

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

Feb 5, 2024 • 18min
342 | Does Electrical Stimulation for Pain Help? A Look Into TENs Units
Have you tried TENs? DocJen and Dr. Dom dive into Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation. They dive into how it affects the body to reduce pain in the short-term, potential contraindications, and critically analyze the research that has been done on TENs. Finally, they discuss its use during labour and how it can facilitate pain management temporarily. Let's dive into all things TENs!
VivoBarefoot Discount:
Something that can surprisingly affect the health of our hamstrings is what we wear on our feet. It challenges the whole back-side chain to work through its full range of motion.
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 PT Pearl:
02:00 - What are TENS and how does it affect our body/work?
5:20 - Contradictions
6:08 - How do TENs affect lower back pain?
8:36 - A 2017 Study
10:35 - A 2022 Study with back exercises
11:11 - A 2010 Review
14:15 - Limitations of the study
16:11 - TENS & Labour?
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.

Jan 29, 2024 • 45min
341 | The Power of Breathwork to Release Stress, Relieve Pain and Heal with Samantha Skelly
Struggling with anxiety? Feeling overwhelmed? - What if something as simple as breathwork self-healed? A tool constantly overlooked, but within us, is our breath. Samantha dives into her story about breathwork and how her first experiences changed her mental and bodily state. In addition to diving into the science of how breathwork can be a primary determinant of the state your nervous system is in, Samantha provides you with solutions to integrate breathwork when you're busy or stressed, types of breath practices for different events in your life, the optimal frequency for breathwork, and what it means to truly pause. Finally, she dives into how you can begin teaching breathwork at an early age and the impact this has on the younger generation. Let's dive in!
Vital Proteins Discount:
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Air Doctor Air Purifier DISCOUNT
The indoor air we breathe is 2-5x more polluted than the outside air and is a response to nearly 8 million premature deaths globally. Air Doctor filters 99.99% dangerous contaminants so your lungs don’t have to include pollen mould spores, allergens, bacteria, and viruses that make you sick. With a 30-day breathe-easy money-back guarantee, use code ‘OPTIMAL’ for $300 off and a 3 x 3-year warranty! Click here!
What You Will Learn in This Interview with Samantha Skelly:
3:33 - How did Sam become interested in breathwork
11:04 What does it mean to shift the nervous system?
15:00 - Busy or stressed? How to use our breath to self-heal?
19:07 Are there different breath techniques for different life events?
26:25 Frequency of breathwork to self-heal
32:03 Here’s why you need to take 5 minutes of breathwork!
36:56 How to utilise the concept of “pause.”
39:55 How can a parent utilize breathwork with their children
To learn more about Samantha Skelly and view full show notes, please visit the full website here: https://www.docjenfit.com/podcast/episode341
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.

Jan 22, 2024 • 23min
340 | Our Top Tips to Improve Wrist & Elbow Health & Reduce Pain
Tune into optimal health where DocJen and Dr Dom dive into all things wrist health! DocJen and Dr Dom dive into the potential causes of wrist pain, the role of the elbow in wrist health and the best exercises to help optimize that wrist-elbow complex, considering compensation, the nervous system, and the range of motion. By providing your solution with exercises, they discuss the relevance of mobility and strength to build awareness and resilience in the wrists!
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!
What You Will Learn In This PT Pearl:
02:10 - Common diagnosis, symptoms and Anatomy of the wrist & elbow.
04:25 - Potential causes of your pain & Dr. Dom’s mom’s elbow journey
10:30 - Exercises to optimise your foot health.
06:48 - Wrist pain during resistance training?
09:20 - Nervous System Considerations.
15:22 - Are you ignoring your wrist health?
19:05 - Optimising elbow rotation health.
Previous episodes you may be interested in:
Episode 19 - Wrist Discomfort
Episode 78 - Carpal Tunnel
Episode 118 - DeQuervain's Syndrome
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://www.docjenfit.com/podcast/episode340/ Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Jan 15, 2024 • 52min
339 | Reshaping the Wellness Landscape to Improve Your Health with Dr Jonathan Leary
Here's a different date idea - What if you and your partner got together to optimize your physiology? Join us as we explore Dr. Jonathan's career and how he birthed the world's first social health club. We dive into the concept of integrative wellbeing and shed light on the Social Wellness Club. We confront the question of why healthy activities often carry a stigma, and what it means to challenge societal perceptions and explore the barriers preventing positive lifestyle choices. By ensuring accessibility for everyone, Dr Jonathan describes the strategies employed to make the Social Wellness Club approachable to a diverse audience and breaks down the idea of participating in seemingly "stressful" self-care experiences. We redefine food choices and re-evaluate the concept of self-care through remedy place.
VivoBarefoot Discount:
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.
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 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! Get Your Free Gift!
What You Will Learn in This Interview with Dr Jonathan Leary:
3:30 - Inspiration behind Dr. Jonathan’s Career
15:00 - Where does the power come from when introducing an integrative wellness approach?
18:39 - What is different about the social wellness club?
21:36 - Why is doing healthy things stigmatised?
24:55 - Social Wellness Club promise.
27:20 - How do we make Social Wellness Club approachable to everyone?
36:24 - Why take part in “stressful” self-care experiences?
40:17 - Should we define our food choices?
43:55 - The power of consciousness and body signals.
45:52 - How had Remedy Place helped people?
49:33 - Learn more about Remedy Place.
To learn more about Dr Jonathan Leary and view full show notes, please visit the full website here: https://www.docjenfit.com/podcast/episode339
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.

