The Physio Matters Podcast

In this episode of Chewing It Over, Jack speaks with Luke Kellaway about his MSKMag article, The Biggest Wins in the NHS Are Cheap, exploring whether healthcare innovation has become too focused on expensive technology at the expense of simpler solutions that already work.
Luke highlights the enormous burden musculoskeletal conditions place on the NHS and argues that relatively inexpensive initiatives can produce substantial improvements in waiting lists, patient outcomes and service efficiency. Yet these less glamorous interventions can struggle to attract the attention given to AI and digital health pilots.
The conversation questions what healthcare actually means by efficiency. Saving clinicians time with technology sounds valuable, but if that additional capacity simply allows more patients to enter an already constrained pathway, it may increase spending rather than reduce it. Improving one part of a system also achieves little if patients simply reach the next bottleneck faster.
Jack and Luke discuss the importance of examining and redesigning clinical workflows before adding technology. Rather than assuming AI will fix inefficient systems, organisations should first understand where delays occur, streamline existing processes and then identify where technology genuinely adds value.
They also explore the challenges surrounding healthcare AI, procurement and medical-device regulation. As increasingly sophisticated technology enters clinical practice, both managers and clinicians need enough digital literacy to question how these systems work, whether they are appropriately regulated and what they mean for patient safety.
Ultimately, the discussion makes the case for pragmatic innovation: empower clinicians, improve pathways, scale interventions that already work and introduce technology where it solves a clearly defined problem—not simply because it is new.

12

In this inspiring episode of Chewing It Over, Jack speaks with Laurie, whose remarkable story spans decades of living with the consequences of a devastating childhood injury, multiple reconstructive surgeries, and an extraordinary journey back to mobility.
Laurie reflects on undergoing complex limb reconstruction surgery after living with altered biomechanics and chronic pain for over 40 years. Her rehabilitation became even more challenging when the COVID-19 pandemic prevented access to the specialist physiotherapy service that had been planned, forcing her to largely guide her own recovery.
The conversation explores how she gradually relearned to walk, rebuilt strength, and adapted through careful trial and error. Despite setbacks, including muscle weakness and knee problems caused by years of altered movement, Laurie describes how she slowly regained confidence and function. Today she is pain-free, regularly attends the gym, and continues to surprise herself with what she is capable of achieving.
Jack uses Laurie's story to challenge the common assumption that decades of abnormal movement patterns permanently limit rehabilitation potential. Instead, her experience highlights the remarkable adaptability of the human body when combined with persistence, patience, and realistic expectations.
The discussion also touches on resilience, mindset, and the value of lived experience. Laurie explains that while she is unsure whether optimism can be taught, she believes sharing experiences with others beginning similar rehabilitation journeys can provide reassurance and hope.
This is an uplifting conversation about recovery, perseverance, and the importance of believing that meaningful improvement remains possible—even after decades of disability.
The human body can continue adapting after decades of altered movement. Long-standing biomechanical changes do not automatically prevent meaningful recovery.

Patient-led rehabilitation can still be highly successful. When supported by sound principles, self-directed recovery can produce impressive outcomes, particularly when circumstances limit access to healthcare.

Recovery is rarely linear. Setbacks, muscle weakness, and periods of uncertainty are often part of successful long-term rehabilitation.

Mindset and persistence matter. Optimism alone is not enough, but resilience and willingness to keep progressing can profoundly influence rehabilitation.

5 clinical/professional takeaways

In this episode of Chewing It Over, Jack sits down with Dr Grainne Donnelly to discuss her newly published textbook on pelvic health in sport, the journey of becoming an editor, and the evolving role of physiotherapists in advancing evidence-based care.
Grainne reflects on the enormous challenge of leading a first-edition textbook while simultaneously balancing clinical work, research, teaching, and a PhD. Although initially hesitant to take on such a significant project, she describes how a leap of faith—and encouragement from those around her—led to a resource designed to fill a major gap in sports medicine literature.
The conversation explores the growing recognition of pelvic health as a critical component of athletic performance and participation. Grainne discusses the need for better education across professions and highlights the importance of multidisciplinary collaboration in addressing issues that have historically been under-recognised or poorly understood.
A particularly interesting section focuses on her research into pelvic floor dysfunction, athletic performance, and the role of compression garments. While acknowledging the influence of confidence, perception, and reduced vulnerability on movement, Grainne also discusses emerging evidence suggesting measurable biomechanical effects, including improved shock attenuation and smoother running mechanics.
Throughout the discussion, Jack highlights Grainne’s rare ability to bridge clinical practice, research, education, and policy. The episode becomes a wider conversation about curiosity, scientific rigour, and the value of asking better questions rather than rushing to simple answers.
Overall, this is an insightful discussion for clinicians interested in sports medicine, women’s health, pelvic health, performance, and the future direction of physiotherapy research.

AI, health tech, digital systems, clinician workflows… are we entering healthcare’s biggest technological shift yet?

In this episode of Chewing It Over, Jack sits down with Pete Greenberg (EQL) to discuss the evolving world of healthcare technology and what it means for clinicians, clinics, and patients.

Topics include:

Why healthcare is finally having its “tech moment”
AI hype vs meaningful innovation
The challenges clinicians face navigating new technology
Digital overwhelm and decision fatigue
How health tech should support—not replace—human care
Data, trust, workflows, and adoption barriers
What clinics should be paying attention to now
The future relationship between technology and MSK practice

This isn’t a conversation about replacing clinicians with AI.

It is a discussion about using technology wisely, protecting the human side of healthcare, and understanding where innovation genuinely adds value.

🎧 Ideal for:

Physiotherapists
MSK clinicians
Clinic owners
Healthcare leaders
Digital health enthusiasts
Anyone curious about AI in healthcare

💬 How are you using technology in clinic right now?
Helpful tool or growing headache?

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