Paincast

Ep43: Chronic Pain in Canadian Indigenous Communities: Lived Experiences, Health Inequities, and Indigenous Perspectives​ with Dr. Jaris Swidrovich

In this episode, we talked about 
Current healthcare gaps in managing pain in Indigenous populations + underlying causes of disparity in pain experience 
Clinical pearls for treating chronic pain in Indigenous communities
Dr. Jaris Swidrovich, BSP, PharmD, PhD, AAHIVP, RPh (he/they) is an Assistant Professor, Tenure Stream, and Indigenous Engagement Lead in the Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy at the University of Toronto. He is a queer, Two Spirit, Saulteaux and Ukrainian pharmacist from Yellow Quill First Nation (Treaty 4 territory, Saskatchewan). His mother was a 60s Scoop survivor and his grandmother and great-grandmother both survived Indian Residential Schools.
 
He received a Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy from the University of Saskatchewan (2010), a post-baccalaureate Doctor of Pharmacy from the University of Toronto (2013), and a PhD in education from the University of Saskatchewan (2024), which earned him the Governor General’s Gold Medal.
 
His primary areas of research and practice include Indigenous health, pain, HIV/AIDS, substance use disorders, and 2SLGBTQ+ health. As a Two Spirit, First Nations, and disabled person himself, Dr. Swidrovich brings a strong lens of equity, diversity, inclusion, intersectionality, and social justice to his research program.
 
Dr. Swidrovich is the Co-Scientific Director of the CIHR-funded Saskatchewan Network Environment for Indigenous Health Research (SK-NEIHR) called nātawihowin (“art of self-healing” in Cree), which is a First Nations Research Network that supports researchers, students, and First Nations health leaders and communities in Saskatchewan and beyond.
 
Dr. Swidrovich is the founder and chair of the Indigenous Pharmacy Professionals of Canada, and also sits on several other local, provincial, and national boards, including The 519, Pain Ontario, Pain Canada, the National Collaborating Centre for Indigenous Health, and the Institute Advisory Board for the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) Institute of Indigenous Peoples’ Health.
 
Dr. Swidrovich is an active and engaged citizen of the several communities he belongs to and has been recognized with several awards and honours, including the Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal for service to the community and the National Patient Care Achievement Award from the Canadian Pharmacists Association.
 
Resources: https://linktr.ee/jaris.s 
 
Social media
Instagram: @jarisoftheprairies and @prisscryption
X: @jarisswidrovich
 
Paincast is dedicated to bringing together researchers, clinicians, and students to discuss topics related to pain and physiotherapy. The primary purpose is to facilitate knowledge translation and critical thinking. Some episodes posit themselves as more educational than others, and some more opinionated than others. The listener is encouraged to listen critically. While there is an effort to incorporate research evidence, and the topics are always researched by the host, we recognize there is room for improvement and there is expertise in the community. As such, we invite constructive critique and that you inform us of any inadvertent errors, so that we may correct them. You may submit your feedback through this form: https://forms.gle/UFfbUHBh8uKwSKgS8
 
Follow Paincast on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/paincast.psd/

Ep42: Pain is More Than What the Knee Looks Like: Osteoarthritis Pain Mechanisms and Phenotypes with Dr. Lisa Carlesso

In this episode, we talked about
The relationship between knee osteoarthritis (OA) pain and the stages of knee OA
The different experiences of knee OA pain
Pain phenotyping using Quantitative Sensory Testing and self-reported measures
 
Dr. Lisa Carlesso is a an associate professor in the School of Rehabilitation Science at McMaster University in Canada with training as a clinical epidemiologist and a physical therapist.  Her research program is broadly focussed on understanding the mechanisms and consequences of musculoskeletal pain with a particular focus on OA joint pain. Her research strives to optimize outcomes for people with chronic musculoskeletal disorders by 1. Understanding the complex mechanisms of acute and persistent pain through pain phenotyping to improve prognosis and treatment, 2. Using the understanding of endogenous modulation of pain to enhance conservative treatment options and 3. Improving the clinical measurement of pain.
 
