Clinical Communication

An aspect of clinical practice we can often take for granted is informing patients about "normal" imaging findings. Just say it's alright, reassure and move on right?Yet this is a conversation that they've waited a long time for and needs to be taken seriously.This brief episode gives some suggestions on how to go about it.You can find Ben across Social Media @BWhybrowPhysio orEmail [email protected] Where you can see Ben:Widespread Pain Differentials with Clinical Physio, May 21stOnline 7:30pm UK timehttps://www.clinicalphysio.com/live-webinars/ North East Musculoskeletal Society Conference – September 19th, Durhamhttps://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/north-east-musculoskeletal-conference-2026-tickets-1981008464645Therapy Show – November 25th, Birminghamhttps://www.therapyshow.co.uk/Do share & subscribe.

This may come as a surprise, but one of my biggest passionsthroughout life has been professional wrestling, and as we are in the week of Wrestlemania 42 I’ve got THE Physio for British Wrestling, Big John Rehab, to talk through how to communicate with professional wrestler patients as well as athletes in general.We discuss:(00:00:00) – What Drew John Towards Wrestling(00:03:25) – When Did He Start Treating Wrestlers As A Clinician?(00:06:35) – The Importance Of Knowing Your Sport(00:10:56) – The Importance Of Adapting The Conversation ToThe Environment(00:12:20) – John’s Journey In Basketball(00:15:19) – Do Wrestler’s Have A Certain Personality Type(00:16:30) – Does Communication Change With Famous Athletes(00:20:35) – How To Tell Wrestlers When They Shouldn’tWrestle(00:22:57) – Do Wrestlers Hide Injuries?(00:26:07) – How To Have Discussions With Wrestlers On Adapting Their Style(00:31:52) – Are Audiences More Dubious About Real Injuries?(00:32:51) – John’s Hardest Clinical Conversations(00:40:51) – Advice To Clinicians On Social Media(00:48:01) – John & Ben’s Wrestlemania 42 Predictions You can find Big John on Instagram @bigjohnrehab or onLinkedInYou can find Ben across Social Media @BWhybrowPhysio oremail [email protected] Where you can see Ben:Upcoming Free Webinar with Modern Pain Care, April 25thhttps://modernpaincare.com/webinarNorth East Musculoskeletal Society Conference – September 19th, Durham.https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/north-east-musculoskeletal-conference-2026-tickets-1981008464645Therapy Show – November 25th, Birminghamhttps://www.therapyshow.co.uk/

The person in front of you will form an impression and judgement about you within the first few seconds and minutes of meeting you that is then hard to change, so it's important to get right.Starting a consultation or discussion is something not often talked about, so this episode talks through a few steps to help it go smoother and build rapport & trust quicker.Upcoming Free Webinar with Modern Pain Care, April 25thhttps://modernpaincare.com/webinarWhere you can see Ben:North East Musculoskeletal Society Conference – September 19th, Durhamhttps://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/north-east-musculoskeletal-conference-2026-tickets-1981008464645Therapy Show – November 25th, Birminghamhttps://www.therapyshow.co.uk/You can find Ben across Social Media @BWhybrowPhysio oremail [email protected]

With growing awareness and diagnosis rates, neurodiversity is becoming a very talked about topic and coming up more and more in healthcare conversations. How could we better support those with neurodiversity? Should you ask someone if they have the diagnosis? Will criteria be changing over time?On this episode Ben is joined by Rosi Sexton, Osteopath,Podcast Host, Former MMA athlete and Neurodiversity advocate. Where they discuss:(00:00:00) – Rosi’s Journey With Neurodiversity(00:06:50) – Diagnosis Of Neurodiversity In Females(00:09:15) – Future Of Neurodiversity Diagnostic Criteria(00:10:55) – Is Anyone Neurotypical?(00:14:25) – Will What We Define As Neurodiverse Change WithTime?(00:16:30) – When Neurodiversity Doesn’t Fit Into A System(00:33:06) – How Can We Help Those With Neurodiversity?(00:41:00) – Different Communication Responses In Neurodiversity (00:49:05) – Should We Routinely Ask Patients If They AreNeurodiverse?(00:54:00) – How A Clinical Environment Can Support ThoseWith Neurodiversity(01:01:55) – Neurodiversity & Hypermobility(01:10:00) – Different Neurodiversity Communication Styles(01:21:30) – Next Steps For Supporting Neurodiversity(01:31:00) – Rosi’s Hardest Conversation You can find Rosi on Instagram @rosisexton & LinkedIn, her clinic is Olton Health & Performance.Her podcast is “Everyday Athlete” available wherever you getpodcasts. And keep an eye out for Neuroflect coming out later this year.You can find Ben across social media @BWhybrowPhysio

There was big news last week, after months of suspicion and anticipation I have produced and released the worlds first guide that clinicans can use in practice to help with differential diagnosis of chronic widespread pain.This brief episode is the story of how the concept was created, how it was developed and what feedback has been so far.The most of important thing you can do today is download it from the link below, try it in real life and then let me know how it goes!https://drive.google.com/file/d/1cKCprTQeGFnHnlx9W8hX4jqxLnKKome5/view?usp=sharingYou can do this either by messaging me on social media @BWhybrowPhysio or via email [email protected]

Behaviour change conversations can be tricky, but one part most at risk of going wrong and derailing the conversation is raising the topic of the behaviour itself, especially if the person in front of you isn't expecting it.How can we do this without getting shut down or disrupting any existing relationship, and then how can we get an idea of whether they're willing or able to change right now?This episode covers this in 3 simple steps.Want to know more?You can follow Ben across social media @BWhybrowPhysioFor questions, courses or mentoring, email [email protected]

Many clinicians deliver talks or presentations around the world every day - yet the vast majority leave a lot to be desired. This episode may sound like a rant,But it is really a blueprint on how to deliver a presentation or talk that those in attendance will actually engage with, remember and implement afterwards.The suggestions are simple, but even if you do just one or two of them, you will easily elevate your future talks or presentations beyond the restFor more info on Pain Practice OS click here:https://pages.modernpaincare.com/painprogram You can find Ben across social media @BWhybrowPhysioDo Share & Subscribe!

Body language is often stated to have the biggest impact on communication in conversations compared to the words spoken and tone used.Yet not as much attention and clinical research has beendirected to this area. And whilst the evidence is still evolving, there are some essentials that are relevant to all clinicians that have a significant impact on the outcomes of the conversation and are covered in this episode.You can follow Ben across Social Media @BWhybrowPhysio or email [email protected] Share & Subscribe!

Clinical conversations with older adults come with their ownset of potential challenges. How to manage time where there could be multiple issues to cover?How to keep the conversation on track?How to involve relatives appropriately? In this episode Ben is joined by Dr Dipti Samani, ConsultantGeriatrician & Medical Lecturer where they cover:(00:00) – What Led To Dipti Choosing Geriatrics(04:40) – Managing Relative Expectations(13:12) – How To Manage Time When Speaking With Older Adults(15:00) – How To Appropriately Interrupt(17:15) – How To Recognise & Manage Delirium(20:30) – What Made Dipti Interested In Geriatric Continence(21:45) – What To Say When Continence Issues Are Raised(27:15) – Managing Conversations Around Reducing Medications(32:50) – More About Continence In Older Adults(40:00) – Difficult Conversations With Relatives(44:12) - What’s The Future For Geriatrics You can find Dr Samani on LinkedIn or X @HmniDipti You can Ben across Social Media @BWhybrowPhysio or [email protected] Do Share & Subscribe!

