The Optimal Body

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 common misconception around absolutely no stability around the knee with a torn ACL, they explain what the ACL reconstructive surgery consists of and re-shape the narrative around ACL and surgery. With an overarching emphasis on function, they provide insight into the importance of proprioception and strength in and around the knee, the different components of stability around a joint, and why function is so important for ACL rehabilitation. They address laxity at the knee with no ACL, the association between ACL and Knee Osteoarthritis, and the controversy around Knee valgus. Finally, DocJen & Dr. Dom gift you with the ways you can begin to approach your ACL injury, empowering you with knowledge around joint proprioception, muscular coordination, and neurological control in optimizing your rehabilitation, regardless of if you get surgery or not. Tune in!

Vivobarefoot Shoe Discount:

Foundations. Our feet are our base of support, our foundations. DocJen & Dr. Dom live in their VivoBarefoot shoes. No matter what your foot looks like, VivoBarefoot shoes will help your feet return to optimal function and train that joint sense, coordination, control, and strength we have been honing in on in this PT Pearl. With 100 days to return the shoe, give your feet time to transition and adapt in style. Use code ‘TOB’ to get 15% off! 

What You Will Learn In This PT Pearl:

2:08 – ACL Anatomy.

3:27 – Degrees of ACL Injury

4:20 – Tests to determine ACL Injury

5:07 – Signs & Symptoms

5:55 – Who is at higher risk?

7:28 – ACL Reconstruction Surgery - what’s the process?

10:12 – The literature on surgery vs PT, and associations with Knee OA

12:28 – Addressing the laxity associated with torn ACL

13:27 – Components of stability

14:03 – Prevalence of Re-injury

16:54 – Why Function is so Important

20:12 – Allow the knees to cave in or not?

22:37 – Your ACL Rehab Guide

26:08 – Get your own Physical Therapist!

To Watch the PT Pearl on YouTube, click here: https://youtube.com/watch/

For research and full show notes, visit the full website at: https://jen.health/podcast/128

Thank you so much for checking out this episode of The Optimal Body Podcast. If you haven’t done so already, please take a minute to subscribe and leave a quick rating and review of the show!

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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 generation. She describes how you can determine what “healthy” is and how healthcare providers or coaches can preach health at every size while talking about sensitive topics (e.g optimal diet, movement…). Moreover, Dr. Lisa takes a deep dive into her best tips to finding food freedom and setting up an environment that respects your child’s intuitive eating. She also, explains how you can refocus your health goals, the stigmas she still faces, how you can actually get to body positivity. A larger body doesn’t equate to being unhealthy. It’s the behaviors, lifestyle, awareness, and intention that matter. Learn how to optimize your health at any size with Dr. Lisa Folden!

Free Week of the Jen Health Membership:

Looking for a movement community that gives you the plan specific to your body? Need accountability and a plan that is specific to your restrictions?! Come grab a free week of our Jen Health Membership! You'll have access to 12 plans that were all currated by Doc Jen, Dr of Physical Therapy. We make sure you get set up with the plan that will be best for your goals and the rest is laid out for you to follow! Come check it out today! You can even get a discount on your first month using code OPTIMAL at checkout!

What You Will Learn In This Interview with Dr. Lisa

2:59 – Lisa’s story & diet culture

5:36 – When did Lisa’s perspective on diet culture shift?

7:31 – Changing the diet label for the next generation

10:43 – How do you determine what healthy is?

12:58 – Sensitive topics & still preaching for health at every size.

16:37  – Steps to getting to food freedom

23:36  – Guiding children to be more intuitive

25:36  – Reframing labels & modelling behavior as parents

28:43  – Re-focusing your goals

32:07  – Has Lisa faced stigmas?

36:55 – How do you get to body positivity?

41:33  – Learn more with Dr. Lisa

About Dr. Lisa:

Dr. Lisa N. Folden is a licensed physical therapist, mom-focused health coach and the owner of Healthy Phit Physical Therapy & Wellness Consultants in Charlotte, NC.

