The Fascia-Informed Therapist Podcast; Occupational Therapy, Myofascial Release, Fascial System, Posture, Movement, and More

What if just 4 minutes a day of movement—no gym, no equipment—could lower your risk of dying from heart disease, cancer, or any cause? In this episode, we explore a groundbreaking 2022 study on Vigorous Intermittent Lifestyle Physical Activity (VILPA) and break down why these short, everyday bursts of effort are not just life-saving, but fascia-supporting. You’ll learn how stair climbing, fast walking, and carrying groceries can function like micro-doses of medicine, especially for people who don’t (or can’t) exercise formally. Plus, we connect the dots between intensity, tissue health, and the fascia-informed approach—so you can help clients (and yourself) rethink what it means to move for wellness.

Join The Fascia-Informed Therapist™ Community here Health and Wellness Practitioners

Stamatakis, E., Ahmadi, M. N., Gill, J. M. R., Thøgersen-Ntoumani, C., Gibala, M. J., Doherty, A., & Hamer, M. (2022). Association of wearable device-measured vigorous intermittent lifestyle physical activity with mortality. Nature Medicine, 28(12), 2521–2529. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41591-022-02100-x

In this episode, I dive into the world of wearable posture devices and how they can support alignment, ease, and body awareness within a fascia-informed practice. Drawing on current research and my own clinical experiences, I explore how wearables can complement hands-on therapy, movement retraining, and client education. You’ll hear what the evidence says about spinal posture, muscle activity, and perceived pain—and how to decide when (and if) to recommend these tools to your clients. Whether you’re new to wearables or already experimenting with them, this episode offers a grounded, fascia-aware look at their role in clinical care.

The Fascia-Informed Therapist ™ - Grounded in science. Practicing on the cutting edge.

Kuo, Y. L., Huang, K. Y., Kao, C. Y., & Tsai, Y. J. (2021). Sitting Posture during Prolonged Computer Typing with and without a Wearable Biofeedback Sensor. International journal of environmental research and public health, 18(10), 5430. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18105430

Menopause is more than hot flashes — it’s a full-body transformation that can deeply affect how women move, feel, and function. In this episode, we explore how hormonal shifts, especially the decline of estrogen, impacts fascia — the body’s connective tissue network.

Learn how changes in collagen production contribute to stiffness, chronic pain, and mobility issues, and why fascia is emerging as a key player in understanding musculoskeletal symptoms in midlife and beyond.

We’ll also highlight the unique role occupational therapy practitioners can play in assessing fascial health and supporting women through menopause with movement, education, and fascia-informed strategies. Whether you're an OTP or someone navigating this stage of life, this episode offers science, support, and insight into the menopausal body from the inside out.

Join our community! The Fascia-Informed Therapist ™ - Grounded in science. Practicing on the cutting edge.

https://fasciainformed.com/

In this inspiring episode, we celebrate Dr. Madeline Seide’s recent graduation with her Doctorate in Occupational Therapy. Maddie shares insights from her capstone experience at Mayer Fascia Wellness, including what she learned while working in a fascia-informed clinical setting and how it shaped her vision for the future of her OT practice.

Whether you're a student exploring your path or a seasoned therapist curious about fascia, this episode offers an honest and motivating look at how new professionals can bring curiosity, compassion, and evidence-informed innovation into practice be becoming fascia-informed. Maddie’s story will leave you feeling encouraged and excited for what’s possible in our profession.

🎧 Listen in—and consider what becoming fascia-informed could mean for your future as an OT.

This episode is available as a video episode on YouTube: The Fascia-Informed Therapist™ - YouTube

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Check out our courses! Health Professionals | Mayer Fascia Wellness

In this brief episode, I reflect on the subtle but powerful role of therapist attention in client outcomes. Drawing from research in functional MRI, we explore how simply being fully present—without saying or doing anything differently—can alter a client's brain activity and support regulation, interoception, and healing. Presence is not just polite; it's a clinical tool.

