The Optimal Body

Need more time with your doctor? Feel like you’re not being heard by your doctor? Frustrated with the lack of help you get in the traditional health care system? We have got Dr. Alec Weir, Dr. Dom’s functional medicine doctor on Steady MD, here to talk about how virtual medicine may be exactly what you need. With an underlying theme of availability, convenience, and connection, Dr. Alec shares wha...

Do you really have bad posture? What even is posture? DocJen and Dr. Dom break down the misconceptions around posture and unveil the truths around how posture is dynamic rather than a static hold. With an overarching emphasis on the act of moving frequently, they preach the message that the “best” posture is the next posture. Throughout the episode, they shift the narrative around addressing postu...

Do you practice yoga? Practice yoga and still have pain? Stretching out aches and pains? Mesmerized by all the yogic shapes? Hiro discusses his method of bridging science and anatomy with the spirituality of Yoga. Hiro paves the path of his journey from Ashtanga Yoga to his current Body Smart Yoga method. He shares his story with pain arising after years of the Ashtanga practice and how he changed...

Diagnosed with Arthritis? Worried about Arthritis?  DocJen & Dr. Dom hone in on stripping away the fear that is associated with the Arthritis diagnosis. They touch base with 7 different types of Arthritis, what is happening within the body respectively, and emphasize the importance of moving. They provide insight into how to continue to move within what is tolerable within your body and the import...

#womenarenotsmallmen Wondering how to optimize your nutrition & training as a female? Lost a period? Struggling to figure out nutrition and exercise around menopause? Dr. Stacy Sims dives deep into hormones, nutritional, and training considerations during the menstruating phase of life, perimenopause, menopause, and post-menopause. Dr. Stacy explains Amenorrhea, nutritional considerations during a...

Is your pain caused by your misaligned kneecap? Wondering if it matters that your patella appears misaligned? Unsure if you have patella tracking? Let’s take a deep dive into patella (kneecap) tracking! Firstly, DocJen & Dr. Dom explains patellofemoral syndrome and how it may relate to patella tracking, providing insight into why physical therapists may focus on the appearance of structures as a g...

Is cupping worth the hype? Curious to learn about cupping? Dr. Chris Daprato walks us through the path of his journey to cupping and where his passion stemmed from. Soon after, he discusses his experience with cupping and why pairing movement with cupping changed the game for him. He deciphers the science behind cupping, addressing range of motion, blood circulation, and fascial lubrication. Then,...

Love to use a massage gun? Curious about the hype around them? Tune in to learn all about what the massage gun is and the mechanism behind its function put simply. Debunking myths, DocJen & Dr. Dom explain the role massage guns play in manipulating the fascia, breaking down adhered tissue, and range of motion. They describe how the pressure feedback massage guns provide affects the fascia through...

Is pain in the head? Finding pain flare up at random times? Curious about current perspectives on pain? “Pain is an experience and perception,” says Dr. Kyle, co-founder of Integrated Kinetic Neurology. Dr. Kyle unpacks the truths around pain and deciphers the mechanisms behind how the pain experience is elicited. With an emphasis on survival and protection, Dr. Kyle discusses 2 reasons why revisi...

Feeling continual ankle instability? Constantly getting ankle injuries? Overall weak ankles? You're not alone. DocJen & Dr. Dom present the literature and statistics on the prevalence of chronic instability and preditors of chronic instability. Furthermore, they explain the anatomy of the ankle and the different types of ankle sprains that can occur. They dive into how grades are determined, sympt...

Struggling to release food restrictions? Wanting to commit to a challenge to kickstart your journey, but feel like you can’t commit? Curious about simple nutritional guidelines to consider? Cara deciphers nutrition and provides insight into changing the focus around food restriction, yet appealing to the control food restrictors desire. After a dive into Cara’s passion, her motivations, education,...

Diagnosed with IT Band Syndrome? Feeling pain on the outside of the knee? Rolling out your IT band? DocJen & Dr. Dom describes the anatomy of the IT bands, the muscles that connect into, and why it is said to be a “friction injury.” They discuss whether or not foam rolling is beneficial, the mechanism behind foam rolling, and how to optimize its use. Then, they explain the potential causes of feel...

