In this episode of the Pain Free Athlete Podcast, host Dana Jones speaks with Nida Tansinsin, a physical therapist and chronic pain coach, about her journey from athletic training to physical therapy. They discuss the neuroplastic mind-body approach to pain management, the importance of understanding pain sensations, and the role of mental health in physical recovery. Nida shares insights on navigating fear and anxiety in sports, the significance of compassion in healing, and reframing pain as 'sore but safe.' The conversation concludes with Nida's future plans for sharing resources and strategies for healing.

Nida began her career in athletic training over 25 years ago at Indiana University Bloomington and went on to earn her degree in physical therapy from Sacramento State in 2000. She started in sports medicine, working with professional, collegiate, and high-school athletes alongside Al Biancani, former strength and conditioning coach for the Sacramento Kings and Monarchs.

Over the years, her work as a physical therapist has spanned acute care, post-operative rehab, skilled nursing, home health, and outpatient practice, where she focused for the last decade. In the past seven years, her work has shifted toward a neuroplastic, mind-body approach after completing advanced training with Howard Schubiner and Charlie Merrill through Beyond Pain Education. She recently presented at the ATNS conference and currently work at Kaiser, as well as alongside Dr. Becca Kennedy as a chronic pain coach specialist.

Nida’s Links:

https://resilience-healthcare.com/

Dana’s Links:

⁠⁠https://www.painfreeathletepodcast.com⁠⁠

⁠⁠10 Day Journaling Journey⁠⁠

Podcast Disclaimer:

The Pain-Free Podcast is presented solely for general information, education, and entertainment purposes. Any information presented in this podcast is not intended as a substitute for the advice of a physician, psychotherapist, or other qualified professional diagnosis. The use of information on this podcast or materials linked from this podcast or website is at the user’s own risk. As always, users should not disregard or delay obtaining medical advice for any medical or mental health condition that they may have and should seek the assistance of their healthcare professionals for any such conditions.

In this episode of the Pain Free Athlete Podcast, host Dana Jones speaks with chronic pain specialist Katie Rothwell about her personal journey with chronic pain and the development of the Beat Pain Method. The conversation explores the multifaceted approach to pain management, including the importance of understanding the mind-body connection, tailored therapies, and the emotional burdens often faced by mothers. Katie shares success stories from her clients, illustrating the transformative power of her method, which combines neuroscience, nutrition, and movement to empower individuals to live pain-free lives.

Katie's Bio:

Katie Rothwell is a pain coach and therapist who specialises in helping people overcome chronic pain using her very own BEAT pain approach - which stands for Brain, Energy, Activity and Therapy - this approach integrates pain education, nervous system calming, nutritional advice, sleep optimisation, and activity all designed to help one overcome pain. She came to this approach through her own journey of chronic back pain and a diagnosis of degenerative disc disease at age 30 along with her experience of working as a sports massage therapist and craniosacral therapist for 12 years. BEAT pain includes everything that has helped her and her clients to break free from pain. She helps people move past fear of movement to reclaim joy in their lives. Her work aligns closely with the mind-body approach and bridges the gap between science and self compassion in healing.

Katie's Links:

⁠https://katierothwell.co.uk/⁠

⁠info@katierothwell.co.uk⁠

Dana’s Links:

⁠⁠⁠https://www.painfreeathletepodcast.com⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠10 Day Journaling Journey⁠⁠⁠

Podcast Disclaimer:

The Pain-Free Podcast is presented solely for general information, education, and entertainment purposes. Any information presented in this podcast is not intended as a substitute for the advice of a physician, psychotherapist, or other qualified professional diagnosis. The use of information on this podcast or materials linked from this podcast or website is at the user’s own risk. As always, users should not disregard or delay obtaining medical advice for any medical or mental health condition that they may have and should seek the assistance of their healthcare professionals for any such conditions.

In this episode of the Pain Free Athlete Podcast, host Dana Jones speaks with Charlie Merrill, a physical therapist and founder of Merrill Performance. They discuss the integration of mind-body therapy in treating pain, particularly for athletes. Charlie shares his journey into this field, influenced by the works of John Sarno and Howard Schubiner, and emphasizes the importance of belief in recovery. The conversation explores the psychological aspects of pain, the role of neuroplasticity, and the need for athletes to unlearn harmful narratives about their bodies. Charlie also highlights the significance of understanding the emotional impact of training and racing, and how this knowledge can empower athletes to manage their pain effectively.takeaways

• Charlie Merrill emphasizes the importance of creating a niche in physical therapy.
• Belief in recovery is crucial for positive outcomes.
• Pain is a normal part of athletic life and serves as a protector.
• Neuroplasticity allows for change in how we perceive pain.
• Athletes often prefer physical explanations for pain over psychological ones.
• Understanding the emotional aspects of training can help manage pain.
• The brain plays a key role in regulating physical sensations and pain.
• Unlearning harmful narratives about pain is essential for recovery.
• Nutrition and mental state significantly impact athletic performance.
• The rise of ultra-endurance sports highlights the need for mental resilience.

Charlie's Bio:

Charlie Merrill is a Physical Therapist and the founder of ⁠Merrill Performance⁠ in Boulder, CO. He's synthesized treatment of the mind and body for over 25 years to support people in returning to a high level of performance in their lives. In his practice, Charlie combines traditional hands on manual therapy and movement with a novel mind-body approach to treat a wide range of clients including some of the best runners, cyclists, rock climbers, and CrossFitters in the world. In addition to being a master clinician, Charlie is an educator, clinical mentor, clinical consultant with ⁠Lin Health⁠, and a content creator and influencer in the chronic pain space.

Charlie co-created the course "⁠Beyond Pain Education⁠" with Dr Howard Schibiner, MD to educate and mentor clinicians who are traditionally body oriented how to transition toward a more psychosocially informed approach to pain and function. He runs a 12 week immersive course for athletes looking to unlearn and overcome chronic symptoms called ⁠Unlearning Pain For Athletes⁠. Charlie created and teaches a 6 week course for body oriented clinicians in collaboration with the ⁠Pain Reprocessing Therapy Center⁠. He’s a content creator appearing on ⁠Podcasts⁠, his channel on ⁠YouTube⁠, and is active on ⁠Instagram⁠ supporting people in pain. Charlie is actively involved in clinical research and consults in the digital health technology space. He also serves on the medical advisory board for "⁠The Better Mind Center⁠". Charlie is a lifelong competitive athlete in a variety of disciplines and lives in Boulder, Colorado with his wife and three teenage kids.

Dana’s Links:

⁠https://www.painfreeathletepodcast.com⁠

Podcast Disclaimer:

The Pain-Free Podcast is presented solely for general information, education, and entertainment purposes. Any information presented in this podcast is not intended as a substitute for the advice of a physician, psychotherapist, or other qualified professional diagnosis. The use of information on this podcast or materials linked from this podcast or website is at the user’s own risk. As always, users should not disregard or delay obtaining medical advice for any medical or mental health condition that they may have and should seek the assistance of their healthcare professionals for any such conditions.