As a physical therapist, you know your time is in extremely short supply. But you also know that you're working in an industry that's constantly evolving – and sometimes at a rate that's faster than most busy rehab professionals can keep up with. How do you make sure you're staying up-to-date on the latest industry news? Enter physical therapy podcasts.
Along with physical therapy blogs, podcasts are a great way for busy, on-the-go professionals like yourself to learn, laugh, and keep up with current industry trends, pertinent business and clinical topics, and wisdom from your fellow PTs. Plus, they usually contain insight on the latest research from trusted resources like:
- Academy of Pediatric Physical Therapy
- British Journal of Sports Medicine
- The American Academy of Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapists (AAOMPT)
- The Canadian Physiotherapy Association
- The Cardiopulmonary Physical Therapy Journal
- The Institute of Clinical Excellence
Popular Types of PT Podcasts
To help you find the cream of the crop, our writer has listened, compared, and created this list of 21 of 2023's best physical therapy podcasts for forward-thinking physical therapists, clinic owners, and other physical therapy leaders and health professionals. And to make it even easier, we’ve organized them into the following categories:
- Industry News & Trends
- PT Students & New Grads
- PT Business Owners
- Pediatric PT Specialists
- Senior Rehab Specialists
- Sports PT Specialists
Serious continuing education opportunities await – in audio format! Whether you're a physical therapy clinic owner, seasoned veteran seeking insights into the newest evidence-based medicine and the state of healthcare disruption, or a physical therapy student interested in online courses, take a look at the list below and see if any of these podcasts appeal to your eye...or ear.
The Best Podcasts for Industry News & Trends
1. The Optimal Body
Listen On: Apple Podcasts | Anchor | Spotify | Google Podcasts
What It Covers: Top-40 physical therapy influencer Dr. Jen Fraboni and her husband, Dr. Dom Fraboni, DPT, share tips and “PT Pearls” to help listeners understand their bodies and achieve optimal wellness. How do topics like breathwork, the pelvic floor, and bloating relate to physical therapy? Tune in for discussions with experts in the fields of both physical and mental wellness to find out how it’s all connected!
2. The Ask Mike Reinold Show
Listen On: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher
What It Covers: Weekly episodes of this podcast answer listeners’ questions about fitness, sports performance, therapeutic exercise, career advice, and more. Reinold is also a baseball fan, so you’ll hear some of the latest baseball talk and news as well. Together with his PT team in Boston (Champion Physical Therapy and Performance), Reinold strives to “help people feel better, move better, and perform better.” Episodes include topics such as “Using Higher Loads with Rotator Cuff Exercises” and tips for regaining full-knee extension following surgery.
3. Pain Reframed
Listen On: Apple Podcasts | PlayerFM
What It Covers: While not currently producing fresh content, the archives are packed with useful and educational content. This podcast is described as being “about pain and how pain is managed in our society.” Specifically, experts in pain neuroscience education talk about how to reduce unnecessary suffering through physical therapy. Doctors and leading experts Tim Flynn and Jeff Moore host the show and invite guests from the medical and psychological fields to talk pain management and a PT’s role in dealing with that pain. Some topics include “A Professional Violinist’s Pain Journey” and “DPT Student + Pain Patient.”
4. Move Forward Radio
Listen On: Apple Podcasts | Spotify
What It Covers: While this podcast appears to be on hiatus, it was the top podcast on Apple in its heyday. Produced by the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) for ChoosePT.com, a website created for PT patients to stay updated on the latest trends in the field and get the specific kind of relief they need, this podcast covers a range of topics that will appeal to patients and practitioners alike. Recent guest conversations include what it’s like to be a paralympic swimmer living with a disability and a physical therapist experiencing long COVID symptoms.
5. PT Inquest
Listen On: Apple Podcasts | PlayerFM
What It Covers: PT Inquest is described as an online journal club. Co-hosted by leading physiotherapists J.W. Matheson and Erik Meira, this show takes a close look at a different published medical article every week. The hosts discuss ways to apply the best physical therapy techniques like dry needling in real-life, day-to-day recovery scenarios. An excellent source of information, they also cover topics that are particularly relevant for specific types of PT practices, including orthopedic therapy, sports recovery, clinical decision making, cardiovascular and pulmonary PT, and treating patients with chronic pain. PT Inquest listeners love the way the show teaches critical thinking skills and stays on top of current trends in everyday life.