Resources
Aoyagi, K., et al. (2022). Does weight-bearing versus non-weight-bearing pain reflect different pain mechanisms in knee osteoarthritis?: the Multicenter Osteoarthritis Study (MOST). Osteoarthritis and cartilage, 30(4), 545-550.
Rankin, J., et al. (2022). Quantitative sensory testing protocols to evaluate central and peripheral sensitization in knee OA: a scoping review. Pain Medicine, 23(3), 526-557.
Carlesso, L. C., et al. (2022). Association of pain sensitization and conditioned pain modulation to pain patterns in knee osteoarthritis. Arthritis care & research, 74(1), 107-112.
Carlesso, L. C. (2023). The impact of altered neural processing of nociceptive signals on physical function in people with knee OA—we know little and have much to learn. Osteoarthritis and Cartilage, 31(7), 844-846.
Neelapala, Y. R., et al. (2024). Exploring different models of pain phenotypes and their association with pain worsening in people with early knee osteoarthritis: the MOST cohort study. Osteoarthritis and cartilage, 32(2), 210-219.
Neelapala, Y. R., et al. (2025). Latent transition analysis of pain phenotypes in people at risk of knee osteoarthritis: The MOST cohort study. Osteoarthritis and cartilage.
Carlesso, L. C., et al. (2022). Use of IMMPACT recommendations to explore pain phenotypes in people with knee osteoarthritis. Pain Medicine, 23(10), 1708-1716.
Carlesso, L. C., et al. (2021). Association of intermittent and constant knee pain patterns with knee pain severity and with radiographic knee osteoarthritis duration and severity. Arthritis care & research, 73(6), 788-793.
Social media: 
Bluesky profile @lisacarlesso.bsky.social
Dr. Carlesso's lab's website: https://painmovementresearch.healthsci.mcmaster.ca/
Paincast is dedicated to bringing together researchers, clinicians, and students to discuss topics related to pain and physiotherapy. The primary purpose is to facilitate knowledge translation and critical thinking. Some episodes posit themselves as more educational than others, and some more opinionated than others. The listener is encouraged to listen critically. While there is an effort to incorporate research evidence, and the topics are always researched by the host, we recognize there is room for improvement and there is expertise in the community. As such, we invite constructive critique and that you inform us of any inadvertent errors, so that we may correct them. You may submit your feedback through this form: https://forms.gle/UFfbUHBh8uKwSKgS8
Follow Paincast on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/paincast.psd/

Ep41: Assessing and Treating Neuropathic Pain (Part 2): Important Theoretical and Practical Considerations with Dr. Tara Packham

In this episode, we talked about:
Do we really understand what desensitization is? Clarifying concepts, including desensitization, hypersensitivity, sensory re-education, graded exposure, and counterstimulation
Important practical considerations for using “desensitization” with patients
Incorporating contextual effects of treatment and orienting patients to positive recovery expectations 
Dr. Tara Packham is an occupational therapist with over 25 years of clinical experience in hand and upper limb rehabilitation, and an assistant professor in the School of Rehabilitation Sciences (SRS) at McMaster University.  Tara’s program of research focuses on assessing and addressing persistent pain, and continuing to advance the field of hand rehabilitation.  Tara has published and presented extensively for both hand rehabilitation and pain management audiences on persistent pain conditions impacting the upper extremity.  Her research spans development and evaluation of outcome measures, refining and testing interventions, and exploring the experiences of persons with health challenges accessing rehabilitation.  She is the Editor in Chief at Hand Therapy  and currently serves on the editorial boards of the Journal of Hand Therapy and Pain Medicine, and on the executive of the Complex Regional Pain Syndrome Special Interest Group at the International Association for the Study of Pain.
Social Media
X: @TaraLPackham
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tara-packham-21918924/ 
IMPRinT lab: https://painmovementresearch.healthsci.mcmaster.ca/ 
Paincast is dedicated to bringing together researchers, clinicians, and students to discuss topics related to pain and physiotherapy. The primary purpose is to facilitate knowledge translation and critical thinking. Some episodes posit themselves as more educational than others, and some more opinionated than others. The listener is encouraged to listen critically. While there is an effort to incorporate research evidence, and the topics are always researched by the host, we recognize there is room for improvement and there is expertise in the community. As such, we invite constructive critique and that you inform us of any inadvertent errors, so that we may correct them. You may submit your feedback through this form: https://forms.gle/UFfbUHBh8uKwSKgS8
Follow Paincast on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/paincast.psd/

Ep40: World Physiotherapy Congress Special: Asking Physios Around the World about Pain

