88: Treating The Whole Athlete (Mind + Body)

In this episode of the Female Athlete Nutrition podcast, I talk with physical therapist and passionate endurance athlete Dr Sarah Ceschin. We speak about Sarah’s introduction to physical therapy through a love of movement and connecting the mind with the body. This conversation explores the mind-body connection as it relates to both body image and injury recovery. Sarah emphasizes the importance of addressing the psychological and physical sides of recovery simultaneously in order to build body trust and overcome the fear of re-injury. Sarah suggests graduated exposure to feared movements alongside the support of a professional. We talk about common injuries in runners and endurance athletes: overuse conditions such as tendinitis and bone injuries, and the role nutrition has in their development and recovery; while poor nutrition and underfueling can predispose athletes to injuries, eating enough and optimal fuelling can speed up the healing process and prevent future injuries. Sarah opens up about her personal experiences with an eating disorder, overtraining and REDS, as well as her current recovery from hypothalamic amenorrhea. We discuss how our personal experiences give us empathy with our clients, and the importance of a multidisciplinary approach to recovery from both injuries and REDS.  Sarah shares her philosophy of treating the patient not the diagnosis: injuries rarely ever exist in isolation or have a single cause, so addressing the whole body and mind together is essential to long term success. Coupled with that, Sarah explains why imaging does not tell the full story and often is more hurtful than helpful, highlighting abnormalities that don’t match up with a client’s symptoms. We debunk the “weak glutes” myth and that glute activation and PT exercises are not miracle cures: understanding and utilizing correct movement patterns for life are! We finish off by highlighting the importance of doing what you love: there is a space to combine professional with passionate and fun, and it may even make you better at your job! Follow Sarah and all she does on Instagram @boulder_sports_physio You can reach her via email bouldersportsphysio@gmail.com and at www.bouldersportsphysio.com  Sarah’s Official Bio: Dr. Sarah Ceschin is a sports-medicine orthopedic physical therapist who loves working with runners, climbers, and recreational athletes of all types. Through biomechanics and understanding human movement, Dr. Sarah uses hands on treatment and corrective exercises to help people move better, feel better, and get back to the activities they love to do. When she's not being a PT, Dr. Sarah loves trail running, biking, climbing, cooking, and being the last person on the dance floor. Learn more about Lindsey's Services and the Team at Rise Up Nutrition: www.riseupnutritionrun.com Worried that you have RED-S? Curious to know how we could help or how you can recover fast?! Download the RED-S Recovery Race & see how you place for more support:www.riseupnutritionrun.com/reds