Time to Embrace Lifestyle Changes for Mainline PT Education
A powerful 2025 commentary says treating MSK with "a bit" of MT & exercise is failing. Dr. E breaks down the science: MT is a neurophysiological tool to facilitate active rehab, but it's not enough. PTs must evolve to master Sleep, Stress, Nutrition, and high-dose Exercise to tackle the real drivers of chronic pain. It’s time to be an honest lifestyle expert. Check out the infographic below for more info.
TREATING MSK WITH "A BIT" OF MT AND EXERCISE?
IT'S TIME FOR US TO EVOLVE.
A powerful 2025 commentary demands PTs move beyond the hands-on vs. hands-off debate to embrace a holistic, lifestyle-integrated model.
THE CORE PROBLEM (Lewis, Mintken, McDevitt, 2025)
The effectiveness of MT and EX is often **limited** because we fail to integrate powerful **lifestyle and psychosocial factors** that drive chronic conditions and recurrence.
MT'S NEW ROLE: NEURO-MODULATOR AND BRIDGE
Stop defending biomechanics. Leverage MT for what the science supports:
NEUROPHYSIOLOGICAL TOOL
MT's primary effect is creating **systemic sensory input** that modulates pain and motor inhibition—it helps the nervous system calm down, enabling active movement.
FACILITATE ACTIVE REHAB
MT's greatest utility is in making the **active exercise component** (the long-term solution) easier, less threatening, and more compliant for the patient.
THE MANDATE: BECOME A LIFESTYLE EXPERT
The authors demand we evolve to tackle factors that dwarf our clinic time:
- SLEEP (Deeply impacts pain/healing)
- STRESS MANAGEMENT (Modulating cortisol)
- NUTRITION (Systemic inflammation)
- HIGH PHYSICAL ACTIVITY (3600+ MET-min/week)
We must honestly communicate MT's limitations and become experts in assessing and supporting **behavioral change** to maximize outcomes.
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