As a body positive, women’s health expert and health at every size (HAES) ambassador, Dr. Folden assists women seeking a healthier lifestyle by guiding their wellness choices through organization, planning strategies and holistic goal setting. Additionally, Dr. Lisa has recently concentrated her efforts to further advance the field of physical therapy by examining the influence of weight stigma and bias in healthcare and PT.

Items mentioned in this episode:

Dr. Lisa's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/healthyphit/

Dr. Lisa's Website: https://www.healthyphit.com/

To learn more about Dr. Lisa and view full show notes, please visit the full website here: https://jen.health/podcast/127

Thank you so much for checking out this episode of The Optimal Body Podcast. If you haven’t done so already, please take a minute to subscribe and leave a quick rating and review of the show!

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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 everything. If you love your Elastic tape or are curious about it, this episode covers the truths about what Elastic Tape is truly doing. Let’s dive in!

PaleoValley Discount:

What is the one snack DocJen & Dr. Dom have stuck with? PaleoValley! It is full of great ingredients that you can pronounce and know. That way, you have full control of what is going into your body without the taste being compromised. PaleoValley has got sweet-lovers covered with their complete protein bars, and savory lovers with their complete protein 100% grass-fed beef jerky. Get 20% off your purchase, using code ‘OPTIMAL’ at checkout.

What You Will Learn In This PT Pearl:

2:54 – What is Elastic Tape doing?.

5:56 – Are elastic tapes holding something in place?

8:17 – A psychological experience with Elastic †ape

11:12 – Compression & Perception of pain

12:42 – Research on Joint Sense

17:07 – Do Elastic Tapes have a physiological effect?

To Watch the PT Pearl on YouTube, click here: https://youtube.com/watch/

For research and full show notes, visit the full website at: https://jen.health/podcast/126

Thank you so much for checking out this episode of The Optimal Body Podcast. If you haven’t done so already, please take a minute to subscribe and leave a quick rating and review of the show!

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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, natural, and lab-tested wine to ensure they are sugar-free, lower sulfates, and lower alcohol. Todd White speaks into the lack of transparency in the wine industry and its detrimental effects on health. He explores the topics of flavor palates and how changes occur depending on your diet. As he praises lighter wine, he takes a deep dive into how the commercial, natural, and organic labels differ, the FDA approval of additives, and how to choose your wine based on well-sourced grapes. After an evaluative exploration of irrigation and grapes, he provides insight into the ranking systems within the wine industry, and how to choose a healthier wine! Tune in and pick your best wine!

Dry Farm Wines:

We mention Dry Farm Wines in this episode. Dr. Jen & Dr. Dom love to enjoy a little bit of wine now and then, and they love Dry Farm Wine! They use organic grapes, practice regenerative agriculture, and test every bottle for herbicides and pesticides to produce vibrant, fresh, and bright wine. Buy one get one for just one extra penny!

What You Will Learn In This Interview with Todd White

2:34 – Transparency in the Wine Business

5:47 – Natural vs Conventional vs Organic Wines

11:21 – What to look for when sourcing grapes

19:02 – Ranking & Criteria Systems

25:25 – How to determine the most healthful wine.

29:47  – Perks of wines from farmers markets

About Todd White:

Today, after 15 years in the wine business, his life is dedicated to educating and helping people make better choices about food, nutrition, and how they think about consuming alcohol. As the founder of Dry Farm Wines, a writer, speaker, and a leader in the organic/Natural Wine movement, he has widely educated communities on conscious consumption. Todd is deeply passionate about bringing people together to share love and laughter through Natural Wine.

Dry Farm Wines sources pure Natural Wines and lab tests them to ensure each bottle is sugar-free (0-0.15g per glass), lower in sulfites, and lower in alcohol (under 12.5% alc/vol). The wines are friendly to low carb, Paleo, ketogenic, and low sugar diets.

