In this episode, host Matt Phillips is joined by special guests Molly Benson, Therapy Expo Content Producer, and Charlotte Speer, Therapy Expo Show Manager. With Therapy Expo 2025 happening in less than a month, on the 26th & 27th of November at the NEC Birmingham, Molly Benson and Charlotte Spear discuss what’s new for this year’s event - new theatres (Business Advice and Practical Skills), expanded CPD and exhibitor line-up, fresh speakers, and the value of in-person learning. The episode also covers discount codes and the October 31st deadline for getting maximum discount, and the new one-day ticket option that can be purchased by calling the delegate phone line on 0203 978 1665 or visiting the Therapy Expo website.  Full details of the speakers and exhibitors can also be found on the website.

In this 5 Year Anniversary episode, host Matt Phillips is joined by Emily Gilbert of frameworksportsmassage.com, who 8 years ago made a huge career change by moving from Biomedical Science to massage therapy, and in her own words has never looked back. As an evidence-based mobile sports massage therapist, Emily has been sharing some great information on Instagram, including some reflections on her experience at the recent ’STA & Hands ON Hub Conference’ in Exmouth, in association with the ST School, and in this episode Emily gives her tips on the ‘Five Things To Look Out For In An MSK Conference.”

In Episode 259 of the Sports Therapy Association Podcast - ’3 Ways for Clinicians To Avoid Physical & Mental Burnout’ - host Matt Phillips is joined by special guest Jenny Burrell, Founder, CEO, Lead Tutor and Course Curator of Burrell Education. With over 17 years in the business, Burrell Education is hugely respected in the industry, with courses designed to educate & support Women’s Health, Movement, Fitness, Physiotherapy, Soft Tissue Therapy and Coaching professionals. In this episode, Jenny Burrell talks about her latest course ’BRIEF COACHING’, designed to provide the all-important skills to help health professionals avoid physical & mental burnout, skills that are all too often missing from traditional industry qualifications.

In Episode 258 of the Sports Therapy Association podcast, entitled ’New Perspectives On Fascia’, host Matt Phillips is joined by special guests from the University of Kent - Dr Claire Melanie Boucher, Lecturer in Sport, Exercise & Rehabilitation Sciences, and Dr Kyra De Coninck, Senior Lecturer, School of Sport & Exercise Sciences. The episode looks at the differences between superficial and deep fascia, the limits of current imaging, and why effects of touch often involve fluid, neural and psychosocial factors as well as connective tissue.

In this episode, we reflect on the ‘STA & Hands On Hub Conference’ that took place nearly two weeks ago on 20th & 21st September in Exmouth, in collaboration with the ST School. Host Matt Phillips is joined by Gary Benson, Founder of The Sports Therapy Association, Anna Maria Mazzieri, Director of The ST School, and Andy Hosgood, coach, mentor, and Unlocker of Human Potential. Together, they discuss what factors are important for a successful educational conference for soft tissue therapists, in what ways the ‘STA & Hands On Hub Conference’ succeeded, and how it could potentially be improved in future events. Also, details of a questionnaire that we would really appreciate you filling out!

In this episode, host Matt Phillips, freshly back from the recent ’Hands On Hub & STA Conference’ in Exmouth, is joined by special guest Ben Cormack, founder of Cor KIN etic, and co-founder of the Better Clinician Project. Ben explains how clinicians can approach and interpret research papers, breaking them down into study types (RCTs, observational, systematic reviews), key method checkpoints (sample size calculations, blinding, recruitment), and how to read results (p‑values, effect sizes, between‑group vs within‑group changes). It’s a super valuable listen to any soft tissue therapist who finds the idea of reading a research paper slightly daunting, and also help the already confident therapist go a little deeper into potential red flags that suggest how the study could have been done better.

We reach the last episode before the ‘STA South West & Hands On Hub Conference’ taking place in Exmouth on September 20th and 21st, in collaboration with the ST School. Host Matt Phillips is joined by conference speaker James Earls, Writer, Lecturer & Bodyworker, and founder of Born to Move, who discusses the gains we could all make by re-addressing the way in which we traditionally view anatomy, as well as details of his presentation at the conference: ”The Knee: Why Do We Have It All Back To Front?”

Host Matt Phillips is joined by Director of The ST School Anna Maria Mazzieri, who discusses what evidence-informed practice means in Massage Therapy. The episode explores topics including how trauma and chronic pain interact, the somatic effects of touch, and practical, evidence‑based approaches to working with scars. Anna Maria talk about the online CPD Webinar offered by The ST School: ”Evidence Based Practice in Massage Therapy: What Social Media Doesn’t Tell You!” (see link in notes), including some of the surprises & benefits that attendees typically experience. Also discussed is the value of reflective CPD, and how therapists can better communicate, debate and apply research in clinic and online forums.

