce in‑person visit burden, track meaningful functional gains patients often don’t recognize, offer high touch points to progress plans of care and design cost‑effective care packages that still feel highly personalized. Together, they highlight how this digital platform can improve outcomes, clinician efficiency, and patient empowerment in managing dizziness, vertigo, and imbalance. Learn more and set up a demo: FaceBook: IG:
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311: How To Add Personal Training To Expand Your Neuro Biz And Improve Client Outcomes
03/30/2026
311: How To Add Personal Training To Expand Your Neuro Biz And Improve Client Outcomes
Are you a business owner looking to increase revenue streams and add more cash-based services into the mix? In this episode host Erin Gallardo, PT, DPT, NCS and NeuroBiz coach Emily Duval Ledger explore how personal trainers can significantly strengthen neuro-focused businesses by offering wellness sessions that complement therapy. This is a 100% collaboration over competition focus and you’ll learn exactly who to look for to hire in your neuro biz. The benefits to having personal trainers is that this service can clearly separate insurance-based medically necessary care from ongoing cash-based wellness, improve client outcomes, and dramatically increase client lifetime value. Emily shares her 20-year journey as a self-employed fitness professional working with people with Parkinson’s and older adults, emphasizing that trainers bring a distinct strength and conditioning lens that complements PT expertise. Together, Erin and Emily dive into practical considerations like how to price and pay trainers sustainably, who the ideal hires are, and how to write job descriptions that attract people who genuinely love working with older adults and neuro populations. They also discuss membership and package models to create consistent revenue and foster client commitment, stressing the importance of honest, direct conversations about what it truly takes for clients to see meaningful change. They close by encouraging neuro business owners to embrace their uniqueness, think creatively about integrating trainers, and reach out with questions or ideas as they grow their own “unicorn” practices.
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310: The Evidence-Based Approach To Dementia Care With Rachel Wiley, MS, OTR/L
03/23/2026
310: The Evidence-Based Approach To Dementia Care With Rachel Wiley, MS, OTR/L
Working with people with dementia and their care partners can be complicated and confusing. What does the evidence say is the best approach? Is it rehabilitative or habilitative?? In this episode, hosts Erin Gallardo, PT, DPT, NCS and Claire McLean, PT, DPT, NCS interview occupational therapist and Dementia Collaborative founder Rachel Wiley, MS, OTR/L about her approach to working with people with dementia and their care partners. Rachel shares how past experiences with conflicting recommendations between professionals—and the confusion and mistrust this caused for families—motivated her to create a more advanced, evidence-based program that gets teams using the same language and approaches, especially around topics like rehabilitation vs. habilitation, assistive devices, responsive behaviors, and fall risk. She explains her practical, detective-style framework for understanding and managing responsive behaviors (like waking at night or agitation) by identifying triggers and using strategies such as acknowledge–reassure–redirect and meaningful routines. The episode also touches on the complexities of billing, maintenance care, and determining medical necessity in a progressive condition, emphasizing person-centered, ethical care that balances evidence, function, safety, and the realities of caregiving. Rachel recently launched the beta cohort of her new Certified Dementia Clinician (CDCn) Course, a 20-module, interdisciplinary training designed for OTs, PTs, SLPs, social workers, and other clinicians working with people living with dementia.
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309: Using Dry Needling To Reset The Nervous System With Tyler Niemack, PT, DPT, OCS
03/16/2026
309: Using Dry Needling To Reset The Nervous System With Tyler Niemack, PT, DPT, OCS
This is the episode that will help you understand the opportunities and functionality of dry needling! Host Erin Gallardo, PT, DPT, NCS interviews Tyler Niemack, PT, DPT, OCS, Functional Dry Needling Certified Specialist about how dry needling can be used not just to relax tight muscles, but to “reset” the neuromuscular system and improve function. Tyler, who teaches Dry Needling Certification courses for Evidence In Motion explains how PTs approach dry needling differently from acupuncturists, using their orthopedic and neurological assessment skills to decide whether to target spinal segments, peripheral nerves, or specific muscles. Through examples ranging from rotator cuff issues to stroke, spasticity, and Parkinson’s disease, he describes using dry needling as not just a treatment tool but also a diagnostic. He also shares his 3 R’s approach to treatment: Reset, Reinforce and Reload. They discuss fascia, pain perception, emerging research on how needling changes the brain’s pain maps, and ongoing legal barriers in states where PTs still cannot perform dry needling. Tyler encourages clinicians to think of themselves as neuro-orthopedic specialists and to use neuroanatomy and sound clinical reasoning to get the most from this very promising intervention. **Apologies for some tech malfunctions that occurred in the recording. They don’t take away from the learning, but wanted to mention there are a couple of glitchy spots. Thank you for understanding! Get in touch with Tyler here: IG Email: tyler@toetouchpt.com
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308: How NeuroLab 360 Uses A Nonprofit Model To Deliver High Intensity Neuro Rehab
03/09/2026
308: How NeuroLab 360 Uses A Nonprofit Model To Deliver High Intensity Neuro Rehab
Interested in looking at how a nonprofit clinic operates for neuro rehab? In this episode hosts Erin Gallardo, PT, DPT, NCS and Claire McLean, PT, DPT, NCS interview co-founder Meagan George, PT, DPT, NCS about how she and her partners built a nonprofit, cash-based neuro clinic in Encinitas, California. After feeling constrained by insurance limitations in hospital systems, the trio incorporated as a 501(c)(3) in 2021 with a mission to deliver intensive, goal-oriented PT, OT, and wellness services regardless of a person’s financial situation. NeuroLab 360 operates using a scholarship program—reviewed and approved by their board of directors—to make care accessible, with about 30–40% of patients receiving financial support and everyone paying something to maintain commitment and value. Meagan shares how they’ve grown from three founders to a team of nine therapists, outfitted their gym-like clinic with donated and grant-funded specialty equipment like an AlterG and driving simulator, and built strong community ties through support groups, free and low-cost classes, and collaborations with local hospitals, researchers, and nonprofits. She also opens up about the real challenges of running a nonprofit—especially grant writing, budgeting with variable donations, and preventing burnout—while still staying true to their core mission of providing high-quality, high-intensity neuro rehab that isn’t dictated by insurance.
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307: Research Update: Treadmill VS Overground Walking In Persons With MS With Herb Karpatkin, PT, DSc, NCS, MSCS
03/02/2026
307: Research Update: Treadmill VS Overground Walking In Persons With MS With Herb Karpatkin, PT, DSc, NCS, MSCS
In this episode host Erin Gallardo, PT, DPT, NCS interviews Multiple Sclerosis specialist and researcher Dr. Herb Karpatkin, PT, DSc, NCS, MSCS to discuss how therapy for people with multiple sclerosis must be fundamentally different from approaches used for stroke, spinal cord injury, or TBI. In his research Herb discovered an incidental finding that led to more questions that he and his team wanted to investigate: does treadmill walking carry over to overground walking in persons with MS? In the show he explains the nuances of treadmill walking for persons with MS vs healthy controls and when to use it or not. Herb shares his framework on intermittent, high-intensity interval walking and strength training, which allow people with MS to push hard, rest, and achieve meaningful aerobic gains and functional improvements without excessive fatigue. Instead of telling people with MS they can’t work hard or lift heavy, his research finds that to be absolutely untrue. Herb and Erin also discuss a couple of past patients who wanted to complete the MS Society 5k walk and what the training looked like and what could have been done differently. The topic of cooling came up and how to effectively implement this technique to allow persons with MS to do more without overheating. 1.5 hour Mini Course
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306: Clients Can Maximize Hand Function And Foot Drop At Home With Motus Nova
02/23/2026
306: Clients Can Maximize Hand Function And Foot Drop At Home With Motus Nova
In this episode, host Erin Gallardo, PT, DPT, NCS interviews the Motus Nova clinical team—occupational therapists Jamie Kurtz, MS, OTR/L, Keisha Burrous, OTR/L, CBIS, Amie Canning, MS, OTR/L, and Mirasol Jacobs, PT, DPT — about the Motus Hand and Motus Foot robotic devices for neurorehabilitation. The team explains how these FDA Class I medical devices provide active-assistive, game-based training at home to help patients achieve the high repetition doses (500–600 reps per day) needed for neuroplastic change, without replacing traditional therapy. Built on pneumatic “artificial muscle” technology, the devices adapt in real time to the user’s movement, address tone and spasticity, and can be customized for a wide range of neurologic conditions, from stroke and MS to Parkinson’s disease and Guillain-Barré. The conversation covers who is appropriate for the devices, how they integrate with inpatient and outpatient care, real-world success stories—including improved gait, grip strength, and mental health—and the practical steps for clinicians to refer patients, arrange demos, and navigate the 13‑month rental-to-own DME model now supported by a dedicated Medicare code, which means patients can get the device through their insurance and it does not impact their ability to get other durable medical equipment (DME). Overall, the episode highlights Motus Nova as an accessible way to extend evidence-based neuro rehab beyond the clinic and into patients’ homes. You will likely have a patient (or several) who come to mind while listening to this, so check it out and learn more today! Motus Nova Therapists! Contact Motus Nova with questions, schedule an inservice, or refer a patient here:
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