Jan 8, 2024 • 19min
338 | Our Top Tips to Improve Foot & Ankle Health & Reduce Pain
Tune into optimal health where DocJen and Dr Dom dive into the Foot and Ankle! DocJen and Dr. Dom dive into the potential causes of foot and ankle pain, the role of footwear in foot health and the best exercises to help optimize that foot-ankle complex. By providing your solution with exercises, they discuss the relevance of mobility and strength to build awareness and resilience.
VivoBarefoot Discount:
Something that can surprisingly affect the health of our hamstrings is what we wear on our feet. It challenges the whole back-side chain to work through its full range of motion.
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.
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 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! Get Your Free Gift!
What You Will Learn In This PT Pearl:
5:19 - Causes of foot and ankle pains
7:28 - Are we anti-conventional shoes?
10:30 - Exercises to optimise your foot health
13:00 - How do supportive shoes affect walking?
14:07 - Exercises to optimise your ankle health
15:00 - Going Barefoot more often
17:30 - Our Foot and Ankle Plan
Previous episodes you may be interested in:
Episode 24 - Shin Splints
Episode 34 - Bunion
Episode 58 - Foot and Ankle Mobility
Episode 122 - Flat Feet
Episode 134 - Chronic Ankle Pain
Episode 183 - Dr. Emily & Functional Podiatry
Episode 188 - Morton’s Neuroma
Episode 198 - Stress Fractures
Episode 206 - Corns
Episode 240 - Metataralgia
Episode 262 - High Arches
Episode 266 - Plantar Fasciitis
Episode 288 - Haglund’s Deformity
Episode 318 - Turf Toe
Episode 324 - Peroneal tendonitis
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://www.docjenfit.com/podcast/episode338/ Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Jan 1, 2024 • 52min
337 | Optimizing Food Choices for Better Energy, Focus, and Fat Loss with Thomas DeLauer
Here’s a full debrief on the science behind metabolism, weight loss, and conflictive function from the perspective of food and nutrient consumption. In this episode, Thomas DeLauer breaks down the science behind how to eat for optimal cognitive function and between stressed and relaxed states. Then, DeLauer explains the science behind fast and slow metabolism, the principle of energy flux and how metabolism changes with chronic movement compared to being sedentary. Furthermore, he discusses the role of fasting, ketones and carbohydrates, and calorie consumption to lose weight. Let's dive in!
Low Back Challenge:
Let's help your Lower Back Pain! 80-90% of individuals experience low back pain at some point. Join us as we start, provide motivation and accountability to feel something and try something new it's an on-platform challenge to prevent or damage your lower back pain with the low back plan. It's 10-15 minutes of mobility, muscle activations, and strength exercises from the hips through the trunk muscles to address underlying differences and feel something different in your lower back. Move with us on Jan 1st for 30 days and use the code ‘OPTIMAL10’ to get this plan for only $15. Click here to JOIN US!
What You Will Learn in This Interview with Thomas DeLauer:
3:06 - What set Thomas on the path of healthcare and nutrition?
5:53 - What is Cognitive Nutrition?
8:00 - Principles on how to eat to support your cognition.
10:30 - Foods to optimize cognitive nutrition.
14:50 - Preparing for a big event: Fasting and Metabolic Flexibility.
21:22 - Fast vs Slow Metabolism: What does it mean to "Speed Up" your metabolism?
28:08 - How to lose weight appropriately by optimizing your metabolic flux: Metabolic Flux and Burning Fat.
33:35 - How to measure caloric demands without counting calories?
41:22 - Psychology of Lifestyle Changes: Willpower, All-or-nothing Mentality.
50:45 - Learn more with Thomas!
To learn more about Thomas DeLauer and view full show notes, please visit the full website here: https://www.docjenfit.com/podcast/episode337
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.

