STA185 ‘Thoracolumbar Fascia and Lower Back Pain' with special guest Claire Boucher

In this episode of the Sports Therapy Association podcast, host Matt Phillips is joined by special guest Claire Boucher, a lecturer of Sports Therapy & Rehabilitation at Canterbury Christ Church University and PhD Researcher at University of Kent. Claire discusses her research into the thoracolumbar fascia, a critical yet often-overlooked component in lower back pain treatment strategies.

Claire's interest in this line of research was ignited from her time spent in the field, where she identified a significant gap in the understanding of lower back pain. Her research provides valuable insights for both academia and the clinical world and encompasses years of conceptual development, analysis, and a commitment to bridging scientific data with practical patient care.

The episode explores how improved understanding of fascia could drastically revolutionize therapeutic protocols in managing lower back pain. Learn about the intricacies of fascia research, the multi-factorial nature of back pain and the crucial role that continual exploration and collaboration play in this significant area of health research.

Aside from her research, Claire remains actively involved in the sports therapy community, including coaching triathlons. A must listen for clinicians, researchers or anyone interested in improving pain management strategies through scientifically sound and innovative research.

Timeline Chapters:

• 00:00:00 Welcome to the Sports Therapy Association Podcast
• 00:01:03 Ask Us Anything: Recap of Ep.184
• 00:02:30 Want to be on the Podcast as part of the STA Panel?
• 00:04:39 Welcome special guest Claire Boucher
• 00:05:33 Claire’s Background and Teaching Experience
• 00:10:39 Definition and Role of Fascia in the Body
• 00:13:32 Area of Interest: Thoracolumbar Fascia Examination
• 00:15:00 Detailed Analysis of Thoracolumbar Fascia Image
• 00:18:20 Study Findings in Comparison to Previous Research
• 00:21:00 Discussion on the Complexity of Lower Back Pain Research
• 00:23:23 Building on Past Research and Big Picture Approach
• 00:25:18 Participant Demographics and Sample Size Selection
• 00:26:00 Recruitment Process and Community Engagement in Research
• 00:29:02 Research Dissemination
• 00:29:31 Decoding Ultrasound Images
• 00:38:40 Analyzing Complex Ultrasound Scans
• 00:42:21 The Significance of Exercise Trends
• 00:43:56 Targeting Fascia Through Movement
• 00:49:49 Collaboration Between Clinicians and Researchers

Our sincere thanks to Claire Boucher for giving up her time to be a guest on the show!

Useful Links

• Claire Boucher on Twitter
• Claire Boucher on Linkedin
• Fascia Research Society Webpage

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