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Why Physical Therapists Believe Weird Things — Commander Mark Riebel

Nuclear submarine officer turned PT for Marine Raiders. This week Drew and Alex sit down with Commander Mark Riebel to talk therapeutic skepticism, why smart people believe dubious things, and what the research actually says about the modalities that dominate clinical practice.

What we get into:

Confirmation bias in the clinic — why providers remember the wins and discount the losses, and how that quietly keeps bad interventions alive longer than they deserve.

The fiduciary vs. the crypto salesman — two models of patient care, and why putting the patient in charge of their own pain is both better medicine and better therapy.

Dry needling, cupping, scraping, foam rolling, therapeutic ultrasound, KT tape — what the evidence actually shows, what's placebo, and why that distinction matters more than most providers want to admit.

Citation for the discussion of treatment effects vs placebo and other factors: Ezzatvar, Yasmin, et al. "Which portion of physiotherapy treatments’ effect is not attributable to the specific effects in people with musculoskeletal pain? A meta-analysis of randomized placebo-controlled trials." journal of orthopaedic & sports physical therapy 54.6 (2024): 391-399.

Trigger points, PRI, FMS, pose method — a tour through the tribes of physical therapy and how to think critically about any system that markets itself as the answer.

The Future Sailor Preparatory Course — what it looks like, why it matters, and an honest conversation about the physical readiness of the recruiting pool.

Weighted pull-ups post bicep repair, rear foot elevated split squats, and John's admirable hamstring appreciation — the after party delivers.

Mentioned in this episode:

Mark specifically recommended this ESPN video for a discussion of how nocebic language affects healthcare outcomes

Therapeutic Skepticism — APTA talk by Mark Riebel and colleagues

Cunningham's Law — the best way to get an answer on the internet is not to ask the question, it's to post a wrong answer

Barbell Medicine — referenced on pesticide/produce misinformation research

Future Sailor Preparatory Course — modeled off the Army's Future Soldier Preparatory Course

Army Baylor — where Mark completed his DPT

West Point Sports Medicine Fellowship — where Mark learned to critically analyze research rather than chase magic tricks

Charles Vogel, The Art of Community — former podcast guest, on how social spaces are engineered against genuine connection

Long and Strong — the Mops and Moes training program on TrainHeroic → https://marketplace.trainheroic.com/workout-plan/team/leg-tuck-nation?attrib=565490-web

Views expressed are those of the speakers and do not represent any official organization.