TOB Episode 9: Scoliosis, Overcoming Back Pain & The Strongest Woman Alive

Welcome to episode 9 of The Optimal Body Podcast

Scoliosis Curve | Learn My Story and Step Out of Fear

Today, Jen and Dom bring you their PT Pearl on Scoliosis! After they are done sharing their words of wisdom, they dive right into their interview with fellow physical therapist, Dr. Stefi Cohen.

What You Will Learn:

PT Pearl 8: Scoliosis

00:53 – Reviews

02:49 – What is Scoliosis and what does it mean?

08:10 – The importance of degrees on your Scoliosis

11:24 – Types of Scoliosis

13:00 – Effects of surgery:personal and clinical

16:03 – Inside to our asymmetrical anatomy; why it’s okay to not be perfectly symmetric

18:24 – How to address symptoms of pain that may not be due to Scoliosis

21:02 – How the Optimal Body helps bring awareness to your body

22:19 – Scoliosis Take-away

To Watch the PT Pearl on YouTube, click here: https://youtu.be/HBvqSzNbCqE

Interview with Dr. Stefanie Cohen: @steficohen

24:51 – Stefi’s Accomplishments

27:15 – Stefi’s Journey with weight lifting

29:51 – Women’s Mindset with lifting weights

31:49 – Strength Training benefits

34:10 – Common Myths about women and powerlifting

37:25 – Addressing the fear and misconceptions behind weight lifting

38:45 – Stefi’s experience with Injury

43:43 – Chasing the Diagnosis and why it can be detrimental

47:45 – How personal experience influenced Stefi’s PT Practice

50:50 – How empowerment of your own body is what really matters

53:45 – Different Programs of Stefi’s that are available

About Dr. Stefanie Cohen:

CSCS, Nutrition Coach, DPT

Stefi is a physical therapist, strength coach, professional powerlifter and the co-owner of hybrid performance method. She has broken 25 all time world records, across three different weight classes, and deadlifted more than four and a half times my bodyweight- something no other female lifter has ever done.

Stefi has an extensive list of achievements in the athletic field but she is also very well accomplished in the academic field. Not only is Stefi a multiple world record holding powerlifter, she is also an exercise physiologist and doctor of physical therapy.

In Olympic Weightlifting Stefi was the Florida senior state gold medalist (2015). Illinois senior state gold medalist and record holder (2015). In Powerlifting Stefi is the current all-time world record holder in squat, deadlift and total, she has 11 total all time world records so far in her career and is the #1 123lb Powerlifter in the world. Prior to strength sports Stefi was an accomplished NCAA (D1) Soccer Player for San Diego State 2009-10, she was also a member of the U17 Venezuelan National Soccer Team 2006-09.

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Items mentioned in this episode include

The Optimal Body: https://www.docjenfit.com/theoptimalbody/

Hybrid Performance Method: https://www.hybridperformancemethod.com

Stefi Cohen Youtube Page: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMoe2ZnSFIFcayGVv__xFEA

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Research Citations

Konieczny, M. R., Senyurt, H. R., & Krauspe, R. R. (2013). Epidemiology of adolescent

idiopathic scoliosis. Journal of Children’s Orthopaedics, 7(1), 3–9. Retrieved from https://online.boneandjoint.org.uk/doi/full/10.1007/s11832-012-0457-4

Kotwal, S., Pumberger, M., Hughes, A., & Girardi, F. (2011). Degenerative Scoliosis: A Review.

HSS Journal ®, 7(3), 257–264. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3192887/

Schlösser, T. P. C., Van Der Heijden, G. J. M. G., Versteeg, A. L., & Castelein, R. M. (2014).

How ‘Idiopathic’ Is Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis? A Systematic Review on Associated Abnormalities. PLoS ONE, 9(5). Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4018432/

Weinstein, S. L., Dolan, L. A., Wright, J. G., & Dobbs, M. B. (2013). Effects of Bracing in

Adolescents with Idiopathic Scoliosis. New England Journal of Medicine, 369(16), 1512–1521. Retrieved from

https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/nejmoa1307337

Yadla, S., Maltenfort, M. G., Ratliff, J. K., & Harrop, J. S. (2010). Adult scoliosis surgery

outcomes: a systematic review. Neurosurgical Focus, 28(3). Retrieved from https://www.researchgate.net/profile/James_Harrop/

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