Unstoppable Strides: Navigating movement disorders, movement longevity and neuroplastic change
Join Julie for information, exploration, stories of hope and real talk related to running with dystonia, neuro plasticity and establishing better movement patterns at any age. Runner’s dystonia is a type of repetitive exercise dystonia that is brought on by running. Some are affected by walking and cycling as well. Dystonias are a class of movement disorders marked by involuntary muscle contractions in one or more parts of the body, depending on the type of dystonia. Runner’s dystonia is considered task-specific, which means that it only occurs when doing a repetitive motion—in this case, the repetitive nature of the running gait cycle. Give us a listen if you'd like to learn more. One small favor... if you like these podcasts and want to support the show, could you buy us a cup of coffee through a donation to support our hosting and producing fees? https://www.buymeacoffee.com/dystonia You can email us here if you're interested in collaborating or contributing - runnersdystonia@gmail.com
Episodes
In this episode, Julie and Mindy explore how psychedelics, psychotherapy, movement, mindfulness, creativity, and connection can work together as an ecosystem for healing.
Mindy Tockman, LPC, is a trauma therapist, speaker, and founder of Resonance, an emerging integrative wellness center being developed in St. Louis, MO
Her work integrates Internal Family Systems, somatic therapies, nervous system regulation, mindfulness practices, a...
In this episode, I have a conversation with Movement educator Monika Volkmar where we talk about how foot mechanics can help or hinder the gait cycle when the timing is not appropriate. Monika shares her history, knowledge and many resources on her journey, work and education in this rich discussion. Thanks for listening and sharing.
Please consider dropping some funds into the donation fund to keep this resource going.
Bree Sutton is a mental health therapist specializing in helping athletes and high achievers overcome anxiety and reach their full potential. Her approach is unique because of the integration of techniques like HeartMath biofeedback to enhance heart rate variability and brainspotting to target deep, subconscious roots of anxiety and performance blocks in the neurological system. These methods help clients not just manage anxiety bu...
Tim Koh, Professor of Kinesiology and Nutrition at the University of Illinois-Chicago, shares his story of dystonia and information about a possible link with a genetic mutation (THAP 1).
Please share these podcasts with friends, supporters, healthcare providers, your team. Without your support, we could not exist. If you'd like to contribute to our keeping these going, please consider donating via the links here.
Julie talks with Ariel Beccia, a researcher with the Harvard School of Public Health, on her dystonia story and how she got from not running 10 years ago to where she is now with running and racing and workouts.
Please Like, Comment, Share!
The information shared in this podcast is not intended to diagnose. recommend nor treat medical conditions. We are not licensed medical professionals and do not take the plac...
Julie sits down with Dr. Bernard Ravina, CEO and founder of Vima Therapeutics. His company is developing a drug that looks promising in helping those with dystonia.
Vima Therapeutic website
Vima Therapeutics team
Site for current Phase 2 dystonia study into first oral medication. The study is named "Stride Dystonia"
Survey done with the Dystonia Medical Research Foundation (DMRF).
Neurologist Erik van Wensen shares his personal story and where we are with current understanding and research in the area of dystonia and specifically task-specific sports dystonia.
Mentioned in the recording:
EMDR - Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing
CBT - Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
Botox - Botulinum Toxin
Dart-Player Jules van Dongen Pedals and Points fundraiser for Dysto...
Julie has a conversation with Boulder, CO runner David Abelson. David has cervical dystonia and has been active in running for more than 30 years. In 2022, he developed dystonia and shares his 4 keys to his path of recovery.
"Don't give up"
Mentioned in the podcast:
Botox
Colchicine
Rapamycin
Dr. Steven Frucht at NYU-Langone
The information shared in this podcast is not intended to diagnose. recommend nor treat medic...
Julie has a conversation with EMDR specialist, Whitney Dittmar, MA, LPC, EMDR Therapist for Athletes, Performance & Trauma Specialist
Listed in the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee Mental Health Directory (2025) for the Mental Health Directory.
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) can be used with athletes and performers to enhance performance, break through mental and physical blocks.