6. Duck Legs Podcast
Listen On: Spotify | Apple Podcasts
What It Covers: With the tagline of “Doctors of Physical Therapy talking a whole lotta sh*t,” this is NOT your grandma’s physical therapy podcast. What it is is straight talk from industry experts on how to work efficiently and make positive change. (While Duck Legs hasn’t been updated since 2020, its archives are a treasure trove of wisdom and knowledge for today’s PTs.)
7. PT Elevated Podcast
Listen On: Spotify | Apple Podcasts
What It Covers: While occasionally talking about “big ideas,” this clinically focused podcast for physical therapists and other rehab providers from Evidence in Motion offers knowledge and tools for immediate application. The ultimate goal? To help providers elevate their practices with confidence. Recent topics include integrating functional dry needling, occupational therapy and chronic pain, building clinical reasoning skills, and behavioral health with rehab providers.
8. Physio Edge Podcast
Listen On: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Overcast
What It Covers: Host David Pope shares inspiring and informational interviews with leading physiotherapists discussing real life assessment and treatment, clinical issues, and ways practitioners can gain an edge. Recent topics include assessing ankle sprains, knee osteoarthritis (OA) assessment and rehab, and proprioceptive rehab tools for shoulder pain.
9. NAF Physio Podcast with Adam Meakins
Listen On: Apple Podcasts | Spotify
What It Covers: Hosted by Adam Meakins (aka the Sports Physio) and Greg Lehman, The NAF Physio Podcast is a monthly podcast covering a variety of professional topics, including physiotherapy, pain, injury, and rehab. Just a heads up – in addition to lots of enthusiastic debate and robust exchanges, this podcast unabashedly contains more than its share of bad language. Recent topics include ACL healing, movement screening, the risks of heavy lifting, and obesity and weight management.
The Best Podcasts for Physical Therapy Students & New Grads
10. NPTE Clinical Files
Listen On: Apple Podcasts | Spotify
What It Covers: Dr. Kyle Rice of PT Hustle is on a mission to help PT students dominate the National Physical Therapy Exam (NPTE). On his podcast, Rice delivers real clinical scenarios that challenge physiotherapy students to problem-solve the same way they would for questions on the NPTE. Not only do reviewers report a kind and welcoming space when listening to “Coach K,” but they share their candid successes of passing the exam on their first attempt after listening to the podcast!
11. NPTE Studycast
Listen On: Apple Podcasts | Spotify
What It Covers: This podcast is geared toward PT students and helps them squeeze in some extra study time with “test prep on the go.” All topics are considered study guides for specific subjects, such as ACL tears, Alzheimer’s disease, frozen shoulder, and cerebral palsy. If you search through the archives of study tips, you’ll find test-specific episodes like “NPTE Structure & Scoring” and “How Do I Register for the NPTE?”
12. The Healthcare Education Transformation Podcast
Listen On: Apple Podcasts | Spotify
What It Covers: Hosted by three physical therapists seeking educational roles, the podcast interviews prominent guests within the healthcare and education spaces aimed at PTs and other healthcare providers looking to transition to education. Includes advice and tips on how to become an effective educator from various PT roles. Recent topics include embracing self-doubt, the importance of support and networks in education research, and dealing with burnout.
The Best Podcasts for Physical Therapy Business Owners
13. Maestro on the Mic
Listen On: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts
What It Covers: If you’re looking to grow your online movement business, check out Dr. Shanté Cofield, aka the Movement Maestro. After moving her physical therapy practice into the virtual space, this private practice owner has mastered the ever-changing “rules” of social media and now coaches others to do the same. When she’s not providing valuable continuing education and entrepreneurial tips like how to clear up your messaging or niche down, Cofield shares occasional interviews with movement professionals who’ve been successful online.
14. PT Snacks with Dr. Kasey Hogan
Listen On: Spotify | Google Podcasts | Apple Podcasts
What It Covers: The PT Snacks podcast delivers “small, bite-sized pieces of information to help you study, and save you time to live the rest of your life.” On the show, Dr. Kasey Hogan covers topics in physical therapy relevant to both PT students and experienced therapists who want to grow their practices. Each episode breaks down specific body parts or conditions, such as in the episode “Vascular Claudication: What Is It and What Do We Do About It?”
15. The Cash-Based Practice Podcast
Listen On: Apple Podcasts | Spotify
What It Covers: Hosted by Dr. Jarod Carter, this podcast is packed with actionable intelligence sourced directly from successful cash-based practice owners. Whether you’re just getting started, transitioning from another model, or looking to improve your operations, you’ll find wisdom here on everything from incentivizing your front desk staff to reducing sticker shock for cash-pay services.
