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

In this episode, I talk about the joy I find in teaching both practitioners and the public. I share stories from recent workshops—from helping therapists adapt hands-on techniques and care for their own body mechanics to guiding women after breast cancer through accessible self-treatment practices. These experiences reminded me why I love this work and how meaningful it can be to help people learn skills they can use themselves. I wrap up sharing about my online course for practitioners who want to learn more about teaching self-treatment workshops.

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In this episode, I share a story about a client who had received outdated, instructions for “protecting” her back during exercise. From an occupational therapy and ergonomics perspective, we explore more current, practical ways to think about protecting the spine during exercise and everyday movement in ways the clients can digest. 

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Resource mentioned: The Back Mechanic by Stuart McGill PhD

Cells are constantly receiving information not only through chemical messengers such as hormones, neurotransmitters, and growth factors, but also through their physical environment. In this episode, we explore integrins: specialized cell-surface receptors that help link the extracellular matrix to the cell’s internal scaffolding. I discuss how integrins participate in adhesion, movement, cellular organization, and mechanosensing and why a cell’s local environment, including matrix composition, structure, stiffness, and loading, can influence its behavior.  All this gives us one more reason to keep fascia healthy!

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References mentioned:

Anderson, L. R...

Thermography is increasingly marketed as a painless, noninvasive way to look at what may be happening in the body, but what can it actually tell us?

In this episode, I explore infrared thermography through a fascia-informed lens. Thermography is a type of imaging that maps patterns of heat on the skin’s surface. I share what sparked my curiosity, including the growing availability of thermography services in my community and conversations with people who have used it.

I also discuss an article on myofascial trigger points and persistent neck and shoulder pain. Can differences in sk...

In this episode, I'm replaying one of the most popular topics from EP 78. Most of us can improve on our understanding of stress and how it affects the body. The article by Huston (2022) presents a compelling theory on this topic that involves the fascia.

I'm not just replaying the episode. I'm also sharing a new process that I'm hoping will benefit us both! If you are listening to the podcast, you can now get CE (depending on your educational requirements for licensure). 

This is a trial run. If there is interest, I'll create more CE f...

Each discipline operates from different rules and definitions. A system can be defined as "a set of things working together as parts of a mechanism or an interconnecting network; a complex whole". So, is fascia a system? It depends on who you ask. The Fascia Nomenclature Committee, a group of international experts from different backgrounds clearly says yes in their current definitions, but anatomist disagree. Articles that may help you think more about this after you listen in to this episode are below.

FasciaInformed.com

Neumann, P. E., Labib, H., Lhuaire, M., Boaz, N. T...

This episode explores lessons from Altahif and Davis (2026), a survey of hand therapy practitioners on self-management strategies for clients with chronic hand pain. The survey examined what clients were doing on their own before evaluation, what clinicians prescribed during care, and how practitioners perceived client adherence to these strategies.

Although the study does not focus on fascia or even mention it directly, there is a lot we can take from its findings. In this episode, I discuss how a fascia‑informed perspective can complement traditional hand therapy by offering additional ways to support people living with chronic pa...

In this episode I share a real‑life phone call from a very young potential client who reached out about a tongue‑tie release and frenectomy, expecting a quick surgical solution. Instead of rushing to agree or disagree, I slowed things down, asked targeted questions, and uncovered signs of temporomandibular disorder (TMD) that had never been considered in the process of her search for help. In this episode, I walk you through how I used education to shift her understanding of her symptoms, and why clarifying goals and history matters just as much as any hands‑on technique.  You’ll also h...

In this episode of The Fascia Informed Therapist, we unpack a recent scoping review on the future of fascia research and translate its findings into practical clinical direction for occupational therapists and rehab professionals. We explore how upcoming studies are likely shifting toward fascia’s role in movement organization, chronic pain in older adults, and integrated approaches that blend manual therapy, movement‑based interventions, and neurophysiologic methods. You’ll hear what the author recommends about effect sizes and sample sizes in the simplest possible language—and, more importantly, how those choices shape the kind of evidence you’ll be seeing in t...

In this episode I review the case of a new client who really made it hit home how we, as fascia-informed practitioners see the body differently. We engage with our clients differently and it gives them hope. 

When something as simple as a knee replacement (it is really NEVER simple) causes long-term discomfort, our clients benefit from a new perspective. After countless doctors, surgeons and therapists, this client found hope. 

Join the community! I have a new website and new platform. I hope you'll take a look!