Cerritelli, F., Chiacchiaretta, P., Gambi, F., & Ferretti, A. (2017). Effect of continuous touch on brain functional connectivity is modified by the operator’s tactile attention. Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, 11, 368. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnhum.2017.00368

In this episode of The Fascia-Informed Therapist Podcast, we explore the often-unspoken but deeply felt elements that shape our clinical decision-making: clues, intuition, experience, and science. Starting from the familiar challenge of planning care in unpredictable therapeutic environments, we unpack how competence truly develops—not just through academic knowledge, but through experience, pattern recognition, and perceptual awareness.

Amy shares personal stories from her clinical practice and teaching career, including how she learned to recognize pain through subtle nonverbal signals and why minimizing sensory input can sharpen diagnostic clarity. We also examine research on clinical intuition, revealing how practitioners in various disciplines use and refine it as a legitimate part of diagnostic reasoning.

From anatomy trains and myofascial assessment strategies to the neuroscience of attention and the reflective wisdom of Blink by Malcolm Gladwell, this episode encourages therapists to trust what they feel—while also validating it with science and experience.

Whether you're a new practitioner building your confidence or a seasoned clinician deepening your fascia-informed approach, this conversation invites you to think critically about what really guides you in the treatment room.

Gladwell, M. (2005). Blink: The power of thinking without thinking. Little, Brown and Co.

Melin-Johansson, C., Palmqvist, R., & Rönnberg, L. (2017). Clinical intuition in the nursing process and decision-making: A mixed-studies review. Journal of Clinical Nursing, 26(23-24), 3936–3949. https://doi.org/10.1111/jocn.13814

Van den Brink, N., Holbrechts, B., Brand, P. L. P., & van Royen, P. (2019). Role of intuitive knowledge in the diagnostic reasoning of hospital specialists: A focus group study. BMJ Open, 9, e022724. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2018-022724

Myers, T. (2020). Anatomy Trains: Myofascial Meridians for Manual and Movement Therapists (4th ed.). Elsevier.

In this episode, we explore a common chronic pain diagnosis—Myofascial Pain Syndrome (MPS). Despite its prevalence, MPS is often misdiagnosed or missed altogether, leaving clients stuck in cycles of pain and dysfunction.

Join me as I share details from this 2025 article from Muscle & Nerve on MPS. I’ll also highlight why occupational therapy practitioners (and others) are uniquely positioned to treat this syndrome with manual therapy, movement, postural support, and lifestyle factors. 

Steen, J. P., Jaiswal, K. S., & Kumbhare, D. (2025). Myofascial Pain Syndrome: An Update on Clinical Characteristics, Etiopathogenesis, Diagnosis, and Treatment. Muscle & nerve, 71(5), 889–910. https://doi.org/10.1002/mus.28377

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In this inspiring episode, I sit down with Cheryl Sacco—strength coach, competitive athlete, and all-around powerhouse—as she shares her honest journey from initial skepticism to fully embracing a fascia-informed approach to health and performance. Cheryl talks about what surprised her most, how fascia work has impacted her training and recovery, and why this perspective is now essential to her self-care. Whether you're a practitioner, an athlete, or someone curious about fascia’s role in the body, Cheryl’s story offers insight, empowerment, and a dose of real-world transformation.

Video option: https://youtu.be/9Y7nnH4cSG4

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In this episode, I chat with Jena Schroeder, MS, OTR/L, Certified FST® Practitioner, FST® instructor and founder of Stretch SpOT, to explore how fascia-focused care and Fascial Stretch Therapy® are expanding what's possible in rehabilitation and wellness. Jena shares her journey from traditional OT to integrative practice owner, and offers insights into how FST® is reshaping the way we approach mobility, pain, and performance. Whether you're an OT, wellness provider, or fascia-curious listener, this conversation will stretch your thinking in all the right ways.

Learn more about Jena here: Stretch SpOT: Fascial Stretch Therapy

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This skill of getting down and up from the floor is vital as we age. I share some interesting data, some case stories and an assessment you can try. Oh, and how fascia-informed techniques can help. 

A video I made a few years ago:

The Number One Movement Everyone 50+ (maybe 40s too) Should be Doing Regularly: Getting Up and Down

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