The Optimal Body

Stem cells vs Platlet Rich Plasma (PRP) - Which is most effective? It turns out, regenerative medicine is context dependent. Dr. Gregory Lutz provides a rundown on what regenerative medicine and PRP is, the effectiveness of PRP and stem cell injections on disc and joint disorders, as well as the importance of white blood cell count in PRP. Through this discussion, Dr. Lutz highlights newfound rese...

It's episode 300! In this episode, Dr. Jen & Dr. Dom dives into shoulder impingement, diastasis recti, and meralgia paresthetica - what it is, its potential causes, and what to consider rehabilitatively. Let's dive in! VivoBarefoot Discount: Some new styles are out - The Novice & Flats for Formal Wear. We cannot talk about back and knee issues without talking about restrictions in feet and ankles....

Let's talk about Sex, baby! We have Dr. Jolene Brighten to uncover whether or not what our experiencing is normal! By sharing a practical tool to identify what symptoms may be affecting your health, she dives into what hormonal manifestations are normal and aren't. Then, we discover the world of libido and the current perspectives on how libido changes through the menstrual cycle from sexual drive...

The birth story. It’s here! DocJen and Dr. Dom walk the path of the birth of Dante one month after the labour process. Still fresh in their mind and feeling the emotions of birth, they describe the ins and out of how their hopes and plans for labour changed, describing the emotions and physical process surrounding the realities of the birthing process. Let’s dive into true emotional and physical v...

Unsure of your post-partum plan? Dr. Morgan Lee, the board-certified Sports Medicine Physician, walks the path of the experiences that drew her to creating postpartum pregnancy plans. Through these experiences,  she exposes the realities of the medical system regarding pregnancy and post-partum and what post-partum rehabilitation should look like. Then, Dr. Morgan describes the foundations of a he...

Can mindset play a role in pain? DocJen & Dr. Dom dive into the psychology and neuroscience of pain, discussing how mindset may perpetuate or distract away from one’s pain experience. They dive into the role of mindset tools, why we get pain, the causes of pain, models and research that explain the link between self-beliefs, thoughts, stress, and pain, as well as effective psychological strategies...

Navigating injury and surgery as a professional athlete typically involved a whirlwind of mental, physical, and relational pitfalls. We have Paige Nielsen, a professional Angel City FC soccer athlete, to discuss the mental and physical aspects of professional athleticism and the story behind her comeback from her injury. After explaining her injury and Paget-Schroetter Syndrome, she describes her...

Diagnosed with Ankylosing Spondylitis? DocJen & Dr. Dom dive into what Ankylosing Spondylitis is and what could be contributing to your symptoms as a chronic, inflammatory autoimmune disease. With a large emphasis on individualization and supervision from a physical therapist, DocJen & Dr. Dom offer insight into the body of research surrounding Ankylosing Spondylitis and highly recommend that you...

If you're wondering what the best type of protein is or how to present muscle wasting as you age, this one is for you! Dr. Lyon, the founder of the Institute for Muscle Centric-Medicine™, dives into the world of protein, strength maintenance, and muscle mass through age. By describing the necessity of protein as a primary metabolic driver, she names the types of dietary protein and which ones are...

Waking up feeling achy, stiff, and sore? Thinking it may be your bed, mattress, pillows, or sleeping position? Dr. Jen & Dr. Dom dive what it means to find your most optimal sleeping position. They describe the characteristics of their most optimal mattress and how sleeping position preferences change throughout life. Then, they identify the common pain points that arise with different sleeping po...

Struggling with bad breath? Could your toothpaste and mouthwash be causing more harm than good? Trina Felber, founder of Primal Life Organics dives into the science behind remineralization and how we may be able to heal cavities on our own. Then, she proposes toothpowder as a successful alternative to toothpaste, suggesting how you can begin to create the most optimal environment for your teeth. T...

Is your meniscus injury worrying you? Considering surgery but feel like there's a way out? Dr. Jen & Dr. Dom dive into the current research on surgery versus conservative treatment in long-term symptom management and knee health. Dr. Dom shares his journey with his Meniscus injury on both legs, speaking about his mistakes and rehabilitation journey with surgery and no surgery. Dr. Jen & Dr. Dom hi...

