Ep 215 - Knee Osteoarthritis Pain Science: From Theory to the Clinic Room with Prof. Tasha Stanton

In Episode 215 of PT Pro Talk, host Ariana Parks welcomes Professor Tasha Stanton, a leading researcher in clinical pain neuroscience at Adelaide University in Australia, to explore the science behind knee osteoarthritis pain and discuss how clinicians can translate research into practical, patient-centered care. 💡 In this episode of PT Pro Talk, host Mariana Parks speaks with Professor Tasha Stanton, a clinical pain neuroscientist and physiotherapist who leads the Persistent Pain Research Group. This interview breaks down the clinical application of pain neuroscience for knee osteoarthritis, from debunking the harmful "bone-on-bone" narrative to addressing systemic, low-level inflammation. From using the Protectometer to identify danger and safety cues in a patient's life to using novel technologies like virtual reality to boost exercise adherence, Tasha shares actionable insights on how to deliver pain education effectively, reframe aging through bioplasticity, and optimize non-pharmacological treatments for chronic joint pain. Download our Free Tendinopathy Clinical Cheat Sheet! 1-page quick-reference guide summarizing diagnostic tests, differential diagnosis, and exercise suggestions for your daily practice. Get your copy here: http://tendinopathy-clinical.subscribepage.io 💭 "How much we hurt is dependent on the available level of credible evidence of safety versus the available credible evidence of danger." - Prof. Tasha Stanton 👉🏻Professor Tasha Stanton is a clinical pain neuroscientist who leads the Persistent Pain Research Group at SAHMRI and co-directs IIMPACT in Health at Adelaide University. Originally trained as a physiotherapist, her award-winning research focuses on chronic pain, osteoarthritis, and using novel technologies like virtual reality to improve treatment. Working closely with patients and clinicians, she has secured over $17.4m in funding, published more than 150 peer-reviewed articles, and delivered over 130 keynote presentations globally. 📚In this episode, you'll learn: • Why the "bone-on-bone" story most patients believe about knee osteoarthritis is outdated, and what the current evidence says instead • How a peer-mentorship program is using patients' own lived experience to deliver pain science education that actually sticks • A personalized approach to matching patients with the right pain education resources, instead of a one-size-fits-all handout • How virtual reality is being used to solve the single biggest barrier in knee OA management - getting patients to actually stick with exercise Timestamp: 00:00 Introduction to Knee Osteoarthritis and Prof. Tasha Stanton 04:25 Why Bone-on-Bone Doesn't Always Mean Knee Pain 08:09 Inflammation, Exercise, and Pain Reduction 09:03 The Protectometer: Understanding Danger and Safety 11:57 Three Key Ingredients for Managing Knee Osteoarthritis 15:14 Delivering Effective Pain Neuroscience Education 18:10 OA Champions: Peer Support and Self-Management 25:16 Pain Plan, Virtual Reality, and Exercise Motivation 35:40 Changing Osteoarthritis Beliefs and Improving Clinical Practice 🔎Tasha's Resource of Information: https://www.noigroup.com/ 📲 Tasha's contact information: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tasha-stanton-8103808/ https://www.instagram.com/tashastanton/ https://www.facebook.com/tasha.stanton.9 https://x.com/Tash_Stanton E-mail: tasha.stanton@adelaide.edu.au 🚨Try Hanna Health free for 30 days - a customizable HEP platform where you can use your own videos, edit quickly, and track patient access. Start your trial here: https://bit.ly/4pSkYjP 📩 Don't miss out on podcast updates!📬: https://www.ptprotalk.com/ 👉 Share Your Feedback: https://forms.gle/YspLGAzHph2fVord8 🎙Listen on all platforms: https://bit.ly/45rzffO 🍁 𝗔𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝐏𝐓 𝐏𝐫𝐨 𝐓𝐚𝐥𝐤 𝐏𝐨𝐝𝐜𝐚𝐬𝐭 🍁 In this channel, you will find Physical Therapy-related content, like interviews with experts that share their views and experiences, providing relevant information to help Physical Therapists to improve their practice and patient care! 📩 Don't miss out on podcast updates!📬: https://www.ptprotalk.com/ 🌐𝐅𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐰 𝐌𝐞 𝐎𝐧 𝐒𝐨𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥𝐬 https://www.instagram.com/ptprotalk/ https://www.facebook.com/ptprotalkpodcast https://www.linkedin.com/company/pt-pro-talk/ https://twitter.com/MariHannaParks Spotify: http://bit.ly/3HFJcNQ ✅𝐆𝐄𝐓 𝐈𝐍 𝐓𝐎𝐔𝐂𝐇 📧 📩Email: mariana@ptprotalk.com Support 💁‍♂️ PT Pro Talk Podcast is only possible with the support of forward-looking and innovative companies like: Hanna Health: https://hannahealthhub.com/hep. #KneeOsteoarthritis #PainScience #PainNeuroscience #PhysicalTherapy #PTProTalk #OsteoarthritisManagement #Physiotherapy #PainEducation #KneeRehabilitation #EvidenceBasedPractice