

The Optimal Body
Dr Jen Fraboni & Dr Dom Fraboni
Join top-40 Physical Therapy Influencer, Doc Jen, and her Physical Therapy husband Dr. Dom, as they bring you the body tips and PT Pearls you need to help you understand your body, relieve your pains and restrictions, and answer your questions. Along with expert guests, the goal of The Optimal Body is to help you discover what optimal means in your own body.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Apr 15, 2024 • 23min
352 | Scapular Winging? What can you do!
Seen or been told your shoulder blade is in a funky position during exercise? Perhaps popping out a little bit? Heard that scapular winging will cause pain inadvertently? Dr. Jen and Dr. Dom have your back as they explore all things scapular and debunk the common myths surrounding scapular winging. Tune into how scapular winging occurs, how you can begin to explore scapular range of motion, and how your scapular moves in coordination with its neighbors. Through this podcast, you’ll develop an appreciation for your scapulae and feel empowered to explore gaining control, awareness, and free expression through your scapulae!
What You Will Learn in this PT Pearl:
2:30 – What is Scapular Winging?
3:20 – Scapular Anatomy
5:11 – Does scapular winging cause pain?
6:56 – Are you aware of your scapular winging?
10:30 – It’s not only about the scapulae
14:56 – Scapular range of motion
17:59 – Videotape how your scapula moves... It’s pretty cool!
18:38 - How to test your scapular range of motion
20:51 - Funny movement does not mean pain or injury
To Watch the PT Pearl on YouTube, click here: https://www.youtube.com/watch
For the full show notes, visit the full website at: https://jen.health/podcast/352
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.

Apr 8, 2024 • 52min
351 | The 4 Pillars to Improve Foot Health and Preventing Pain with Functional Podiatrist, Dr. Emily Splichal
Stretching and strengthening may not be enough for Foot Health. Dr. Emily Splichal dives into the missing piece: sensory awareness! Describing the 4 pillars of foot health, she provides insight into the importance of sensory input through the feet, potential causes of neuropathy, and tools you can use to gain awareness in the feet. With a simple test to gauge your risk of falls, she provides simple methods to improve your foot proprioception and, ultimately, balance! From flat feet to high arches, she covers all our bases! Let's dive in!
Naboso Discount Code:
Increase your foot proprioception and sense of environment with NABOSO, brought to you by a functional podiatrist, Dr. Emily Splichal. Stimulate your foot's sensory nerves and create safety within the body to ease pain and symptoms. Go check out their foot recovery socks with our 15% off coupon using code 'OPTIMAL'.
LMNT Discount Code:
Fuel every system within the body and the brain with LMNT! Keep yourself hydrated on a cellular level by replenishing the sodium, potassium, and magnesium our body needs for basic cellular processes like nerve signalling, smooth muscle contractions, unnecessary fatigue, aches and pain, brain fog, and recovery! Get a free gift with every purchase and try some new flavours as you stay hydrated! Get Your Free Gift Here!
What You Will Learn in This Interview with Dr. Emily Splichal:
6:00 - The 4 pillars of the feet
9:12 - Why is it important for our feet to “feel”
11:40 - Sensory Conditions: Neuropathy
12:30 - How to gain awareness in the feet?
16:00 - Can’t walk barefoot? Here’s what you can do!
18:40 - Foot proprioception and its affect on balance
21:00 - Why single leg balance is so important
22:00 - How foot type affects single leg stability
25:25 - Orthotics have a time and place!
29:50 - Is it possible to get out of an orthotic?
34:20 - Higher arch foot type: Does foot shape equate function
38:46 - High Arches - do you need to strengthen the arch?
41:33 - Exercises for strengthening the foot
49:45 - Learn more with Dr. Emily!
To learn more about this episode and view full show notes, please visit the full website here: https://jen.health/podcast/351
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.

Apr 1, 2024 • 18min
350 | What Exercises Help to Improve Posture?
Your one-stop shop to addressing your posture! DocJen and Dr. Dom dive into all things posture and how you can change your movement game to address your posture. Tapping into mobility, strength through range, and core control, they hone in on their best tips! Let's dive in!
Jen Health Discount:
Try something different. If you’ve been told to “stay away,” “stop [x],” “try [x] and it has not worked,” we’re taking you back to the basics and back to the science. Jen Health was created so that you don’t have to think but just show up from 5-15 minutes a day to work on your deep core, and functional mobility, and to understand stability and control through movement as yes, all these factors are staples to target exercises for a specific pain point. Educating you – the what and the why covered! This week only, take advantage of our massive discount of $147. You get all our plans for a full year of 11 plans for different plans with multiple phases, monthly webinars to continue your education and have your answers to your questions, as well as community! Use code "PODCAST20" to get access to the discount!
