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Home
- Dr Jo Abbott, PhD, MSc, BSc (Hons)
- What is Clinical Biomechanics?
Publications
HODA-A™
The Body Systems™ App
- About The Body Systems™ App
  - Back Pain Systems™
Services
Events
Resources
- Shop
- Videos

Publication Library Movement & Biomechanics

Movement & Biomechanics

Posture, alignment, load and rehabilitation — how the body organises movement, and what that means in practice.

HODA-A™ The Body Systems™ App The Clinical Functional Health Library™ Movement & Biomechanics Research & Evidence Patient Reading Room

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Browse the full library

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Latest from Dr Jo Abbott.

Movement education, clinical reflections, researcg updates and practical ideas for people rebuilding confidence in their body.

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Clinical insights, movement tips and behind-the-scenes moments from the clinic.

"Manual assessment is not just touch. It is measurement through a calibrated human instrument."

If you`ve followed this week — the kicker, the posts, the missing feedback loop — this line is where it all lands.

Your hands are already an instrument. The only question is whether the instrument gets the same care we give every other piece of measurement equipment in the clinic.

The conversation continues in the HODA-A™ Clinical Reasoning Forum — and enrolment for the 30 November Level 1 cohort is open. All links in bio.

#ManualTherapy #ClinicalReasoning #Physiotherapy #Osteopathy #Palpation

0 1

Open post by drjoabbottphd with ID 18155387437504058

"Manual assessment is not just touch. It is measurement through a calibrated human instrument."

If you've followed this week — the kicker, the posts, the missing feedback loop — this line is where it all lands.

Your hands are already an instrument. The only question is whether the instrument gets the same care we give every other piece of measurement equipment in the clinic.

The conversation continues in the HODA-A™ Clinical Reasoning Forum — and enrolment for the 30 November Level 1 cohort is open. All links in bio.

#ManualTherapy #ClinicalReasoning #Physiotherapy #Osteopathy #Palpation

"Manual assessment is not just touch. It is measurement through a calibrated human instrument."

If you`ve followed this week — the kicker, the posts, the missing feedback loop — this line is where it all lands.

Your hands are already an instrument. The only question is whether the instrument gets the same care we give every other piece of measurement equipment in the clinic.

The conversation continues in the HODA-A™ Clinical Reasoning Forum — and enrolment for the 30 November Level 1 cohort is open. All links in bio.

#ManualTherapy #ClinicalReasoning #Physiotherapy #Osteopathy #Palpation

0 1

Next Thursday evening I`m teaching the ideas behind this series, live.

Hands-on assessment as a measurement process — not a technique debate. Validity before reliability. The clinician as an instrument, and what it takes to calibrate one. The thinking that sits underneath HODA-A™, in 60 minutes.

Tuesday 15th September 8am UK. Free, live only — no recording — and capped at 30 places so there`s room for real questions.

Register here: https://calendly.com/drjoabbott/hoda-a-webinar-presentation
More dates: https://drjoabbott.com/hoda-a-webinars/

#ManualTherapy #Physiotherapy #Osteopathy #ClinicalReasoning #CPD

3 0

Open post by drjoabbottphd with ID 18164120119415604

Next Thursday evening I'm teaching the ideas behind this series, live.

Hands-on assessment as a measurement process — not a technique debate. Validity before reliability. The clinician as an instrument, and what it takes to calibrate one. The thinking that sits underneath HODA-A™, in 60 minutes.

Tuesday 15th September 8am UK. Free, live only — no recording — and capped at 30 places so there's room for real questions.

Register here: https://calendly.com/drjoabbott/hoda-a-webinar-presentation
More dates: https://drjoabbott.com/hoda-a-webinars/

#ManualTherapy #Physiotherapy #Osteopathy #ClinicalReasoning #CPD

Next Thursday evening I`m teaching the ideas behind this series, live.