Eating disorders, emotional eating, IBS, SIBO, and weight loss. We're discussing it all with Tamar Samuels, co-founder of Culina Health. By distinguishing the difference between eating disorders and disordered eating, Tamar discusses common symptoms of disordered eating and whether or not emotional eating is bad? Then, she discusses the role of the FODMAP diet and the cautionary measures she advis...

Bump on the back of your heel? DocJen and Dr. Dom dive into the anatomy related to Haglund’s deformity and who is most affected. As Dr. Dom shares his experience with Haglund’s deformity, they explain the role high heels and conventional shoes play in the development of Haglund’s deformity. Finally, they discuss a three phase process to rehabilitating the deformity. Let’s dive in! Move2Improve Spe...

Did you know 17-53% of the population experience anxiety during relaxation and meditation? Jill Miller, author of Body by Breath and The Roll Model , and the co-founder of Tune Up Fitness, speaks about bringing awareness to breathing and what it means to modulate the nervous system according to different experiences throughout life. While explaining the autonomic nervous system, Jill describes the...

Feeling tingling/ numbness from the next through the arm? DocJen & Dr. Dom dive into the anatomy of thoracic outlet syndrome and current perspectives on conservative versus surgery as treatment options for thoracic outlet syndrome. Then, they dive into a four-stage active process in addressing thoracic outlet syndrome: breath, nerve mobility, upper back mobility, shoulder blade and core awareness....

Did you know 50% of Americans diet at least once a year? We have Ben Carpenter on to uncover the truths about weight loss. By diving into what drew him to follow a career path in weight loss, he points out where individuals tend to go wrong. Then, he discusses whether diet matters when it comes to fat loss, providing insight into marketing and how diets are really sold as habits that can only be m...

Have you heard the cues shoulder blades down and back? DocJen & Dr. Dom describe the problem with this cue in relation to flaring of the ribcage and enhanced stress signalling within the body. By explaining the predominance of the forward posture, yet how posture is dynamic, they dive into how you can "reverse" that forward posture and promote stability around the shoulder blades! Let's dive in! H...

Permission to offend? We're about to get unfiltered and unafraid with Rachel Luna, author of Permission To Offend and Neuro Coach. Through her triple breast cancer journey, Rachel presents the statistics on the ethnic prevalence of triple breast cancer, bringing about awareness of medical accessibility and care to patients of different ethnic groups. She speaks to evolutionary influence on why it...

Are your shoulders or neck constantly giving you trouble? Listen in as Dr. Jen and Dr. Dom dive into what the upper trapezius muscle really is and why they’re so easily tensed.  If you feel stressed over work, kids, the news, or anything really, this podcast will empower you to self-treat your tensed muscles and give you back the independence you deserve.  Tune in to understand the foundations of...

Did you know oral hygiene is linked to gestational diabetes, cardiovascular risk, cancer risk, and arthritis? Dr. Kami Hoss explores the depths of dental care and oral hygiene as it affects different aspects of the body. Dr. Hoss describes the knock-on effects of poor oral health on fertility, birthing consequences, respiratory issues, bone health, confidence, and stress. Furthermore, he describes...

Have you ever been told you have a “stuck” or “unstable” SI joint? Struggling with SI pain? Tune in as Dr. Dom and Doc Jen explain what an SI joint, or a Sacroiliac joint, is and what it really means to have SI pain.  They explain the research behind SI pain and the most beneficial ways, in their expert opinions, experiences, and current research, to help reduce your pain and get you moving again!...

Have you heard of somatic therapy? Lauren redefines how unresolved trauma is stored in our bodies with Lauren Zoeller. To kick off this interview, Lauren defines what somatic experiencing is and examples of somatic tools. Furthermore, she speaks about how to identify an unresolved trauma and how attachment theory relates to finding deeper connections with others. She offers two tools to work throu...

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...

Diet apps and mindset. Let's dive into how Dr. Kyra is bridging the gap between technology and mindset to promote true behaviour change. As a medical doctor, she rediscovered the need for expertise and action regarding behaviour change. With an emphasis on the Habenula, a part of the brain associated with the "failure" mindset, she discusses the dual function of the Habenula and how to avoid its s...