Why do so many athletes—from weekend warriors and high school soccer players to professional athletes—re-tear their ACLs despite doing all the right rehab protocols, biking, and strength work? In this episode, Jennifer Spitz, PT, shares her pet peeves regarding standard ACL recovery and uncovers the critical anatomical key that is routinely overlooked: the subtalar joint and the talus bone.

Jennifer walks through real-world case studies—including a New Zealand rugby player with three failed ACL repairs, a multimillion-dollar professional athlete in Boston, and her own brother recovering from a severe skiing accident—to demonstrate how an anteriorly shifted talus (stuck ankle joint) causes chronic knee shearing with every step.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• The Talus & Subtalar Connection: Why true ankle dorsiflexion is vital for preventing knee torque and ACL tears.
• Why Traditional Stretching Isn't Enough: How fascial restrictions behind the knee (popliteal fossa) and trigger points in the calf block full extension.
• Case Studies in Action: Real stories from rugby, pro sports, and skiing recovery that prove strength work alone can't fix joint mechanics.
• Proactive Injury Prevention: Practical tips for parents of soccer players, skiers, and dancers to safeguard growing knees during growth spurts.
• Advanced Manual Techniques: Overview of Strain-Counterstrain (Larry Jones technique) and myofascial release for lower leg restrictions.

Disclaimer: The hands-on techniques and information shared in this podcast are intended to complement the care you receive from your primary healthcare providers—never to replace primary or emergency medical care.

🔗 Resources & Links Mentioned:

• Visit parentbodywork.com for resources, podcast episodes, and training programs.
• Are you a PT, athletic trainer, or practitioner? Check out the Lower Extremity Class at jenniferspitzpt.com for joint testing protocols and the talus adjustment technique.
• Boston locals: Explore our in-person Parent Treatment Intensives to learn hands-on osteopathic skills for your family.

The content provided in this podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician, physical therapist, or other qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or health goals. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard on this show.

CONNECT & RESOURCES

10-Week Nervous System Foundational Exercise Program: and current home of The Parent Bodywork Project..

Official Website: jenniferspitzpt.com

New Project Coming Soon: parentbodywork.com

Why do your hip flexors stay chronically tight despite endless stretching, rolling, and physical therapy exercises? In this episode, Jennifer Spitz explores the hidden root causes of persistent hip, pelvic, and lower back restriction that standard exercises like clamshells and bridges miss.

Using the analogy of a "bad neighbor," Jennifer explains how the anatomy of your hip flexors directly borders your visceral organs—including the sigmoid colon, rectum, appendix, and pelvic bowl. When issues like constipation, IBS, surgical scar tissue, or pelvic floor tension exist, the body reflexively holds the hip flexors tight as a protective mechanism to avoid pulling on sensitive organs and nerves.

Key Topics Covered in This Episode:

• The Anatomy Connection: How the sigmoid colon (left side) and the appendix pocket (right side) impact hip flexibility, glute recruitment, and pelvic alignment.
• Gut Health First: Why addressing bowel regularity, digestion, hydration, and prebiotics is an essential first step before trying to release hip tension.
• The Nervous System & Stress: The role of the lumbosacral plexus, chronic stress, PTSD, shallow breathing, and pelvic floor clenching in holding structural tension.
• Why the Body Protects: Understanding that your body prioritizes safety over comfort—and why forcing a release during times of high acute stress or unsafe environments can backfire.
• Practical Steps & Solutions: How to combine visceral/myofascial release, dietary adjustments, nervous system regulation, and targeted breathwork to achieve long-lasting mobility.

The content provided in this podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician, physical therapist, or other qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or health goals. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard on this show.

CONNECT & RESOURCES

10-Week Nervous System Foundational Exercise Program: and current home of The Parent Bodywork Project..

Official Website: jenniferspitzpt.com

New Project Coming Soon: parentbodywork.com

In this episode of the Parent Bodywork Podcast, host Jennifer Spitz dives into a foundational truth of holistic healing: people are allowed to have more than one thing wrong with them.

Moving beyond the common trap of searching for a single "root cause" or deciding whether an issue is purely a muscle or nerve problem, Jennifer shares her personal story—her own "internal tsunami." From in utero stress, toxic chemical exposures, and early-life nervous system dysregulation (POTS, hyperhidrosis) to severe medical emergencies like blood clots and gangrenous ovarian torsion, she illustrates how our bodies hold onto physical, chemical, and emotional trauma over time.

In this episode, you’ll discover:

• Why health challenges are rarely caused by a single event, but rather a cumulative "neighborhood" problem.
• How early environmental, chemical, and emotional stressors shape our nervous system regulation.
• Why Western medicine’s fix-it-all approach often falls short for complex, multi-system issues.
• The transformative power of gentle manual therapies—such as craniosacral therapy and somatic bodywork—in unwinding deep-seated body patterns.
• How parents can become the primary healers in their own homes, approaching health with reverence, soft touch, and multi-system awareness.

Whether you're managing a complex health history yourself, looking to prevent issues for your children, or simply curious about how the body stores stress and trauma, this episode offers a compassionate roadmap back to whole-body balance.

The content provided in this podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician, physical therapist, or other qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or health goals. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard on this show.

CONNECT & RESOURCES

10-Week Nervous System Foundational Exercise Program: and current home of The Parent Bodywork Project..

Official Website: jenniferspitzpt.com

New Project Coming Soon: parentbodywork.com