Pursuit Physical Therapy

06/04/2026

One of the most important findings in this new osteoporosis research is this:
Bone is not passive structure.
Bone is a mechanosensory organ.
Researchers identified a receptor called GPR133 that appears to help bones stay strong by:
• stimulating osteoblasts (bone-building cells)
• restraining osteoclasts (bone-resorbing cells)
• responding directly to mechanical strain and cell-to-cell contact. The researchers were even able to significantly improve bone strength in osteoporotic mice by activating this receptor with a compound called AP503.
Why should manual therapists care?
Because this reinforces one of the most important principles in rehabilitation and osteopathic thinking:
Movement is biologic signaling.
Bone constantly interprets:
• force
• tension
• compression
• shear
• vibration
• loading variability
And then adapts accordingly.
The article specifically noted that GPR133 becomes activated by mechanical strain.
That should immediately make manual therapists think about:
• mechanotransduction
• Wolff’s Law
• Piezo signaling
• load variability
• fascial force transmission
• muscle-bone interaction
• movement-driven remodeling
Because clinically, patients with osteoporosis or osteopenia often present with:
• rigid thoraxes
• shallow breathing
• poor gait variability
• deconditioning
• reduced loading tolerance
• fear-based movement
• balance deficits
• decreased proprioceptive adaptability
Actionable considerations for manual therapists:
1️⃣ Respect bone as living adaptive tissue
Bone remodels continuously in response to mechanical input.
2️⃣ Use graded loading strategically
The goal is not simply “exercise.”
The goal is adaptive mechanosensory signaling.
3️⃣ Improve diaphragmatic and thoracic mechanics
Rib motion and pressure variability influence:
• posture
• balance
• gait
• force transfer
• loading distribution
4️⃣ Restore movement variability
Bone responds better to varied loading than monotonous loading.
5️⃣ Focus on force transmission through the entire kinetic chain
Poor hip, thoracic, or foot mechanics may alter how force reaches bone tissue.
6️⃣ Think beyond calcium alone
Bone health also depends on:
• movement
• vascularity
• autonomic balance
• muscle signaling
• hormonal environment
• mitochondrial health
One fascinating implication of this study is that:
the body already contains built-in “bone strengthening switches”…
…and those switches appear highly responsive to mechanical forces.
That is a profound systems-biology concept.
The future of rehabilitation may increasingly recognize that:
mechanics influence cellular signaling,
cellular signaling influences tissue remodeling,
and movement may be one of the most powerful anabolic signals in human physiology.

A little-known receptor may reshape how scientists approach bone loss.

06/03/2026

New research is continuing to show something profound:

Your body is constantly adapting to the signals it receives.

Stress, inflammation, poor breathing, tension, injury, and chronic pain can push the nervous system into a constant “fight-or-flight” state — changing circulation, digestion, immune behavior, sleep, and recovery.

This is why osteopathic manual therapy focuses on more than muscles and joints.

By improving:
• diaphragm motion
• lymphatic drainage
• rib and spinal mobility
• vagal and autonomic function

we help create an environment where the body can regulate and heal more efficiently.

Your nervous system is physical.
And better movement can create better physiology.


https://www.cell.com/current-biology/fulltext/S0960-9822(25)01458-7

06/02/2026

One of the most important findings in this new gut microbiome research is this:
Some chronic inflammatory environments may begin with microscopic damage to the body’s protective barriers.
Researchers solved a 15-year mystery involving a toxin produced by the common gut bacterium Bacteroides fragilis. They discovered that the toxin attaches to a receptor called claudin-4 on colon cells before damaging the intestinal lining and contributing to tumor-promoting inflammation.
Why should manual therapists care?
Because this reinforces a major systems-based principle:
Barrier integrity matters.
The gut lining is not simply a digestive surface.
It is:
• an immune interface
• a neurologic interface
• a vascular interface
• a signaling interface
When gut barrier function breaks down, the effects may extend far beyond digestion.
Clinically, patients with chronic inflammatory or dysregulated gut physiology often present with:
• persistent fatigue
• widespread pain sensitivity
• autonomic dysregulation
• brain fog
• chronic muscle tension
• altered fascial texture
• poor recovery capacity
• exercise intolerance
The article highlights how bacterial toxins can exploit weakened tissue interfaces and inflammatory environments.
That should immediately make manual therapists think about:
• autonomic regulation
• vagal tone
• diaphragmatic pressure systems
• lymphatic flow
• inflammatory signaling
• interstitial fluid dynamics
• stress physiology
• gut-brain communication
Because the gut is mechanically and neurologically connected to the rest of the body.
Actionable considerations for manual therapists:
1️⃣ Improve diaphragmatic excursion
The diaphragm strongly influences:
• vagal signaling
• abdominal pressure regulation
• venous return
• lymphatic movement
2️⃣ Respect the gut-brain-body connection
Persistent inflammatory physiology may influence:
• pain sensitivity
• motor control
• tissue adaptability
• recovery behavior
3️⃣ Assess thoracic and rib cage mobility
Thoracic rigidity alters breathing efficiency and autonomic adaptability.
4️⃣ Think “barrier function”
Chronic stress, poor sleep, inflammatory diets, and sedentary behavior may impair the body’s protective interfaces.
5️⃣ Improve movement variability
Movement influences:
• circulation
• inflammatory chemistry
• endothelial signaling
• gut motility
• autonomic regulation
6️⃣ Avoid reductionistic thinking
A patient with chronic tension or pain may not simply have a musculoskeletal problem.
They may be experiencing systemic inflammatory overload.
One fascinating implication of this research is that:
tiny molecular interactions at the gut lining may profoundly influence long-term health outcomes. ()
That is systems biology.
The body constantly integrates:
• mechanics
• immunity
• metabolism
• circulation
• neurology
• microbiome signaling
The future of rehabilitation may increasingly recognize that:
mechanics influence physiology,
physiology influences inflammation,
and tissue healing depends heavily on the environment cells live inside.