Listen to find out what five clinically relevant books I read this year that I would recommend you read in 2026.Want to see the pictures of the books in the list? - find me @BWhybrowPhysio on Instagram, X or LinkedIn. Or watch this episode on YouTube!

There have been several requests for some shorter individual episodes, along with the longer guest interview episodes, so this episode covers one the key principles for influencing someones beliefs and behaviour. Which is to consider both the logical AND emotional side, something you won’t find anywhere else, and this episode covers how.One of the most valuable 12 minutes you’ll come across allweek! Sign up for Modern Pain Pro here:https://modernpainpro.com/ Books mentioned:Radical Candor – Kim ScottSuperCommunicators – Charles DuhiggWay Of The Wolf – Jordan BelfortThe Way Out – Alan Gordon Do Share & Subscribe!

Empathy is a word often used when discussing communication skills and clinical care. Yet how often do clinicians really know what it means or what it looks like in practice? What benefits does giving empathic healthcare achieve? And how we can achieve this without burning out?On this episode Ben is joined by Dr Andy Ward, Director ofEducation and Training at Stoneygate Centre for Empathic Healthcare, Associate Professor of Medical Education and Honorary Senior Academic GP in Leicester, UK. Where they discuss:(00:00) – Do We Still Have To Sell Empathy To Clinicians In 2025?(02:40) – How Well Do We Understand What Empathy Means?(07:19) – Affective Empathy & Burnout(08:53) – Showing Genuine Empathy (12:46) – The Benefits For Clinicians On Giving Empathetic Care(21:57) – Going Outside Conventional Appointment Norms To Give Empathetic Care(24:04) – How To Avoid Excessive Affective Empathy Causing Burn Out (33:38) – Achieving Empathic Care Within Time Constraints(37:34) – The Effect Of The Clinical Environment On Perceived Empathy (45:51) – Further Empathy Training Available With Stoneygate Centre for Empathic Healthcare You can find out more about the Stoneygate Centre for Empathic Healthcare here:https://le.ac.uk/empathyTheir email:[email protected] are across social media on:X & Instagram: @Empathy_CentreYouTube: @EmpathyCentrePlus Facebook & LinkedIn You can find Ben across social media @BWhybrowPhysioDo Share & Subscribe!

Hypermobility Spectrum Disorder (HSD) & Hypermobile Ehlos-Danlos Syndrome (hEDS) are conditions that can often come with a variety of symptoms, well beyond being someone being extra flexible and having regularly dislocating joints.They can also be quite difficult and controversial conditions to discuss for various reasons, hence even more important they are discussed here.On this episode Ben is joined by Anna Higo, Specialist Physiotherapist & Speaker in Hypermobility Syndromes, where they discuss:(00:00) – Are Those With HSD or hEDS more likely to suspecttheir diagnosis compared to other patient groups?(05:04) – Managing These Conversations With Children & Parents(10:26) – Hypermobility As We Age(13:03) – POTS, Long COVID & Hypermobility(16:08) – Explaining HSD & hEDS(22:18) – Getting Exercise Buy-In(27:09) – How To Discuss Lycra/Compression Garments(34:13) – The Importance Of Getting Family On Board(35:33) – Managing Emotions When Someone Feels They FulfilhEDS Criteria But Don’t(39:20) – What May Change On The Upcoming hEDS Criteria Update(41:50) – The Future Of HSD & hEDS hEDS Criteria (2017):https://www.ehlers-danlos.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/hEDS-Dx-Criteria-checklist-1.pdfhEDS Together:https://hedstogether.com/ You can find Anna on LinkedIn, Facebook & X @higo_annaYou can find Ben across social media @BWhybrowPhysioDo Share & Subscribe

Meniscal tears can be a significant knee injury with different treatment options available depending on a variety of factors, but how do we help patients understand the injury and management options available?On this episode Ben is joined by Carl Clifford, Lower Limb Advanced Practice Physiotherapist, and Dr Michael Cooke, Sports Medicine & Emergency Care Consultant, both from Simply MSK where they discuss:(00:00:00) – How Does Sports Medicine Work Life Balance Compare To NHS(00:01:56) – What Made Them Interested In Their Specialities(00:03:54) – Why Is The Meniscus 2nd Place To The ACL In Clinical Interest?(00:06:16) – The Upcoming ACL Cross Bracing Lecture(00:10:37) – How To Explain Acute Meniscal Tears(00:16:32) – Managing Locking Beliefs(00:22:00) – Does The Conversation Change With Athletes?(00:24:58) – How To Discuss Management Options For Meniscal Tears(00:34:48) – Repairing Meniscal Tears Over Meniscectomies(00:36:44) – Discussing Non-Invasive Options(00:38:59) – Managing Meniscal Tear Beliefs(00:42:50) – Shared Decision Making With Degenerative Meniscal  Tears(00:45:50) – Discussing Long Term Expectations With Meniscal Tears(00:53:55) – The Future For Meniscal Injury Care(00:57:45) – More Info On Simply MSK(01:01:45) – Difficult Conversations With Meniscal Tears You can find Carl & Mike on LinkedInCarl is on Instagram @theknee_phys You can find Ben across social media @BWhybrowPhysioYou can find more information about Simple MSK here:https://www.simplymsk.com/ACL Cross-Bracing Event:https://www.simplymsk.com/aclDo Share & Subscribe!

Shoulder dislocations and instability can affect patients ofmany ages, particularly in early adulthood or with aspiring athletes. How can we help these patients address the fears & uncertainties of having an unstable shoulder?On the episode Ben is joined by Edel Fanning, shoulder specialist physiotherapist with a PhD in relation to shoulder instability where they discuss;(00:00:00) – What Made Edel Pick Shoulders?(00:03:26) – Is Social Media Improving Speed Of Research Uptake?(00:08:35) – How Edel Finds Managing Both Athletes &Chronic Shoulder Pain(00:10:37) – Managing “Impingement” & Other DifficultBeliefs(00:22:30) – Helping Patients Understand How Other FactorsInfluence Their Shoulder Instability(00:24:30) – Conversations With Children & Parents AboutInstability(00:27:51) – Utilising Different Clinicians Who May Suit ThePatients Personality Better(00:30:11) – Instability, Pain & Strength(00:33:36) – Using VR For Shoulder Instability Rehab(00:36:08) – Graded Exposure For Shoulder Instability Rehab(00:37:27) – How To Answer “Will It Dislocate Again?”(00:46:53) – Long Term Affects Of Shoulder Instability &Fixations(00:48:12) – How To Help Teenagers Understand Instability(00:50:58) – Discussing Labral Injuries With 40-50 Year Olds(00:57:03) – Having Long Term Career Discussions WithAthletes On Shoulder Instability(01:00:30) – Edel’s Hardest Clinical Conversations(01:11:20) – The Future Of Shoulder Instability You can find Edel on LinkedInPredictive Reoccurrence Instability Scale https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32736499/ You can find Ben across social media @BWhybrowPhysioDo Share & Subscribe!

