Have you ever received conflicting advice from your surgeon and your physical therapist? Who do you listen to when one says you are ready to run, and the other says you aren't?

In this episode of The GFY Podcast, we are joined by Kathleen Criss, a physical therapist and fellow University of Delaware Athletic Training alum. Kathleen shares her unique journey from being a competitive figure skater for 18 years to treating complex outpatient cases in a hospital system.

The group dives deep into the systemic communication gaps in healthcare. Kathleen breaks down her "Two-Parent" analogy for post-op recovery, explains why your pain might not actually be coming from that disc bulge on your MRI, and discusses how the international world of figure skating prepared her to connect with patients from all walks of life.

In This Episode, We Cover:

• Figure Skating & Backflips: A dive into the recent controversies of acrobatic moves in figure skating, including Ilia Malinin's legal backflip and the trailblazing history of Surya Bonaly.
• The "Two-Parent" Analogy: Why your surgeon and your PT have different perspectives. The surgeon looks at tissue healing, while the PT evaluates your functional performance—and why both "parents" need to agree before you return to sport.
• Systemic Healthcare Gaps: Why it's not the physician's fault that they only have 15 minutes to spend with you, and how rehab professionals fill that vital educational gap.
• Myth-Busting MRI Results: Why having a disc bulge doesn't automatically mean it's the source of your pain, and how to de-escalate the stress of scary imaging results.
• The Placebo of Surgery: Michael shares a mind-blowing study on "sham surgeries" for back fractures that yielded the exact same results as actual surgical interventions.

Resources Mentioned:

• Guest: Kathleen Chris, PT, DPT, ATC.
• Concepts: Tissue Healing vs. Performance Readiness; Multifactorial Pain.

Connect with Us:If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a review on your listening platform or subscribe to our YouTube channel!

Disclaimer: Although we are healthcare providers, we are not YOUR healthcare provider. Content is for educational purposes only. Please consult your physician before making lifestyle changes.

Support the show

Support the Show: If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a 5-star review and subscribe on YouTube! It helps us continue to bring you the best health insights so you can Go Fix Yourself.

You can also so your support through donations! You can click here and pledge a monthly amount to help keep this podcast running! We'll give you a shout out and answer a question of your choosing on an episode!

Find us on the Following!
Instagram: @gfy.podcast
Spotify:
Website:
Youtube:

Available on all podcast streaming sites!

If you have general questions about pain you're experiencing send us a DM on instagram or email at wellinformed24@gmail.com

Michael Stant has also launched a weekly blog, Well-Informed. If interested in following. You can subscribe to the following link: https://wellinformed24.substack.com/

Have you ever walked into a chiropractic office, laid face down, gotten cracked, and been ushered out in under five minutes without ever seeing the doctor’s face? That is the "factory model" of healthcare, and it is exactly what Dr. Paul Caron left behind.

In this episode, We sit down with Dr. Paul Caron, a rehab chiropractor and founder of The Art of Movement in Atlanta. Paul shares his journey from adjusting 72 patients a day at to building a practice where he spends an hour one-on-one with clients who actually want to get better.

This episode isn't just about back pain; it's about mindset. Paul explains why he filters out the "Eeyores" (negative clients), why "manifestation" is really just believing in your work for four years straight, and why you need to be intentional, consistent, and curious if you want to fix yourself.

In This Episode, We Cover:

• The "Factory" vs. The Art: Paul’s transition from a high-volume chiropractic chain to a specialized, movement-based practice.
• The "Eeyore" Factor: Why mindset matters in rehab, and why Paul turns away clients who aren't ready to take ownership of their health.
• Manifestation is Action: Why "manifesting" isn't magic, it's doing the work consistently for years (like Olympic skier Breezy Johnson).
• Rehab Chiropractic: Why Paul only adjusts 5-10% of his patients and focuses the rest on soft tissue, movement, and exercise.
• The "Flying Seven": The dangers of the generic "crack-and-go" model and why it rarely leads to long-term relief.
• AOM Live: Paul’s new virtual community for people who have nagging pain but aren't "bad enough" for a full rehab plan.

Connect with Us: If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a review! And remember, don't be an Eeyore!

Disclaimer: Although we are healthcare providers, we are not YOUR healthcare provider. Content is for educational purposes only. Please consult your physician before making lifestyle changes.

Support the show

Support the Show: If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a 5-star review and subscribe on YouTube! It helps us continue to bring you the best health insights so you can Go Fix Yourself.

You can also so your support through donations! You can click here and pledge a monthly amount to help keep this podcast running! We'll give you a shout out and answer a question of your choosing on an episode!

Find us on the Following!
Instagram: @gfy.podcast
Spotify:
Website:
Youtube:

Available on all podcast streaming sites!

If you have general questions about pain you're experiencing send us a DM on instagram or email at wellinformed24@gmail.com

Michael Stant has also launched a weekly blog, Well-Informed. If interested in following. You can subscribe to the following link: https://wellinformed24.substack.com/

You graduated, passed your boards, and landed a job—only to realize the "standard of care" often involves heat packs, ultrasounds, and a printed sheet of exercises. Is there a better way?

In this episode, Mike and Michael sit down with Joey Scambia, a Board Certified Sports Clinical Specialist who went from a residency at Johns Hopkins to treating elite athletes at IMG Academy, and finally, to launching his own performance-based solo practice in New Jersey.

If you are a student or new grad feeling stuck in the "insurance mill" mindset, this episode proves that a higher standard of care is possible. Joey breaks down how to collaborate with strength coaches, why rehab should feel like a workout, and how to build a hybrid model that keeps patients accountable even on their off days.

In This Episode, We Cover:

• The High Performance Model: What Joey learned working under one roof with PTs, ATs, strength coaches, and nutritionists—and why "siloed" healthcare harms the patient.
• Solo Practice in a Gym: How Joey integrates directly with personal trainers to fill the gaps in his clients' programming.
• Rehab = Training: Why "passive" modalities (hot packs, stim) fail athletes, and why your patient should be sweating by the end of the session.
• The Hybrid Advantage: How using a training app for remote accountability stops patients from "ghosting" you on their homework.
• Athletic Low Back Pain: Joey shares his own frustrating experience as a D1 baseball player that led him to develop a course and mentorship program for other clinicians.
• Advocate vs. Adversary: How to get athletes to trust you with their injuries instead of hiding them to protect their playing time.

Resources Mentioned:

• Guest: Joey Scambia, PT, DPT, SCS, CSCS.
• Concept: Multidisciplinary Care vs. Siloed Care.
• Joey's Course: Athletic Low Back Pain & Clinical Mentorship.

Connect with Us: Are you a student looking for mentorship? Check out the resources mentioned in this episode to level up your clinical reasoning.

Disclaimer: Although we are healthcare providers, we are not YOUR healthcare provider. Content is for educational purposes only. Please consult your physician before making lifestyle changes.

Support the show

Support the Show: If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a 5-star review and subscribe on YouTube! It helps us continue to bring you the best health insights so you can Go Fix Yourself.

You can also so your support through donations! You can click here and pledge a monthly amount to help keep this podcast running! We'll give you a shout out and answer a question of your choosing on an episode!

Find us on the Following!
Instagram: @gfy.podcast
Spotify:
Website:
Youtube:

Available on all podcast streaming sites!

If you have general questions about pain you're experiencing send us a DM on instagram or email at wellinformed24@gmail.com

Michael Stant has also launched a weekly blog, Well-Informed. If interested in following. You can subscribe to the following link: https://wellinformed24.substack.com/