Every step you take doubles the energy your body puts into the ground — and fascia is the tissue that makes it possible. In this solo episode, Dr. Emily Splichal breaks down how to build fascial resiliency and why collagen, the structural protein behind your entire connective tissue web, is central to movement longevity. She walks through the science of the catapult effect, the three features every healthy fascia needs to have, and a full step-by-step routine you can do at home to train hydration, tensegrity, and elasticity in your tissue. She closes with a look at the regenerative medicine tools she uses in her own practice to restore fascial integrity after injury.

- Fascia is a sensory organ with over 100 million nerve endings, not just structural tissue — it's how your brain perceives where your body is in space.
- The "catapult effect" means your body can nearly double the energy absorbed at foot contact and release it on push-off, but only if your fascia is healthy.
- Fascial resilience depends on three trainable features: hydration, tensegrity (stiffness/stability), and elasticity (the rubber-band effect).
- Chronically elevated blood sugar oxidizes into free radicals that create inflammation and "stickiness" in connective tissue, accelerating fascial aging.
- A daily fascial routine — tissue mobility, elasticity work, energy transfer drills, and strength through range — can be done at home in a short amount of time.

Chapters:
0:00 Introduction — Fascial Resiliency and Collagen
1:15 What Fascia Really Is and Why It Matters
3:00 The Catapult Effect: How Fascia Multiplies Energy
7:30 Collagen 101: The Structural Protein Behind Fascia
9:00 The Three Pillars: Hydration, Tensegrity, and Elasticity
15:00 Fascia and Aging: Glucose, Stickiness, and Injury Risk
19:45 A Step-by-Step Fascial Resiliency Routine
29:00 Regenerative Medicine for Fascia: Shockwave, Biologics, and Peptides

Subscribe to Root to Rise and check out Dr. Splichal's YouTube channel for the full fascial mobilization and hydration video series referenced in this episode.

👣 Connect with Dr. Emily Splichal:
Consultations: www.dremilysplichal.com
Instagram: www.instagram.com/dremilydpm

🎧 Follow & Subscribe for More:
New episodes exploring barefoot science, nervous system health, emotional regulation, and holistic human performance.

What if anxiety, low mood, brain fog, and poor focus are not simply mental health conditions—but signals that your brain is missing the nutrients it needs to function optimally?

In this episode of Root to Rise, Dr. Emily Splichal is joined by functional nutrition therapy practitioner Laurie Hammer for an eye-opening conversation about the relationship between amino acids, neurotransmitters, and brain health. Together, they explore how serotonin, dopamine, GABA, endorphins, and blood sugar regulation influence everything from stress resilience and motivation to emotional well-being and cognitive performance.

You'll learn how chronic stress, menopause, mold exposure, viral illness, and inflammation can contribute to neurotransmitter depletion, why amino acids are the essential building blocks of brain chemistry, and how targeted nutritional support may help restore balance.

The conversation also emphasizes the importance of working with qualified healthcare providers when using nutritional strategies alongside psychiatric medications, highlighting a safe, integrative approach to supporting mental health.

Whether you're looking to better understand your own brain or support the health of those around you, this episode offers a fresh perspective on the powerful connection between nutrition, brain chemistry, and overall well-being.

Sections:
0:00 Introduction — Meet Laurie Hamer
3:30 The Five Core Neurotransmitters and What They Do
9:00 Anxiety as a Nutrient Deficiency, Not a Diagnosis
19:50 Mapping Amino Acids to Neurotransmitters
27:00 Real Client Case Studies and Amino Acid Testing
32:00 Medication, Tapering, and the Amino Acid Conversation
40:00 Hormones, Menopause, Mold Toxicity, and Brain Inflammation
47:00 Where to Find Laurie and Take Back My Brain

Follow Laurie Hamer and the Take Back My Brain podcast to learn more about amino acid therapy and brain health testing, and subscribe to Root to Rise for more conversations on the science of human potential.
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/take-back-my-brain/id1684847484

👣 Connect with Dr. Emily Splichal:
Consultations: www.dremilysplichal.com
Instagram: www.instagram.com/dremilydpm

🎧 Follow & Subscribe for More:
New episodes exploring barefoot science, nervous system health, emotional regulation, and holistic human performance.

The plantar fascia is far more than a passive arch support—it's a dynamic tissue that helps your foot absorb, store, and return energy with every step. In this solo episode, Dr. Emily Splichal explores the anatomy and function of the plantar fascia, explaining its three bands, layered structure, and connection to the Achilles tendon. She discusses how the foot transitions from a mobile shock absorber to a stable lever during movement, and why arch compression and forefoot mobility are essential for efficient walking and running. The episode also dives into running biomechanics, ground reaction forces, injury prevention, and a fascinating real-world case study involving Cirque du Soleil performers that highlights how surface vibration can influence movement and injury risk.

Chapters:
0:00 Introduction — The Athletic Arch
2:00 Plantar Fascia Anatomy: Three Bands and Two Layers
6:00 The Windlass Mechanism and Toe Extension
9:30 Metatarsal Splay and the Tie Bar Mechanism
15:45 Arch Compression, Orthotics, and Energy Potentiation
20:20 Walking vs. Running: Key Biomechanical Differences
27:00 Ground Reaction Forces, Vibration, and Muscle Tuning
35:30 Surfaces, Cirque du Soleil, and Anticipatory Stiffness

Subscribe to Root to Rise for more deep dives into the biomechanics behind movement efficiency, movement accuracy, and movement longevity.

👣 Connect with Dr. Emily Splichal:
Consultations: www.dremilysplichal.com
Instagram: www.instagram.com/dremilydpm

🎧 Follow & Subscribe for More:
New episodes exploring barefoot science, nervous system health, emotional regulation, and holistic human performance.