The Thinking Practitioner

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For the practitioner who’s never stopped being curious. Til Luchau and Whitney Lowe bring together leading researchers, master clinicians, and big questions from across bodywork, massage, and manual therapy — exploring not just what we do with our hands, but why it works and how to do it better. Smart, grounded, and genuinely useful conversations for the somatic arts and sciences.

For professional practitioners in bodywork, massage therapy, structural integration, chiropractic, myofascial and myotherapy, orthopedics, sports massage, physical therapy, and osteopathy — as well as yoga, strength and conditioning, and allied professions.

This podcast is not medical or treatment advice.

Episodes

Apr 16, 2025

142: Fascia and the Vagus Nerve (with Fabiana Silva)

Apr 16, 2025

45 min

🎙Til Luchau speaks with physiotherapist and fascia researcher Fabiana Silva about the emerging connections between fascia, the vagus nerve, and systemic inflammation. They explore both the science and the practical applications of manual therapy, transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation, and the challenges of clinical research in the hands-on healing arts. Fabiana is also the President of the Fascia Research Society, and shares highlights from the upcoming 2025 Fascia Research Congress in New Orleans.

🎧 Tune in to learn how fascia influences vagal tone, inflammation, mood, and more — and how practitioners can work more effectively with these systems.

🌟 Key Topics:

•[02:59] Introduction to fascia and the vagus nerve connection

•[05:02] Transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation and clinical uses

•[07:27] Vagus nerve’s role in inflammation and chronic illness

•[09:48] Manual therapy, breathwork, and vagal tone

•[12:26] Fascia as sensory interface and its impact on vagal signaling

•[20:10] Hands-on techniques: suboccipital and gut fascia release

•[23:33] Challenges in manual therapy research

•[28:29] Predatory journals and the need for better fascia research

•[33:59] Fascia Research Congress 2025: what’s coming up

•[37:51] Building community and collaboration in the fascia field

•[41:37] Fabiana’s closing thoughts on the future of fascia research

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📌 Sponsored by: ABMP and Books of Discovery, with in-kind support from the Fascia Research Society

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📄 Get the full transcript at Til or Whitney's sites!

Whitney Lowe’s site: AcademyOfClinicalMassage.com
Til Luchau’s site: Advanced-Trainings.com

Resources discussed in this episode:

The 7th International Fascia Research Congress, August 10–14, 2025: https://www.frscongress.org/
Fascia Research Society: https://fasciaresearchsociety.org/

Sponsor Offers:

Books of Discovery: save 15% by entering "thinking" at checkout on booksofdiscovery.com.
ABMP: save $24 on new membership at abmp.com/thinking.
Advanced-Trainings: try a month of the amazing A-T Subscription free by entering “thinking” at checkout at a-t.tv/subscriptions/,.
Academy of Clinical Massage: Grab Whitney's valuable Assessment Cheat Sheet for free at: academyofclinicalmassage.com/cheatsheet
Fascia Research Congress: save $100 when you use the coupon code "thinking" at https://www.frscongress.org/

About Whitney Lowe | About Til Luchau | Email Us: info@thethinkingpractitioner.com

(The Thinking Practitioner Podcast is intended for professional practitioners of manual and movement therapies: bodywork, massage therapy, structural integration, chiropractic, myofascial and myotherapy, orthopedic, sports massage, physical therapy, osteopathy, yoga, strength and conditioning, and similar professions. It is not medical or treatment advice.)

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