Join us for this session in the Animal PT Webinar Series, hosted by Sasha Foster, PT, MS, President of the Animal PT SIG (https://sashaafoster.com), with special guests Dr. Kristin Kirkby Shaw and Dr. Ilana Struble, MA, DVM, CVSMT, CCRT, CVAT (www.awelladjustedpet.com), respected leaders in veterinary orthopedics, sports medicine, and animal rehabilitation.

This conversation gives physical therapists a rare, behind-the-scenes look at how veterinary clinics truly operate and what it takes to successfully integrate into the veterinary care team. The panel discusses real-world collaboration between PTs and veterinarians, diagnostic challenges in animal medicine, and the skills PTs need to build credibility, confidence, and trust in the veterinary ecosystem.

You’ll hear practical insights from experienced clinicians on communication, clinical reasoning, and navigating referrals while keeping the pet’s best interest at the center of care.

What You’ll Learn:

✓ How veterinary clinics function day to day

✓ What veterinarians expect from physical therapists

✓ How to communicate effectively with veterinarians and specialists

✓ Why diagnoses may change and how PTs should respond

✓ Ways to build trust, confidence, and long-term collaboration in animal practice

Target Audience:

Physical therapists, animal physical therapists, veterinary rehabilitation professionals, PT students, animal rehab clinicians, sports medicine PTs, veterinarians, veterinary specialists, animal rehab educators

Join host Kelsy Hill, PT, DPT, OCS, as she sits down with John Morris, PT, DSc, MBA, OCS, FAAOMPT, Cert. MDT, to explore what sets high-performing orthopedic physical therapists apart. Learn practical strategies for improving patient outcomes, building stronger therapeutic relationships, and developing critical soft skills that elevate your clinical practice.

In this episode, you’ll discover:

- How to use evidence-based guidelines effectively without feeling protocol-bound

- The importance of mentorship and the clinical ladder in professional growth

- Tips for developing soft skills, communication, and patient-centered care

- Strategies to foster humility, reflection, and comfort with clinical uncertainty

- Differences in approach for cervical vs lumbar spine treatment

Perfect for PTs, residency programs, and clinical educators looking to enhance their practice and support their teams.

Join ESPN’s Stephania Bell, PT, OCS Emeritus, CSCS, as she sits down at AOSSM 2025 with Dr. Riley J. Williams — Chief of the Sports Medicine Institute at Hospital for Special Surgery, Professor of Orthopedic Surgery at Weill Cornell Medical College, and Head Team Orthopedic Surgeon for the Brooklyn Nets, New York Liberty, and New York Red Bulls.

In this conversation, Dr. Williams discusses the evolution of cartilage repair in high-level athletes, innovations in minimally invasive procedures, and strategies to optimize return-to-play while protecting long-term joint health.

Physical therapists will learn about:

- Surgical options for articular cartilage repair and their long-term outcomes

- How recovery timelines and return-to-play expectations have evolved for elite athletes

- The role of less invasive interventions like subchondroplasty and blood flow restriction

- Early detection and management of wear-and-tear cartilage injuries in high-load sports

- How cumulative training loads and year-round play affect joint health in basketball and other sports

Target Audience:

Orthopedic physical therapists, sports physical therapists, athletic trainers, sports medicine surgeons, sports performance clinicians, strength and conditioning coaches, rehab directors, PT students, sports science professionals

Join ESPN’s Stephania Bell, PT, OCS Emeritus, CSCS, as she sits down at AOSSM 2025 with Dr. Scott Rodeo — Professor of Orthopedic Surgery and Vice Chair of Research at Hospital for Special Surgery, Director of the HSS Center for Regenerative Medicine, and Head Team Physician for the New York Giants.

In this conversation, Dr. Rodeo breaks down the rapidly evolving world of orthobiologics, including what current evidence supports, where the biggest gaps in knowledge still exist, and how clinicians can navigate PRP, stem cell therapies, and patient expectations in today’s sports medicine landscape.

Physical therapists will learn about:

- The strongest indications for PRP in athletic populations

- What platelet-poor plasma (PPP) is and why it may benefit muscle injuries

- The realities and limitations of “stem cell” therapies in 2025

- Key regulatory restrictions in the United States vs. overseas practices

- How to counsel athletes exploring medical tourism for regenerative treatments

- Emerging cellular technologies and where the science is heading

Target Audience:

Orthopedic physical therapists, sports physical therapists, athletic trainers, sports medicine surgeons, sports performance clinicians, strength and conditioning coaches, rehab directors, PT students, and sports science professionals.