A new study reveals the hidden mechanism a common gut bacterium uses to damage the colon, solving a mystery that has puzzled scientists for years.

06/01/2026

One of the most important ideas in this new Multiple Sclerosis research is this:
The nervous system may retain far more repair potential than we previously believed.
Researchers identified experimental drug molecules that appeared to restart remyelination — the rebuilding of the myelin sheath that insulates nerves and allows efficient neural signaling. The compounds worked by helping the brain’s own repair cells overcome chronic cellular stress states that were blocking recovery.
Why should manual therapists care?
Because this reinforces a critical systems-based principle:
Neurologic dysfunction is not always purely “degeneration.”
Sometimes it is failed adaptation and failed repair signaling.
The study highlighted that in MS-like environments:
• repair cells were present
• regenerative capacity still existed
• but the physiologic environment prevented proper recovery.
That should immediately make manual therapists think about:
• mechanotransduction
• autonomic regulation
• neurovascular coupling
• inflammatory load
• tissue oxygenation
• mitochondrial stress
• glymphatic and lymphatic drainage
• movement-driven neuroplasticity
Because clinically, neurologic patients often present with:
• rigid thoraxes
• shallow breathing
• chronic sympathetic dominance
• poor exercise tolerance
• inflammatory overload
• decreased movement variability
• autonomic dysregulation
• fatigue disproportionate to activity
Actionable considerations for manual therapists:
1️⃣ Improve diaphragmatic excursion
The diaphragm influences:
• venous return
• lymphatic movement
• autonomic regulation
• thoracic pressure variability
2️⃣ Respect fatigue as physiologic load intolerance
Neurologic patients often have reduced energetic reserve and impaired recovery buffering.
3️⃣ Restore sensory-rich movement
The nervous system remodels through meaningful sensory and motor input.
4️⃣ Improve thoracic and rib cage mobility
Thoracic rigidity alters:
• breathing efficiency
• vascular flow
• autonomic adaptability
• oxygen delivery
5️⃣ Focus on adaptability before intensity
A highly inflamed or stressed nervous system adapts poorly to aggressive loading.
6️⃣ Think “environment for repair”
The body’s repair systems depend on:
• circulation
• metabolic support
• sleep
• movement variability
• autonomic flexibility
• inflammatory regulation
One fascinating implication of this research is that:
the nervous system may already possess dormant repair mechanisms…
…but chronic stress signaling and inflammatory environments may suppress them.
That is a profound systems-biology concept.
This does NOT mean manual therapy repairs MS lesions.
But it DOES reinforce the idea that:
mechanics influence physiology,
physiology influences recovery capacity,
and neurologic healing occurs inside a mechanically and metabolically regulated environment.
The future of rehabilitation may increasingly focus not only on suppressing disease…
but on restoring the conditions necessary for adaptation and repair.

Two experimental drug molecules promoted myelin repair in MS disease models, pointing toward a possible future route for treating nerve damage rather than only suppressing inflammation.