What You Will Learn In This PT Pearl:
3:15 - What is posture?
5:30 - What exercise is best to improve posture?
8:50 - Should you use machines in the gym?
12:20 - Restrictions and range of motion.
14:00 - The power of the eccentric phase of exercise.
16:15 - Tapping into mobility.
To Watch the PT Pearl on YouTube, click here: https://youtube.com/watch/ Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Mar 25, 2024 • 47min
349 | Fitness Changes & Considerations During Pregnancy & Postpartum with Brianna Battles
Itching to exercise post-partum but have been told to wait? Or, wanting to exercise as a beginner and pregnant? We dive into how Brianna found passion in helping new mothers post-partum and through pregnancy with their fitness journeys. We dive into whether exercise is harmful during oreganacy and post-partum, post-partum expectations related to return to exercise, whether you need to avoid core exercises, and considerations related to running and jumping! Let's dive in!
Jen Health Discount:
Try something different. If you've been told to "stay away," "stop [x]," "try [x] and it has not worked," we're taking you back to the basics and back to the science. Jen Health was created so that you don't have to think but just show up from 5-15 minutes a day to work on your deep core, and functional mobility, and to understand stability and control through movement as yes, all these factors are staples to target exercises for a specific pain point. Educating you - the what and the why covered! This week only, take advantage of our massive discount of $159. You get all our plans for a full year of 11 plans for different plans with multiple phases, monthly webinars to continue your education and have your answers to your questions, as well as community! Click here to get access to the discount!
Increase your foot proprioception and sense of environment with NABOSO, brought to you by a functional podiatrist, Dr. Emily Splichal. Stimulate your foot's sensory nerves and create safety within the body to ease pain and symptoms. Go check out their foot recovery socks with our 15% off coupon using code 'OPTIMAL'.
What You Will Learn in This Interview with Brianna Battles:
3:55 - What got Brianna interested in fitness for pregnancy
9:40 - “I’m pregnant now what?” Is exercise bad?
16:30 - Should you stop core exercises?
21:40 - Low or no energy but itching to move? How to navigate it?
26:20 - What to focus on in the first couple of weeks post-partum?
30:00 - Markets for readiness to return to exercise
35:30 - Rule of thumb to support your body for running and jumping
40:30 - From couch potato to fitness while pregnant
44:05 - Learn more with Brianna.
To learn more about this episode and view full show notes, please visit the full website here: https://jen.health/podcast/349
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.

Mar 18, 2024 • 14min
348 | Should You Do Cool Downs? What is the Best Technique?
Do you cool-down? At times, cool-downs feel unimportant or a waste of time, however, DocJen & Dr. Dom break the confusion in this episode. With a high emphasis on specificity, they explain the importance of strategically cooling down the body to prepare the body for optimal recovery, addressing how to appropriately use breath and movement after exercise to kickstart that rest, digest, and recovery state. Let’s dive in!
LMNT Discount Code:
Fuel every system within the body and the brain with LMNT! Keep yourself hydrated on a cellular level by replenishing the sodium, potassium, and magnesium our body needs for basic cellular processes like nerve signalling, smooth muscle contractions, unnecessary fatigue, aches and pain, brain fog, and recovery! Get a free gift with every purchase and try some new flavours as you stay hydrated! Get Your Free Gift Here!
What You Will Learn In This PT Pearl:
2:20 - Why cool-down? Passive vs Active Cool-down.
5:40 - Research around cool-downs.
9:00 - Choosing your best cool-down.
10:00 - How to foam roll effectively.
11:19 - How to use research to inform your movement practices.
To Watch the PT Pearl on YouTube, click here: https://youtube.com/watch/ Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Mar 11, 2024 • 52min
347 | Fevers, Eczema and Poop with Naturopathic Pediatric Doctor, Dr. Elana Roumell
Struggling to navigate your kid's fever, eczema, or poop concerns? “If you’re putting that steroid cream on, that is just a bandaid.” We have Dr Elana Roumell, a doctor and naturopath specializing in paediatric, to address when to conventional and herbal medicine for fevers, specifically Tyenol and Ibuprofen, and her top herbal medicine recommendations. Then, she dives into the world of excema, discussing nutrition considerations and how to care for the manifestations of excema. Finally, Dr. Elana dives into how to read your kid's poop! Let's dive in!
VivoBarefoot Discount:
Save your kids feet! Your feet have the components they need to support themselves! That's why we love VivoBarefoot because the shoes themselves help us gain mobility and strength in our feet. Live that barefoot life in style, choose VivoBarefoot and use code TOB at checkout to get 15% off! Your foot and body will thank you (affiliate link)!