This episode is different to all the others.Every Clinical Communication episode so far has been around communicating and interacting with patients. This episode is on how we interact with each other and thesignificant effect it can have on our own wellbeing, the team around us and our patients.On this episode Ben is joined by Dr Chris Turner, A&EConsultant and Co-Founder of “Civility Saves Lives”, an initiative to help enhance teamwork and civility in healthcare.Where they discuss:(00:00) – Chris’s TED Talk Experience(10:27) – The Power Of Apology(20:39) – Do People Struggle To Apologise?(25:38) – The Dilemma Of Blame(32:43) – What If We’re On The Receiving End Of Blame(40:25) – Are We Becoming More Civil? & The Purpose Of Civility(44:15) – More Info On Civility Saves Lives(51:32) – Iron Maiden or Judas Priest? You can find Dr Chris Turner on LinkedIn, more informationabout “Civility Saves Lives” is here: https://www.civilitysaveslives.com/You can find Ben across social media @BWhybrowPhysioDo Share & Subscribe!

Exercise and activity are one the pillars for improving overall health and well-being, but how can we encourage people to stick with it?On this episode Ben is joined by Sue Julians, staff writer for MSK Mag and Physio, where they discuss one of her articles earlier in the year on exercise adherence, including:(00:00) Introduction(00:40) – How Sue Became An MSKMag Writer(05:05) – What Inspired Her To Write About Exercise Adherence(09:11) – Self-Determination Theory(11:21) – Enhancing Autonomy(15:12) – Relatedness & How To Enhance It(18:46) – Enhancing A Feeling Of Competence(20:54) – The Effect Of The Environment On Exercise Behaviour(23:11) – Personality Types & Exercise Adherence(32:47) – The Effect Of Age On Exercise Adherence(38:08) – The Effect Of Hormones On Exercise Adherence(39:57) – Sue’s Hardest Clinical Conversations(42:41) – The Future Of Physio You can find Sue on LinkedInYou can find Ben across social media @BWhybrowPhysioDo Share & Subscribe!

Cervical Myleopathy is a rare but very serious condition,which can result in rather difficult conversations, including around surgery and discussing long term expectations that could significantly affect someones life. On this episode Ben is joined by Dr Ben Davies, Neurosurgeon& Academic Researcher into Cervical Myleopathy where they discuss;(00:00) – Intro(00:44) – What Made Ben Choose Myelopathy & Kept Him Interested In It(03:49) – Why Is Myleopathy Not As Popular As A Research Area(05:29) – What Happens In Cervical Myelopathy(06:50) – Is Myelopathy Preventable?(07:22) – The mJOA For Decision Making(08:46) – How To Explain Myelopathy To Patients(13:30) – How To Discuss Myelopathy Management Options(22:22) – Setting Expectations For Surgery(24:28) – Will It Inevitably Get Worse?(26:02) – How To Discuss Recurrence After Surgery(28:03) – Make Patients The Experts In Their Own Condition(30:52) – Ben’s Hardest Conversations(35:45) – The Future Of Myelopathy You can find Dr Ben Davies on LinkedIn or here https://myelopathy.org/ You can find Ben Whybrow across social media @BWhybrowPhysioDo Share & Subscribe!

It's time for the 4th Bonus Content featuring extra content from recent guests including:David Alderton (00:42):If Doing Nothing Is Always An Option, Is There Always A ChoiceIn Shared Decision Making?Derek Griffin (06:06):Achieving Buy-In For Pacing, Finding The "Why" Behind Someones Activity Behaviour & Fibromyalgia Stigma And BeliefsPauline-Clare Callaghan (14:00):Pregnancy & EndometriosisLianne Wood (22:02): Challenges when trying review to review papers on exerciseadherenceVincent Kortleve (24:59):How Have Healthcare Clinicians Communication Skills Changed Over The YearsYou can find Ben across social media @BWhybrowPhysioFor more do Share & Subscribe!

Clinicians are becoming more aware of the importance ofcommunication skills in clinical practice, but this doesn’t mean things always go to plan.On this episode Ben is joined by Vincent Kortleve, who is a published author and educator in communication skills, as well as being a trained Psychologist and Physiotherapist.On this episode they discuss:(00:00:00) – Intro(00:00:49) - How Much Has Vincent’s Communication Skills Teaching Changed Over The Years(00:04:17) - Vincents Book “Communication Skills For Physiotherapists”(00:06:04) - The Four Communication Pillars In The Book(00:08:27) - Building Rapport In Life Doesn’t Mean You CanBuild A Therapeutic Relationship(00:12:44) - Managing Emotional Conversations(00:13:55) - What A Coaching Conversation Looks Like(00:19:40) - Managing Resistance To Change(00:24:29) - The Communicative Detective(00:27:47) - When Open And Closed Questions Aren’t Used Correctly(00:36:00) - Don’t Assume The Message You Discuss Is What IsTaken In(00:42:53) - Vincents Hardest Clinic Conversations(00:49:03) - Managing Quick Fix Expectations(00:53:30) - Vincent’s View On The Future Of Communication Skills Vicent’s book “Communication Skills For Physiotherapists” isavailable in English, Dutch & Spanish. You can find him on LinkedIn & X @CommunicatorPTYou can find Ben across social media @BWhybrowPhysio oremail [email protected] share & subscribe

Exercise is one of the most common treatment suggestions for low back pain. Yet outcomes in the research are variable. What are some of the contextual factors that can influence the outcome of using exercise to treat low back pain?And how much does adherence really matter?On this episode Ben is joined by Lianne Wood, Senior Research Fellow at the University of Exeter and Advanced Practice Physiotherapist, where they discuss:(00:00) – Introduction(00:58) - Lianne’s Realist Review Into Contextual FactorsFor Back Pain & Exercise(04:08) - The Role Of Trust & Trying To Measure It(07:16) - The Effect Of The Patients Confidence In Their OwnAbility & In The Clinicians Knowledge(09:53) - Did Motivation To Adhere Influence Outcomes?(11:32) - The Importance Of Individualised Input(12:53) - The Limitations Of Current Adherence Evidence(16:06) - The Review Into Back Pain Outcomes & AdherenceTo Exercise(20:22) - Different Ways To Measure Adherence(23:05) - Bias In Exercise Studies(24:45) - The Effects Of Beliefs On Exercise Outcomes(29:30) - The Importance Of Thinking Deeper With ExerciseFor Pain (33:25) - Lianne’s Hardest Clinical Conversations(38:24) - The Future For Exercise Adherence Research Lianne’s Two Papers Discussed:Contexts, behavioural mechanisms and outcomes to optimisetherapeutic exercise prescription for persistent low back pain: a realistreview (2024)https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38176852/Exercise adherence is associated with improvements inpain intensity and functional limitations in adults with chronic non-specificlow back pain: a secondary analysis of a Cochrane review (2025)https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40175237/ You can find Lianne on X @WoodwicksLianne and LinkedInHer research profile is here:https://experts.exeter.ac.uk/39689-lianne-woodYou can find Ben across social media @BWhybrowPhysio oremail [email protected] Share & Subscribe!