05/31/2026

One of the most important things this new longevity research highlights is this:
More stimulation is not always better physiology.
A new large-scale study involving more than 270,000 people found that higher circulating levels of the amino acid tyrosine were associated with shorter lifespan in men. Researchers estimated the effect could approach nearly one year of reduced life expectancy.
Why should manual therapists care?
Because many of the compounds aggressively marketed for:
• focus
• energy
• performance
• productivity
• “mental edge”
work through stress-response physiology.
Tyrosine is a precursor for:
• dopamine
• norepinephrine
• epinephrine
—the same catecholamine pathways tied to:
• sympathetic activation
• stress adaptation
• vigilance
• performance under pressure.
And importantly…
Tyrosine is commonly included in:
• pre-workout formulas
• nootropic stacks
• “focus” supplements
• gaming supplements
• some energy drinks
That should immediately make manual therapists think about:
• autonomic load
• recovery physiology
• adrenal signaling
• sleep quality
• vascular tone
• inflammatory regulation
• movement adaptability
Because clinically, patients stuck in chronic sympathetic overdrive often present with:
• shallow breathing
• rib cage rigidity
• persistent muscle tone
• poor HRV
• chronic fatigue
• jaw tension
• headaches
• poor tissue recovery
• exercise intolerance
The study does NOT prove tyrosine directly shortens lifespan.
But it DOES reinforce an important systems-based principle:
Chronic stress chemistry has tradeoffs.
And this is particularly relevant in modern culture where highly caffeinated energy drinks and stimulant-heavy supplements are increasingly normalized.
Many popular energy drinks combine:
• caffeine
• tyrosine
• taurine
• stimulatory herbs
• large sugar loads
to artificially amplify sympathetic output.
That may temporarily improve:
• alertness
• training intensity
• concentration
…but chronically living in a “fight-or-flight performance state” may come with physiologic costs.
Actionable considerations for manual therapists:
1️⃣ Assess breathing mechanics
Sympathetic-dominant patients often lose diaphragmatic variability.
2️⃣ Respect recovery physiology
A patient constantly stimulating their nervous system may not fully enter restorative states.
3️⃣ Ask about energy drink and pre-workout use
Especially in patients with:
• chronic tension
• poor sleep
• palpitations
• headaches
• recovery failure
• autonomic dysregulation
4️⃣ Improve rib cage and thoracic mobility
Thoracic rigidity strongly influences autonomic behavior.
5️⃣ Focus on parasympathetic restoration
Movement, breathing, sleep, hydration, and recovery variability matter as much as performance intensity.
6️⃣ Think adaptability, not stimulation
Healthy systems can upregulate AND downregulate efficiently.
One fascinating lesson from this research is that:
the same pathways that improve short-term performance may not always optimize long-term resilience.
That is systems physiology.
The future of rehabilitation may increasingly recognize that:
performance chemistry,
autonomic regulation,
metabolism,
mechanics,
and recovery biology are deeply interconnected systems.

Researchers found that men with genetically higher tyrosine levels appeared to live slightly shorter lives, raising new questions about amino acids often promoted for mental performance.

05/30/2026

💪 Ever have the "workout blahs"?

You show up. You do the exercises. But the strength isn't there. The motivation isn't there. Recovery feels slow. Everything feels harder than it should.

It might not be a fitness problem.

It could be a signaling problem.

New research suggests Vitamin B12 plays a critical role in healthy aging and nervous system function. B12 is essential for energy production, nerve health, and cellular communication.

From an osteopathic perspective, muscles don't work in isolation—they depend on healthy nerves to activate them.

If B12 levels are low:
⚡ Neurons may not fire efficiently
💪 Muscles may be underpowered
🧠 Mental energy and motivation may decline
🏃 Recovery and exercise performance may suffer

As osteopathic manual therapists, we often evaluate why someone isn't responding to exercise as expected. Sometimes the problem isn't the workout. Sometimes the body lacks the biochemical resources needed to generate a strong biomechanical response.

You can't out-exercise poor cellular signaling.

The best outcomes happen when all three signals are working together:

✔️ Biomechanical — healthy movement and strength
✔️ Bioelectrical — efficient nerve communication
✔️ Biochemical — nutrients like B12 supporting cellular energy

If your workouts feel harder than they should, don't just ask, "Am I training enough?"

Ask, "Do my muscles and nerves have the fuel they need to perform?"

Vitamin B12 may shape metabolism and aging more than previously understood.

05/30/2026

🧠⚡ Magnesium may be one of the most misunderstood minerals in health care.

A new study found that altering how magnesium moves inside the mitochondria—the “power plants” of the cell—dramatically changed metabolism in mice. Even on a high-fat, high-sugar diet, the animals stayed leaner, burned fuel more efficiently, and showed healthier metabolic function.

But here’s the important takeaway:

This does NOT mean people should start trying to lower their magnesium levels.

In fact, many patients struggling with:
✅ chronic inflammation
✅ insulin resistance
✅ poor sleep
✅ muscle tension
✅ digestive dysfunction
✅ stress physiology

are actually magnesium deficient.