This episode is produced during the 2025 World Physiotherapy Congress in Tokyo, Japan. I interviewed physiotherapists around the world about pain. 
Content:
(00:01:59) Nicola - United Kingdom(00:11:54) Helen - Switzerland(00:18:52) Mio - Japan(00:20:23) Edgar - Columbia(00:30:28) Marcia - Canada(00:43:31) Rosi & Leila - Indonesia(00:45:07) Nirit - Israel(00:52:56) Mike Landry - World Physiotherapy President 
Episodes 8 and Episode 25 are also interviews with clinicians about pain. They are recorded during the Canadian Physiotherapy Association Congresses in 2023 and 2024.
Mike Landry also spoke about World Physiotherapy in Episode 28.  
Paincast is dedicated to bringing together researchers, clinicians, and students to discuss topics related to pain and physiotherapy. The primary purpose is to facilitate knowledge translation and critical thinking. Some episodes posit themselves as more educational than others, and some more opinionated than others. The listener is encouraged to listen critically. While there is an effort to incorporate research evidence, and the topics are always researched by the host, we recognize there is room for improvement and there is expertise in the community. As such, we invite constructive critique and that you inform us of any inadvertent errors, so that we may correct them. You may submit your feedback through this form: https://forms.gle/UFfbUHBh8uKwSKgS8
Follow Paincast on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/paincast.psd/

Ep39: Assessing and Treating Neuropathic Pain (Part 1): Current and Emerging Approaches with Dr. Tara Packham

In this episode, we talked about:
Non-pharmacological management options for neuropathic pain
All about the Somatosensory Pain Rehab method
The current research on Somatosensory Pain Rehab
Dr. Tara Packham is an occupational therapist with over 25 years of clinical experience in hand and upper limb rehabilitation, and an assistant professor in the School of Rehabilitation Sciences (SRS) at McMaster University.  Tara’s program of research focuses on assessing and addressing persistent pain, and continuing to advance the field of hand rehabilitation.  Tara has published and presented extensively for both hand rehabilitation and pain management audiences on persistent pain conditions impacting the upper extremity.  Her research spans development and evaluation of outcome measures, refining and testing interventions, and exploring the experiences of persons with health challenges accessing rehabilitation.  She is the Editor in Chief at Hand Therapy  and currently serves on the editorial boards of the Journal of Hand Therapy and Pain Medicine, and on the executive of the Complex Regional Pain Syndrome Special Interest Group at the International Association for the Study of Pain.
Resources
Patient support groups for CRPS: Canada - PARC: Promoting Awareness of RSD and CRPS in Canada  https://www.rsdcanada.org/parc/english/index.html / USA - RSDSA https://rsds.org/ 
Packham, T. L., Spicher, C. J., MacDermid, J. C., Michlovitz, S., & Buckley, D. N. (2018). Somatosensory rehabilitation for allodynia in complex regional pain syndrome of the upper limb: A retrospective cohort study. Journal of Hand Therapy, 31(1), 10-19.
Somatosensory Pain Rehabilitation Network: https://www.neuropain.ch/en/home
Hebert, A., MacDermid, J., Harris, J., & Packham, T. (2024). How should we treat painful sensitivity in the hand? An international e-Delphi study. Journal of Hand Therapy, 37(1), 12-21.
Shafiee, E., MacDermid, J., Packham, T., Grewal, R., Farzad, M., Bobos, P., & Walton, D. (2023). Rehabilitation interventions for complex regional pain syndrome: an overview of systematic reviews. The Clinical Journal of Pain, 39(9), 473-483.
Social Media
X: @TaraLPackham
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tara-packham-21918924/ 
IMPRinT lab: https://painmovementresearch.healthsci.mcmaster.ca/ 
Paincast is dedicated to bringing together researchers, clinicians, and students to discuss topics related to pain and physiotherapy. The primary purpose is to facilitate knowledge translation and critical thinking. Some episodes posit themselves as more educational than others, and some more opinionated than others. The listener is encouraged to listen critically. While there is an effort to incorporate research evidence, and the topics are always researched by the host, we recognize there is room for improvement and there is expertise in the community. As such, we invite constructive critique and that you inform us of any inadvertent errors, so that we may correct them. You may submit your feedback through this form: https://forms.gle/UFfbUHBh8uKwSKgS8
Follow Paincast on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/paincast.psd/

Ep38: Musings from over 40 years of practice: Bas Asselbergs Chats with an Early-career Physiotherapist (Part 2)

In this episode, we talked about:
A shift in how we think about the role of our hands as our understanding of pain science and patient science evolve
Discussing and addressing patient expectations for physiotherapy
Advice for physiotherapists, new and experienced
 
Graduated in 1983, Bas has extensive post-graduate experience in manual, exercise and movement focused therapies, sports physiotherapy and pain related education. He was a Mentor for post-graduate physiotherapists for the Pain Sciences Division of the Canadian Physiotherapy Association, and has been Team Therapist for the Junior National Figure Skating Team and the National Cross-Country Ski Team, and attended many National, World and Olympic competitions of a wide variety of sports. He has taught workshops in North America to Osteopaths, Medical Doctors and Physiotherapists since 1992. Sebastian will never stop learning. He enjoys his attempts at golf, loves travelling and being with friends and family.
 
