I Love Neuro

Erin Gallardo and Claire McLean

We are a couple of neurologic physical therapists on the quest to keep the passion, commitment, and possibilities alive for those who love neuro rehab and wellness like us, without burnout and overwhelm. This show is great for neuro therapists and trainers looking to stay up to date and make a greater impact. Join us in this important movement to elevate healthcare!

  1. 6d ago

    327: Hope, Connection, And Care Coordination: Russell Meyerowitz On The Parkinson's Wellness Fund And Raya Health - Tools For Today

    What happens to a family when "wellness" stops meaning saunas and cold plunges and starts meaning keeping the lights on? In this episode, host Erin Gallardo, PT, DPT, NCS, talks with Russell Meyerowitz, founder of the Parkinson's Wellness Fund, about how the needs of families living with Parkinson's have shifted from health-and-wellness support toward urgent emergency relief — and what that means for the clinicians who serve them. Russell shares why his organization issues no-judgment relief grants for everything from walkers and ramps to groceries and utility bills, why they're now fielding two to three applications every 24 hours, and how those years on the front lines led to the launch of Raya Health, a subscription-based care-coordination platform that keeps a family's medications, appointments, documents, and clinical notes in one shared place. He and Erin dig into the continuity-of-care gaps neuro clinicians see every day, why care coordination is crucial, and the forthcoming "Ask Raya" feature for surfacing medication and exercise trends over time. It's a warm, candid conversation about being proactive instead of reactive — and about having a stranger in your corner when Parkinson's makes life feel like survival. Links mentioned:  Parkinson's Wellness Fund — parkinsonswellnessfund.org Raya Health — raya-health.com Instagram: Parkinson's Wellness Fund and Raya Health HQ Use this promo code for 100% free access to Raya Health! RAYALOVESNEURO

  2. Jul 13

    326: Why Standard Heart Rate Formulas Fail People With Parkinson's With Cielita Lopez-Lennon, PT, DPT, NCS

    Are the heart rate formulas we've been using actually working for our patients with Parkinson's? In this episode, hosts Erin Gallardo, PT, DPT, NCS, and Claire McLean, PT, DPT, NCS, discuss with Cielita Lopez-Lennon, PT, PhD candidate in Rehabilitation Science at the University of Utah, her recently published research on refining maximal heart rate estimation for people with Parkinson's disease. The conversation digs into why standard formulas like 220 minus age systematically overestimate max heart rate for people with autonomic dysfunction, what chronotropic incompetence actually means in practice, and how Claire has been applying — and adapting — the research findings in real time at Rogue. If you're prescribing high intensity exercise to your neuro patients, this episode will change how you think about whether they're actually hitting the dose. www.linkedin.com/in/cielita Research article: Refining Maximal Heart Rate Estimation to Enhance Exercise Recommendations for Persons With Parkinson Disease — https://www.archives-pmr.org/article/S0003-9993(25)00626-4/fulltext Listen to the previously recorded episode where Claire shares the rationale and the formula she created (which you get access to!) Episode 302: https://www.neurocollaborative.com/blog/applying-a-new-calculation-for-max-heart-rate-in-pd

  3. Jul 6

    325: Falls Training For Parkinson's: Why Patients Are Demanding It With Naomi Casiro, BSc., MPT

    What would it look like if your patients stopped fearing the floor?  In this episode, hosts Erin Gallardo, PT, DPT, NCS, and Claire McLean, PT, DPT, NCS, discuss with Naomi Casiro, physiotherapist and founder of Neuro Fit Academy, what happened when her falls training sessions at World Parkinson Congress drew over 100 attendees in a room designed for 40. They dig into why patients with Parkinson's are starting to demand falls training themselves, and how that overwhelming response reflects a massive gap in what clinicians are currently being taught. Naomi recently launched her FMF — Functional Movement and Falls Training — Foundations online course through Neuro Fit Academy — a six-hour program built for PTs, OTs, and any neuro rehab clinician who wants practical, immediately applicable falls training skills without needing to wait for an in-person course to come to their city. The course includes PDF clinical guides, problem-solving resources, and twice-yearly office hours with Naomi directly. If you've ever felt unsure about how to actually teach a patient to fall safely, this course was built for you. Learn more about the course here! www.neurofitacademy.org

  4. Jun 29

    324: When Robots Amplify Mistakes To Drive Recovery: Error Augmentation In Neuro Rehab With BioXtreme

    In this episode, host Erin Gallardo, PT, DPT, NCS interviews BioXtreme CEO Eyal Samuel Shachar and researcher Dr. James Patton, PhD about BioXtreme's robotics-based neurorehabilitation devices, with a focus on their Plaxtream hand system. Inspired by founder Nini Bluman's experience helping his father recover hand function after a stroke, Plaxtream combines robotic hardware, engaging game-based activities, and an AI-driven, adaptive error augmentation approach to improve grasp, release, pronation, and supination. Dr. Patton explains how error augmentation—strategically amplifying movement errors within an optimal "sweet spot"—can accelerate neuroplasticity and learning, and he shares clinical findings showing functional gains using standardized measures like Fugl-Meyer and Wolf Motor Function tests. The guests discuss how the device personalizes training based on each person's range of motion and strength, supports patients from early to chronic stages (with both active and assistive modes), and is designed for in-clinic use. They also highlight BioXtreme's rapid, feedback-driven development process, the importance of close collaboration between engineers and clinicians, and new opportunities for therapists to get involved in research, education, and U.S. market expansion efforts. Learn more here! https://www.bioxtremerobotics.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/3138999/admin/dashboard/ Find Dr. Patton here: sites.google.com/uic.edu/pattonj