The use of stem cells to treat various medical issues includingjoint pain is gaining more and more awareness, which means patients are asking about them more frequently. Yet most of us know very little about them, so how should weanswer the questions that commonly come up?On this episode Ben is joined by Dr Ansar Mahmood, Consultant Orthopaedic Trauma Surgeon and American Board Certified in Regenerative Medicine, where they discuss:(00:00:00) - Introduction(00:00:59) - The history of stem cells, what they do & how they work  (00:13:02) – Sleeper stem cells(00:15:36) – Delays in research to practice(00:17:08) – The intelligence of stem cell function(00:20:20) – What expectations should be given for stem cell injections for joint pain (00:21:30) – Different regulations for stem cell implementation(00:28:40) – When might we see stem cells for joint pain being used in the NHS?(00:31:12) – What is pharma trying to do with stem cells?(00:35:32) – The biggest drivers for research development: collaboration & AI(00:41:43) – The risks of stem cell injections & production(00:47:15) – Setting expectations for the length of stem cell injection effect(00:54:38) – Future joint preservation clinics(00:57:03) – Will stem cells eradicate steroid injections?(00:59:17) – Dr Mahmoods social media and courses You can find Dr Mahmood on LinkedIn and Instagram @dransarmahmoodThe Kyzn Clinic – www.kyzn.co.ukThe Academy of Regenerative Medicine - https://abrm.thearm.co.uk/ or @RegenAcademy on social media. You can find Ben on social media @BWhybrowPhysio or email [email protected] share & subscribe!

It is estimated over 190 million women around the world haveendometriosis, and with awareness increasing and more management options becoming available, those with the diagnosis may have more questions than ever before.On this episode of clinical communication Ben is joined by Pauline-Clare Callaghan, Specialist Pelvic Health Physiotherapist and Educator with Endometriosis UK. On this episode they discuss:(00:00) - Introduction(01:00) - The dangers of the edometriosis MRI report(03:07) - Why does it take so long to diagnosis(03:39) - The pros and cons of social media for endometriosis(04:25) - Endometriosis specialist centres(04:46) The variety of endometriosis presentations(06:24) - How to help your patient understand endometriosis(14:09) -  How to manage endometriosis surgical beliefs(17:51) – Conversations around intimacy related pelvic pain(23:12) - How to achieve buy-in for non-surgical treatment(25:05) - Managing different cultural sensitivities in pelvic pain(26:12) - Prehabilitation for endometriosis surgery(27:10) - Adenomyosis(28:00) - Pain persisting after endometriosis surgery & injustice(29:44) - Managing questions about genetic risk with endometriosis(31:20) - Is endometriosis awareness improving?(32:36) - Paulene-Clare’s hardest conversation(38:54) - Memorable improvements with non-invasivemanagement(41:15) - The future of endometriosis care You can find more about Endometriosis UK and their work here:https://www.endometriosis-uk.org/ You can find Ben across social media @BWhybrowPhysio or [email protected]

Shared decision making appears in almost every clinical guideline — but in the real world of clinical practice, how often do we actually do it well?In this episode of Clinical Communication, Ben is joined by David Alderson, Senior Lecturer at Sheffield Hallam University and Specialist First Contact Physiotherapist, whose specialist interest is shared decision making during consultations. They explore how clinicians can genuinely share decisions with patients. From practical strategies to common pitfalls, andinsights that can help you make consultations more collaborative and patient centred.They cover: (00:00) Intro (01:18) The choice dilemma in shared decision making (05:06) The “Mum Test” for shared decision making (06:46) Are clinicians doing as much shared decision making as they claim? (07:58) How the ICE questions guide shared decision making conversations (15:23) How to manage expectations when they can’t be met (16:28) What to do when many management options exist (19:07) How to spot and manage your own biases in shared decision making (23:08) When to mention doing nothing as an option (25:40) Are clinicians willing to do nothing? (28:11) How to use stats without steering the patient’s decision (31:53) What to do when patients don’t want to be involved (35:49) Two powerful questions every clinician can use in shared decision making (39:29) David’s hardest clinical conversation   (46:29) Will shared decision making change with AI?    (48:42) David’s course: Essential Consultation Skills for FCPs🔗 Resources & Links ⁠Essential Consultation Skills for FCPs – MACP Event⁠ Do we really allow patient decision-making in rotator cuff surgery? Torrens, Miquel & Santana (2019) ⁠Open Access Paper⁠📲 Connect with David on LinkedIn 📲 Connect with Ben across social media@BWhybrowPhysio and on LinkedIn 📩 For teaching, mentoring & more:[email protected] 

Fibromyalgia can be a tricky condition to discuss as various opinions on it exist across society and evidence around it is always evolving. Thankfully on this episode Ben is joined by Derek Griffin, Specialist Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy and International Speaker on persistent pain management, especially Fibromyalgia. On this episode they discuss:(00:00:00) - Introduction(00:01:15) - Awareness Of Fibromyalgia In Society(00:07:07) - How To Help Someone Understand Fibromyalgia(00:25:38) - Should We Explain It The Same If It’s Secondary Fibromyalgia?(00:32:06) - When Discussing “Sensitivity” Can Backfire(00:40:26) - The Importance Of Picking Up On Visible Cues(00:52:58) - What To Say When They Ask: “Will This Get Better?”(00:58:26) - The Importance Of Acknowledging & Discussing Flare Ups You can find Derek:On Instagram - @derek_griffin_phdOn X - @DerekGriffin86And on LinkedIn You can find Ben & Derek’s Therapy Live Pain Masterclass Talks here:https://www.tickettailor.com/events/physiomatters/1314746?  You can find Ben across social media @BWhybrowPhysioSign Up for Pain Practice OS here:https://pages.modernpaincare.com/painprogramWant to discuss teaching or mentoring? Email [email protected] finally do share and subscribe.

Before every Clinical Communication episode extra questionsare asked to guests to help them get settled in. The responses aren’t released at the time, until now…On this bonus content episode:(00:00) - Introduction(00:56) - Ian CowellHow A Cognitive Functional Therapy Paper Comes Together(14:16) - Jo TurnerHow Clinicians Can Feel Comfortable Not Always Knowing The Answer(20:32) - Chris Tiley What Exercise Gets Harder As We Get Older?(22:37) - Bill Taylor Should We Match Patient Language For Private Body Parts(30:22) - Michelle LyonsHow To Discuss Menstrual Cycles With Your PartnerYou can find Ben across social media @BWhybrowPhysioOr email [email protected] for queries on mentoring, teaching and more!Finally, do Share & Subscribe!

