In this episode of the Optimal Body Podcast, Doc Jen and Doctor Dom explore foot pain and injury through Dom's personal experience with a Lisfranc ligament tear and two surgeries. Dom shares how a recent pickleball injury during a session triggered sharp midfoot pain, prompting him to self-assess and begin conservative treatment. They discuss potential diagnoses, footwear adjustments, and rehabilitation strategies including mobility work, strengthening exercises, and balance training. The episode highlights the value of physical therapy, direct access care, and structured programs like Gen Health's foot and ankle roadmap for achieving safe, effective long-term recovery after a pickleball injury.

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For full show notes and resources visit https://jen.health/podcast/466

What You'll Learn:

3:23 Doctor Dom begins to share his personal experience with his pickleball injury, a recurring foot injury, starting with his history of surgeries.

4:15 Dom details his high school Lisfranc ligament tear, the two surgeries he had, and the hardware placed in his foot.

5:59 Dom describes how a long session of pickleball likely triggered his recent foot pain, causing a sharp mid-arch pain.

7:23 Dom discusses ruling out plantar fasciitis and considering other potential diagnoses like a Lisfranc injury or arthritic flare-up.

9:46 Dom explains his reasoning for not immediately seeking a formal diagnosis, anticipating the likely conservative recommendations he would receive.

11:16 The speakers discuss how switching to more cushioned shoes for high-impact activities might have contributed to their recent foot issues.

13:34 Dom shares the first steps he took for relief, including toe spreading, manual mobilizations, and big toe mobility exercises.

16:06 Dom describes progressing his exercises to include short foot activations, isometric toe flexion, and single-leg stance work to normalize gait.

18:51 Dom explains why his rigid foot needs both mobility work and strengthening through its new ranges to prevent future injury.

20:45 A week after the injury, Dom details his current exercises, including heel raises, single-leg reaches, and what still causes pain.

24:52 The hosts advocate for seeing a physical therapist first for conservative treatment to potentially avoid costly and unnecessary medical procedures.

26:49 Dom outlines his plan to...

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In this episode of the Optimal Body Podcast, Doc Jen and Doctor Dom welcome running expert Doctor of physical therapy Vikash Sharma to discuss how to run safely and effectively. They cover key topics like avoiding the "too much, too quickly" trap, using walk-run intervals for beginners, and following the 10% rule for mileage progression. Dr. Sharma also shares valuable advice on strength training exercise (especially calf and hip work), managing common running injuries and pain, and choosing the right footwear. Plus, there's helpful guidance for women returning to running postpartum. A must-listen for anyone looking to run smarter!

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Dr Sharma's Resources:

• Perfect Stride Website
• Dr Sharma on IG
• Perfect Stride on IG
• Perfect Stride on YT
• Perfect Stride on FB

We Think You'll Love:

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For full show notes and resources visit https://jen.health/podcast/465

What You'll Learn:

4:13 Dr. Sharma shares his personal history with running, which started in middle school and became a lifelong passion.

8:19 Dr. Sharma explains that the most common reason for running injuries is doing "too much, too quickly" without proper adaptation.

10:08 Recommendations for beginners include...

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In this episode of the Optimal Body Podcast, Doctor Dom shares her personal experience of sustaining a minor back injury and developing sciatic pain while deadlifting. She and Doc Jen discuss how even fitness professionals aren't immune to pain and injury, emphasizing that stress, poor sleep, and rushing through movements increase the risk of experiencing issues like sciatic pain. They debunk the myth that deadlifts are inherently dangerous and clarify that disc bulges are common even in pain-free individuals, and not always linked to sciatic pain. Doctor Dom outlines her recovery approach, including breathing, relaxation, and gentle progressive movement. The key message: pain, including sciatic pain, isn't always a sign of serious damage, and mindful movement is essential for recovery.

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We Think You'll Love:

• Lifting for Longevity
• Jen’s Instagram
• Dom’s Instagram
• YouTube Channel

What You'll Learn:

2:02 Doc Jen's Deadlift Injury

4:04 The Importance of Mindset After Injury

7:17 Deadlifts Aren't Inherently Dangerous

10:19 Pain vs. Actual Tissue Damage

10:57 Disc Bulges in Asymptomatic People

14:27 The Benefits of Deadlifting

16:06 Immediate Steps for Acute Back Pain

18:29 Reintroducing Safe Movement Patterns

23:49 The Reality of Long-Term Maintenance

24:42 Common Mistakes After an Injury

For full show notes and resources visit https://jen.health/podcast/464

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