Pain Explained: Helping Patients Move with Confidence with PT Chris Palmer, Part One

Send us Fan MailIn Part 1 of this conversation, we sit down with physical therapist Chris Palmer to unpack how we arrived at the bio-psycho-social model of pain and why this shift matters so much in modern physical therapy. We explore the evolution of pain science—from tissue-focused explanations to a more comprehensive understanding of how biological, psychological, and social factors interact. Chris breaks down the different pain mechanisms or “buckets,” why identifying them is critical for clinical reasoning, and how therapists can begin translating complex pain science concepts into language patients actually understand. This episode lays the foundation for better assessment, communication, and care—setting the stage for a deeper clinical dive in Part 2. Please be sure to follow us on Instagram @medstarhealthpt and email: [email protected] with any questions or podcast ideas! Thank you for listening!