EMDR ...
Julie talks with Stacey Ginesin and Dr. Iahn Cajigas about DBS. We cover a lot of territory here, including how to get the procedure approved by Insurance, when DBS becomes a viable option, success rates, risks and Stacey's experience with dystonia and DBS surgery.
The information shared in this podcast is not intended to diagnose. recommend nor treat medical conditions. We are not licensed medical professional...
Julie spends some time with athlete, coach and founder of Spewak Training and Racing, Mark Spewak. Mark is a fellow St. Louisan who recently had heart surgery to repair a PFO (patent foramen ovale), a hole in his heart. in 2025, Mark had two strokes and years prior had a CSF (cerebrospinal fluid) leak.
Despite these health conditions, Mark has the relentless attitude of a champion and maintains hope in an awe-inspiring way.
Here is a...
Join us in a conversation with Dr. David Clarke, a retired Doctor of Internal Medicine and Gastroenterology, who found patients with normal labs and diagnostics never were able to resolve their chronic conditions.
Through a series of fortunate events, he discovered a framework to help these patients quickly overcome many chronic issues that "modern" medicine lacked to resolve. Through many hours of client work, he believes tha...
Julie and JoJo spend some time with Thad Frye, a licensed clinical social worker and brain spotting consultant who specializes in using brain spotting in his practice. In this episode, Thad describes how brain spotting works, who it might benefit and how it might help individuals overcome performance blocks and other issues in their personal and professional lives.
We talk about the yips, emdr, somatic experiencing and many ot...
Julie sits down with Dr. William Deihl from Doc Hypnosis to discuss and dispel myths about hypnosis. Hypnosis can be used as a neuroplastic tool to help heal a variety of conditions from anxiety, pain, trauma and performance blocks - among many other things. What we discuss is a lot about how the mind is intrinsically connected to how the body operates. It all works together to function AND in healing. Please like, comment and shar...
Distinguished athlete Chris Phelan talks openly about his dystonia story and diagnosis. Chris has been affected for more than 10 years and has had multiple rounds of botox and dbs (deep brain stimulation). While Chris is not "cured" of dystonia, he has never given up hope. He's written two books about his story and would rather shake, rattle and roll than give up.
My Ride and Run with Dystonia is his first book and his second will b...
This episode takes a different twist as I talk with Lilibet Kyte who, at age 36, was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis (MS). We talk about treatments, her diagnosis, her team and a host of other things in this insightful episode. Key message - You cannot judge a book by it's cover.
"I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel." - Maya ...
Casandra Oldham has had success in her running career that was never intended to be a running career! She shares her knowledge of neurodiverse brains and how thinking outside of the dystonia "box" might be helping through nutrition, functional medicine, hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) and other modalities.
Autism Knowledge Gateway https://www.autismkg.org/
TLI Foundation https://www.thoughtfoundation.org/about
HBOT - https://pm...
Julie, JoJo and special guest host Karrie Hamstra-Wright chat with wife, mother, NBC Track and Field Broadcaster, author, World T&F Silver medalist and 2-Time Olympian Kara Goucher.
Kara shares her dystonia history, diagnosis, celebrations, tendencies to compartmentalize and other struggles in this real, heart-felt cast.
You can find more about Kara here and order her book, The Longest Race, here. If you really want t...
Julie sits down with Megan Cohea, a physical therapist living on the East Coast. Megan has Runner's Dystonia and shares her journey, symptoms and recommendations in this conversation. Apologies for the audio issues at the beginning of the recording.
Here is a link to the TENS unit Megan uses.
The information shared in this podcast is not intended to diagnose. recommend nor treat medical conditions. We are not li...
JoJo and Julie sit down with Karrie Hamstra-Wright, Clinical Professor and Co-Director of the Applied Sports Psychology and Injury Research and Education (ASPIRE) Lab in the Department of Kinesiology and Nutrition at the University of Illinois Chicago. Like many of us interested in these podcasts on the topic of dystonia, Karrie also has this condition. For those interested in the lab's work, you can participate in the commun...
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