The Optimal Body

In this episode of the Optimal Body Podcast, physical therapists Doc Jen and Doctor Dom, both Doctors of Physical Therapy, discuss how postpartum women can safely return to strength training while breastfeeding. They explain the hormonal changes after birth and their effects on mood, energy, and physical recovery. The hosts share practical health tips for hydrations, nutrition, and gradual exercis...

In this episode of the Optimal Body Podcast, Doctors of Physical Therapy Doc Jen and Dr Dom, welcome holistic therapist Megan, creator of the Love Alignment Method and author of Choose Yourself. Megan shares her journey from eating disorder recovery to specializing in attachment trauma and relationships. The discussion explores self-discovery, healing attachment wounds, exploring past relationship...

In this episode of the Optimal Body Podcast, Dr. Jen and Dr. Dom explore how to build muscle and strength without lifting heavy weights. They explain that working muscles to fatigue within a moderate rep range—using lighter loads or bodyweight—can be just as effective to build muscle. The hosts share practical exercise modifications, discuss the importance of reaching muscular failure, and emphasi...

In this episode of the Optimal Body Podcast, Doc Jen and Doctor Dom welcome pelvic floor Doctor of Physical Therapy Dr. Sarah Reardon to discuss her new book, "Flawed: A Women’s Guide to Pelvic Floor Health at Every Age and Stage." They explore the importance of pelvic health education, debunk common myths, address certain pelvic floor pain and conditions, and address the stigma surrounding women’...

In this episode of the Optimal Body Podcast, Dr. Jen and Dr. Dom, both physical therapists, dive deep into the world of barefoot shoes and the barefoot lifestyle. They explore how making the switch to barefoot footwear can help address common pain issues, including bunion pain and plantar fasciitis. The hosts discuss essential features of minimalist shoes, share their own barefoot journeys, and em...

In this Optimal Body Podcast episode, hosts Doc Jen and Doctor Dom, doctors of physical therapy, welcome sleep expert Todd Anderson. Todd shares insights from his athletic and coaching background, emphasizing the foundational role of sleep in performance, pain relief, and optimal health. The conversation covers practical sleep strategies, the impact of mindset, light, temperature, exercise, hormon...

In this episode of the Optimal Body Podcast, physical therapists Doc Jen and Dr Dom discuss trigger finger (stenosing tenosynovitis), covering its causes, symptoms, and risk factors—especially in people with diabetes or repetitive hand use. They outline conservative treatments like splinting, corticosteroid injections, and targeted exercises to improve tendon gliding and finger mobility. Surgical...

In this episode of the Optimal Body Podcast, Dr. Jen and Dr. Dom welcome Dr. Courtney Conley and Dr. Jen Perez, co-founders of Gait Happens, for an insightful discussion on health optimization through foot health. They explore how foot health impacts overall well-being, exercise performance, and movement longevity, with a special focus on plantar fasciitis and other common issues that impact foot...

In this episode of the Optimal Body Podcast, Dr. Jen and Dr. Dom, doctors of physical therapy, dive deep into the connection between menopause and women’s health, focusing on how estrogen affects muscle health, strength, and recovery. They break down the ways menopause and the surrounding hormonal shifts—peri-menopause, post-menopause, and postpartum—can impact muscle repair, strength loss, and in...

In this episode of The Optimal Body Podcast, hosts Doc Jen and Doctor Dom, Doctors of Physical Therapy, interview Julie Sawayah, co-founder of Needed. They discuss the critical gaps in prenatal nutrition, highlighting common deficiencies in standard prenatal vitamins and the importance of optimal dosing and quality ingredients in prenatals. Julie explains Needed’s approach to comprehensive, resear...

In this episode of the Optimal Body Podcast, Doc Jen PT, DPT and Dr Dom PT, DPT, physical therapy experts, compare high-intensity interval training (HIIT) and sprint interval training (SIT), answering questions from their Jen Health community. They discuss the benefits and challenges of each method, especially for women in perimenopause and post-menopause, and emphasize the importance of individua...

In this episode of the Optimal Body Podcast, Dr. Jen and Dr. Dom welcome Gina Conley, founder of MamasteFit, to discuss prenatal exercise and postpartum fitness. Gina shares her personal journey, debunks common myths about exercising during pregnancy, and highlights the importance of tailored movement for pelvic health and pain relief. The conversation emphasizes listening to one’s body, gradual p...

In this episode of the Optimal Body Podcast, Doc Jen and Doctor Dom, both doctors of physical therapy, explore the benefits and considerations of using weighted vests during walking, especially for individuals in menopause. They discuss how weighted vest walking can help improve bone density, especially for women post menopause, and offer practical tips for safe use. The hosts emphasize that while...