Exploring Pain: Research and Meaning Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/ExplainingPainScience
 
Paincast is dedicated to bringing together researchers, clinicians, and students to discuss topics related to pain and physiotherapy. The primary purpose is to facilitate knowledge translation and critical thinking. Some episodes posit themselves as more educational than others, and some more opinionated than others. The listener is encouraged to listen critically. While there is an effort to incorporate research evidence, and the topics are always researched by the host, we recognize there is room for improvement and there is expertise in the community. As such, we invite constructive critique and that you inform us of any inadvertent errors, so that we may correct them. You may submit your feedback through this form: https://forms.gle/UFfbUHBh8uKwSKgS8

Ep37: What Does It Take to Provide Excellent Chronic Pain Care? An Interdisciplinary Pain Clinic Model with Dr. Angela Mailis

In this episode, we talked about 
The systemic challenges in Ontario’s healthcare system and pain management
The importance of a quality interdisciplinary team for the benefit of the patient 
What it takes to create a successful high-quality patient-centred interdisciplinary team
Dr. Angela Mailis obtained her medical degree from the Medical School of Kapodistriakon University of Athens Greece Summa Cum Laude; became a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians of Canada with specialization in Physical Medicine (1982); and holds a Master’s degree from the Institute of Medical Science, University of Toronto (1988). She rose to the rank of Full Professor at the Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto (2005) and has practiced exclusively in the area of Chronic Pain for the past 43 years. She founded and directed the Comprehensive Pain Program of the Toronto Western Hospital/University Health Network for 33 years (1982-2015). Subsequently she became the founder and director of the Pain and Wellness Centre in Vaughan, Ontario (2014-present), the only academic community-based pain clinic, funded by the Ontario Ministry of Health.
Resources
The Pain & Wellness Centre website: https://thepwc.ca/
Dr. Angela Mailis’s website: https://drangelamailis.com/
Pain & Wellness YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@PainAndWellnessCentre 
Power Over Pain: https://poweroverpain.ca/ 
Mailis, A., & Lakha, S. F. (2019). From (Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care) policy to implementation: a retrospective look at a community-based patient-centered model of care for chronic pain. Canadian Journal of Pain, 3(1), 114-125.
Mailis, A., Deshpande, A., & Lakha, S. F. (2022). Long term outcomes of chronic pain patients attending a publicly funded community-based interdisciplinary pain program in the Greater Toronto area: results of a practice-based audit. Journal of Patient-Reported Outcomes, 6(1), 44.
Lakha, S. F., Hapidou, E. G., Robinson, J., & Mailis, A. (2022). Comparison of motor vehicle accident (MVA) survivors and non-MVA pain patients attending an interdisciplinary pain management program. Psychological Injury and Law, 15(4), 385-394.
Social media
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/painandwellnesscentre/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/painandwellnesscentre/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thepwc/?viewAsMember=true 
Paincast is dedicated to bringing together researchers, clinicians, and students to discuss topics related to pain and physiotherapy. The primary purpose is to facilitate knowledge translation and critical thinking. Some episodes posit themselves as more educational than others, and some more opinionated than others. The listener is encouraged to listen critically. While there is an effort to incorporate research evidence, and the topics are always researched by the host, we recognize there is room for improvement and there is expertise in the community. As such, we invite constructive critique and that you inform us of any inadvertent errors, so that we may correct them. You may submit your feedback through this form: https://forms.gle/UFfbUHBh8uKwSKgS8
Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/paincast.psd/ 

Ep36: Musings from over 40 years of practice: Bas Asselbergs Chats with an Early-career Physiotherapist (Part 1)

In this episode, we talked about:
How we can reinforce our own confirmation bias and how to break the cycle
What matters the most as physiotherapists
How your experiences as a physiotherapist drastically change as you shift your paradigm from a fixer mindset to a guide mindset
How Bas refined the art of connecting with patients over the years and help them understand pain science
Why is it of paramount importance that we help patient understand their pain
 