In Ep.253, we continue our countdown to the STA South West Conference that is happening in Exmouth this September 20th and 21st, in collaboration with the ST School and Hands ON Hub. Host Matt Phillips is joined by conference speakers Dr Claire Minshull, Rehab & Conditioning Specialist & Founder of Get Back To Sport, and Serena Simmons, Chartered Psychologist & Founder of The Psychology School. Together they discuss the importance & value of clinicians combining exercise, education and psychological skills in practice, with strategies to improve patient adherence and practical takeaways from real case studies.

Michelle Lyons, Women’s Health Physiotherapist & Founder of Celebrate Muliebrity, and & Siobhan O’Donovan, aka the Booby Physio & founder of PostureFitting, are both speaking at STA South West Conference that is happening in Exmouth this September 20th and 21st, in collaboration with the ST School and Hands ON Hub. In this episode, they discuss practical strategies for clinicians working with female athletes, including the menstrual cycle as a powerful diagnostic tool, the importance of correctly fitted sports bras, pelvic health considerations, and keeping girls and women active across the lifespan. Check out this episode for evidence-informed guidance, expect practical tips and ways clinicians can better support female clients.

In Ep.251 of the Sports Therapy Association Podcast, Megan Jackson, founder of Bodies By Merj, reflects on Ep.224 “Social Media: Do Soft Tissue Therapists Really Need It?” that was recorded back in January this year with guests Katie Bell and Daniel Lawrence. Megan shares her personal journey into massage, and discusses how her marketing on Instagram in particular provides around 80% of her clients. Megan gives tips on how to create quality content, generate leads and also most importantly how to prevent burnout in the process. The episode also examines why touch and context matter so much in massage therapy, and how modern research is now slowly providing a framework & mechanism for the benefits that massage can bring.

Welcome to Episode 250 of the Sports Therapy Association Podcast. In this special STA catch-up episode, host Matt Phillips is joined by STA founder Gary Benson to discuss the latest developments in the soft tissue therapy industry. This episode offers invaluable insights for both STA members and all soft tissue therapists seeking guidance and support.

Welcome to Episode 249 of the Sports Therapy Association podcast. In Part 1 of “Facebook Groups For Massage Therapists: Helpful or Hateful?” (Ep.247), host Matt Phillips was joined by a panel of therapists who gave us honest & frank examples of how when seeking help in a Facebook Support Group for Therapists, they were met with harsh & aggressive replies from more experienced therapists, to the extent that they felt the need to post anonymously, in fear of a cascade of judgement & harm to their business. In this episode, Part 2, Matt invites a panel of experienced therapists to present the case that there is a real need for a clean-up in our industry, and though it may ruffle some feathers, Facebook Groups can be a breeding ground of misinformation that ultimately is doing harm to not just our industry but also the clients & patients paying for our services. Listen now to this compelling discussion on the prevalent challenges within massage therapy and soft tissue therapy communities, particularly the misconceptions surrounding evidence-based practices. The panel explores the tensions caused by misinformation and propose solutions for creating more supportive and informed social media groups. Discover strategies to foster empathy, maintain professionalism, and promote continuous learning among therapists, for a healthier and more unified industry. Stay informed and inspired by listening to the full debate on how we can collectively move towards a more understanding & supportive community  Panel In This Episode Cecily Hislop• Sports Massage Therapist at southphoenixmassagetherapy• Facebook: southphoenixmassagetherapy Hannah Tabram• Sports Massage Therapist• Website: https://hannahtabram.co.uk/ • Facebook: HannahTabramSMT• Instagram: @ hannahtabramsportsmassage  Stevie Barr• Owner of Fit Thru Life • Website: http://fit-thru-life.co.uk/• Brand Ambassador at Intelligent Cycling• Joint Creator of Scottish Therapists Group  • Instagram: @fit_thru_life Gary Benson• Founder of the STA• Facebook: @STAGary  A heartfelt thank you to the panels of both Part 1 and Part 2 of this series. We sincerely hope these two episodes generate interest & reflection. If you have any feedback, please feel free to share in the YouTube comments section, or email matt@thesta.co.uk. Interested in Joining The STA?Use the code PODCAST25 to get you 3 months extra if you join for a single year. In other words, for just £75, this code will get you 15 months instead of 12.  Only valid for NEW members, and if you are Level 3 (and qualified after 2014) please make sure you opt for ‘associate member’ when you join up. 