16. Grow Your Practice Podcast with Chad Madden
Listen On: Apple Podcasts | Spotify
What It Covers: Co-founder of Breakthrough, owner of Madden Physical Therapy and author of "Killer Marketing Secrets for Private Practice PTs," Madden grew his single location private practice 600 percent over a five-year period using direct response marketing strategies. In this weekly podcast, he passes along his proven marketing and business growth strategies for acquiring new patients and increasing profits to other practice owners.
The Best Pediatric Physical Therapy Podcast for Specialists
17. The Working Therapist: A Podcast With Haden Boliek
Listen On: Apple Podcasts | Stitcher
What It Covers: In the world of pediatrics, the roles of speech, physical, and occupational therapists have a ton of crossover. That’s why Haden Boliek founded pediatric developmental therapy (PDT), which focuses on bringing these therapy services to children at home. Podcast episodes include topics such as “Co-Treats and Collaboration: Strategies for the Speech, Occupational, and Physical Therapist” and “The Benefits of Low-Tech Augmented and Alternative Communication.”
The Best Podcast for Senior Rehab Specialists
18. Modern Management of the Older Adult (MMOA)
Listen On: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher
What It Covers: This podcast was created for PTs who specialize in senior rehab and offers “practical information” to help those practitioners better serve their patients. Industry leaders join regular hosts to review the latest news and trends in the field; topics include “Get Stronger, Walk Faster,”degenerative disc disease, strength training, intermittent claudication, dealing with the issue of balance and physical activity, and a discussion of whether the phrase “OK Boomer” is “ageist, offensive, or funny.”
The Best Podcasts for Sports Physical Therapy Specialists
19. Victory Over Injury
Listen On: Apple Podcasts | Spotify
What It Covers: The Victory Over Injury podcast is hosted by Dr. Michael K. Ryan, a board-certified orthopedic surgeon with Andrews Sports Medicine in Birmingham, Alabama. He specializes in sports medicine surgery, hip osteoarthritis, hip preservation surgery, and knee and hip replacements. One of the leading sports medicine podcasts, Victory Over Injury is directed to an audience of “jocks and docs” – physical therapists, athletic trainers, and other health sciences professionals, coaches, and fans – who can listen to interviews with other experts in the field. Whether covering a conversation with another surgeon or discussing tissue capacity with an athletic trainer for pediatric sports, this podcast gives listeners the tools to work through and overcome sports injuries. (Like a few others on this list, Victory Over Injury isn’t currently producing fresh content; however, the existing content is available and germane to any professionals looking for insights into the field of sports injury.)
20. Elite Baseball Development
Listen On: Deezer | Spotify | Apple Podcasts
What It Covers: Join the conversation with Eric Cressey, a certified strength and conditioning specialist who helps healthy and injured athletes achieve peak human performance. While his podcast centers around baseball-related training (thanks to his extensive work in the MLB), Cressey goes deep into clinical performance and the science of each condition. Be prepared to learn the kinesiology behind baseball injuries! It's a great listen for physical therapists and other rehab clinicians, healthcare providers, coaches, or even parents looking to help their kids reduce injuries on the field with advice from one of the field's top experts.
21. The Knees Over Toes Mentality
Listen On: Apple Podcasts | Spotify
What It Covers: Best known as Knees Over Toes Guy, Ben Patrick is changing the game in sports injury with his ATG online coaching model. On the Knees Over Toes podcast, Patrick talks about all things patellar, from knee ability and the ATG program to injury prevention and how to dunk in digestible 15-minute episodes.
Final Thoughts
The podcast world's community of empathetic experts in everything from clinical education to upper extremity injuries continues to grow, and new opportunities for learning emerge every day: from original research and research reviews to shoulder pain and treatment techniques.
Still can’t get your fill of physiotherapy podcasts? While defunct for several years, the following four podcasts are chock-full of useful information and interviews with great guests: Doc & Jock Podcast; Physiotherapy Performance Perspectives; Voice of the Patient Podcast; and Untold Physio Stories from Updoc Media. Each has therapy insiders and esteemed guests like Erson Religioso III, Simon Sinek, Greg Todd, Tom Goom, former professional soccer physical therapist Paul Gough, Ben Fung of UpDoc Media, Jason Shane, and Arianna Huffington.
Originally published on September 10, 2019.
Updated by Lauren Garcia on February 11, 2020.
*Updated by Alexa Davidson, MSN, RN on February 15, 2022
Image courtesy of iStock.com/Vladimir Sukhachev