Graduated in 1983, Bas has extensive post-graduate experience in manual, exercise and movement focused therapies, sports physiotherapy and pain related education. He was a Mentor for post-graduate physiotherapists for the Pain Sciences Division of the Canadian Physiotherapy Association, and has been Team Therapist for the Junior National Figure Skating Team and the National Cross-Country Ski Team, and attended many National, World and Olympic competitions of a wide variety of sports. He has taught workshops in North America to Osteopaths, Medical Doctors and Physiotherapists since 1992. Sebastian will never stop learning. He enjoys his attempts at golf, loves travelling and being with friends and family.
 
Exploring Pain: Research and Meaning Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/ExplainingPainScience
 
Paincast is dedicated to bringing together researchers, clinicians, and students to discuss topics related to pain and physiotherapy. The primary purpose is to facilitate knowledge translation and critical thinking. Some episodes posit themselves as more educational than others, and some more opinionated than others. The listener is encouraged to listen critically. While there is an effort to incorporate research evidence, and the topics are always researched by the host, we recognize there is room for improvement and there is expertise in the community. As such, we invite constructive critique and that you inform us of any inadvertent errors, so that we may correct them. You may submit your feedback through this form: https://forms.gle/UFfbUHBh8uKwSKgS8

Ep35: Holistic Approach to Cancer-Related Pain with Dr. Jenna Smith-Turchyn and Holly Edward

In this episode, we talked about:
Experiences of having cancer and cancer-related pain
The significance of physiotherapy in cancer rehab and managing cancer-related pain
Common misconceptions about physiotherapy for people living with or beyond cancer
How physiotherapists can consider the evidence of cancer rehab and the unique biopsychosocial realities of individuals when providing care 
 
Jenna Smith-Turchyn, PT, PhD, is a physiotherapist and Assistant Professor in the School of Rehabilitation Science at McMaster University. She is also co-chair of the Canadian Physiotherapy Association’s Oncology Division. Jenna has an active research program at various cancer centres across Ontario. Her research focuses on cancer rehabilitation for individuals living with or beyond a cancer diagnosis, with the goal of maximizing participation and physical functioning.
 
Holly Edward is a physiotherapist and PhD Candidate working under the supervision of Dr. Jenna Smith-Turchyn at McMaster University. Holly's thesis project explores and evaluates the use of a physiotherapist-navigator role for individuals newly diagnosed with cancer. Holly's research promotes symptom assessment and management to be included in standard and routine cancer care in Canada to promote optimal physical function and improve the quality of life in individuals living with and beyond cancer. Holly is also a member of the executive of the Canadian Physiotherapy Association’s Oncology Division.
 
Resources
Canadian Physiotherapy Association Oncology Division website: https://www.oncologycpa.ca
Exercise Guidelines for Cancer Survivors (Campbell et al., 2019): https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8576825/
Cancer Care Ontario Exercise Recommendations: https://www.cancercareontario.ca/sites/ccocancercare/files/ExerciseGuide.pdf
Prospective Surveillance Model (Stout et al., 2012): https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22488693/
Cancer Care Ontario Symptom Management Guide- Pain:  https://www.cancercareontario.ca/en/system/files_force/symptoms/CCOPainFull.pdf?download=1
Website containing free resources to learn about oncology: https://www.learnoncology.ca/modules
 
Social Media handles
X and LinkedIn @SmithTurchyn
Instagram and LinkedIn @oncologyphysiotherapy @holly_edward
 
Paincast is dedicated to bringing together researchers, clinicians, and students to discuss topics related to pain and physiotherapy. The primary purpose is to facilitate knowledge translation and critical thinking. Some episodes posit themselves as more educational than others, and some more opinionated than others. The listener is encouraged to listen critically. While there is an effort to incorporate research evidence, and the topics are always researched by the host, we recognize there is room for improvement and there is expertise in the community. As such, we invite constructive critique and that you inform us of any inadvertent errors, so that we may correct them. You may submit your feedback through this form: https://forms.gle/UFfbUHBh8uKwSKgS8

Ep34: Tackling the Pain Crisis in Canada: What Can Physiotherapy and Physiotherapists Do? A Discussion with Krissy Bell, Arthur Woznowski-Vu, and Nathan Augeard

