Our current view of conscious experiences like taste, smell and even pain suggests they are not a simple reflection of incoming sensory information. Rather, they are shaped by the interaction of top-down predictions and incoming sensory evidence. It is through this beautiful dance of top-down predictions and bottom-up sensory information that we interpret, make sense of and engage with the world. Central to this idea is the notion that how we move shapes our sensory information and the subsequent conscious experience of pain. But what does this mean for physiotherapists and manual therapists in day-to-day practice? 

In this session, Tasha and Merv will unpack the science behind predictive processing and active inference, explore the latest research, and most importantly, translate these insights into practical, clinically meaningful applications. From patient communication to treatment planning, you’ll gain a fresh perspective on how the brain, body, and context interact—and how we can work more effectively within this model. Whether you're new to the concept or looking to deepen your understanding, this webinar will challenge assumptions and offer clear, forward-thinking strategies for the future of musculoskeletal care. 

Leaning objectives: 

1. Understand the core principles of active inferenceand how this model reshapes our understanding of pain perception and brain-body interactions. 
2. Critically evaluate current research on active inference and its relevance to musculoskeletal and manual therapy. 
3. Apply active inference concepts to clinical practice, including patient communication, treatment planning, and future-oriented approaches to care. 

Mededeling

Dit is een opname van een webinar die plaatsvond op 04/11/2025.

'Uitgesteld kijken' van deze opname wordt niet geaccrediteerd door PQK.

Bio: 

Dr Merv Travers is a clinician, educator and researcher based in Perth, Western Australia. He is the founder and director of Optimise Rehab, a high-quality evidence-based education provider for physiotherapists and other allied health professionals working in the areas of pain and rehabilitation. Merv is an adjunct senior lecturer at The University of Notre Dame Australia and an adjunct research fellow at Curtin University where he teaches in the musculoskeletal and sports postgraduate programmes. He also guest lectures internationally on optimising rehabilitation for people living with pain. His research focuses on understanding and managing persistent pain. 

Merv holds a Masters of Manipulative Therapy and is a qualified strength & conditioning coach (ASCA – Level 2). Merv’s clinical background includes working in professional rugby union and he provides clinical consultation for people with complex musculoskeletal conditions all over the world. 

Tasha Stanton 

Associate Professor Tasha Stanton leads the Persistent Pain Research Group at the South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI) and is co-Director of IIMPACT in Health at The University of South Australia, Adelaide. She is a clinical pain neuroscientist, with original training as a physiotherapist. Her research focusses on pain – why do we have it and why doesn’t it go away? She has received >$14.7m in competitive research funding, has published >130 peer-reviewed journal articles, and she has been a keynote/invited speaker at >120 national and international conferences. Her research has won both national and international awards, including the World Congress of Pain Ronald Dubner research award, the Australian Pain Society Rising Star Award and the Australian Physiotherapy Association Best New Investigator Award. She has a specific interest in chronic pain, osteoarthritis, pain science education, perceptual science and novel technologies, such as virtual and mediated reality, to enhance exercise engagement.