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What do you do when a client comes to you following advice that doesn’t align with your approach? In this episode, we explore how to navigate those moments with professionalism and clarity. Learn how to explain your clinical reasoning, educate in a way clients can understand, and empower them to make their own informed decisions without dismissing or undermining another practitioner. Through a fascia-informed lens, we focus on communication that builds trust, supports autonomy, and transforms care.

Fascia Informed Newsletter

In this episode of The Fascia-Informed Therapist Podcast, I introduce my recently published book,
The Occupational Therapy Practitioner’s Guide to Fascia-Informed Practice, and read the preface to provide context for its development.

The Occupational Therapy Practitioner’s Guide to Fascia-Informed Practice

This episode outlines the clinical and conceptual motivations behind the text, including the need for a more integrative framework that bridges emerging fascia research with occupational therapy practice. It reflects on gaps in traditional models of care and the growing interest among practitioners in approaches that support more comprehensive assessment, clinical reasoning, and...

In this episode, I sit down with Madeline Seide, OTD, OTR/L, RYT, LSVT-BIG, to explore how trauma shows up across the clients we work with every day. We discuss what current research is revealing about trauma’s impact on the brain, why understanding trauma matters for all healthcare professionals, and how it can influence behavior and engagement in therapy. Madeline and I also share practical ways we apply trauma-informed principles in our daily practice to create safer, more effective therapeutic environments.

Join our community to stay updated on all we have to offer health and...

In this episode, I’m sharing one of the most foundational parts of my fascia‑informed approach: the progression of matching, pacing, and leading. Before I introduce any hands‑on work, movement exploration, or self‑treatment strategies, I focus on helping the client’s nervous system settle enough to participate.

I talk about how I attune to a client’s initial tempo, tone, and level of activation, and how that simple act of matching creates the safety their fascia and nervous system need. From there, I share how I gradually shift the rhythm of the session—usin...

Recent headlines have once again brought childhood sexual abuse into public view, often in ways that expose survivors while protecting systems of power. In this episode, we shift the focus away from spectacle and back to care.

Using evidence from two large systematic reviews, we explore how childhood sexual abuse, often occurring alongside other adverse childhood experiences, shapes nervous system development and increases the risk of chronic pain and pain-related disability in adulthood. We discuss how long-standing threat responses can amplify pain even decades later.

For fascia-informed therapists, this episode offers a clear rationale for...

Fascia has become a popular word in health and movement spaces, but what does it actually mean?

In this episode, I explore why definitions matter and why fascia is not a fixed concept. How we define fascia shapes the questions we ask in research, the way clinicians think about the body, and how we explain pain, healing, and recovery to the people we serve.

I walk through the key definitions that have influenced my own thinking, starting with the traditional structural perspective found in Gray’s Anatomy, moving into the widely accepted definition from the Fa...

You can get CE for this episode! More here: Podcast CE

In this episode, we explore Dr. Patricia Huston’s 2022 paper proposing a new way to understand chronic disease. Huston suggests that unhealthy lifestyle patterns don’t just strain the heart, lungs, or muscles directly. Rather, they change the behavior of interstitial cells, especially macrophages and fibroblasts. These cells orchestrate inflammation, healing, and tissue remodeling throughout the body.

Using a six-level hierarchical network model, Huston shows how environmental pressures, social context, lifestyle habits, and nervous system activity converge on the interstitial microenvironment. When this system beco...

In this episode I share a concept about new year resolutions that I address with all my clients. You must meet your body where it is at. Are you ready to jump into a new fitness program or is there are more important place to begin? Join me as a run through the foundations to healthy fascia and finding success with a new fitness goal.

I've also changed email platforms. If you haven't joined our community, now is the time! CLICK HERE

In this episode, we explore the powerful and often misunderstood connection between the mind and the body. Drawing from recent research across psychology, behavioral medicine, neuroscience, and aging studies, we break down what the science actually says about mindset and how beliefs, expectations, and interpretations of symptoms can directly influence the physical experience of health.

This is not about pretending everything is fine or relying on blind positivity. Instead, we examine the measurable ways that a growth health mindset, mindfulness, and intentional positive thinking can shape pain perception, inflammation, recovery, motivation, and overall well-being. We also look...

Join us for a special episode introducing “Fascia-Informed Practice: An Experiential CE Weekend for Practitioners”, happening March 28–29, 2026. This weekend-long continuing education course offers hands-on training in fascia science, therapeutic techniques, movement, breathwork, and client education all rooted in evidence-based fascia theory and a whole-person lens.

