Module 1.2: Divergent vs Convergent Thinking

In this lesson, you’ll learn one of the most important mindset shifts every performance-minded PT needs to make before tackling acute sciatica and complex low back pain.

Too many clinicians still fall into convergent thinking — believing there’s one “right” model or one “best” approach to treating back pain. In reality, world-class clinicians operate with divergent thinking — they recognize multiple valid perspectives and integrate them fluidly to fit the patient in front of them.

Through real stories featuring leaders like Stuart McGill, Gray Cook, and Pavel Kolar, Mez shows how seemingly opposite philosophies often lead to the same clinical truths when guided by sound principles.
You’ll see how true mastery isn’t about choosing between biomechanics or pain science… it’s about learning to blend both in context.

By the end, you’ll know:

  • Why debates like “pain science vs biomechanics” are a trap

  • What divergent thinking looks like in real clinical reasoning

  • How the best clinicians adapt frameworks rather than defend them

  • And how this sets you up for the next step: pattern recognition — learning what matters most for the specific patient in front of you

⚕️Watch until the end for your Clinical Success prompts — they’ll help you uncover which model you lean on most and where your next layer of growth lies.

⏱️TIME STAMP

0:00 – 0:20 | Intro: What divergent & convergent thinking mean in clinical practice
0:21 – 1:05 | Why this concept explains the pain science vs biomechanics divide
1:06 – 2:24 | Story #1 — McGill vs. Pavel Kolar (DNS) evaluate the same athlete differently, same conclusion
2:25 – 3:36 | Story #2 — McGill vs. Gray Cook at Stanford: how debate turns to agreement
3:37 – 4:55 | Historical context: Maitland, Kaltenborn, PNF, and NDT “tribes”
4:56 – 6:15 | Convergent thinking: the illusion of one “best” method
6:16 – 7:20 | The danger of “either/or” thinking in evidence-based care
7:21 – 8:00 | Divergent thinking: embracing and instead of or
8:01 – 9:00 | Integrating biomechanics and pain science through neurodynamics
9:01 – 10:20 | Clinical takeaway: how to decide which perspective matters most right now
10:21 – 11:15 | Clinical success prompts & reflection exercise

P.S. Stay tuned into you inbox for tomorrow’s video…
I’ll share the #1 “secret sauce” every master clinician has that's more important than any other clinical skill. Get laser focused on continuing to develop this 1 skill and your clinical growth will be ridiculous.

P.P.S If you don't want to wait for the rest of the module 1 videos and would rather get the rest of this LBP course now​ click here​