The Code: A Guide to Health and Human Performance

37. Live Life Feet First | Steven Sashen

“Human beings have been making footwear and wearing footwear for 99.9% of human history,” explains Steven Sashen, CEO of Xero Shoes. A long-time entrepreneur, Steven has never had a traditional job. After realizing he had a form problem after taking off his shoes, Steven made his own sandals, leading him to start his next venture, Xero Shoes. 
 
For the past fifty years, the footwear industry has misled the public that there’s something wrong with our feet. These businesses are selling false outcomes to their customer base by convincing people they need arch support and cushioning to keep their feet uninjured. Our feet’s job is to gain a sense of the world around us, so natural movement footwear, like Xero shoes, is a more legitimate, performance-driven fit.
 
Although we’re used to wearing traditional shoes, sometimes it’s better to live life feet first. Learn more about the minimalist barefoot approach, the lies of the footwear industry, and Steven’s entrepreneurial journey.
 
Quotes
• “Human beings have been making footwear and wearing footwear for 99.9% of human history.” (4:28-4:34 | Steven)
• “There's a value for just wearing our shoes for everything else you're doing.” (9:08-9:11 | Steven)
• “There's no reason to have another shoe company in the world. There's enough of them unless your shoe changes people's lives.” (29:36-29:40 | Steven)
• “People put on our shoes, and they have these life-changing experiences and don't want to go back.” (32:40-32:45 | Steven) 
• “Why are you listening to these big footwear brands telling you to need to put your foot in a shoe that doesn't let it move or bend and flex and feel.” (43:45-43:53 | Steven) 
 
Links
 
Connect with Steven Sashen:
Website | https://xeroshoes.com/about-us/
Website | https://xeroshoes.com/
Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/xeroshoes/
Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/xeroshoes
Connect with Physio Room: 
Website | ​​https://physioroomco.com/ 
Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/physioroomco/
Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/physioroomco
Andrew’s Personal Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/dr.andrewfix/ 
Andrew’s Personal Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/andrew.fix.9/
 
Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

36. Return to Running Post Injury

“There is not a one-size-fits-all return to running program or protocol,” explains host Dr. Andrew. Post-injury, it may be challenging to figure out returning to running safely. Since there is no one way to heal, Dr. Andrew lays out different ways to become a runner once again.
 
If you injure yourself from running, you may believe that all you need to do is rest. Although taking a break is worthwhile, it may not prevent the problem from happening again. The most important action to take if you have an injury is to get to the root of the problem and determine what you can do to be an efficient runner for the rest of your life. 
 
No matter what your circumstance is, you can return to running post-injury. Learn more about developing an individualized training plan, rest and recovery, and how to prevent running-related injuries in the first place. 
 
Quotes
• “There is not a one-size-fits-all return to running program or protocol. Everybody's situation is unique and different.” (3:36-3:42 | Andrew)
• “Make sure you give yourself adequate time for recovery between your runs as you build your volume back up.” (7:35-7:41 | Andrew)
• “You don't just run and then when something hurts you rest it. And then when it feels better, you go back to running, because then that same cycle is going to continue to happen.” (11:28-11:37 | Andrew)
• “Don't wait to address something that's bothering you until it gets to the point where you're forced to address it.” (14:11-14:16 | Andrew)
• “I'm in the business of trying to help people get back to the activities that they love to do and not deal with the nagging injuries that continue to plague us.” (24:04-24:12 | Andrew)  
 
Links
 
Connect with Physio Room: 
Website | ​​https://physioroomco.com/ 
Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/physioroomco/
Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/physioroomco
Andrew’s Personal Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/dr.andrewfix/ 
Andrew’s Personal Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/andrew.fix.9/
 
Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

35. Functional Foundations | Dr. Emily Splichal

“The critical measure for foot function is toe flexor strength,” explains Dr. Emily Splichal, Podiatrist and Human Movement Specialist. As a functional podiatrist and lover of fitness, Dr. Emily holistically looks to the feet to improve one’s movement. With her minimalist footwear company Naboso, Dr. Emily strives to enhance sensory nerve function in the foot and improve lives. 
 