Whether you’re an occupational therapist, wellness practitioner, movement specialist, or bodywork professional, this CE will deepen your understanding of fascia, equip you with safe and effective manual therapy and self-care tools, and transform how you view and treat the body. Space is limited to 14 participants so we can have a true immersiv...

In this episode, we unpack the Interstitial Inflammatory Stasis (IIS) hypothesis introduced by Tuckey et al. (2021) in Frontiers in Pain Research. The authors propose that after injury or immune activation, inflammation can become “trapped” within the body’s microscopic fluid channels creating a self-perpetuating loop of congestion, fascial tension, and pain.

You’ll learn how this model integrates existing pain theories into one fascia-based framework. We’ll also explore how these ideas align with occupational therapy practice: restoring interstitial flow through movement, breath, manual therapy, and autonomic regulation.

Join the fascia-informed conversation: The Fascia-Informed Therapist ™ - Grounded i...

If you’ve ever had a loved one in the hospital, you know the range of emotions that comes with it including fear, frustration, hope, and gratitude, often all at once. In this episode, I share my personal experience navigating my father’s recent hospitalization for an acute illness (on top of a long-term disability) and what it has reminded me about the human side of healthcare. When we take the time to truly see and understand our patients including their history, their challenges, their stories, we can provide care that is not just skillful, but compassionate. This episode is b...

In this episode, we explore compartment syndrome (CS), a condition where pressure builds within the body’s muscular compartments, restricting blood flow, causing pain and threatening tissue health. You’ll learn the difference between acute and chronic (exertional) forms, how fascia’s properties play a role in pressure dynamics, and what recent research says about both surgical and conservative management. We'll also discuss the role habits may play in the development and management of CS as I share experiences with my own clients. 

Whether you work in orthopedics, rehabilitation, or wellness, this episode highlights the types of CS and...

In this short episode, I’m sharing a quick but important update about how the U.S. government shutdown is affecting websites like PubMed, and what that means for those of us who rely on up-to-date health information to serve our clients.

If you use free online resources to guide your work in health or wellness, this episode is for you. Let’s talk about how defunding impacts practitioners like us—and what we can do to stay informed and keep moving forward.

Stay up to date and join the community: The Fascia-Informed Therapist ™ - Grounded...

In this episode, we explore the remarkable relationship between sound baths and the fascial system. Learn how sound doesn’t just soothe your mind—it actually moves through your fascia, stimulating deep healing at the cellular level.

I share about my experience at Sound Bath Workshop I recently took for my RYT, why I chose to attend, as well as what the most recent research says about sound baths (citations below). At the end I share with you the meditation I created and presented during the workshop. Of course, it focused on fascia and my reflections on how...

Listen in as a critical thinker shares her key takeaways from the Fascia Congress. Madeline Seide OTD, OTR/L, RYT, LSVT-BIG shares insights from several of the keynote speakers from the importance of the lumbosacral fascia to how we stretch to prepare our bodies for functional activity and sports. We also discuss the contradictory nature of the word stiff and the Dunning-Kruger effect. 

Make sure you join our community at The Fascia-Informed Therapist ™ - Grounded in science. Practicing on the cutting edge.

In this episode, I sit down with Kaitlyn Rambo, OTD, OTR/L, PAMS, LSVT-BIG to explore her top takeaways from the recent Fascia Research Conference. With a unique lens as a practicing OT, Kaitlyn shares the most impactful insights, emerging research, and clinical applications that caught her attention. We discuss what this evolving science means for occupational therapists and other health professionals working with the body in dynamic and therapeutic ways. If you couldn’t attend the conference—or just want a grounded, practical recap—you won’t want to miss this conversation.

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Season 2 kicks off with a personal reflection on my own journey through burnout and recovery. In this episode, I share lessons learned, strategies I tried, and how therapists can rediscover energy and purpose in their work.

Join the fascia-informed conversations here: The Fascia-Informed Therapist ™ - Grounded in science. Practicing on the cutting edge.

In this short episode, I’m letting you know that I’ll be pressing pause on new episodes until September. Why? Because something meaningful is calling: the final chapters of the book I’ve been pouring myself into. I also share a brief reflection on Die with Zero, a book that challenges us to consider what it really means to live without regrets. This break isn’t about stepping back—it’s about leaning into purpose, presence, and creation. See you in September, refreshed and ready.

Put September 7th in your calendar for the next episode and be sure to g...

In this episode I take a break from the science and share what we're working on for September 2025. 

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

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 cli...

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 clinic...

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...

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 feel...

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 pr...

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://d...

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

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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