Hands-on assessment as a measurement process — not a technique debate. Validity before reliability. The clinician as an instrument, and what it takes to calibrate one. The thinking that sits underneath HODA-A™, in 60 minutes.

Tuesday 15th September 8am UK. Free, live only — no recording — and capped at 30 places so there`s room for real questions.

Register here: https://calendly.com/drjoabbott/hoda-a-webinar-presentation
More dates: https://drjoabbott.com/hoda-a-webinars/

#ManualTherapy #Physiotherapy #Osteopathy #ClinicalReasoning #CPD

3 0

Twenty years of experience — and still drifting? It`s more likely than any of us want to think.

Perception without a reference doesn`t hold still. That`s not a character flaw; it`s how human perceptual systems work. Sport solved this problem with feedback loops built into every session. Clinical training hasn`t. Yet.

This is what HODA-A™ Level 1 exists to change — enrolment for the 30 November cohort is open, link in bio.

Where do you get honest feedback on your hands? Tell me below — I read everything.

#ManualTherapy #Palpation #ClinicalReasoning #Physiotherapy #Osteopathy #MSK #EvidenceInformedPractice

1 0

Open post by drjoabbottphd with ID 17865061356659400

Twenty years of experience — and still drifting? It's more likely than any of us want to think.

Perception without a reference doesn't hold still. That's not a character flaw; it's how human perceptual systems work. Sport solved this problem with feedback loops built into every session. Clinical training hasn't. Yet.

This is what HODA-A™ Level 1 exists to change — enrolment for the 30 November cohort is open, link in bio.

Where do you get honest feedback on your hands? Tell me below — I read everything.

#ManualTherapy #Palpation #ClinicalReasoning #Physiotherapy #Osteopathy #MSK #EvidenceInformedPractice

Twenty years of experience — and still drifting? It`s more likely than any of us want to think.

Perception without a reference doesn`t hold still. That`s not a character flaw; it`s how human perceptual systems work. Sport solved this problem with feedback loops built into every session. Clinical training hasn`t. Yet.

This is what HODA-A™ Level 1 exists to change — enrolment for the 30 November cohort is open, link in bio.

Where do you get honest feedback on your hands? Tell me below — I read everything.

#ManualTherapy #Palpation #ClinicalReasoning #Physiotherapy #Osteopathy #MSK #EvidenceInformedPractice

1 0

For clinicians who`d rather be tested than flattered.

That`s who IN-TOUCH — my monthly newsletter — is written for. Not updates. One considered dispatch a month on the science of skilled hands: what the live research is finding, new free papers in the Calibrations library, webinar dates before they`re announced anywhere else, and the evolving thinking behind HODA-A™ — including the parts where I change my mind.

If this series left you wanting the deeper version — the one with references, caveats and honest uncertainty — this is where it lives. Free, monthly, easy to leave. https://drjoabbott.com/hodaa-newsletter/

#ManualTherapy #ClinicalReasoning #Physiotherapy #Osteopathy #ClinicalEducation

1 0

Open post by drjoabbottphd with ID 18387883771160482

For clinicians who'd rather be tested than flattered.

That's who IN-TOUCH — my monthly newsletter — is written for. Not updates. One considered dispatch a month on the science of skilled hands: what the live research is finding, new free papers in the Calibrations library, webinar dates before they're announced anywhere else, and the evolving thinking behind HODA-A™ — including the parts where I change my mind.

If this series left you wanting the deeper version — the one with references, caveats and honest uncertainty — this is where it lives. Free, monthly, easy to leave. https://drjoabbott.com/hodaa-newsletter/

#ManualTherapy #ClinicalReasoning #Physiotherapy #Osteopathy #ClinicalEducation

For clinicians who`d rather be tested than flattered.

That`s who IN-TOUCH — my monthly newsletter — is written for. Not updates. One considered dispatch a month on the science of skilled hands: what the live research is finding, new free papers in the Calibrations library, webinar dates before they`re announced anywhere else, and the evolving thinking behind HODA-A™ — including the parts where I change my mind.