Dry Farm Wines is dedicated to supporting small natural growers, currently sourcing from 600 family farmers who preserve 87,000 acres of organic vineyards and save 1.4 billion gallons of water annually by not irrigating their vines.

Items mentioned in this episode

Dry Farm Wines Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dryfarmwines/

Dry Farm Wines Website: https://www.dryfarmwines.com/

To learn more about Todd White and view full show notes, please visit the full website here: https://jen.health/podcast/125

Thank you so much for checking out this episode of The Optimal Body Podcast. If you haven’t done so already, please take a minute to subscribe and leave a quick rating and review of the show!

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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 explanation of modern pain science, DocJen & Dr. Dom moves past the stereotypes associated with disc herniations, and talk into how you can adapt back into your optimally functioning body! Let’s debunk the misconceptions around herniated discs!

15% OFF Vivobarefoot Shoes!

Our foundations are everything. Our feet are everything. Our feet are our base of support and affect everything up the chain! A study revealed a 60% increase in foot strength from 6 months of wearing VivoBarefoot shoes. Strengthen your feet to build more resilience and move more with Vivo Barefoot! Get 15% off using code ‘TOB’ at checkout.

What You Will Learn In This PT Pearl:

3:30 – Taking fear away from diagnosis names

5:33 – Disc Anatomy

7:37 – Disc Diagnosis & MRI Scans

10:27 – Studies of Disc Herniations

12:28 – Adapting to Pain

14:57 – Function over Structure

15:55 – Never flex the spine?

18:17 – Diaphragmatic Breathing

22:25  – Flexion in the Spine is normal

23:55  – Mobility Method

26:49  – Don’t be afraid and keep exploring!

To Watch the PT Pearl on YouTube, click here: https://youtube.com/watch/

For research and full show notes, visit the full website at: https://jen.health/podcast/124

Thank you so much for checking out this episode of The Optimal Body Podcast. If you haven’t done so already, please take a minute to subscribe and leave a quick rating and review of the show!

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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, and how he has carried forward his early teachings to his practice today. With insufficient access to healthcare for certain groups in America, and increasing numbers of c-sections in the country, Dr. Frabroni discusses the importance of prenatal access with respect to fetal comorbidity, and the necessity of blending fetal monitoring approaches to optimize labor and the health of the baby. Furthermore, Dr. Fabroni offers his insights into the dichotomies between natural birth and c-sections and the importance of being open to respecting the patient’s needs, while educating. He discusses openness and education further in the context of delivery positioning, caloric intake, weight gain, exercises when pregnant, and pelvic floor therapy. Tune into all things pregnancy, prenatal, cross-pollination between providers, and working in hospitals!

PaleoValley Discount:

We mention PaleoValley in this episode. Dr. Jen & Dr. Dom swears by Paleovalley because they know everything that is in their beef sticks of superfood bars and that they can trust the ingredients list that has no vague labeling and words they understand! Stack them up in your pantry using ‘OPTIMAL’ to get a 15% discount at checkout! 

What You Will Learn In This Interview with Dr. Fraboni

4:05 – Biases in different providers

8:28 – Dr. Fabroni’s experience training with nurses & midwives

11:14 – The importance of collaboration

14:22 – Access to healthcare

17:43 – Foetal Monitoring

18:37  – Blending Foetal Approaches

22:15 – Scheduling c-sections

31:40  – Labor in a tub

38:11  – Issues with prenatal access

39:52  – Eating for two?

42:00 – Pregnancy & Exercise

46:57  – Dr. Fraboni’s biggest takeaways

48:52  – Pelvic Floor Therapy

About Dr. Fraboni:

Dr. Fraboni is an assistant clinical professor in the Department of Family Medicine and Community Health at the University of Minnesota, School of Medicine, Minneapolis campus, in Minneapolis, MN, and is a staff physician and Chief of Staff at M Health Fairview Northland Medical Center, in Princeton, MN.  He received his Medical Degree from the University of Minnesota, School of Medicine, Minneapolis, and completed a residency in Family Medicine at St. Joseph’s Hospital, St. Paul, through the University of Minnesota’s Department of Family Medicine and Community Health.  Dr. Fraboni also completed a 2 year surgical Fellowship in Maternal-Child Health at Brown University School of Medicine, Providence.