According to Dr. Emily, our feet are connected to the deep core of our pelvic floor, which affects our posture, movement, and overall performance. Although traditional podiatry focuses on the mechanical side of the practice, Dr. Emily also promotes sensory solutions. Since our feet contain multiple nerves that get activated every time they touch the ground, finding feasible ways to strengthen this area is vital. 
 
Podiatry is much more than corrective footwear, especially when you focus on functionality. Learn more about Dr. Emily’s perspective on the field, the problems with the medical system, and the benefits of toe spacers.
 
Quotes
• “I love feet because they connect to movement.” (3:04-3:08 | Emily)
• “Movement is my therapy. If there's stress, anxiety, a big change in life, if I go to the gym, or the studio or space and I move and I connect to my physical body again, it grounds me.” (8:56-9:10 | Emily) 
• “If I have an hour, I'm going to really listen to the patient and what their concerns are.” (18:27-18:34 | Emily)
• “​​Your feet are very fastly connected to your deep core pelvic floor. So from a performance, movement, and posture perspective, we optimize how we control this physical body by connecting our center of mass.” (27:16-27:34 | Emily)
• “The critical measure for foot function is toe flexor strength.” (37:54-37:58 | Emily)
• “Most patients come to me because they're looking for an out-of-the-box perspective. I can treat almost everything, and people are quite surprised.” (49:27-49:38 | Emily)
 
Links
 
Connect with Dr. Emily Splichal:
Website | https://www.naboso.com/pages/founder
Website | https://www.dremilysplichal.com/
Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/thefunctionalfootdoc/
Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/naboso_technology/
Connect with Physio Room: 
Website | ​​https://physioroomco.com/ 
Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/physioroomco/
Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/physioroomco
Andrew’s Personal Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/dr.andrewfix/ 
Andrew’s Personal Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/andrew.fix.9/
 
Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

34. Prioritize What’s Important

“If I don't schedule my workouts into my day, then things are going to get in the way of that,” says host Dr. Andrew. With such a busy life, it’s common to believe we need to finish our other tasks before getting to workout. Recognizing that this mentality sets us up for failure, Dr. Andrew explains how to prioritize our health in feasible ways.
 
It’s perfectly normal to have busy calendars, but if we don’t schedule essential activities like date nights or exercise, they are less likely to happen. By digging into our weeks ahead of time and adding time slots for various tasks, we can enable ourselves to succeed. Ultimately, we need to prioritize the things that matter to us if we want to achieve our goals. 
 
If something is important to you, you will make it happen. Learn more about the benefits of scheduling, prioritizing your workouts, and finding fulfillment in your everyday life. 
 
Quotes
• “It's not about making money. It's not about getting people into our office over and over and over again. It's about helping people achieve the outcome they want.” (2:08-2:16 | Dr. Andrew)
• “If I don't schedule my workouts into my day, then things are going to get in the way of that, whether it's client appointments, podcast interviews, whatever it is, something's going to get in the way if I don't have that workout blocked in.” (7:26-7:39 | Dr. Andrew)
• “If it's on the calendar and has its own dedicated time slot, it is so much more likely to happen.”  (9:44-9:50 | Dr. Andrew)
• “If something is important to you, it needs to become a priority. It needs to become a priority in your schedule and routine, and then you build your habits and the structure of your schedule around those things.” (12:29-12:42 | Dr. Andrew)
 
Links
 
Connect with Physio Room: 
Website | ​​https://physioroomco.com/ 
Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/physioroomco/
Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/physioroomco
Andrew’s Personal Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/dr.andrewfix/ 
Andrew’s Personal Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/andrew.fix.9/
 
Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

33. Don’t Ignore Your Pelvic Floor | Dr. Amber Rand

“If we're getting good coordination between the pelvic floor and our abs, we're just going to be able to generate more power,” explains Dr. Amber Rand, PT, DPT, OTR/L, CHT, CMTPT, and Physio Room’s Women's Health Specialist. Through her own challenges with pregnancy, Dr. Amber became passionate about women’s health. At Physio Room, she helps mothers through their pregnancy journeys and educates her clients about their pelvic health.
 