Clinical communication knowledge is always progressing andwe are way beyond just listening and having good rapport. So what else do we need to consider and how should it be taught to future healthcare professionals?This episode is from a recording of the “Healthcare Education Transformation” podcast that Ben was recently on with Dr F Scott Feil, where we discuss:(00:00) – Introduction(07:21) - Why Communication Is Important(21:44) - What Is Going Well In Communication Teaching InHigher Education(34:50) - The Future Of Healthcare Communication Education(42:25) - Communication Top Tips(46:27) - What Would Ben Change About Higher Education You can find Dr F Scott Feil on LinkedIn, as well as on X& Instagram @FScottFeil_DPTYou can find Ben across social media @BWhybrowPhysioDo Share & Subscribe

More resources are becoming available on how to supportthose with persistent pain, yet challenging conversations can still occur, especially when someone is still going through a medical journey and expectations are still uncertain.This episode is a recording between Ben and Dr Mark Kargela, Specialist Physical Therapist in Persistent Pain, on Mark’s “Modern Pain Podcast” where they discuss: (00:00) – Introduction(05:42) – How Communication Knowledge Has Evolved Over Time(11:26) – Guided Discovery & Open Questions(23:32) – Managing Diagnostic Uncertainty(32:28) – Managing “Fix” Expectations(38:49) – Best Ways To Develop These Skills(45:46) – The Future Of “Explain Pain” Pain Programme Link:https://pages.modernpaincare.com/painprogramYou can find Mark across social media @modernpaincareHis Website: www.modernpaincare.com    You can find Ben across social media @BWhybrowPhysioDo Share & Subscribe

A few weeks ago I was a guest on the Physio Pulse podcastwith Jeff Morton & James Horner. They kindly gave me a copy of the recording to release here, where we discuss:(00:00:00) – Introduction(00:05:00) - How Ben Became A Communication Skills Facilitator(00:10:50) - Why Communication Skills Are Becoming More Embraced By Clinicians(00:19:51) - Does Having A Specialist Job Title & Appearance Come With Greater Influence Over Patients?(00:22:18) - How To Have Difficult Conversations With More Senior Colleagues(00:24:21) - When Communication Skills Have No Effect(00:29:43) - How To Respond To Cues(00:34:54) - The Power Of Silence(00:40:29) - Non-Verbal Communication(00:41:32) - Managing Patient Requests For Imaging(00:50:37) - How To Manage Disagreements With Colleagues(01:03:26) - Do Ben & Jeff Ever Get Angry?(01:06:24) - Jeff & James’s Hardest Conversations(01:16:35) - The Birthday Cake DilemmaYou can find Jeff on Instagram @jmortonphysioYou can James on Instagram @thenerdyphysio Their podcast is the Physio Pulse Podcast.You can find Ben across social media @BWhybrowPhysioYou can email in to [email protected] please Share & Subscribe

It is well known that the more perceived expertise andcompetence we have in someone, the more likely we are to trust them and have a better outcome. This is great if you are a clinician with extensive expertisein a certain area, though not all of us are. But there are ways we can sound like an expert to achieve the same results without being disingenuous. Which is the topic of this short episode.Find this useful? Then do share & subscribe.You can follow Ben across social media @BWhybrowPhysioMark Kargela’s Pain Management OS Course :https://pages.modernpaincare.com/painprogram?redirect_from=podpageTherapy Live Pain Masterclass:https://www.physio-matters.com/Pain25/

How To Reassure Patients with Ian CowellReassurance is included in clinical practice guidelines acrosshealthcare and is usually a part of any assessment. Yet, very little research and guidance existed on how to go about doing it. But there has been recent new research that suggests whatdoes (and doesn’t) work when trying to reassure those with chronic low back pain, which could be applied across many other conditions.On this episode Ben is joined by the lead author Ian Cowell.Clinician, Educator & Researcher with the Evolve Pain Academy/Cognitive Functional Therapy group. Where they discuss;(00:00:00) – Introduction(00:00:51) - Reaction To Ian’s New Published Paper(00:03:00) - Why Hasn’t There Been Much Published OnReassurance?(00:05:07) - Where Did Attempted Reassurance Go Wrong?(00:07:37) - Asking or Responding To Concerns(00:20:33) - The Importance Of Non-Verbal Communication(00:21:54) - What Allowed Reassurance To Go Well(00:29:58) - Using Behavioural Experiments For Reassurance(00:38:03) - Managing Patient Beliefs(00:42:07) - What To Do When Behavioural Experiments Don’t Go To Plan(00:44:27) - What Cues Did Clinicians Miss?(00:53:13) - Who Doesn’t Cognitive Functional Therapy Work For?(00:58:15)- Is Persistent Pain Research Becoming MorePositive?(01:00:39) - Ian’s Hardest Clinical Conversations (01:05:07) - Could This All Be Applied Across Healthcare InGeneral? Ian’s New Reassurance Paper:“A Detailed Analysis of How Physiotherapists "Give" Reassurance for Patients' Concerns in Back Pain Consultations” – Cowell et al (2025).https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40455078/Also Read:“How do physiotherapists solicit and explore patients'concerns in back pain consultations: a conversation analytic approach” – Cowell et al (2021)https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31392911/ You can find Ian on X/Twitter @brookphysio & LinkedInEvolve Pain Care Academy: https://evoolvepaincare.academy/ You can find Ben across social media @BWhybrowPhysioYou can send emails to [email protected] share & subscribe.

Plenty of podcast, articles, videos and other resources talk through the words and analogies we can say to help someone understand their pain. This can give clinicians the right words to say, but they may still have no effect, as it is not just knowing WHAT to say, but knowing WHEN and HOW to say it.This episode is the audio from a recent webinar I have given called "Advanced Pain Communication". Want to have this or something similar delivered live to you or your team?Want to see the video version of this episode with slides?You can message Ben on X, Instagram, TikTok or YouTube @BWhybrowPhysioOr email [email protected] And please Share & Subscribe.

Many men can be affected by pelvic pain and related conditions but often find it hard to talk about it, with clinicians at times not always knowing what to say.In this episode Ben is joined by Bill Taylor who is a Specialist Physiotherapist & Teacher in Male Pelvic Pain. In this episode they discuss;(00:00:00) – Introduction(00:00:44) – How To Start The Male Pelvic Pain Conversation(00:21:03) – How To Ask Deep Difficult Questions(00:33:18) – How To Encourage Men To Open Up About Their Pelvic Dilemmas(00:54:56) – The Downside Of Prostate Cancer Treatment(01:03:45) – Bill’s Hardest Conversations(01:18:30) – Bill’s Male Pelvic Pain Mission You can find Bill on LinkedIn, Facebook & Instagram@billtaylor3311You can find Ben across social media @BWhybrowPhysioYou can send in questions, stories & suggestions to [email protected] Share & Subscribe

