Ep.283 'Common Frustrations For MSK Clinicians: Part 4/4'' with Tristen Attenborough

Many of the frustrations MSK clinicians feel when assessments, diagnoses, or outcomes don’t go to plan aren’t down to lack of skill, but to unseen COGNITIVE BIASES and JUDGEMENT NOISE shaping everyday decisions. In the final part of our focus this month, 'Common Frustrations For MSK Clinicians', host Matt Phillips is joined by special guest Tristen Attenborough of movementpossible.co.uk, a Sports Therapist with BSc Psychology & MSc Pain Management, who explains how unawareness or misunderstanding of these human factors fuels inconsistency, self‑doubt, and missed learning. Tristen discusses perceptual errors like pareidolia and confirmation bias, how natural history and survivorship bias can mislead clinicians, and practical strategies to reduce bias, including reflection, humility, and supervision. Together, Tristen and Matt discuss better clinical reasoning, avoiding absolute language, and giving clients agency in their care. The episode closes with advice for clinicians to hold results lightly and focus on listening to patients, plus details of Tristen’s presentations at the up & coming STA Regional Conferences.  Chapter Markers 00:00:00 - Welcome to the STA Clinician Podcast 00:01:57 - Introducing guest Tristen Attenborough 00:06:02 - Understanding Cognitive Biases 00:10:39 - Perceptual Errors in Therapy 00:18:05 - The Importance of Client Feedback 00:23:09 - Exploring Confirmation Bias 00:25:32 - Misconceptions in Clinical Outcomes 00:32:16 - The Role of Tribalism 00:39:37 - Building Humility in Practice 00:45:02 - The Challenge of Clinical Reasoning 00:50:05 - Reflective Practices for Improvement 00:55:57 - Next Month's Focus: Communication Skills for MSK Clinicians 01:00:19 - Details of STA Regional Conferences Useful Links Tristen Attenborough Website - Movementpossible.co.uk Tristen Attenborough on Instagram Tristen Attenborough on Facebook Want to join the live recordings? Episodes of the STA Clinician Podcast are recorded live every TUESDAY at 8pm on the Sports Therapy Association YOUTUBE CHANNEL and FACEBOOK page. Everyone is welcome - you do not have to be an STA member! If you cannot join us live, be sure to subscribe to the 'Sports Therapy Association Podcast' on all popular podcast apps to be notified when new episodes are available. Interested in joining the STA? Use the code PODCAST25 to get 3 MONTHS EXTRA when you join for a single year! In other words, £75 will get you 15 months instead of 12!  Only valid for NEW members. If you are Level 3 (qualified after 2014) make sure you choose the ‘associate member’ option.