To learn more about Dr. Fabroni and view full show notes, please visit the full website here: https://jen.health/podcast/123

Thank you so much for checking out this episode of The Optimal Body Podcast. If you haven’t done so already, please take a minute to subscribe and leave a quick rating and review of the show!

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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 diagnosis tends to be more commonly associated with symptoms. Briefly, DocJen & Dr. Dom discusses potential factors that could increase the risk of having symptoms associated with flat feet, and how the body may have adapted to foot positioning up the chain to accommodate flat feet as a consequence of the modern-day shoe. They provide their best tips to address your flat feet for optimal function, which includes more time spent barefoot and exercises to increase arch and foot awareness. Let’s dive in to find what’s optimal for your flat feet!

Vivobarefoot Shoe Discount:

It’s summer! As DocJen & Dr. Dom embarks on new adventures, traveling all around the US, they find themselves on a spontaneous hike more often than not. VivoBaefoot’s Tracker Forest esc has an extra grippy bottom and protects your feet against the rocky and varying terrains of nature, yet allows your feet to breathe and maneuver with ease. Get 15% off using code ‘TOB’ at checkout.

What You Will Learn In This PT Pearl:

3:05 –What does having a flat foot mean?

7:23 – Flat Feet & Walking

8:20 – Compensatory Patterns

9:28 – Prevalence of different flat feet diagnosis

11:23 – Risk factors associated with symptomatic flat feet

12:58 – Signs & Symptoms

15:10 – Noticing tendencies within the body

15:40 – Shoes.

18:32  – Exercises to increase arch awareness

22:15  – Research and a PTs Role

23:23  – How VivoBarefoot shoes can help flat feet

To Watch the PT Pearl on YouTube, click here: https://youtube.com/watch/

For research and full show notes, visit the full website at: https://jen.health/podcast/122

Thank you so much for checking out this episode of The Optimal Body Podcast. If you haven’t done so already, please take a minute to subscribe and leave a quick rating and review of the show!

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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 more global population. She unveils her experience with chronic pain recently, and how she navigated the repercussions of it. Finally, she discusses mindset as a priority in getting through recovery. Tune in to learn about what it takes to get to the other side of recovery!

What You Will Learn In This Interview with Kristi Barker:

2:00 – Where did Kristi’s passion for PT come from?

4:07 – Private Practice

5:10 – Education with Patients

7:28 – Beauty in the basics.

8:50 – Are PTs prescribing too many exercises?

10:54  – Injury Prevention

12:35 – Kristi’s tips with persistent pain

16:49  – Kristi’s neck pain

19:57  – The no pain no gain mentality

20:58  – What helped Kristi with her neck pain?

24:58  – Positive self-talk

31:04  – Reach Rehab Mission

About Kristi Barker

Kristi Barker, Physical therapist from Saskatchewan Canada, runs instagram page @reach.rehab. She fell in love with weight lifting and vertical training when she played division 1 volleyball at University of Arkansas Little rock. She personally trained until she was accepted into the masters of Physical Therapy program and is now a physical therapist at a private practice clinic. Her overall goal is to inspire others to move and make physiotherapy accessible globally.

Items mentioned in this episode include:

Kristi’s Website: https://reach-rehab.com/

Kristi Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/reach.rehab/

To learn more about Kristi and view full show notes, please visit the full website here: https://jen.health/podcast/121

Thank you so much for checking out this episode of The Optimal Body Podcast. If you haven’t done so already, please take a minute to subscribe and leave a quick rating and review of the show!

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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 on the research between MRI scans and asymptomatic individuals, ending the podcast with their best tips to addressing rotator-cuff-related injuries and what you can do to feel something different. Let’s take a deep dive into the rotator cuffs!