If you’re pregnant, Dr. Amber recommends seeing a Pelvic Floor Therapist at least once per trimester. As a result, pregnant women can determine their labor and delivery prep and manage their changing bodies throughout daily activities. By learning to relax your pelvic floor, you can avoid the potential for physical damage down the road and gain dynamic control over this area of your body. 
 
Everyone has a pelvic floor, and learning how to use it will make any recovery that much easier. Learn more about Dr. Amber’s suggestions for improving the post-partum process, how our pelvic floor works, and what to do to strengthen your bladder.
Quotes
• “If what your providers are telling you, whether that's a midwife or OB or whoever, isn't aligning with the things that you like to do, that's a really hard mental place to be.” (12:55-13:06| Dr. Amber)
• “An evaluation with a Pelvic Floor PT should also look at your body as a whole system.” (28:32-28:37| Dr. Amber) 
• “We're working a lot more on relaxation and the lengthening of the pelvic floor. And once we have that length, the pelvic floor automatically becomes more efficient.” (42:05-42:18| Dr. Amber) 
• “Whether it's lifting, running, or cycling, making sure the pelvic floor and the whole abdominal canister is efficiently working will avoid injury later on.” (46:40-46:54| Dr. Amber) 
• “If we're getting good coordination between the pelvic floor and our abs, we're just going to be able to generate more power.” (47:56-48:04| Dr. Amber)
Links
 
Connect with Dr. Amber Rand 
Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/amber_rand_pt/
Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/amber.mitzelfelt
 
Connect with Physio Room: 
Website | ​​https://physioroomco.com/ 
Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/physioroomco/
Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/physioroomco
Andrew’s Personal Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/dr.andrewfix/ 
Andrew’s Personal Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/andrew.fix.9/
 
Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

32. CARE for Your Injury, Don’t RICE It

“The principle of R.I.C.E. (Rest, Ice, Compression, and Elevation) has gone by the wayside,” explains host Dr. Andrew. When we get injuries, we often assume that icing the problem is best. However, there are more modern, effective ways to care for your injury, which Dr. Andrew lays out today. 
 
Although icing an injury can reduce inflammation or pain, it fails to promote the movement we need to heal. It may seem counterintuitive, but we do need to get our blood flowing to allow our body to do its natural processes. By incorporating active rest, compression, and elevation into your routine, you will be able to care for your injury in the most beneficial way possible. 
 
Whether you have a sprained ankle or shoulder, there’s more to healing than R.I.C.E. Learn more about the acronym behind C.A.R.E., the importance of active rest, and why you should modify your activities instead of not moving at all.
 
Quotes
• “The principle of R.I.C.E. (Rest, Ice, Compression, and Elevation) has gone by the wayside.” (1:22-1:29| Dr. Andrew) 
• “When we just ice, don't move, and take anti-inflammatory medications, we dampen or reduce the effect that our body goes through when trying to heal from an injury.” (6:47-7:02| Dr. Andrew)
• “Sometimes, when we take medications that block our body's natural processes, it kicks the can down the road on how long it actually takes us to recover from these things.” (7:33-7:43| Dr. Andrew) 
• “Ice, at the end of the day, doesn't promote movement. It doesn't promote healing at the moment right now.” (10:24-10:31| Dr. Andrew) 
Links
 
https://thesportjournal.org/article/the-r-i-c-e-protocol-is-a-myth-a-review-and-recommendations/
https://thischangedmypractice.com/move-an-injury-not-rice/
https://marathonhandbook.com/injury-recovery-rice-peace-and-love/
Connect with Physio Room: 
Website | ​​https://physioroomco.com/ 
Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/physioroomco/
Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/physioroomco
Andrew’s Personal Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/dr.andrewfix/ 
Andrew’s Personal Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/andrew.fix.9/
 
Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

31. Find Your Space | Andrew Brandt

“The best life advice is to make yourself different. Make yourself something that's not like other people,” explains Andrew Brandt, an accomplished Sports Executive, Professor, and Executive Director of the Moorad Center for the Study of Sports Law. A leader in sports, sports law, sports policy, and more, Andrew has a true respect for the field. With his vast experiences in mind, Andrew shares how his boyhood dreams led to an incredible career. 
 
