Leonard Van Gelder

Last Twitter / X post - Switched to BlueSky: @leonardvangelder.bsky.social

🔍 "Sit up straight!" Is this advice doing more harm than good? contextualhealth.org/flexiblepostur…

And that’s a wrap. The final blog post of our 3 part series looks at how what happens in our lifetime and across generations impacts our pain experience. Thanks for all the support on the first two posts and I hope you find this is a fitting closure of the series! contextualhealth.org/exploring-chro…

Over the last 10 years, my team and I have been building a scientific and clinical framework with sufficient scope, precision, and depth to address complex human problems. In this blog post, we aim to offer an accessible understanding of chronic pain through the lens of contemporary complexity science and generalized evolutionary principles. contextualhealth.org/the-path-to-ch… #pain #chronicpain #painmanagement #scienceofchange #evolution #complexity #movement #physicaltherapy #physiotherapy #occupationaltherapy #athletictraining #rehabilitation #sportsmedicine #outlierswelcome #idontfitinabox

There are two fundamental things related to pain that we think everyone should know. If you're curious, check it out here: contextualhealth.org/2thingsaboutpa… #pain #PainManagement #ChronicPain #scienceofchange #evolution #outlierswelcome #idontfitinabox #movement #physicaltherapy #physiotherapy #occupationaltherapy #athletictraining #rehabilitation

As human beings, we are naturally goal-oriented and focused on achievements. Although there has been increased acceptance of mindfulness-based approaches, many people still struggle to move beyond a "McMindfulness" approach of just adding another task to their already busy days. Even when I work with yoga and mindfulness instructors, I am surprised by how little their everyday work translates into awareness of the quality of their movement and positions. Therefore, while this post is older, its relevance persists today and will likely continue into the foreseeable future. contextualhealth.org/body-as-a-rule…

Tired of quick-fix interventions? Let’s shift focus. Health isn’t one-size-fits-all, and neither are the solutions. In my latest blog, I discuss how embracing the complexity of each person's journey through processes of change: contextualhealth.org/adapting-to-ch… Let’s honor health’s complexity with thoughtful approaches! #scienceofchange #evolution #outlierswelcome #idontfitinabox #pain #movement #physicaltherapy #occupationaltherapy #athletictraining #rehabilitation

Throughout our journey to make sense of the complexity of movement and pain, we realized the need to embrace complexity science. This approach has allowed us to better understand, predict, and influence change while considering multiple levels of influence on the evolution of complex problems. In this blog post, I aim to simplify some key insights from complexity science that have been integral to the development of the Human Rehabilitation Framework (HRF). Check it out: contextualhealth.org/making-sense-w…

🔄 Embrace Change for Lasting Impact 🌱 In Part 2 of our Science of Change series, we explore how small adjustments can lead to big transformations. By being open, aware, & active, you can navigate life’s challenges with ease. contextualhealth.org/the-science-of… #scienceofchange #evolution #outlierswelcome #idontfitinabox #pain #movement #physicaltherapy #occupationaltherapy #athletictraining #rehabilitation

🔍 Stuck in a pattern that’s holding you back? Small changes can have a big impact on pain & well-being. In Part 1 of our blog, we explore the science of change and how unrecognized habits might be worsening your challenges: The Science of Change - Part 1 of 2 - contextualhealth.org/the-science-of… #scienceofchange #outlierswelcome #idontfitinabox #pain #movement #physicaltherapy #occupationaltherapy #athletictraining #rehabilitation

For everyone who thought we were complicating things or over thinking things. This is what happens when a profession fails to evolve fast enough: amp-theguardian-com.cdn.ampproject.org/c/s/amp.thegua…

For everyone who keeps telling us that ergodicity doesn’t matter, you can’t stop the train that is coming: Non-Ergodicity in athlete nutrition - Let the era of individualized research and practice finally begin: researchgate.net/publication/37…

While we approach this study with caution & recommend context, the findings give us pause to reflect on the advice we often share: "It might feel good, but how well does it live?" - Steven Hayes "If you fix them, you could break them." - Me pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38112119/

No intervention is going to stop a rigid behavior of the jaw in isolation, TMD is the epitome multiple levels of biological, psychological, & social factors interacting in an entirely individualized way. We have to slow down & stop trying to fix things before we understand the case.

@LeonardVnGelder I have previously seen some PTs during my internship treat it with dry needling, curious to know your thoughts about it

Sadly this is not limited to just the TMJ, these are the stories we hear almost daily from our clients with a wide range of symptoms. kffhealthnews-org.cdn.ampproject.org/c/s/kffhealthn…

Has anyone ever noticed that the buried wisdom in the definition of homeostasis: "A dynamic equilibrium across a constantly fluctuating point"....can be broadly applied to the experience of life?

I am not confident we could get a clear enough lay of the network on day 1, possibly not even day 5 or more. We try & find supportive bridges & plant seeds with the hope opportunity for change arrives but part of it is diminish some of the unnecessary guilt that the clinician has to help someone to become willing..

@LeonardVnGelder Good one…and how can those be successfully achieved clinically on Day 1 and then what would be making clinicians confident that pts will come back for the second session?

Willingness arises from the interplay between individual history and context, group interactions, and the wider societal and environmental context.

“..there is no arriving, there is only the movement of learning—and that is the beauty of life. If you have arrived, there is nothing more. And all of you have arrived, or you want to arrive, not only in your business, but in everything you do; so you are dissatisfied, frustrated, miserable.” J. Krishnamurti