The Optimal Body

Symptoms persisting post-concussion? Worried about your concussion recovery?  Wanting to learn more about concussions? We’ve got Dr. Molly Parker on to debunk common misconceptions surrounding concussions and provide current perspectives and education on the persistent post-concussion syndrome. As she takes us briefly through her concussion in 2011, she shares how her lack of education and guidanc...

Dealing with pain on the front of the kneecap? Perhaps, diagnosed with it? DocJen & Dr. Dom have got you covered with what Chondromalacia is, how it may occur, and what you can do to address it. Honing in on the idea that symptoms are not necessarily correlated with imaging, they explain the origins of pain in the context of chondromalacia, and how mobility, developing the inner core, strength, an...

Wanting to come off birth control? Struggling to find a diet that works for you? Hoping to optimize hormone health? We've got Sarah Grace, dietitian, and licensed nutritionist, on to explore the realms of nutrition and how it relates to hormone health, birth control, and PCOS. With an emphasis on steps to compiling reliable and credible advice, Sarah describes whether or not intermittent fasting a...

Are you someone who deals with pain and tingling sensations that run down your leg? Been diagnosed with Sciatica, but don’t know where to start? Then you are definitely going to want to tune in to this episode as Dr. Jen and Dr. Dom dive into what Sciatica ism potential causes and what you can do to begin to desensitize your nerve symptoms. They share three main focusses to approaching Sciatica, d...

Feel like your health is compromised even though you've got nutrition, hydration, sleep, movement, stress? Nothing helping your chronic conditions? Dr. Perry shares a different perspective and approach to optimizing health. One that may be simpler, yet not emphasized enough. Dr. Perry shares the origins of his practice and how his practice has evolved as he learned more about how all the systems a...

Feeling tingling, numbness, radiating pain in your heel? Could it be Morton Neuroma? DocJen & Dr. Dom explain what Morton’s Neuroma is and the different grades of nerve-related symptoms that could be explained. They describe a few potential causes of Neuroma, including types of footwear or trauma to the foot. Utilizing research, they explain how MRI images may not correlate or confirm symptoms, an...

Thinking about eating more plant-based? Hollan explores the realm of vegan eating and how it can manifest in enhanced awareness and connection within your body. With 15 years of experience eating vegan, Hollan emphasizes that her journey continues to evolve and change over time. As she shares what inspired her passion for food, Hollan shares her best tips to giving vegan eating a try and how you c...

Flexible, but still tight? DocJen & Dr. Dom discuss tests and ways to determine if you are hypermobile, speaking into the spectrum of hypermobility that ranges from localized to Elhers-Danlos Syndrome. Explaining the neurophysiology of tightness briefly, they dive into how you can reduce the sensation of tightness through strength, using examples to relieve tightness in the hamstrings, inner thigh...

Struggling with Chronic Pain? Debilitating pain keeping you from getting on with your daily life? Find yourself really flexible? Andrew walks the path of his EDS diagnosis, and how his chronic pain and many injuries took up the majority of his experience in sport from a young age. We take a peek through Andrew's perspectives on pain, whether or not it makes him want to stop moving, and his experie...

Want to start breathwork, but don’t know where to start? DocJen & Dr. Dom present 4 different breath exercises: variations of box breathing, extended breathing, the one-minute reset, and Wim Hoff Breathing. They dive into how to perform these exercises, how these different exercises can be advantageous, how breathing can be beneficial in mobility, and how breathing can optimize CO2 tolerance, espe...

Are Bunions genetic? How does functional podiatry differ from traditional podiatry? Dr. Emily walks the path of bunions, plantar fasciitis, and other foot conditions through the lens of functional podiatry, She begins by explaining the importance of educating individuals about orthotics and the general foot types. Then, she explains how foot structure is not necessarily related to symptoms and whe...

Unsure of what to say to someone going through trauma or loss? Following on from last week’s episode on what DocJen & Dr. Dom wish they’d known, going through a miscarriage. they discuss how to be there for someone during a tragic loss. From getting professional help with therapy to receiving support from those who have been through it, DocJen & Dr. Dom hone in on the uniqueness and subjectivity o...