Resistance and strength training is often highly recommended for the management of many conditions affecting older adults, with many guidelines and recommendations available.Yet many barriers can get in the way, whether they’re physical, psychological or something else.In this episode Ben is joined by Physiotherapist & Author of “Never Too Old To Lift” Chris Tiley, where they discuss:(00:00) - Introduction(01:08) - How To Manage The Situation Where A Family Member Is Protecting The Patient?(05:40) - How Can We Help An Older Person Understand The Benefits And Risks Of Lifting?(09:05) - The Benefits Of Groups(12:46) - Is There Anything Communication Wise You Wouldn’t Do With An Older Adult, That You May Do With Someone Younger?(15:35) - How To Get An Older Person Motivated To Lift, WhenThey Appear To Have Given Up?(24:02) - What About If They Need To Slow Down?(30:40) - What Does Chris Wish He Knew About Writing A Book Before He Wrote It?(33:50) - How To Manage Limiting Beliefs In Older Age(40:48) – How Stories Help With Buy-In(43:49) - The Effect Greg Lehmans Course Had On Chris(48:22) - Never Too Old To Lift Website & PodcastYou can find Chris on LinkedIn & Instagram@nevertoooldtoliftHis website mentioned is: www.nevertoooldtolift.com His Podcast, Facebook & YouTube Channel is “Never TooOld To Lift”Chris’s Therapy Expo Talk: https://youtu.be/53r1Ly0lUpM Upcoming Greg Lehman Course: https://www.tickettailor.com/events/reconcilingbiomechanicswithpainscience/1496927 You can find Ben across social media @BWhybrowPhysio or by emailing [email protected] Share & Subscribe 

Every clinician is asked to deliver some teaching orpresentation throughout their career, whether this is to groups of patients, students or colleagues. Yet hardly any of us receive any formal teaching training. We’ve all attended talks which seemed interesting on thesurface, but failed to engage us.So how do we avoid making the same mistake?On this episode Ben is joined by Kate Purcell, AdvancedPractice Physiotherapist, former lecturer and with fellowship to the Higher Education Academy.In this episode they cover:(00:00:00) – Introduction(00:03:10) - Should We Teach Patients, Students Or CliniciansDifferently?(00:13:17) - What Does “Meta-Cognition” Mean?(00:16:46) - How Can We Make Reflecting More Appealing?(00:21:56) - People Remember Emotional Moments Over Facts(00:27:05) - Are There Still Different Types Of Learners& Should We Accommodate To Them?(00:29:37) - How Do We Manage Different Learning Types OfLearners In A Group?(00:40:19) - Are Case Studies Taking Over Healthcare Education?(00:44:25) - Does Chunk & Check When Explaining Apply ToGroups?(00:48:01) - Ben & Kate’s In-Service Training Pet Peeves(00:49:40) - Could AI Make Us Less Critical Thinkers?(00:59:12) - Kate’s Hardest Teaching Conversations(01:03:13) - How We Can Build Rapport & Trust With The Group In Front Of Us(01:07:10) - Empowering Learners (01:09:01) - Kate’s Extra Thoughts You can find Kate on LinkedIn or on X/Twitter@k8purcellphysio Her website is: physiotherapytutor.com  You can find Ben across social media @BWhybrowPhysio or by emailing [email protected] Please Share & Subscribe

Clinicians are often encouraged to take on a coaching,rather than fixing, role when working with patients. There’s lots of resources now available on how to do this, yet for some, this may be a new and challenging concept. Plus, some unanswered questions still exist;What if the patient doesn’t want to be coached?What if I ask the wrong questions?Am I still providing value if the patient solves their ownproblem?On this episode Ben is joined by Jo Turner, Professionally Certified Coach with the ICF & Physiotherapist, where they discuss:(00:00)- Introduction(02:25) - Can Questions Be Too Open?(05:28) - Can We Ask Too Many Questions?(12:29) - Should “What Matters Most To You In All Of This?” Be A Routine Question?(17:42) - How Can Clinicians Feel More Comfortable Taking A Coaching Rather Than Fixing Approach?(23:59) – Can We Alter Our Environment To Become More Of A Coach?(25:18) – Not Every Patient Wants To Be Coached(27:38) - How Do We Get To The Real Problem, Not Just The First Mentioned?(31:43) - Can We Be Too “Passive” When Coaching?(34:45) – Questions To Ask At The End Of An Appointment(38:40) - Jo’s hardest clinical (or coaching) conversations(42:54) – Mentoring vs Coaching(44:34)- What’s the future of coaching? You can find Jo Turner on LinkedIn or on “MeHub” onFacebook.Link for “Coaching Unpeeled” Course:https://www.tickettailor.com/events/mehab/1520869You can find “YouMatter” wherever you get your podcasts.  You can find Ben across social media @BWhybrowPhysioDo send in question, stories or suggestions to [email protected]

Menstrual cycles are considered the fifth vital sign for awomans health and can have an impact on functions all over the body. Yet many clinicians may feel uncomfortable discussing the topic with the person in front of them, with little guidance on how and when to raise the subject.Until Now.On this episode Ben is joined by Michelle Lyons, SpecialistPhysiotherapist and Lecturer in Pelvic and Women’s Health. In this episode they discuss;(00:00) - Introduction(01:39) - How do we raise the topic of menstrual cycles when the patient hasn’t?(17:35) - What if they’re on contraception and don’t know their period health?(20:40) – How to raise the topic of bowel health(23:07) - How do we encourage women to track their periods?(29:40) - What if they come from a culture where menstrual health isn’t regularly discussed?(32:10) – Being aware of iron deficiency anaemia(35:00) – Michelle’s hardest clinical conversation(40:32) – The impact of lifestyle factors on menstrual health(42:50) – Michelle’s Podcast & Courses You can find Michelle on social media: Instagram: michellelyons_muliebrityX/Twitter: @ml_muliebrityAnd on LinkedIn Her Podcast is: Celebrate Muliebrity Her Website with Courses is: https://celebratemuliebrity.com/  You can find Ben across social media: @BWhybrowPhysioPlease Share & SubscribeYou can send in questions, stories or suggestions to: [email protected]

During every guest interview extra questions are asked at the beginning before the main episode to help get the conversation started. Whilst these are not released at the time, they are recorded and add value, and now bonus content from recent guests is ready to be released.This bonus content episode involves:(00:00) – IntroductionMatt Wedderburn(00:44) - When & How To Ask ICE Questions(05:30) - Should We Bother To Use The Body Chart When Time Is Limited?Ben Steele-Turner(08:28) - Achieving Buy-In For Weight Management For KneeOsteoarthritis(11:29) - How To Make Weight Management Plans That LastMathilde Kehler(23:52) - What Kind Of Person Could Make A Good Pain Coach?Tom Jacobs(30:38) - What Does A Professional Team “Injury Prevention”Warm Up Look Like?(31:57) - Ben’s Experience Working In Sport(35:56) - Unique Injury Prevention Warm Ups(41:08) - Is There Still A Role For Screening In InjuryPrevention?Matt Phillips(44:08) - Which Is The Least Competitive Running Event? You can find Ben across Social Media: @BWhybrowPhysioSend in Questions, Stories & Suggestions to [email protected]

First Contact Practitioners/Physiotherapists have been an evolving role for over the past five years, with it becoming a role that more senior clinicians are going into. Yet with this new role comes new challenges; time limitations, more diagnostic uncertainty and different expectations from both patients and other clinicians.In this episode Ben is joined by Matt Wedderburn, First Contact Physiotherapist and creator of “Primary Care MSK” which provides musculoskeletal educational training to primary care services.In this episode they cover:(00:00) - Intro(01:05) - How should we explain to the patient what an FCP is?(03:30) - How should we explain to other medical professionals what the role of FCP is?(09:30) - How do we manage those 20 mins without the patient feeling rushed?(19:29) - How should we discuss uncertainty in primary care with the person in front of us?(21:42) – Reassurance in FCP(24:00) - What if they want to see a GP instead?(28:55) - Your hardest clinical conversation(36:40) - What is the future for FCPs? You can find Primary Care MSK on social media @PrimaryCareMSKTheir website is https://www.primarycaremsk.co.uk/Matt is on LinkedIn You can find Ben across social media @BWhybrowPhysio Do send in Questions, Stories & Suggestions [email protected] And please Share & Subscribe.