If this series left you wanting the deeper version — the one with references, caveats and honest uncertainty — this is where it lives. Free, monthly, easy to leave. https://drjoabbott.com/hodaa-newsletter/

#ManualTherapy #ClinicalReasoning #Physiotherapy #Osteopathy #ClinicalEducation

1 0

"Before we test reliability, we must stabilise the instrument."

This line is the foundation of everything I`ll share over the next five weeks.

We have spent decades testing whether manual assessment is reliable — and arguing about the results. We have spent almost no time asking whether the instrument doing the assessing was stable before we tested it.

In September I`ll be working closely with a small group of clinicians on exactly this, inside the HODA-A™ Level 1 Perceptual Calibration Certification — the new cohort begins 30 November. But that`s for later. This week, just sit with the questions.

If you want the deeper conversations as the series unfolds, the Facebook group is where they`ll happen — link in bio.

#ManualTherapy #ClinicalReasoning #Physiotherapy #Osteopathy #Palpation

1 0

Open post by drjoabbottphd with ID 18104031431625604

"Before we test reliability, we must stabilise the instrument."

This line is the foundation of everything I'll share over the next five weeks.

We have spent decades testing whether manual assessment is reliable — and arguing about the results. We have spent almost no time asking whether the instrument doing the assessing was stable before we tested it.

In September I'll be working closely with a small group of clinicians on exactly this, inside the HODA-A™ Level 1 Perceptual Calibration Certification — the new cohort begins 30 November. But that's for later. This week, just sit with the questions.

If you want the deeper conversations as the series unfolds, the Facebook group is where they'll happen — link in bio.

#ManualTherapy #ClinicalReasoning #Physiotherapy #Osteopathy #Palpation

"Before we test reliability, we must stabilise the instrument."

This line is the foundation of everything I`ll share over the next five weeks.

We have spent decades testing whether manual assessment is reliable — and arguing about the results. We have spent almost no time asking whether the instrument doing the assessing was stable before we tested it.

In September I`ll be working closely with a small group of clinicians on exactly this, inside the HODA-A™ Level 1 Perceptual Calibration Certification — the new cohort begins 30 November. But that`s for later. This week, just sit with the questions.

If you want the deeper conversations as the series unfolds, the Facebook group is where they`ll happen — link in bio.

#ManualTherapy #ClinicalReasoning #Physiotherapy #Osteopathy #Palpation

1 0

Three sentences every manual therapist loves to hear. Two are true. The third is the trap.

"Your hands are an extraordinary instrument" — true, and the science keeps confirming it. "The research judged you unfairly" — partly true, and I`ve spent a PhD showing how. "So you were right all along" — and there it is. The sentence your bias has been waiting for. Mine too.

It doesn`t follow. A remarkable instrument is not a calibrated one — and the idea that the clinician IS the instrument is now spreading right across bodywork and somatic practice, almost always without the question that gives it meaning: would two such instruments agree?

Swipe through — then, if you want the full referenced argument, "Built, Not Born" in the free HODA-A™ Library covers how the same plasticity that builds your skill also bends it toward bias. https://drjoabbott.com/publication-library/

#ManualTherapy #Palpation #ClinicalReasoning #Physiotherapy #Osteopathy #CognitiveBias #EvidenceInformedPractice

5 0

Open post by drjoabbottphd with ID 18085640102238094

Three sentences every manual therapist loves to hear. Two are true. The third is the trap.

"Your hands are an extraordinary instrument" — true, and the science keeps confirming it. "The research judged you unfairly" — partly true, and I've spent a PhD showing how. "So you were right all along" — and there it is. The sentence your bias has been waiting for. Mine too.

It doesn't follow. A remarkable instrument is not a calibrated one — and the idea that the clinician IS the instrument is now spreading right across bodywork and somatic practice, almost always without the question that gives it meaning: would two such instruments agree?