Going through pelvic organ prolapse? Considering surgery? Thinking about pregnancy? Katie Goss takes us through her story with multiple pelvic organ prolapses and her experience with the healthcare industry. As she educates more in an online space, through Whealth, she speaks to changing the realms within the healthcare industry and the importance of valuing child care. Furthermore, she describes...

Been through a miscarriage? Perhaps, loss? Are hospitals too generalized? Is the medical institution set up to treat trauma, the individual? DocJen & Dr. Dom get real about their recent experience with miscarriage. Loss, pain, trauma, healing – they discuss it all. From start to finish, Jen dives into her how her symptoms progressed and how she advocated for herself through her experience in the h...

Thinking about pregnancy? Curious about getting pregnant and how to stay pregnant. Tasha Blasi, the fertility consultant, provides us with a holistic approach to fertility. Utilizing science, space, energy, and support to form her unique approach, Tasha explains where her passion for fertility came about and the importance of root cause over science. Then, she discusses what she wishes she knew wh...

Abs vs Core? Is there a difference? DocJen & Dr. Dom dive into the anatomy of what we know as the abs and how that differs from the true core. They provide insight into the transverse abdominal activation, how it may relate to back pain, and where belts for lifting should be considered. Furthermore, they discuss the importance of midline stability, providing cues and descriptions of their 3 favori...

Want to transition into barefoot shoes? Dr. Laura, doctor of physical therapy, preaches optimal foot functionality by spending time barefoot, but with safety and slow progression. As a gymnast, she spent much of her upbringing barefoot, however, with several foot fractures, she briefly speaks into how combining the use of the minimal shoe and conventional shoe can be beneficial in transitioning to...

Dealing with soreness? Concerned about your soreness? DocJen & Dr. Dom dive answer frequently asked questions about the science behind soreness. Diving into what delayed onset muscle awareness is, where you might feel it, and why soreness occurs, DocJen & Dr. Dom describe the types of exercises that might elicit a greater soreness response and what other factors could be contributing to the degree...

Struggling with back pain? Feel like your back pain is never getting better? Tim Reynolds and Bryan Guzksi, physical therapists, take you from PT school to clinical practice as they hone in on how their curiosity drove their career path. Then, they discuss the psychology behind back pain and how you can trust that your back pain will resolve. In the name of research and clinical experience, Tim &...

Do you warm-up? Cooldown? At times, warm-ups and cool-downs feel unimportant or a waste of time, however, DocJen & Dr. Dom break the confusion in this episode. With a high emphasis on specificity, they explain the importance of strategically warming up the body to prepare for the upcoming movement and cool down to truly downregulate the system and facilitate recovery. After explaining the RAMP pro...

Lose weight by eating more or less? Jason Philips takes us back to his teens as he shares his perspective on dealing with Anorexia Nervosa. With his story inspiring his passion for nutrition education, he simplifies the rabbit hole of fat loss and nutrition, explaining caloric maintenance, restoring biofeedback, and true stress management. Through his triangle of awareness approach, he speaks abou...

Is a weak core giving you back pain? Feeling your low back during core exercises? Will core workouts rid your back pain? DocJen & Dr. Dom debunk common myths surrounding the relationship between core exercises and back pain. Clarifying the possible roots of back pain, they explain the how the biopsychosocial model in relation to expectations, mindsets, and beliefs surrounding interventions and pai...

Dealing with recurrent, current chronic pain? Is pain all in the mind? Wondering how different techniques are helping your pain? We have Dr. Alex Anderson, Board-Certified Clinical Specialist in Orthopaedic Physical Therapy, on to break down the shifts in pain science and why pain is important.  Using the biopsychosocial model, Dr. Alex addresses pain through a biomedical perspective, and how psyc...

Bloated often? Dr. Jen & Dr. Dom break down the anatomy and different components of the gut. After discussing their experiences with gut issues, they dive into how gut mobility and motility relate to fascial connections.  By describing different manual techniques to help reduce that bloat, they hone in on the importance of diaphragmatic breathing and the role of the nervous system, as well as diff...

Whether you are looking to get pregnant in the near future, are pregnant, or are due soon, Dr. Breanna covers it all in the interview. As a board certified physical therapist with post-doctorate training in obstetrics and pelvic health, and a mother of three, she dives into the lack of education about the birthing process and where you can find resources to get educated. As she rides the wave of h...