Dec 25, 2023 • 20min
336 | Our Top Tips to Improve Knee Health & Reduce Pain
Tune into optimal health where DocJen and Dr. Dom dive into the knees! DocJen and Dr. Dom dive into the potential causes of knee pain, the role of posture with regard to knee health, as well as the best exercises! By providing your solution with exercises, they discuss the relevance of mobility and strength to build awareness and resilience in the knees!
Low Back Challenge:
Let's help your Lower Back Pain! 80-90% of individuals experience low back pain at some point. Join us as we start, provide motivation and accountability to feel something and try something new it's an on-platform challenge to prevent or damage your lower back pain with the low back plan. It's 10-15 minutes of mobility, muscle activations, and strength exercises from the hips through the trunk muscles to address underlying differences and feel something different in your lower back. Move with us on Jan 1st for 30 days and use to code ‘OPTIMAL10’ to get this plan for only $15. Click here to JOIN US!
Air Doctor Discount:The indoor air that we breathe is 2-5x more polluted than the outside air and is a response to nearly 8 million premature deaths globally. Air Doctor filter 99.99% dangerous contaminants so your lungs don't have to include pollen mold spores, allergens, bacteria, and viruses that make you sick. With a 30-day breathe-easy money-back guarantee, use code 'OPTIMAL' for @300 off and a 3 x 3-year warranty! Click here!
What You Will Learn In This PT Pearl:
06:36 - Why do we get shoulder pain?
08:23 - The importance of single leg activity
10:00 - Debunking common cues to “help knee health”
12:05 - Finding variety with Forward and/or Quadricep Dominance
13:20 - Exercises to address those knees!
18:00 - Biggest predictors of knee pain risk factors + Exercise modifications.
Previous episodes you may be interested in:
Meniscus Pain
IT band syndrome
Knee Tendonitis
Osgood Schlatter
ACL injuries
Chondromalacia
Meniscus Surgery
Patellar Tracking
Pes Anserine Bursitis
Knee Osteoarthritis
Crunchy Knees/ Crepitus
Bakers Cyst
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://www.docjenfit.com/podcast/episode336/ Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Dec 18, 2023 • 50min
335 | Why Whole30 and How to Set Healthy Boundaries with Melissa Urban
Is Whole30 for you? In this episode with Melissa Urban, Co-Founder of Whole 30, we embark on a journey of self-discovery and empowerment, exploring the intricate details of the Whole30 diet and beyond. We engage in a thought-provoking conversation on the self-experimentation versus elimination mindset, as well as the re-introduction phase of the diet taking centre stage. We dissect this crucial aspect, shedding light on the importance of reintroducing foods and the impact it can have on your overall health. Furthermore, we emphasize the significance of reading labels, uncover the hidden truths behind food labels and learn how this practice can empower you to make informed dietary choices. Then, we explore the concept of Food Freedom while still aspiring for the results of the Whole30, evaluate whether one can stick to a Whole30 diet in the long run, and dive into the accountability factor and the power of the Group Whole30 experience. Finally, we discuss creating healthy boundaries without significantly changing your relationships with others and uncover why it's crucial to speak openly about concussions. Let's dive in!
VivoBarefoot Discount:
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.
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 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! Get Your Free Gift!
What You Will Learn in This Interview with Melissa Urban:
3:38 - Where did this concept of whole 30 come in?
6:51 - Self-experiment vs Elimination mindset?
9:30 - Re-introduction phase of the diet.
12:01 - Reading labels.
17:21 - Food Freedom while wanting the results of the whole 30.
20:38 - Can you stick to a whole30 diet?
23:17 - Accountability factor & Group Whole 30.
26:15 - Creating healthy boundaries.
29:31 - Is expressing a need selfish?
31:41 - How to create boundaries without significantly changing dynamics with others?
36:13 - Setting clear and not wishy-washy boundaries?
39:21 - Why we need to speak on concussions.
43:19 - Invisible Illnesses.
46:00 - Where can we learn more about concussions?
47:55 - Learn more from Melissa.
To learn more about Melissa Urban and view full show notes, please visit the full website here: https://www.docjenfit.com/podcast/episode335
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.

Dec 11, 2023 • 16min
334 | Our Top Tips to Improve Shoulder Health & Reduce Pain
Explore the intriguing world of shoulder health and discover the main causes of pain. Learn how poor posture and a sedentary lifestyle affect shoulder mechanics. Get practical tips on exercises to enhance mobility and strength, including effective stretches and the importance of rib and upper back movement. Find out how to build awareness around shoulder function and the role of the neck in overall shoulder health. This insightful discussion equips you with tools for improving shoulder performance and reducing discomfort.

Dec 4, 2023 • 44min
333 | Individualizing Yoga to Fit Your Own Body & Life with Brett Larkin
"When you realize anatomy is a limitation, it becomes a liberation." We have invited Brett Larkin onto The Optimal Body Podcast to discuss her evolution with the Yoga practice and to share what Yoga means for her. From setting the path with how she started Yoga, she speaks about how the principles of Yoga apply to everyday life and uses the history of Yoga to explain what Yoga intended to be and how it can be defined for you. Finally, we dive into Anatomy and what it means to advance a Yoga practice. By yielding together the science and yogic principles, Brett shares what it means to strike a balance between ego and presence whilst stretching and practising. Let's take a sneak peek into her new book - Yoga Life- in this podcast!
VivoBarefoot Discount:
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.
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 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! Get Your Free Gift!
What You Will Learn in This Interview with Brett Larkin:
3:00 - Why Yoga?
3:50 - How did yoga evolve for Brett?
6:39 - The principles of Yoga that apply to everyday life.
10:28 - What is yoga? Diving into the history and where it originated from.
20:50 - Air, Water, Fire - The triad of doshas that creates a personality
23:13 - Should you push into a stretch?
34:57 - How frequently should you practice yoga?
37:30 - Is Yoga for everyone?
41:00 - Yoga Life: How to create the perfect yoga practice for you and your life.
To learn more about Brett Larkin and view full show notes, please visit the full website here: https://www.docjenfit.com/podcast/episode333
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.