While the Vice President of Player Finance for the Green Bay Packers, Andrew knew he needed a new challenge. He then got into running competitions and short-distance triathlons. After leaving the Packers and having separate careers at ESPN and Villanova Law School, Andrew recognized exercise's importance in his daily life. By continuously pushing his comfort zone, Andrew has found a way to take care of his physical health while fueling his professional passions.
 
Andrew’s most significant advice to listeners is to find their space. Learn more about the many chapters of Andrew’s career, the benefits of exercise, and the importance of self-discipline.
 
Quotes
• “What I tell young people all the time is find your space. And it's not necessarily the space that you're most interested in. It's like, where's the opportunity?” (7:43-7:54 | Andrew)
• “One thing that's become a non-negotiable in my schedule every day is exercise.” (17:33-17:38 | Andrew) 
• “The only way you progress, whether in fitness, life, or relationships, is by pressing the uncomfortable. So that the next time you face it, you're a little better at it.” (28:07-28:22 | Andrew) 
• “The best life advice is to make yourself different. Make yourself something that's not like other people.” (31:00-31:10 | Andrew) 
• “In my daily life, I make sure the harder things are done first thing in the morning.” (35:31-35:36 | Andrew) 
 
Links
 
Connect with Andrew Brandt:
LinkedIn | https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrew-brandt-2758757/
Website | https://www.andrew-brandt.com/
Twitter | https://twitter.com/AndrewBrandt?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor
Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/andrewbrandt2/?hl=en
Connect with Physio Room: 
Website | ​​https://physioroomco.com/ 
Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/physioroomco/
Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/physioroomco
Andrew’s Personal Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/dr.andrewfix/ 
Andrew’s Personal Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/andrew.fix.9/
 
Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

30. Adaptation vs. Avoidance

“Pain does not always mean that there's significant tissue trauma that's taken place, it's a request for change,” explains host Dr. Andrew. Like all of us, Dr. Andrew understands there are times when you want to push yourself through exercise, but you have a physical issue. Today, Dr. Andrew gives tips on dealing with this, so you can still meet your performance goals.
 
Through his own experience with knee pain, Dr. Andrew details how he still trained without further injuring himself. Dr. Andrew got through his workout by modifying his exercises to accommodate his knees and asking another trainer to monitor his form. Although it may seem tempting to avoid exercising altogether, Dr. Andrew assures the listeners that solutions are always available. 
 
Throughout our lives, challenges may arise that we must work through, fitness-related or not. Learn more about adapting your activity, why avoidance isn’t the answer, and how you know your body better than anyone else.
 
Quotes
• “Pain does not always mean that there's significant tissue trauma that's taken place, it's a request for change.” (4:07-4:13 | Dr. Andrew)
• “Don't put so much pressure on a point that you can't breathe, so your body can actually desensitize and feel that pressure as a non-threatening stimulus.” (10:44-10:54 | Dr. Andrew)
• “Nobody knows your body better than you because you live in it. You move it. You spend time with it every day. So you're the expert in your body.” (16:04-16:12 | Dr. Andrew)
• “If you have something bothering you, there are different ways to handle it.” (16:37-16:40 | Dr. Andrew)
• “Things are going to happen, but we have to adapt and not avoid situations all the time. Whether that's a difficult conversation or pain, we're going to adapt, not avoid.” (19:29-19:49 | Dr. Andrew)
 
Links
 
Connect with Physio Room: 
Website | ​​https://physioroomco.com/ 
Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/physioroomco/
Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/physioroomco
Andrew’s Personal Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/dr.andrewfix/ 
Andrew’s Personal Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/andrew.fix.9/
Couch Stretch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oi7xoaJa9y8
Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

29. Overcoming Leadman | Gabe Martinez

“The big thing is learning to take care of your body,” explains Gabe Martinez, a Leadville race series competitor. A client of Physio Room and a five-time 100-run finisher, Gabe has always been an active person. Committed to his training, Gabe shares how he overcame the physical feats of the Leadville Run and Leadman series.
 