Many clinicians find discussing weight with the person infront of them daunting, and yet weight can have a significant impact on multiple conditions and outcomes. How do we raise the subject without offending them?What should we say (or not say)?In this episode Ben is joined by Ben Steele-Turner, Physiotherapist with an Msc in Human Nutrition and ongoing with a PhD into how Physiotherapists can better support weight management in people with osteoarthritis.In this episode they cover:(00:00:00) - Intro(00:02:26) - How do we raise the subject of weight management when patients don’t initiate it?(00:09:51) - Are there certain terms we should avoid when discussing weight management?(00:18:44) – Should we ask them about what foods they eat?(00:28:50) - How to respond when someone claims to be eating healthy but they are living with overweight?(00:36:39) - What to say when they ask “can’t I just have the weight loss injection?”(00:42:51) - How has Rory Sutherland influenced your practice & PhD?(00:45:36) - Lessons from Uber That We Can Apply To Healthcare(00:53:56) - The Doorman Fallacy & Cost Cutting(01:12:29) - Ben’s hardest conversation(01:17:31) – When Weight Management For Knee OA Goes RightThe study mentioned: Commitments, norms and custard creams – a social influence approach to reducing did not attends (DNAs): Martin, Bassi & Dunbar-Rees (2012).https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3308641/ You can find Ben Steele-Turner on Instagram & LinkedIn: @physiutrition You can find host Ben Whybrow across social media: @BWhybrowPhysioGot questions, stories or suggestions? – Send them in to [email protected] finally, please do Share & Subscribe. 

Millions of people around the world regularly run for exercise and pleasure and become the identity of a runner. Yet when they need help from a healthcare clinician, some unique conversational challenges can occur with this patient group.On this episode Ben is joined by Matt Phillips, Sports Therapist and creator of Run Chat Live, where they discuss:(00:00) - Intro(00:51) - The Down Side Of Completing A Marathon (04:26) - Do Runners Have A Different Mentality?(08:54) - How To Support Someone To Reduce Their Running(12:86) – How To Encourage Other Forms Of Training(21:50) – Symptom Modification For Runners(24:44) – Myth Busting With Runners (And How Not To Do It)(33:59) – Not Everyone Wants To Be Involved In SharedDecision Making(39:51) – Matt’s Hardest Clinical Conversation(43:15) – One Of Matts Greatest Running Patient Achievements(46:59) – Run Chat Live, Sports Therapy Association Podcast& Matt’s Course You can find Matt across social media @runchatliveLink for “Gait Analysis for Runners” course:https://thestschool.co.uk/gait-analysis-course-dates/ You can find Ben across social media @BWhybrowPhysioSend in questions, stories or suggestions to [email protected] please subscribe & share 😊

Our biggest learning moments are not from our successes, but from our failures.Today I'm giving 3 examples of when my communication skills failed and I couldn't help the person in front of me. Plus, more importantly the important lesson I took from them, which had nothing to do with words, language or tone of voice.Whilst this podcast can tell you how to improve your clinical communication skills, we practice in reality and things don't always go to plan, however much experience you have.But hopefully next time you do face a difficult conversation, belief to manage or behaviour to change, it may go a bit easier after listening to this.For more, follow @BWhybrowPhysio on Social Media.Got questions, stories or episode suggestions to send in? Email [email protected] subscribe.

Breaking Bad News to patients can be some of the most difficult conversations clinicians can have . It encompasses a lot more than just palliative care and cancer and is something many clinicians will have to do, regardless of their speciality.Yet there is little easily available guidance on how to go about it outside of basic medical training.There is a way we can have these conversations that can make it easier for both patient and clinician. Which is the topic of this episode. Book Mentioned:Breaking Bad News: A Ten Step Approach - Peter KayeYou can find Ben across social media @BWhybrowPhysioFind this useful? - Please share and subscribe.Got questions, stories to share or guest suggestions? - Send it in to [email protected]

Everyday healthcare clinicians around the world set out to improve the health of their patients by suggesting habits that the patients can adopt to improve their wellbeing. And whilst it is important for the people we see to feel motivated to change, there a certain ways we can suggest these habits occur that will make them more likely to stick.This episode does not consider every aspect of habit formation, but areas covered include; location, timing, environment, routine, monitoring and rewards.Find this useful?Please do share & subscribe.You can also send in questions and stories to [email protected] is on social media @BWhybrowPhysioReading suggested:Atomic Habits - James Clear

There is currently no general consensus on how to reassure the person in front of you.But from research so far, what do we know that can make reassurance more effective?In these situations knowing WHAT to say is particularly important, but as is knowing HOW & WHEN to say it.All of which is covered in this episode in just over 10 mins.Find this useful? Then please share it with others & subscribe.Got questions or stories to share?Send them in to [email protected] Reading:Reassurance for patients with non-specific conditions - Traeger et al (2017)https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5537438/pdf/main.pdf Cognitive and affective reassurance and patient outcomes in primary care: a systematic reviewPincus et al (2013)https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23872104/

Helping those with persistent pain can be a very challenging but also very rewarding venture. And rather than trying to fix or solve their problem, it requires a different approach of working with them to help them take ownership of the situation and feel in control.On this episode of Clinical Communication Ben is joined by fellow Physiotherapist & Pain Coach Mathilde Kehler, where they discuss:(00:00) - Introduction(02:29) - How Do We Help Patients Understand What A Pain Coach Is?(13:08) - When Should We Ask About Goals?(18:28)- What To Do When Someone With Persistent Pain Comes In Wanting A “Fix”(35:04) - What To Do With Psychosocial Information We Receive(46:24) - What’s The Future Of Pain Coaching? You can find Mathilde on LinkedIn and on Instagram @smerteguidenHer website is:https://smerteguiden.dk/ Live Seminar with Clinical Physio on CBT & Motivational Interviewing:https://www.clinicalphysio.com/cbt-motivational-interviewing/You can find Ben across social media @BWhybrowPhysio Got questions or stories to share? You can send them in [email protected]