**Vivo offers a 100-day trial period. If you are not completely satisfied, you can send the shoes back and get a refund.
What You Will Learn in This Interview with Dr. Elana Roumell:
4:21 - Why naturopathic Paediatrics.
9:44 - How to tell how bad your fever is & when to turn to herbal medicine?
23:44 - What does it mean if there are rapid changes in internal body temperature?
26:30 - When or when not to use Tylenol and Ibuprofen.
30:20 - Nutrition for Excema.
35:35 - When to use a steroid creams for Exzema.
37:37 - Natural type creams for baby Exzema.
41:43 - Speaking about poop…
46:50 - Learn more with Dr. Elana.
To learn more about this episode and view full show notes, please visit the full website here: https://jen.health/podcast/347
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.

Mar 4, 2024 • 25min
346 | Should You Be Doing Warm Ups? What's Effective? What's Not?
Do you warm-up? At times, warm-ups feel unimportant or a waste of time, however, DocJen & Dr. Dom break the confusion in this episode. With a high emphasis on specificity, they explain the importance of strategically warming up the body to prepare for the upcoming movement, how to appropriately activate the body before exercise sessions, whether stretching is really that bad before movement, and how you can optimize your warm-ups for injury prevention. Let’s dive in!
Join Our Move 2 Improve Challenge
Combine strength and HIIT with our deep core work and mobility to understand how you can begin moving optimally for YOU! Curated for EVERYONE with modifications or progressions, especially if you're pregnant or want to build back that strength post-partum - DocJen has got you! Let's focus on that top-end Strength & Power to build strong healthy joints in less than 30 minutes a day! We've got educational webinars from different health specialists and the ability to win prizes as well! Receive an exclusive bonus for you as our podcast listener by plugging in 'OPTIMAL20" Join Us Here!
LMNT Discount Code:
Fuel every system within the body and the brain with LMNT! Keep yourself hydrated on a cellular level by replenishing the sodium, potassium, and magnesium our body needs for basic cellular processes like nerve signalling, smooth muscle contractions, unnecessary fatigue, aches and pain, brain fog, and recovery! Get a free gift with every purchase and try some new flavours as you stay hydrated! Get Your Free Gift Here!
What You Will Learn In This PT Pearl:
2:30 - Do warm-ups prevent injury.
5:00 - Research around warm-ups.
6:41 - Physiology behind passive warm-ups.
8:30 - How to actively warm up.
11:45 - Warm-ups and injury prevention
14:00 - Can you stretch before workouts?
16:00 - Are we sure we shouldn’t stretch before workouts?
18:50 - Example warm-up: how to warm up for a lower body strength workout
To Watch the PT Pearl on YouTube, click here: https://youtube.com/watch/ Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Feb 26, 2024 • 51min
345 | Female Nutrition and Training from Puberty to Menopause
#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 and post-exercise, and how eating times affect hormones and recovery. Dr. Stacy deciphers nutrition and training considerations throughout the different phases of the menstrual cycle and her top recommendations to getting your period back. Then, Dr. Stacy dives into the fad trends women should avoid, and research generalizability and transferability to women. She discusses the world of menopause and how hormonal changes affect physiological metrics like heart rate, respiratory rate, sleep, lean muscle mass, bone density, mood, and overall health. In spite of these physiological metrics, Dr. Stacy addresses optimizing recovery before, during, and after menopause. Finally, she provides a brief scope into the current research she is undergoing with WHOOP. Learn about nutrition and training from puberty to menopause.
Vital Proteins Discount:
We know that while our bodies collagen production slows as we age, our need for it only grows as our bodies become less efficient. By providing nourishing collagen and promoting our production of collagen, Vital Proteins helps people feel better and live fuller lives through HIGH-QUALITY nutrition products. Use code ‘OPTIMAL15‘ at checkout and get your very own Collagen supplement at a discounted price by clicking here!
Join Our Move 2 Improve Challenge
Combine strength and HIIT with our deep core work and mobility to understand how you can begin moving optimally for YOU! Curated for EVERYONE with modifications or progressions, especially if you're pregnant or want to build back that strength post-partum - DocJen has got you! Let's focus on that top-end Strength & Power to build strong healthy joints in less than 30 minutes a day! We've got educational webinars from different health specialists and the ability to win prizes as well! From now until the 3rd of March, you can receive a discount along with an exclusive bonus for you as our podcast listener by plugging in 'OPTIMAL10" Join Us Here!
What You Will Learn in This Interview with Dr. Stacy Sims:
3:48 - Dr. Stacy’s Passion
5:25 - Why may your menstrual period stop?
