"What if your body's structure - the way your Muscles and bones work together was directly related to living longer? " What if I told you that our MSK system doesnt just help us move well from point a to point b, but it also plays a critical role in the efficiency of our organ systems - for SURVIVAL.

In this episode, I talk about the five ways your musculoskeletal system directly impacts your longevity—from cardiovascular and pulmonary health to your kidneys, brain, and beyond. I break down how poor movement patterns can mess with your blood flow, breathing, digestion, and even your ability to recover from head injuries. This isn’t just about looking strong—it’s about survival. Listen in if you want to live longer, move better, and stop ignoring the one system that affects nearly every other in your body.

To book an appointment, join my mentorship, download my fitness app, or follow me on socials: https://www.primal-pt.com/

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With over 20 years as a physical therapist, JJ’s passion for movement along with her unique experiences and training have shaped her into the successful clinician and educator she is.

JJ graduated from the University of Delaware in 2000, which is now ranked as the #1 physical therapy school in the nation. She holds multiple certifications in a variety of advanced specialty techniques and methods, all of which complement her role as an expert clinician and educator. JJ has been certified in dry needling since 2009, and began instructing dry needling in 2012. She currently teaches for Evidence in Motion (EIM), and also independently lectures and trains other clinicians throughout the country in the fields of physical therapy, chiropractic, and sports medicine. She uses her expertise to help other professionals advance their skills and outcomes, either through manual interventions or specialized movement analysis.

JJ Thomas also has certifications in Gray Cook’s Selective Functional Movement Assessment (SFMA), ACE Gait Analysis, Functional Range Conditioning (FRC), The Raggi Method of Postural Evaluation (based out of Italy), and many other joint, soft tissue, and neural mobilization techniques. In addition to these accomplishments, JJ is also a trainer for GMB Fitness, where building a solid foundation fosters restoring functional, pain-free movement.

JJ’s expertise in the area of movement analysis and in dry needling has played a large part in success in the field of sports medicine. JJ has had the honor to work with the US Field Hockey Team, and with individual professional athletes from NFL, MLB, NBA, USATF, PGA, US Squash, USPA (polo), and more.

As a recognized expert in dry needling and consultant for organizations such as the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy (FSBPT) and the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA), JJ has contributed to national legislative advancements in dry needling. Her work with these organizations includes establishing national education standards for dry needling competence and successfully adding a Trigger Point Dry Needling CPT code for insurance and billing coverage. JJ assisted the APTA in successfully adding a specific CPT code for trigger point dry needling in CPT 2020.

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Follow Dr. JJ Thomas on socials: https://www.primal-pt.com/