In this episode of the APTA Orthopedics Podcast, host Luciano Garcia, PT, ScD, OCS, COMT, interviews Dr. Jenny Hobson, PT, DPT, MTC, CFC, CMTPT, a European-trained physical therapist and airway specialist. Dr. Hobson is one of only two PTs in the U.S. authorized to teach Dr. Mariano Rocabado’s internationally recognized method, integrating airway, posture, and oral-motor dynamics into physical therapy practice.

Topics Covered:

Airway–Posture Connection: How craniofacial development, spinal alignment, and breathing/swallowing patterns impact airway function and related dysfunctions.

Breath & Oral Posture Strategies: Nasal breathing retraining, tongue-to-soft-palate stabilization, and regulation of breath volume.

Full-Body PT Integration: Ribcage mobility, spinal alignment, and postural restoration to support airway stability and overall health.

Target Audience:

Orthopedic physical therapists, PT students, manual therapy clinicians, postural restoration specialists, airway rehabilitation therapists, sports PTs, pediatric PTs, adult rehab specialists

Join ESPN’s Stephania Bell, PT, OCS Emeritus, CSCS, as she sits down at AOSSM 2025 with Dr. Matt Provencher — retired U.S. Navy Captain, Professor of Surgery and Orthopedics at The Steadman Clinic, and CEO of The Predictors.

In this conversation, Dr. Provencher discusses the evolution of shoulder instability management, how predictive analytics informs NFL and military medical decisions, and why interdisciplinary communication is essential for optimizing outcomes.

Physical therapists will learn about:

- Choosing the right stabilization procedure based on athlete profile, sport, and imaging

- How surgical outcomes in shoulder instability have improved over the last 20–25 years

- The critical role of integrated care teams and communication (PTs, ATs, S&C, nutrition, surgeons)

- How “The Predictors” uses data to support decisions for teams, agents, and players

- Why AI and analytics are shaping the future of orthopedic care and rehab planning

Target Audience:

Orthopedic physical therapists, sports physical therapists, athletic trainers, sports medicine surgeons, sports performance clinicians, strength and conditioning coaches, rehab directors, PT students, sports science professionals

Join Stephania Bell, PT, OCS Emeritus, CSCS—senior writer and injury analyst for ESPN—as she sits down at AOSSM 2025 with Dr. Mike Banffy, Chief of Sports Medicine at Cedars-Sinai Orthopedics, Head Team Orthopedic Physician for the Los Angeles Dodgers, and Team Physician for the Los Angeles Rams.

Dr. Banffy breaks down what it takes to care for multiple elite teams simultaneously—from managing diverse injury patterns across baseball and football to navigating the demanding in-season schedules of two high-performance organizations.

Physical therapists will gain insight into:

- Balancing athlete care across two professional teams

- Managing workload, communication, and performance demands in baseball vs. football

- How team structure impacts rehab timelines and return-to-play decisions

- The complexities of in-season care for elite, high-value athletes

- Key considerations when coordinating care with large medical and performance staffs

Target Audience:

Orthopedic physical therapists, sports physical therapists, sports medicine clinicians, athletic trainers, orthopedic surgeons, performance coaches

Discover how APTA Orthopedics is addressing administrative burdens and utilization management challenges affecting orthopedic physical therapists.

In this Advocacy Update, host Bob Hall sits down with Anthony DiFilippo, PT, past APTA Board Member and chair of the Utilization Management Subcommittee, to discuss:

- How utilization management can shift from denial-driven to outcomes-driven

- The impact of prior authorization on patient care and clinician workload

- Strategies to reduce administrative burden through evidence-based approaches

- Linking clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) to auto-authorization for common MSK conditions

- Collaboration with SPARC, APTA Regulatory Affairs, and Private Practice to push national reform

- Transparency in digital risk scores and tiered authorization systems

- Policy priorities to support adaptive, patient-centered care

- How PTs can leverage new APTA resources to improve practice efficiency

This conversation is essential for PTs navigating payer policies, helping them stay informed and advocate for better patient care.

Target Audience:

Orthopedic physical therapists, Clinic managers and owners, PTs navigating prior authorization and utilization management, APTA Orthopedics members, PT students interested in advocacy, Clinicians seeking policy updates and best practices