Feel like your chronic pain is never-ending? Completely ignoring your emotions? Wondering why you can’t quite let go of struggling past experiences? Dr. Liz Letchford, Athletic Trainer with a P.h. D in Kinesiology, uncovers the current perspectives on how trauma impacts pain and performance. Through a holistic health approach, Dr. Liz speaks to the importance of staying curious, honing in on how e...

Diagnosed with Piriformis Syndrome? Is it actually your Piriformis causing you pain? The victim, your piriformis that tends to get much of the blame, is not always the culprit. DocJen & Dr. Dom take a deep dive into the anatomy of the Piriformis, its function, and how it may be affected by the way it coordinates with or how the 7 other external rotator muscles may be affecting the surrounding nerv...

Struggling with mindset? Wondering how language affects mindset? Curious to dive deeper within yourself? Mike Aidala, a health and wellness expert, explores mindset in its whole capacity. With a look into his background, Mike shares his “addiction” to yoga and the mental space it provided him in helping him perform better with his lifting. He leads by example, setting the example of this dualism i...

Got an ACL Injury? Considering surgery? DocJen & Dr. Dom address it all in this PT Pearl. After describing the anatomy and function of the ACL, they explain the different degrees of the ACL injury and the tests that are used to diagnose an ACL injury. They name the signs and symptoms associated with an ACL injury and who is at higher risk. Then, they take a deep dive into surgery. Debunking the co...

Stuck in a cycle to lose weight to try and fit into a norm? Have doctors been weight-shaming you? Body Positivity. It is a hot topic. But, what does it really encompass? Dr. Lisa Folden sets us off on her journey with diet culture that started as early as 12 years old! She speaks about when her perspectives started shifting and how we can change the narrative behind diet labels in the next generat...

Does KT Tape really work? What is the hype around it? Perhaps, you swear by it?  Find out what is truly happening in the body when you layer on that elastic tape. DocJen & Dr. Dom debunk common misconceptions associated with Elastic tape and provide insight into how you can use it to your advantage. Ultimately, Elastic tape is an incredibly low-risk product to use, but intention and awareness are...

Curious about the Wine Industry? How about drinking wine that actually benefits your health? Is commercial different from natural different from organic? Todd White, Founder of Dry Farm Wines, deciphers the wine industry. With a passion to produce wine that is better for health and has better taste, Todd White, stumbled upon a passion to create premium health qualified wine that serves pure, natur...

Diagnosed with a herniated disc? DocJen & Dr. Dom breaks it all down for you! Debunking the common messaging we hear about bulging discs, DocJen & Dr. Dom provide you the hopeful perspective you need to hear. With a strong emphasis on adaptability, they mold the conversation around function, instead of structure, through research and their client experience. Through a brief and simplistic explanat...

Curious about healthcare in America, Getting ready for pregnancy? Pregnant and want to optimize your delivery? Dr. Fraboni covers it all! We dive straight into the biases within the healthcare system, especially in the context of pregnancy and labor, and how competition tends to disrupt the power of collaboration between health providers. Dr. Frabroni explores his training with nurses and midwives...

Got Flat Feet? You’re in luck. DocJen & Dr. Dom unravel the misconceptions surrounding flat feet. Firstly, they explain the importance of focusing on function, rather than structure with more and more research, science is shifting away from scans, structure, and alignment indicating pain, injury, or dysfunction. They describe the different types of flat feet, their prevalence, and which of the dia...

Dealing with persistent pain? Physical Therapists deal with them too! Kristi Barker walks the path of her passion for physical therapy and where her interests stemmed from. She explores the balance between educating on an online platform and her ability to physically manipulate in person. Through this, she explores the perks of simple education online and where her goals are heading in reaching a...

Been diagnosed with a rotator cuff injury? Shoulder acting up? Dr. Jen & Dr. Dom decipher the different diagnoses you can get with rotator cuff injuries: tendonitis, tendinosis, shoulder impingements, and tearing of the rotator cuff. In doing so, they explain the anatomy of the shoulder, specifically honing on which diagnoses are most popular for each of the four rotator cuff muscles. They hone in...

Caught up in a binge-restrict cycle? Can’t seem to truly practice intuitive eating? Feeling powerless with food choices? If you are struggling with the concept of naturally moderating your portion sizes, this one’s for you. Keri ford, a holistic health specialist, provides insight into approaching your relationship with food through a perspective of healing with a deeper root cause. Explaining the...