  5. Jun 22

    323: Before We Left for Phoenix: Our World Parkinson Congress 2026 Preview

    In this episode hosts, Erin Gallardo, PT, DPT, NCS and Claire McLean, PT, DPT, NCS share their excitement and plans for attending the 2026 World Parkinson Congress (WPC) in Phoenix, Arizona, a unique international conference that brings together people with Parkinson's, care partners, therapists, physicians, and researchers. Drawing on their past experiences at WPC in Montreal, Portland, and Kyoto, they describe how special it is to attend this event as a full team this year, staying together in an Airbnb and connecting with colleagues and members from around the world. They highlight what makes WPC stand out from typical scientific meetings: its interdisciplinary focus, community-centered vibe, extensive wellness and exercise programming, creative projects, and direct involvement of people with Parkinson's in scientific discussions. Claire and Erin also walk through the rich scientific and wellness schedule—from plenary lectures on cutting-edge research and prevention to workshops, round tables, debate-style "controversy" sessions, and a robust wellness program featuring exercise, meditation, and caregiver support. They close by emphasizing how WPC advances both research and advocacy, and by promising a follow-up conversation after the congress to share key takeaways and lessons learned. We recorded this before heading to WPC — stay tuned for our follow-up episode with everything we learned!

  6. Jun 15

    322: Find Work-Life Balance With Alignment, Not Productivity Tools

    Is work-life balance an elusive concept you have yet to master while running your life and neuro biz? In this episode, hosts Erin Gallardo, PT, DPT, NCS and Claire McLean, PT, DPT, NCS discuss the topic with NeuroBiz Coach, Emily Duval Ledger. Many clinicians start businesses to escape traditional job burnout but then recreate the same patterns by overworking and glorifying busyness. In the show we talk about recognizing when "busy" becomes unproductive, using tools like time-blocking, planners, and realistic daily priorities to focus on high-impact tasks and reduce urgency overload, but, really, it is about much more than just "tools." The topic of metacognition—noticing and questioning automatic thoughts about productivity—comes up.  We encourage business owners to listen to signals like dread and frustration, realign work with the clients and tasks that energize you and continually adjust your business models to support long-term well-being for yourself and your team.

  7. Jun 8

    321: How To Use AI Tools To Get Time Back Even When You're Not Techy With Shanté "Movement Maestro" Cofield, PT, DPT, OCS

    Dive into AI tools in your personal life, work life and business by learning what to use, how to use it and how NOT to use it. In this episode, hosts Erin Gallardo, PT, DPT, NCS and Claire McLean, PT, DPT, NCS talk with physical-therapist-turned-entrepreneur Dr. Shanté "Movement Maestro" Cofield, PT, DPT, OCS about what AI is and how it can practically support health and fitness professionals. Shanté explains AI in simple terms as powerful computer programs called large language models (LLMs) that use math and probability to predict the most likely next word, making it possible for us to just "talk" to a chatbot and get useful outputs, even though the AI itself doesn't truly understand what it's saying. The conversation covers how AI can help with everyday, non-hands-on tasks like writing recommendation letters, drafting emails, creating presentations, automating small workflows (like forwarding utility bills), and building custom dashboards, all of which save time and let clinicians focus more on people instead of paperwork. The episode also touches on valid concerns about privacy and environmental impact, with Shanté encouraging a nuanced, "both-and" mindset: be informed and cautious, but also recognize that many of our tools already use AI and that the biggest gains come from offloading repetitive, non-client-facing work while keeping human creativity and connection front and center. The episode closes with resources for learning more, including Shanté's AI-focused project "Prompting Curiosity" and her main platform, The Movement Maestro, and an invitation for clinicians to simply start experimenting so they can see for themselves where AI helps and where it falls short. Prompting Curiosity website - www.promptingcuriosity.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/themovementmaestro/

  8. Jun 1

    320: AI Documentation As A Game-Changer For Neuro Rehab: How-To

    Has your clinic adopted AI for documentation yet? If not (or if so!) check out this episode to learn about how it can transform your time and allow you to do your job unfettered. Hosts Erin Gallardo, PT, DPT, NCS and Claire McLean, PT, DPT, NCS interview Sparky instructor Jamie Haines, PT, DScPT, NCS about how AI-powered documentation is transforming her life in the clinic, and how without it she would not have returned to the clinic after being in academia. Neuro physical therapists have long struggled to balance hands-on care with time-consuming paperwork. In this conversation, Jamie, a PT of over 30 years, who would not call herself "techy" shares how using an AI scribe layered onto her EMR has been a true game changer after returning to full-time clinical work. By wearing a microphone and letting the system transcribe and organize her notes, Jamie can stay fully present with patients, capture richer and more accurate subjectives, and generate skilled, compliant documentation in just a few minutes. Over time, the AI learns her common tests, goals, and language, even translating lay terms into professional wording and clearly articulating clinical decision-making. While some clinicians are initially hesitant to learn a new system, Jamie's experience highlights how AI can reduce burnout, improve audit readiness, and finally let therapists do what they do best—focus on creative, high-quality care—without being buried by documentation. You'll get tips for teaching it how to write things the way you want and what to do if your administrators are reluctant to get it for your clinic.   Let us know which system you're using and whether or not you love it! Send us a DM @neurocollaborative on IG

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5
out of 5
35 Ratings

About

We are a couple of neurologic physical therapists on the quest to keep the passion, commitment, and possibilities alive for those who love neuro rehab and wellness like us, without burnout and overwhelm. This show is great for neuro therapists and trainers looking to stay up to date and make a greater impact. Join us in this important movement to elevate healthcare!

Information

  • Creator
    Erin Gallardo and Claire McLean
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2026
  • Episodes
    100
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © NeuroCollaborative 2020
  • Show Website
    I Love Neuro

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