Since twenty-one years old, Gabe has worked to complete multiple Leadville 100s and has learned a lot along the way. Realizing that he needed more sleep to recover, Gabe understands that you must prepare your body for the stress of marathon running. Ultimately, your body can do incredible things if you build physical resilience and discipline.
 
Tune into this week’s episode of The Code for a stimulating conversation on marathon racing. Learn more about the Leadman series, his creative training techniques, and the mental toughness required to finish a race.
 
Quotes
• “The big thing is learning to take care of your body. And by taking care of it, you can ensure it's prepared to undergo that type of stress.” (17:18-17:30 | Gabe)
• “We glorify not sleeping enough and doing that sort of thing. But I've tried to be more mindful of those things and how they impact me.” (17:44-17:59 | Gabe)
• “You're going to be tested in your day-to-day life, and how resilient are you to overcome those barriers?”  (29:12-29:20 | Gabe)
• “You'll start to make mountains out of molehills during races, and I think that happens in everyday life. But the more you practice breaking those things down and putting those things into perspective, the better.” (31:36-31:52 | Gabe)
• “The more you practice discipline, the more disciplined you're going to be in other areas, and the more you practice being patient, the more patient you're going to be.” (32:48-32:55| Gabe)
 
Links
 
Connect with Gabe Martinez:
Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/gmmartinez/
 
Connect with Physio Room: 
Website | ​​https://physioroomco.com/ 
Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/physioroomco/
Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/physioroomco
Andrew’s Personal Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/dr.andrewfix/ 
Andrew’s Personal Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/andrew.fix.9/
 
Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

28. The Code to Nutrition

“Everything will be impacted by what we put in our bodies,” explains host Dr. Andrew. Like sleep and exercise, diet is crucial to peak performance. As a result, Dr. Andrew gives helpful insight into how to use food to optimize your health. 
 
The key to nutrition is avoiding processed foods made with many ingredients. Instead, look for natural foods that are not filled with added sugar, such as fruit, meat, or vegetables. Ultimately, limiting sugary snacks and overeating will allow you to prevent inflammation in the body and help you better utilize the nutrients you’re taking in. 
 
Tune into this week’s episode of The Code for a straightforward conversation on nutrition. Learn more about how food impacts the body, the importance of protein, and the benefits of mindful eating.
 
Quotes
• “What we put in our mouths is extremely important in determining or dictating what we can expect from our body, whether it’s from a performance standpoint, or just how you feel, what type of energy levels you have, how your skin feels, nails, hair. Everything will be impacted by what we put in our bodies.” (2:29-2:53 | Andrew) 
• "Protein is essential for satisfying or satiating us from an appetite standpoint. Protein digests slowly in our system, making you feel full for longer.” (8:08-8:19 | Andrew)
• “We recommend eating until you're satisfied, not until you're full because there's a slight delay in when we put food into our mouth.” (16:02-16:11 | Andrew)
• “Eat real food. Shop the perimeter of the grocery stores, or the farmer's markets, or wherever you're going, and try to eat real food as much as possible.” (21:33-21:44 | Andrew)
• “Eat until you're satisfied, not really full, and you will feel so much better. And your body will thank you for it.” (22:41-22:50 | Andrew)
 
Links
 
Connect with Physio Room: 
Website | ​​https://physioroomco.com/ 
Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/physioroomco/
Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/physioroomco
Andrew’s Personal Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/dr.andrewfix/ 
Andrew’s Personal Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/andrew.fix.9/
 
Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm