Show Notes
Welcome to another episode of The Words Matter Podcast.
He has twice been a member of National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) Guideline Development Groups formulating NICE clinical guidelines for
back pain and sciatica.Steven led the large Clinical Risk Osteopathy and Management (
CROaM) study which examined adverse events and outcomes related to osteopathic interventions.
His main research interests focus on back pain, clinicians’ beliefs and attitudes and more recently, reassurance, communication and consent, safety and manual therapy, patient reported outcomes, self-management rehabilitation strategies used in practice with people with low back pain, and the effects of cognitive and affective reassurance.
In this episode we talk about:
- What constitutive ethical and professionally agnostic musculoskeletal care (see Steve's paper here).
- The early research into psychology of LBP, of which he was a crucial part (see here here and here).
- The cyclical nature of current arguments (hands on/of/psycho/manipulation etc).
- The different levels (fizzy drink scale) of psychologically-informed practice, and the psychological processes involved in clinical practice.
- The challenges of developing these skills in clinicians, and the questions up for debate such as 'what does it mean to be BPS orientated' and 'what sorts of training bests develops those competencies'?
- The frequent situation where psychological interventions have high face validity, make sense to us an clinicians but show small effect sizes when clinically trialled.
- We talk about his seminal 2013 systematic review work on cognitive and affective reassurance.
- Signs of progress and lack of progress of for PIP
- The challenge of measuring BPS-ness and the empirical actions and observable behaviours associated with such a clinical orientation.
Steven is is perhaps the most measured, rational and composed individual I know. He remains totally zen even when being faced with some the highest intellectual dishonesty in the manual-physical-osteopathy spheres.
It was an absolute pleasure speaking with Steve about his seminal work as a pioneer of psychologically-informed musculoskeletal care, and reflect on how far we have come and how much further we have still to go.
If you liked the podcast, you'll love the Words Matter online course in effective language and communication when managing back pain - ideal for all MSK therapists and students (discounts for students available) Follow Words Matter on:
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What is The Words Matter Podcast with Oliver Thomson?
The Words Matter Podcast brings you insights, reflections and conversations focused on the latest evidence, theory, philosophy and practice of communication-focused healthcare.
Find out about the more tacit, 'softer' and personal side of clinical practice such as the role of philosophy, beliefs, behaviours, developing therapeutic relationships or the purposeful use of language with people experiencing pain from expert academics, clinicians and researchers from across the world and spanning the musculoskeletal disciplines. This podcast will help you reflect on your own current practice and inform and stimulate you to consider new ways of approaching your practice and patients, to create a better clinical experience and outcomes in people with musculoskeletal pain.
Hosted by Dr Oliver Thomson PhD, an osteopath and Associate Professor who is passionate about researching and educating clinicians on a revised narrative, communication and biopsychosocial approach to musculoskeletal therapy. If you like the podcast, subscribe and check out the online learning and resources at www.wordsmatter-education.com.
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