In Ep.248 of the Sports Therapy Association Podcast, we explore the intriguing world of Gait Analysis and its application in sports therapy. Host Matt Phillips is joined by Sophie Gover, founder of ’The Run Doctor UK’, who delves into her inspiring journey from Sports Massage Therapy to evidence informed Gait Analysis. Sophie reflects on how Ep.146 of the podcast “Gait Analysis For Runners: A Modern Approach”, recorded back in April 2023, affected her business set up, marketing and goal setting.

Have you ever felt the need to post anonymously in a Facebook Group, in fear of judgement & retribution from more experienced therapists trying to promote evidence informed practice within the massage industry? Is this confrontation causing therapists to doubt themselves & leave the industry, or should we learn to be more resilient and see comments from other therapists as a way to develop our own practice & become better clinicians? In this 13th episode of our ‘REFLECTION’ series, we bring you Part 1 of a 2 part panel debate on “Facebook Groups For Massage Therapists: Helpful or Hateful?” – an important topic that has been causing much discussion as of late, with many less experienced therapists in Facebook Groups feeling the need to post anonymously, in fear of a cascade of judgement & retribution from more experienced therapists trying to promote evidence informed practice within the massage & manual therapy industry.

In the twelfth of our ’Reflection Series’, host Matt Phillips is joined by Cecily Hislop of South Phoenix Massage Therapy, who reflects on Ep118 of the Sports Therapy Association Podcast ‘Massage & Manual Therapy: A Modern View’, that was recorded back in 2022 with Paul Coker & Anna Maria Mazzieri. Cecily discusses the challenges we have of re-shaping the clinical massage industry, breaking down traditional misconceptions and introducing new techniques to improve patient care. From understanding the significance of interpersonal communication to recognizing the enduring impact of touch, this episode promises valuable insights for therapists striving to enhance their practice.

In the eleventh of our ’Reflection Series’, host Matt Phillips is joined by Nichola Smith of Chamomilehealthholistic.uk, reflects on Ep210 of the Sports Therapy Association Podcast “Musculoskeletal Health at Menopause”, that was recorded August 27th 2024 with special guest Michelle Lyons. Nichola discusses the impact menopause & perimenopause can have on musculoskeletal health, and the power of strength training as a transformative tool for women. Listen to discover practical strategies for navigating menopause, including the importance of holistic approaches such as dietary adjustments, sleep hygiene, and magnesium supplements, along with exploring the psychosocial aspects affecting women’s health. Nichola shares her own experiences and invaluable resources to support women in conquering menopause-related challenges and embracing a healthier lifestyle.

In the tenth of our ’Reflection Series’, host Matt Phillips is joined by Sports Therapist Rebecca Stone of glos-sportstherapy.co.uk, who reflects on Ep.2 ’Imposter Syndrome’, recorded June 2nd 2020 with special guest Jack Chew of the Physio Matters Team. Rebecca, known by friends as colleagues as Becky, shares her personal journey of overcoming self-doubt in the field of Sports Therapy, and how listening to Jack Chew’s comments in Ep.2 from 2020 helped her understand that many practitioners from all types of healthcare professions can suffer from imposter syndrome, especially when working solo, and how important collaboration and conversation with other therapists can be in building confidence.

In the ninth of our ’Reflection Series’, host Matt Phillips is joined by clinical massage therapist Jessica Janneman of Ease Therapies, who reflects on Ep.222 ’A Therapist’s Guide To Hypermobility ‘ that was recorded in December 2024 last year with special guest Bonnie Southgate. Jessica shares her personal journey and that of her daughter, with hypermobility and Ehlers-Danlos syndromes (EDS). She discusses the challenges it has brought, and how her own experience has informed her clinical massage practice. The episode emphasizes the lack of information out there regarding heritable connective tissue disorders, and the continued misdiagnosis that, in the case of Jessica, caused fourty years to pass before she it was finally recognised.  Jessica explains the crucial role of massage therapists in understanding and supporting clients with connective tissue disorders, and their potential to truly empower and transform lives.

In the eighth of our ’Reflection Series’, host Matt Phillips is joined by Physiotherapist Emily Sweet, who reflects on Ep.229 ’Pregnacy Related Back and Pelvic pain‘ that was recorded earlier in February this year, with special guest Michelle Lyons. Emily shares how the episode with Michelle Lyons played a hugely important part in giving her the confidence when working with pregnant women, providing valuable tips and insights on assessing & managing pregnancy related back & pelvic pain. Emily reminds us of the many common misconceptions, and how important it is to offer hope and reassurance to expectant mothers. Discover the importance of reflection, collaboration, and the role of massage therapy in supporting pregnant women. Tune in for an informative and engaging discussion that empowers both therapists and patients.