In this episode of the Optimal Body Podcast, Dr. Jen and Dr. Dom interview Dr. Emily Splichal, a functional podiatrist, foot health expert, and author of "Sensory Sapiens." They discuss the vital role of sensory awareness—especially through the feet—in movement, emotional well-being, and fall prevention. Dr. Splichal shares practical tips for enhancing sensory connections, highlights the impact of...

In this episode of the Optimal Body Podcast, Doc Jen and Doctor Dom, doctors of physical therapy, discuss how medical diagnoses like "degenerative disc disease" and "chondromalacia patella" can be misleading, unnecessarily alarming, and detrimental to our optimal health journey. They explain that imaging often shows abnormalities in people without pain, emphasizing the importance of focusing on pa...

In this episode of the Optimal Body Podcast, hosts Doc Jen and Doctor Dom, both doctors of physical therapy, delve into the critical first thousand days of a child's life, from conception to two years old. They highlight the importance of prenatal and postpartum nutrition for women's health. Guest speaker Dr. Federica Amati, head nutritionist at Zoe, emphasizes the lasting impact of early nutritio...

In this episode of the Optimal Body Podcast, co-hosts Doc Jen and Doctor Dom, both doctors of physical therapy, explore essential foot health topics, focusing on bunions and plantar fasciitis. They discuss the benefits of toe spacers, the importance of foot strength and stability, and how exercise can potentially reverse bunions. They emphasize understanding foot health's role in overall body func...

In this episode of the Optimal Body Podcast, hosts Dr. Jen and Dr. Dom, doctors of physical therapy, welcome Dr. Jessica Knurick, a registered dietitian with a PhD in physical activity, nutrition, and wellness. The discussion focuses on pregnancy and postpartum nutrition, debunking common myths and providing evidence-based guidelines on nutrition for women throughout different phases. Dr. Knurick...

In this episode of the Optimal Body Podcast, Dr. Jen and Dr. Dom, both doctors of physical therapy, delve into neck adjustments, commonly known as "neck cracking." They debunk myths about spinal alignment, what neck adjustments actually do, and explain that the cracking sound is due to gas bubbles releasing in the joints, not bones realigning. They highlight the temporary pain relief and endorphin...

In this episode of the Optimal Body Podcast, hosts Doc Jen and Doctor Dom, both doctors of physical therapy, delve into hormone health with guest expert Dr. Greg Brannon, an MD specializing in bioidentical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT). Dr. Brannon discusses the critical roles of testosterone and estrogen in overall well-being, addressing the alarming decline in testosterone levels due to env...

In this episode of the Optimal Body Podcast, co-hosts Doc Jen and Doctor Dom, both doctors of physical therapy, answer listener questions on physical therapy, body mechanics, and pain management. They debunk myths about bunions, joint alignment, and tight hip flexors, emphasizing the importance of strength, mobility, and proper footwear. Doc Jen highlights the benefits of barefoot shoes for foot h...

In this episode of the Optimal Body Podcast, hosts Doc Jen and Doctor Dom, doctors of physical therapy, explore the crucial role of doulas in the birthing process with Kelsey and Aurora from Soul Shine Birth. They discuss how doulas provide emotional, physical, and educational support during pregnancy, labor, and postpartum. The conversation highlights the benefits of having a doula, such as impro...

In this episode of the Optimal Body Podcast, Doc Jen, doctor of physical therapy, shares her postpartum journey following her second childbirth, a vaginal birth, contrasting it with her first cesarean experience. Joined by Doctor Dom, they discuss the physical and emotional challenges of postpartum recovery, emphasizing the importance of support, pelvic floor health, early rehabilitation exercise,...

In this episode of the Optimal Body Podcast, hosts Doc Jen and Doctor Dom, both doctors of physical therapy, engage in an enlightening conversation with Nikolina Lauc, CEO and co-founder of Glycanage on biological age. They explore the groundbreaking methods Glycanage uses to measure biological age through advanced blood biomarkers, focusing on glycans' role in inflammation and aging. Nikolina dis...

In this episode of the Optimal Body Podcast, Dr. Jen, doctor of physical therapy, shares her inspiring journey of having a vaginal birth after cesarean (VBAC) for her second child, Luca. She discusses the emotional and physical challenges she faced, the importance of mindset and preparation, and the invaluable support from her midwives and partner, Dr. Dom. Dr. Jen emphasizes the significance of h...