Vivobarefoot Shoe Discount:

We also mention VivoBarefoot in this episode. Dr. Jen & Dr, Dom are enjoying their summer hikes in their VivoBarefoot Trail Knits. This grippy, sturdy, yet adaptable shoe will help you expedite your next hike while providing the stimuli of the varied terrains to re-train integrity and strength back in your feet. Truly feel the beauties of nature under your feet, while keeping them safe with Vivo’s allowing your foot to feel safe and the terrain teaching your foot muscle. Use code ‘TOB’ to get 15% off! 

What You Will Learn in this PT Pearl:

2:48 – Diagnosis does not equal pain

3:50 – Research on Scans & Tests

6:00 – What is the Rotator Cuff?

13:48 – Thoracic Spine

14:51 – Muscular Imbalances

19:20 – Dr. Jen’s best tip to approaching Rotator Cuff Injury

22:08 – Dr. Dom’s best tip to approaching Rotator Cuff Injury

23:53 – Self-assessing with TMM

To Watch the PT Pearl on YouTube, click here: https://youtube.com/watch/

For research and full show notes, visit the full website at: https://jen.health/podcast/120

Thank you so much for checking out this episode of The Optimal Body Podcast. If you haven’t done so already, please take a minute to subscribe and leave a quick rating and review of the show!

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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 power of pausing, intuitive eating, and gradient of healing, she walks you through her own disordered eating past and provides tips on how you can begin to start your own journey. As part of the process, she talks about true self-love, distinguishing it from self-care. She touches base with the somatic work and its transformational effects in relation to the nervous system, trauma healing, and weight management. Learn whether or not Keri still struggles with her relationship with food and how to restore and reconnect with yourself on a sanctuary retreat with Keri! Let’s dive in!

PaleoValley Discount:

We mention PaleoValley in this episode. If you pick 5 packaged food items and read the ingredient list, can you be assured that you will understand the ingredients? That’s why we love PalleoVallley. Palleovalley uses whole foods ingredients, found naturally on our earth. With beef sticks and protein bars, they have something to satisfy your sweet or savory tooth! Use code ‘OPTIMAL‘ to get 15% off.

What You Will Learn In This Interview with Keri Ford:

3:28 – Keri’s “Why.”

5:22 – Approaching struggling relationships with food.

6:36 – Power of Pausing.

10:34 – Dropping shame associated with food.

13:32 – Approaching cravings in terms of intuitive eating.

16:30  – How Keri permitted intuitive eating.

19:22 – Shifting from self-care to self-love.

21:08  – Billion dollar body principle.

22:57  – Tips on identifying how to be present & starting your journey.

26:33  – What is Somatic work?

34:29  – Keri’s Sanctuary Retreats.

39:03  – Connect further with Keri

About Keri Ford:

Featured around the world on Entrepreneur, NBC, SELF, Livestrong, and FOX, Keri is the CEO and Founder of Elevate with Keri – an elite transformational coaching movement and luxury brand created for high-performance women ready to be successful in this part of their life. As a previous Celebrity Trainer, Keri is recognized as an international motivational speaker, author, event host, and leading global authority on whole-body wellness. She has spoken alongside top industry experts, neuroscientists, and doctors.

Keri has also been nominated as one of the Top 100 Visionaries in Healthcare by IFAH, the International Forum on Advancements in Healthcare.

She is on a mission to empower millions of women to challenge diet culture, educate on the science and psychology of intuitive eating, and master self-love from the inside out.

Items mentioned in this episode include:

Keri’s Website: https://elevatewithkeri.com

Sign up for Keri’s retreat: https://shiftwithsanctuary.com

Keri’s Instagram: https://instagram.com/thekeriford/

To learn more about Keri and view full show notes, please visit the full website here: https://jen.health/podcast/119

Thank you so much for checking out this episode of The Optimal Body Podcast. If you haven’t done so already, please take a minute to subscribe and leave a quick rating and review of the show!

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.