Various evidence exists showing the benefits of injuryprevention programmes for reducing the risk of injury to young athletes, yet uptake in them has not been 100%. So how can we increase the number of young athletes doingregular injury prevention programmes? And how can we influence coaches and organisations to ensure it is implemented?In this Ben is joined by Tom Jacbos, who is a Sports &Musculoskeletal Physiotherapist, and also a trustee for “Power Up To Play”. A charitable organisation aiming to increase young athlete welfare with injury prevention programmes. On this episode they discuss;(00:00:00) - Introduction(00:01:52) - What Made Tom So Interested In InjuryPrevention?(00:06:43) - Should We Still Call Them Injury PreventionProgrammes?(00:17:57) – How Do We Help Young Athletes Buy Into InjuryPrevention Programmes?(00:24:43) – How To Influence Coaches To Implement InjuryPrevention Programmes(00:35:57) – Do Parents Help or Hinder Buy-In To TheProgrammes?(00:38:44) – How Do We Influence Larger Organisations?(00:46:41) – Will Making These Programmes Mandatory Make An Impact?(00:50:16) – What To Say When Coaches Have Doubts About The Programme (00:55:00) – Do The Same Principles Apply To Adult Athletes?(01:02:30) – Tom’s Hardest Clinical Conversation(01:11:11) – What’s The Future For Injury Prevention Programmes?(01:14:23) – How To Find Out More About Power Up To Play You can find more about Power Up To Play here:https://poweruptoplay.org/ You can find Ben across social media @BWhybrowPhysio Got questions or stories to share? Contact [email protected]

The concept of influence, persuasion or even manipulation (psychologically) in clinical practice can seem very uncomfortable to some. Yet it occurs in every interaction we have, whether we intentionally do it or not. And with the increasing evidence that contextual factors and therapeutic relationships play a large role in patient outcomes, being able to master these could be as important as the assessments we do and treatment plans suggested. On this episode Ben is joined by Andrew McCauley, Specialist Physiotherapist & Athletic Development Coach where they discuss; (00:00:00) – Introduction (00:01:24) – Andrew’s 10 Quick Fire Questions (00:06:19) – What Led Andrew (and Ben) To Be Interested In Cialdini’s Work? (00:11:39) – What Is Priming & How Have We Used It? (00:21:21) – Why We Should Not Feel Uncomfortable With The Terms “Influence”, “Persuade” or “Manipulate” As Healthcare Clinicians? (00:25:50) – Is Influence By Authority Still Effective In Healthcare? (00:34:12) – Can We Use Scarcity In Healthcare? (00:39:47) – Is It Ethical To Use Reciprocation With Patients? (00:45:52) – How Could We Use Social Proof With Patients? (00:50:48) – Is Being Likeable With Our Patients Enough? (00:55:15) – How Do We Increase Feelings Of Unity With Our Patients? (01:02:08) – How To Increase Patient Commitment & Consistency To The Plan (01:15:01) - Andrew’s Hardest Conversation (01:24:30) - When Andrew Was Able To Influence A Patient When He Thought He Couldn’t (01:30:42) - Where To Find Andrew, Therapeutic Conversations Unravelled Podcasts & Unravelling S&C For Therapists   You Can Find Andrew On Social Media: Instagram: @procaresports Twitter/X: @mccauleyandrew As well as on LinkedIn   Therapeutic Conversations Unravelled Podcast (TCUP): Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4gkQRHkg0EZJ7kOPnlPurC?si=9a4e4a69e51e401a Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/therapeutic-conversations-unravelled-podcast-tcup/id1777788887   Unravelling S&C For Therapists Course: https://linktr.ee/procaresports   Books Mentioned: Influence – Robert Cialdini Presuasion – Robert Cialdini Grit – Angela Duckworth Key Person Of Influence  - Daniel Priestly The Chimp Paradox – Steve Peters Thinking Fast & Slow – Daniel Kahneman Atomic Habits – James Clear   You can find Ben across social media @BWhybrowPhysio Send Questions or Stories in to [email protected]

During the recording of “Clinical Communication” episodes, before guests are asked the deep hard questions, they’re given some easier warm up questions to start with to help them feel comfortable. These are also recorded though not released at the time, until now. Some of this content from earlier episodes has been released on social media, but others from recent episodes have been held onto for this special episode, where you will hear: (00:00) – Introduction (01:26) Jo Gibson: Which Rotator Cuff Muscle Is The Heaviest? How To Build Rapport With Scousers? (04:18) Nick Lividas: Weirdest Body Parts People Have Had Steroid Injections Weirdest Substances Being Injected Where Are We Currently With Stem Cells? (14:29) Ian Reilly: What Is The Future Of Podiatry? Orthotics in Podiatry Original Podiatric Theories Do In-Soles Have To Be Specially Made?   For more, find @BWhybrowPhysio across social media.   Got questions, dilemmas or stories? Send them in to [email protected]

Many healthcare clinicians can probably identify a bunion or toe deformity, but asked anything more than this by patients and most would get stuck. So how do we explain what they are, why they’ve occurred and what the management options are in a way the patient can understand? How do foot surgeons have conversations around surgical options & expectations and explaining risks? In this episode Ben is joined by Ian Reilly, Consultant Podiatric Surgeon & International Lecturer, where they discuss: (00:00:00) – Introduction (00:00:46) – Dad Jokes (00:02:05) – How Romanian Christmas’s Compare To British (00:03:50) – What Made Ian Choose Podiatry & Podiatric Surgery? (00:07:08) – How To Explain What A Bunion Is To A Patient & Why They Have It (00:13:00) – When Surgery Doesn’t Always Go Well (00:17:38) – How To Discuss The Risks Of Foot Surgery (00:21:28) – Shared Decision Making & Informed Consent In Foot Surgery (00:25:20) – What To Say If They Ask “Will My Bunion Come Back After Surgery?” (00:28:07) – How To Manage Different Surgical Opinions (00:30:50) – What To Say If They Ask “How Can I Prevent This Bunion Coming Back?” (00:33:53) – How To Explain What A Hammer Toe Is To A Patient & Why They Have It (00:35:58) – What To Say If A Toe Deformity Is Asymptomatic? (00:39:12) – How To Discuss The Risks Of Toe Deformity Surgery (00:41:05) – How To Discuss Toe Amputations (00:51:28) – How Surgeon Communication Skills Have Changed Over The Years (00:56:10) – Does Better Surgeon-Patient Rapport Lead To Better Outcomes? (00:58:24) – How To Tell A Patient Surgery Isn’t Appropriate (01:02:31) – Always Find Out What Your Patient Wants (01:03:37) – Ian’s Hardest Conversation (01:12:01) – Ian’s Most Rewarding Surgical Outcomes (01:16:00) – Outro Discussion & Ian’s Courses You can find Ian on Social Media here: X/Twitter: @podsurgery Instagram: @podsurgeon YouTube: @IanReillyPodsurgeon As well as on LinkedIn. His website is: https://podsurgeon.co.uk/ You can find Ben across Social Media @BWhybrowPhysio   More information on Podiatric Surgery Training: https://rcpod.org.uk/podiatric-surgery/become-a-podiatric-surgeon#:~:text=Qualified%20podiatrists%20undertake%20postgraduate%20training,Podiatric%20Surgery%20(MOPS)%20programme “Trick or Treatment” Book Mentioned by Simon Singh & Ezard Ernst. https://www.amazon.co.uk/Trick-Treatment-Alternative-Medicine-Trial/dp/0552157627 Have questions/situations you want help with or stories you would like to share? Send them into [email protected] and it may well get read out and answered.