When a patient presents with pain, it's natural to focus our examination and treatment on the area that hurts. But what if that painful area is simply the victim—and the real villain is somewhere else entirely?
In Part 1 of this educational series, FAKTR Director of Education, Todd Riddle, DC, CCSP, RKT, CSCS, ICSC challenges healthcare providers to look beyond the location of symptoms and take a more comprehensive approach to understanding musculoskeletal pain.
Drawing on clinical examples and evidence-informed principles, we explore the difference between identifying where a patient hurts and understanding the factors contributing to their pain experience. He introduces the biopsychosocial model of pain, examining how biological, psychological, and social influences interact—and why two patients with seemingly identical complaints may require very different approaches to care.
From the importance of thorough patient histories to recognizing the limitations of a strictly biomedical approach, this episode offers practical insights to help clinicians sharpen their assessment strategies, improve clinical reasoning, and develop more individualized treatment plans.
In This Episode, You'll Learn:
The victim-versus-villain concept: Why the site of pain isn't always the primary source of dysfunction.
Biomedical vs. biopsychosocial models: Why structural findings alone may not fully explain a patient's pain experience.
Why similar symptoms don't always mean similar causes: How biological, psychological, and social factors can differ between patients presenting with low back pain.
Looking beyond physical findings: Why clinicians should recognize psychological and social contributors while remaining within their professional scope of practice.
Understanding pain mechanisms: Why distinguishing among different contributors to musculoskeletal pain matters when developing an appropriate treatment strategy.
The Clinical Takeaway
Don't stop at identifying where it hurts. Ask why it hurts. Effective patient care requires more than treating the painful structure. It involves identifying the relevant contributors to a patient's symptoms, understanding how those factors interact, and using that information to guide individualized care.
🔗 SPECIAL OFFERS FROM OUR SPONSORS:
Try a five-day welcome kit from our sponsor Immunotec here: https://tinyurl.com/ep137-immunotec
This episode is sponsored by Genetic Lifespan. Learn more about how to become a healthcare provider here: https://tinyurl.com/ep137-GLP
🎙️ SUPPORT THE SHOW: Visit our website at faktrpodcast.com to leave a review or comment.