💡 In this episode of PT Pro Talk, host Mariana Parks speaks with Audrey Long, a seasoned clinician and 30-year McKenzie Institute instructor. This interview breaks down the clinical application of Mechanical Diagnosis and Therapy (MDT) through three real-world cases where initial diagnoses and imaging completely missed the mark - ranging from misattributed lumbar stenosis to a refractory tennis elbow hiding a joint restriction.

From overcoming confirmation bias and spotting history clues that "don't fit" to applying end-range passive overpressure and testing joints above and below the site of pain, Audrey shares actionable insights on how to systematically screen mechanical derangements, avoid jumping too quickly into tendon load management, and refine patient communication in everyday practice.

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💭 "Even if you think you have a firm diagnosis, your history and physical exam should always be looking at what doesn't fit." - Audrey Long

👉🏻 Audrey Long has 40 years of clinical experience ranging from work in hospitals, chronic workers' comp multidisciplinary programs, and private practice. For the last 2 decades, she has enjoyed working in a private practice owned by MDT-credentialled therapists. She completed her MDT Diploma Program in New Zealand in 1993 and was promoted to Teaching Faculty in 1997. She went on to publish 4 peer-reviewed papers, qualified to order diagnostic imaging, and completed the Canadian Orthopedic Clinical Specialist (MSK) program.

Audrey is now enjoying semi-retirement mode: no current research, 3 short clinic days per week, teaching half the number of courses, serving on a few Committees, and keeping up with her 2 Labrador Retrievers. She enjoys her work most when she encounters patients who are not simple extension responders.

📚In this episode, you'll learn:

• How to spot symptoms and information that doesn’t match a patient’s referral diagnosis, and what to do next.

• The specific subjective and objective findings Audrey used to arrive at the real diagnosis in each of the three cases.

• A model for clinical reasoning that prioritizes assessment findings over the diagnosis already written on the chart.

• How 30+ years of MDT training and practice shape the way an experienced clinician approaches an ambiguous or misleading case.

📲 Audrey's contact information:

• Linkedin

• Audrey's Website

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PT Pro Talk Podcast is only possible with the support of forward-looking and innovative companies like Hanna Health⁠.

💭 "I think the biggest mistake is ignoring an irritable knee." - Jill Monson

💡 In this episode of PT Pro Talk, host Mariana Parks speaks with Jill Monson, a physical therapist with over 20 years of experience specializing in complex knee injuries at Twin Cities Orthopedics. This interview breaks down the clinical decision-making behind meniscus tear management, from navigating degenerative changes to handling complex root and radial tears.

From avoiding the "downhill cellular spiral" of an irritable joint to setting strict objective criteria for returning to sport, Jill shares actionable insights on how to properly interpret mechanical symptoms, respect surgical timelines, and optimize both non-operative and post-op meniscus rehab.

👉🏻 Jill Monson, PT, OCS is a Board Certified Orthopaedic Clinical Specialist highly focused on treating lower extremity injuries and complex knee conditions. She currently serves as the lead physical therapist for the Complex Knee Injury Clinic at Twin Cities Orthopedics, where she directs clinical care and research initiatives in collaboration with orthopedic surgeon Dr. Robert LaPrade.

Beyond her clinical practice, Jill is a prominent figure in international medical education. She is a frequent conference speaker, a prolific author of scientific articles, and an active committee member for the AASPT. Her ultimate professional goal is to help patients overcome challenging orthopedic problems and return to their peak performance in both life and sport.

📚In this episode, you'll learn:

• What actually makes someone a good candidate for conservative management, versus needing a surgical referral

• How long conservative treatment should really be given before reconsidering the surgical option

• How to structure post-op rehab from the first few weeks after repair through return-to-sport criteria

• The biggest mistakes PTs make when rehabbing a meniscus repair

🔎Jill's Resource of Information:

• Monson JK, Tollefson LV, et.al. Current Rehabilitation Principles Following Meniscus Repairs. Curr Rev Musculoskelet Med. 2025 Sep. PMID: 40343689

• Prill R, Ma CB, et. al. The formal EU-US Meniscus Rehabilitation 2024 Consensus: An ESSKA-AOSSM-AASPT initiative. PMID: 40501314

• Pujol N, Giordano AO, et. al. The formal EU-US Meniscus Rehabilitation 2024 Consensus: An ESSKA-AOSSM-AASPT initiative. PMID: 40353298

• Dr. LaPrade Website

• Dr. Chala Website

📲 Jill's contact information:

• IG: https://www.instagram.com/jillmonsonpt/

• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jillmonsonptocs/

  
  

🚨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

🎥Link to interview on Youtube

👉 ⁠Share Your Feedback

🎙Join our ⁠email list⁠ to receive podcast updates

📸⁠Instagram⁠

📱⁠Facebook⁠

💻⁠LinkedIn⁠

🐦⁠Twitter⁠

📩Email: ⁠mariana@ptprotalk.com⁠

PT Pro Talk Podcast is only possible with the support of forward-looking and innovative companies like Hanna Health⁠.