Swipe through — then, if you want the full referenced argument, "Built, Not Born" in the free HODA-A™ Library covers how the same plasticity that builds your skill also bends it toward bias. https://drjoabbott.com/publication-library/

#ManualTherapy #Palpation #ClinicalReasoning #Physiotherapy #Osteopathy #CognitiveBias #EvidenceInformedPractice

Three sentences every manual therapist loves to hear. Two are true. The third is the trap.

"Your hands are an extraordinary instrument" — true, and the science keeps confirming it. "The research judged you unfairly" — partly true, and I`ve spent a PhD showing how. "So you were right all along" — and there it is. The sentence your bias has been waiting for. Mine too.

It doesn`t follow. A remarkable instrument is not a calibrated one — and the idea that the clinician IS the instrument is now spreading right across bodywork and somatic practice, almost always without the question that gives it meaning: would two such instruments agree?

Swipe through — then, if you want the full referenced argument, "Built, Not Born" in the free HODA-A™ Library covers how the same plasticity that builds your skill also bends it toward bias. https://drjoabbott.com/publication-library/

#ManualTherapy #Palpation #ClinicalReasoning #Physiotherapy #Osteopathy #CognitiveBias #EvidenceInformedPractice

5 0

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Updates, articles and conversations from the clinic and community.

Dr Jo Abbott - PhD

I'm teaching the ideas behind this series, live.

Hands-on assessment as a measurement process — not a technique debate. Validity before reliability. The clinician as an instrument, and what it takes to calibrate one. The thinking that sits underneath HODA-A™, in 60 minutes.

Tuesday 15th September, 8am UK. Free, live only — no recording — and capped at 30 places so there's room for real questions.

Register here: calendly.com/drjoabbott/hoda-a-webinar-presentation
Or more dates: drjoabbott.com/hoda-a-webinars/

#ManualTherapy #Physiotherapy #Osteopathy #ClinicalReasoning #CPD ...

Im teaching the idea

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Dr Jo Abbott - PhD

An honest audit for the group this week:
Think back over your last ten hands-on assessments. How many of them received direct feedback on what your hands actually measured? Not whether the patient improved — whether what you felt was actually there.

Zero is a common answer. It was mine for years, and it took a PhD in this exact area to make me see it.

So no judgement here — just the interesting question: if the feedback loop is missing, what would it take to build one? What could act as a reference for touch? I'll share how we approach this in HODA-A™ in the comments on Friday.

And if you'd like the full argument in one sitting: I'm running a free live webinar on Tuesday 15 September, 8am UK — hands-on assessment as a measurement process, 60 minutes, live only. It's capped at 30 places, so register early if you want one: calendly.com/drjoabbott/hoda-a-webinar-presentation
Further dates: drjoabbott.com/hoda-a-webinars/ ...

An honest audit for

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Dr Jo Abbott - PhD

"After 30 years as a hands-on therapist, I can honestly say this is the most impactful course I've ever done." — Teresa, sports therapist, New Zealand (Cohort 1)

That's the point of all of it. Not a certificate — a different relationship with your own hands.

Nine modules over sixteen guided weeks: Human Perception, Interoception, Sensorimotor Memory Stimulation, Care Ethicist Attunement, Cross-Modal Judgements & Neuroplasticity, Mechanoreceptor Activation, Intuition & Pattern Literacy, Sensorimotor Integration, Somatosensory Interpretation — then integration, consolidation, and a lifetime of access to return to it all.

The next cohort begins a week on Monday, 31 August. Link in bio — and if you're weighing it up and want to talk it through first, book a free 15-minute call with me and we'll work out together whether it's your season: drjoabbott.com/free-consultation-dr-jo-abbott/ ...

After 30 years as a

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Dr Jo Abbott

Clinical biomechanics. Functional health. Back Pain Systems™ and HODA-A.

Rebuilding pain care through movement, measurement and whole-person systems.

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