In this episode, we talked about
The past, present, and future of pain advocacy in Canada
The role of the professional association in supporting advocacy initiatives
The reception of physiotherapists' advocacy
The ripple effects of our pain advocacy efforts
Krissy Bell, CEO, Canadian Physiotherapy Association
Krissy Bell was appointed Chief Executive Officer of the Canadian Physiotherapy Association in March 2023. Since joining the association in 2019, she has been an essential member of the executive team, driving organizational growth over the past five years through various leadership roles. Krissy's career prior to her role at the association includes consulting for some of Canada's largest non-profits and charities, where she specialized in organizational problem-solving with a focus on business development and strategic planning. Before her consulting career, Krissy served for seven years as an Artillery Officer in the Canadian Forces, followed by diverse roles in business development, marketing, and event management within the sports sector. In addition to her professional experience, Krissy is actively involved in volunteer work, particularly in governance roles within the sports sector.  She has served as a Board member for not-for-profit organizations for nearly twenty years, and is currently in her final term as Vice-Chair of Canada Snowboard, the national governing body for snowboarding in Canada.  As a mother of two herself, Krissy is a passionate advocate for working mothers who champions women through the intentional development of working environments that support those who want to balance family life while advancing their careers.
Arthur Woznowski-Vu, PT, PhD
Arthur Woznowski-Vu has been a practicing physiotherapist since 2013. He has been teaching the Pain Management Strategies course at Concordia University since 2023, and has previous teaching experience at Université de Montréal and McGill University. Early in his career, Arthur focused on developing his physiotherapy expertise in chronic pain. He pursued several continuing education courses and then went on to complete a PhD in Rehab Science (focusing on chronic pain) at McGill University in 2023, receiving several prestigious scholarships (e.g., CIHR). As Chair of the Pain Science Division at the Canadian Physiotherapy Association (2021-2023), Arthur led several initiatives including a national physiotherapy advocacy in response to the Canadian Pain Task Force's Action Plan for Pain in Canada: https://physiotherapy.ca/advocacy-updates/national-physiotherapy-month-2023-4/. In 2023, Arthur opened The Chronic Pain Rehab Clinic as his solo physiotherapy private practice in Montreal: www.chronicpainrehab.ca.
Nathan Augeard, PT, MSc
Nathan Augeard has been a practicing physiotherapist since 2018, with a strong focus on chronic pain management. He is currently completing his PhD in Rehabilitation Science at McGill University, where his research focuses on improving pain management education in entry-level physiotherapy programs across Canada. Nathan has received several awards for his work, including the Ronald Melzack–Canadian Journal of Pain Paper of the Year Award. He has been actively involved in pain advocacy, serving as an executive member of the Pain Science Division of the Canadian Physiotherapy Association (2021-2023) and the current Director of the Working Group on Pain Advocacy. As the founder of Physio Connection (www.physioconnection.ca), a virtual physiotherapy service, Nathan is committed to enhancing access to evidence-based care for individuals living with chronic pain, especially in remote regions.
 
Resources
CPA Position Paper and other pain advocacy resources for physiotherapy professionals, bilingual: https://physiotherapy.ca/advocacy-updates/national-physiotherapy-month-2023-4/
3 reports from the Canadian Pain Task Force: https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/corporate/about-health-canada/public-engagement/external-advisory-bodies/canadian-pain-task-force.html 
National action network that coordinates all pain-related organizations in Canada towards implementation of the Canadian Pain Task Force's Action Plan for Pain in Canada; and provides resources for public and professionals: https://www.paincanada.ca/
Summary on the illegal opioids crisis: https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/opioids/overdose-crisis-toxic-illegal-drug-supply.html
Campbell, F., et al (2024). Advancing Chronic Pain Care in Canada: History and Impact of the Canadian Pain Task Force. Canadian Journal of Pain, 2358332.
Paincast is dedicated to bringing together researchers, clinicians, and students to discuss topics related to pain and physiotherapy. The primary purpose is to facilitate knowledge translation and critical thinking. Some episodes posit themselves as more educational than others, and some more opinionated than others. The listener is encouraged to listen critically. While there is an effort to incorporate research evidence, and the topics are always researched by the host, we recognize there is room for improvement and there is expertise in the community. As such, we invite constructive critique and that you inform us of any inadvertent errors, so that we may correct them. You may submit your feedback through this form: https://forms.gle/UFfbUHBh8uKwSKgS8
Follow Paincast on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/paincast.psd/