10:35 - Eating for exercise.
15:00 - Eating with your cycle.
18:00 - How to get your period back.
22:00 - Are low-carb diets bad for women?
24:45 - Menopause: can you fast?
27:00 - Repercussions of male-only data
28:32 - Trends to stay away from.
32:00 - Perimenopause, menopause and post-menopause.
34:50 - Training with menopause.
42:00 - How do you define high intensity for you?
47:00 - Learn more with Dr. Stacy
To learn more about this episode and view full show notes, please visit the full website here: https://jen.health/podcast/345
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.

Feb 19, 2024 • 30min
344 | Mobility During the Trimesters of Pregnancy
In this episode, we delve into essential exercises and tips tailored to each trimester of pregnancy to support optimal mobility, stability, and overall well-being for expectant mothers. In the first trimester, we empower you with the hallmarks of mobility, as well as the importance of breathwork with pelvic floor awareness. In the second trimester, we address how you can work around the new sensations you are experiencing and what it means to focus on strength and stability as a signal of protection and resiliency to the brain. Finally, in the third trimester, we dive into intuition and relaxation, ensuring you move and modify movement throughout the trimester. Let's dive in!
Join Our Move 2 Improve Challenge
Combine strength and HIIT with our deep core work and mobility to understand how you can begin moving optimally for YOU! Curated for EVERYONE with modifications or progressions, especially if you're pregnant or want to build back that strength post-partum - DocJen has got you! Let's focus on that top-end Strength & Power to build strong healthy joints in less than 30 minutes a day! We've got educational webinars from different health specialists and the ability to win prizes as well! From now until the 23rd of February, you can receive an early bird discount along with an exclusive bonus for you as our podcast listener by plugging in 'OPTIMAL10" Join Us Here!
LMNT Discount Code:
Fuel every system within the body and the brain with LMNT! Keep yourself hydrated on a cellular level by replenishing the sodium, potassium, and magnesium our body needs for basic cellular processes like nerve signalling, smooth muscle contractions, unnecessary fatigue, aches and pain, brain fog, and recovery! Get a free gift with every purchase and try some new flavours as you stay hydrated! Get Your Free Gift Here!
What You Will Learn In This PT Pearl:
5:05 - Tips For First Trimester & Top 5 Mobility Exercises
9:00 - Symptoms During the Second Trimester
11:30 - Breathwork & Pelvic Floor Awareness
15:08 - Top Stability Exercises For The Second Trimester
20:20 - Two Additional Mobility Exercises To Consider For The Second Trimester
22:10 - Third Trimester Exercise Considerations: Pelvic Floor Relaxation
To Watch the PT Pearl on YouTube, click here: https://youtube.com/watch/ Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Feb 12, 2024 • 48min
343 | Let us Re-Introduce Ourselves
Welcome to our re-introduction. We're diving into where it all started, describing DocJen and Dr. Dom's paths to physical therapy and how they met! With fun facts, they expand beyond the initial dates and how their relationship flourished. Speaking into the impact of COVID, they hone in on how they navigated their business and how they paved the path towards creating their app - Jen Health. Let's dive in!
VivoBarefoot Discount:
Flat, thin, wide and flexible. VivoBarefoot Shoes are made to optimize the natural function of our feed, enhancing strength and mobility with a barefoot profile shoe. For every occasion from casual wear, slippers, exercise, hiking, and beach days to dress wear, you can get a 15% off using our code ‘TOB‘ only available to our podcast listeners with 100 days risk-free trial period! What’s there to lose? Try your pair of VivoBarefoot shoes this summer, here! (affiliate link)
**Vivo offers a 100-Day trial period. If you are not completely satisfied, you can send the shoes back and get a refund.
LMNT Electrolyte Discount:
Fuel every system within the body and the brain with LMNT! Keep yourself hydrated on a cellular level by replenishing the sodium, potassium and magnesium that our body needs for basic cellular processes like nerve signalling, smooth muscle contractions, unnecessary fatigue, aches and pain, brain fog, and recovery! Get a free gift with every purchase and try some new flavours as you stay hydrated!
What You Will Learn in This Interview with DocJen & Dr. Dom:
5:06 - How DocJen and Dr. Dom got into Physical Therapy.
12:45 - Jen’s fun facts!
16:40 - Dom’s fun facts!
20:20 - How DocJen and Dr. Dom met.
34:10 - Life beyond the dates.
35:53 - COVID & The Business
39:05 - The birth of The Optimal Body
40:00 - Gaps in Social Media and Expanding the Business
46:06 - Special offer into our App: Jen Health
To learn more about this episode and view full show notes, please visit the full website here: https://jen.health/podcast/343
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.


