APTA Podcasts

In this episode of the APTA Podcast, Anna V. Howard, PT, BS, PCS, shares her journey in pediatric therapy, discussing her experiences working with infants in the NICU to adolescents. She emphasizes the importance of evidence-based content for parents and caregivers found on ChoosePT.com, APTA's consumer-focused resource that shares free, reliable health information about physical therapy. The board-certified pediatric clinical specialist serves as an editorial representative and review coordinator for APTA Pediatrics, meaning she has authored, edited, and guided the review process for dozens of symptom and condition guides and health tips articles on ChoosePT.com. Listen to Howard's interview to learn how she uses ChoosePT resources and why they are important in her practice. ChoosePT Resources For PTs, PTAs, and students:  APTA's Find a PT online directory160-plus symptom and condition guides (see A-Z listing) Descriptions of specialty areas in physical therapyPhysical therapy's role across the lifespan (PT For Future Me Campaign) Safe pain management resources

In this episode of the PTJ Podcast, Editorial Board Member John Heick, PT, DPT, PhD, talks with Bahar Shahidi, PT, DPT, PhD, about her recently published study that found that exercise-based rehabilitation results in the same magnitude of improvement in patients with radiographically mild, moderate, or severe stenosis. They discuss how imaging influencesclinical decision-making, why clinicians may be more likely to refer patients with severe stenosisto surgical interventions first, and why there is a specific benefit to exercise-based rehabilitationin this population. Shahidi is co-author of the article “Severity of Structural Lumbar Spinal Stenosis Does Not Impact Responsiveness to Exercise-Based Rehabilitation.” Read the article on the PTJ websiteand follow PTJ on LinkedIn and Bluesky for more research updates.

Artificial intelligence is rapidly reshaping healthcare, but what does that mean for physical therapists, physical therapist assistants, and patient care?Learn how AI is being used to reduce administrative burden, improve documentation and billing workflows, identify payment trends, and help clinicians spend more time focused on patient care. Listen to the full conversation between APTA Vice President of Strategic Communications Alicia Hosmer and industry leaders Pedro Teixeira, MD, PhD, Jordan Hobley, PT, DPT, and Kevin Smith, MBA, as they discuss practical applications of AI, common misconceptions, and why clinicians and practice leaders don't need to become experts overnight to begin exploring the technology.  Learn more about the ways AI is impacting the profession:Continue the conversation about AI and emerging technologies by joining the new APTA AI Network on the APTA Community. (Member login is required to access the APTA Community.) Discover APTA Magazine's coverage on the topic, with “AI Scribes in Physical Therapy Practices”, and “AI as an "Intelligent Assistant.”Listen to a previous APTA podcast episode about the role of AI in the profession with “AI in PT Practice: Finding Balance, Embracing Innovation Without Losing Trust, and What’s Next”

As healthcare increasingly moves toward alternative payment models, or APMs, physical therapists need to be able to measure the impact, sustainability, and cost-effectiveness of their care.  In this episode, Alice Bell, PT, DPT, APTA health policy and payment senior specialist, and Chris Carlin, OTR/L, MBA, vice president of operations for the Hartford HealthCare Community Network, discuss the APTA Growing Older and Living StrongerTM, or GOALS, model: an early frailty identification and intervention model designed to help aging adults maintain independence while generating real-world evidence for value-based care and payment. Hear how APTA and Hartford HealthCare Rehabilitation Network are piloting the GOALS model, what the yearlong initiative is measuring, and why outcomes such as function, falls, hospitalizations, and emergency department visits could matter for the future of payment for PT services.Learn more about the pilot program and alternative payment models: APTA, Hartford HealthCare Launch Frailty Pilot to Advance Value-Based CareAPTA, Hartford HealthCare Rehabilitation Network Launch Frailty Pilot to Inform Value-Based Payment Models with Real-World Data  

In 2015, France implemented a major reform to physical therapist education by extending programs from three years to five years and by revising the curriculum to embed evidence-based practice in clinical training. Listen as Associate Editor Jason Beneciuk, PT, DPT, PhD, MPH, talks with Vincent Fontanier, PhD, about his recently published study, which examined the impact of the reform and the changes in evidence-based practice competencies among physical therapist graduates. Fontanier is co-author of the article “Impact of entry-level curriculum reform on evidence-based practice competencies in physical therapists: a cross-sectional study.” Read the article on the PTJwebsite and follow PTJ on LinkedIn and Bluesky for more research updates.