552. From Guru to Guide: Dr. Erson Religioso on Growth, Humility, and the Evolution of PT Practice

Dr. Erson Religioso—aka Dr. E—has been in the PT game for over two decades, and he’s experienced just about every high and low the profession can offer. In this candid conversation, we dive into his transformation from a manual therapy "guru in the making" to a humble coach focused on empowering patients. Erson shares his journey through academic elitism, ego-driven learning, and eventual cognitive dissonance that led him to radically rethink how he practices, teaches, and communicates with patients. We talk about the origin of his eclectic approach, the power of simplification over complexity, and how clinicians can thrive by embracing mentorship, reflection, and evidence-based evolution. We also dig into his business ventures—from creating the EDGE Mobility System to building a thriving online education platform—and how social media changed the game for him (and what changed when it all came crashing down). Whether you're a new grad, a seasoned clinician, or somewhere in between, this one’s packed with lessons you don’t want to miss.Learn more about our guest at:🌐 Modern Manual Therapy 🛠️ Edge Mobility System 🎙️ Untold Physio Stories Podcast 📱 Instagram: @modernmanualtherapy 💼 LinkedIn: Erson ReligiosoErson is from the Buffalo, NY area and has 26 years of experience in physical therapy. He has been fellowship trained in orthopaedic manual physical therapy, certified in the McKenzie Method, Manual Therapy, Craniofacial (TMJ), Nutritional Physical Therapy, and Modern Strength Training (BFR). An avid health nut and tech nerd, he has always been interested in learning as much as possible to help his patients/clients and himself plus his family of 6 kids and wonderful wife. He mentors physical therapists all over the US and world live and online with his line of seminars, podcast, and social media. He coaches his two boys in tennis, plus loves running and rock climbing.Check out the new course on Self Funding Your Own Conference Attendance:https://healthcareeducationtransformationpodcast.com/conferenceIf you are taking the NPTE or are teaching those about to take the NPTE, visit NPTE Final Frontier at www.NPTEFF.com and use code "HET" for 10% off all purchases at the website… and BREAKING NEWS! They now have an OCS (and soon-to-be GCS) review option as well… You're welcome! You can also reach out to them on Instagram @npteffIf you're a PT and you have student loan debt, you gotta talk to Varela Financial. What makes them unique is that they view financial planning like running hurdles on a track. And for PTs, the first hurdle many of us run into is student loan debt. Varela Financial will help you get over that hurdle. They not only take the time to explain which plans you qualify for and how those plans work, but they ALSO take the time to show you what your individual case looks like mapped out within each option. If you're looking for help on your student loans or any area of personal finance, we highly recommend working with them. You can check them out at varelafinancial.com.Last but not least, if you would like to improve your critical thinking, decision making skills, metacognition, and independent thinking...join the Metacognition of Leadership Institute (M.O.L.I.) at:HETMOLI.com