From an osteopathic perspective, one of the biggest barriers to weight loss is often not calories alone—it is a body trapped in a chronic inflammatory and autonomic stress pattern.

When the gastrointestinal tract becomes inflamed:
• Gut motility changes
• Microbiome signaling changes
• Nutrient absorption changes
• Vagal nerve signaling becomes disrupted
• Systemic inflammation rises

The result is often a body that becomes less adaptable and less responsive to treatment.

This is where magnesium becomes interesting.

Magnesium supports:
🔹 Insulin sensitivity
🔹 Energy production (ATP metabolism)
🔹 Nervous system regulation
🔹 Muscle relaxation
🔹 Gut motility
🔹 Reduction of inflammatory signaling and CRP levels

As osteopathic manual therapists, our goal is not simply weight loss.

Our goal is restoring a physiologic environment where the body can regulate itself more effectively.

In some patients, improving magnesium status may help reduce gut irritation, improve autonomic balance, and improve tissue adaptability—allowing osteopathic manual therapy to work more efficiently because the system is no longer fighting against a chronic inflammatory load.

The future of health is not just about burning fat.

It is about restoring communication between:
🦠 The microbiome
🧠 The brain
🫀 The autonomic nervous system
🍽️ The gastrointestinal tract
⚡ Cellular energy production

Biomechanical.
Bioelectrical.
Biochemical.

That is where true adaptation begins.

Researchers have identified a small-molecule compound that appears to counteract weight gain and metabolic damage in mice exposed to a long-term Western diet.

05/30/2026

One of the most important things this new Alzheimer’s research reinforces is this:
The brain is metabolically expensive tissue.
And nutrition directly influences neurologic adaptability.
A large long-term study following nearly 40,000 older adults found that regular egg consumption was associated with a significantly lower risk of Alzheimer’s disease:
• 1–3 servings/month → 17% lower risk
• 2–4 servings/week → 20% lower risk
• 5+ servings/week → up to 27% lower risk
Why should manual therapists care?
Because neurologic recovery and tissue adaptability are not just mechanical processes.
They are deeply dependent on:
• mitochondrial function
• membrane integrity
• neurotransmitter production
• inflammatory regulation
• vascular health
• autonomic balance
• metabolic resilience
The article highlighted several nutrients in eggs that are strongly tied to brain physiology:
• choline
• phosphatidylcholine
• omega-3 fatty acids
• lutein
• zeaxanthin
• vitamin B12
Choline is especially important because it helps produce:
• acetylcholine
• phospholipid membranes
• neuronal signaling molecules
That should immediately make manual therapists think about:
• autonomic regulation
• vagal tone
• neuroplasticity
• mechanotransduction
• movement variability
• recovery physiology
Because clinically, patients with poor metabolic reserve often present with:
• brain fog
• poor exercise tolerance
• chronic pain sensitivity
• slow healing
• poor HRV
• shallow breathing
• dense fascia
• autonomic dysregulation
Actionable considerations for manual therapists:
1️⃣ Respect nutrition as part of recovery physiology
Tissues cannot adapt properly without adequate biochemical support.
2️⃣ Improve diaphragmatic mechanics
The diaphragm influences:
• oxygen delivery
• autonomic regulation
• glymphatic and lymphatic flow
• vascular dynamics
3️⃣ Think membrane physiology
Healthy neurons require healthy lipid membranes and adequate nutrient availability.
4️⃣ Improve movement variability
Movement influences:
• mitochondrial signaling
• endothelial health
• inflammatory regulation
• neuroplasticity
5️⃣ Consider the brain-body connection
Patients with chronic inflammatory or metabolic dysfunction often demonstrate altered:
• cognition
• pain processing
• recovery capacity
• autonomic adaptability
6️⃣ Avoid reductionistic thinking
Recovery is not:
• only structural
• only neurologic
• only metabolic
It is all of those simultaneously.
One of the fascinating implications of this study is that simple dietary behaviors may influence long-term brain resilience through multiple overlapping systems:
• neurotransmitters
• inflammation
• oxidative stress
• vascular function
• membrane biology
That is systems physiology.
The future of rehabilitation may increasingly recognize that:
mechanics influence biology,
biology influences cognition,
and recovery depends on supporting the entire adaptive network.

Scientists tracking more than 40,000 people for over 15 years found an intriguing connection between egg consumption and reduced Alzheimer’s risk.

05/29/2026

One of the most important things this new blood pressure research reinforces is this:
Food is not just fuel.
Food is signaling.
A large international analysis found that people with the highest intake of legumes and soy foods had significantly lower rates of hypertension:
• legumes → 16% lower risk
• soy foods → 19% lower risk
The researchers also found a dose-response effect:
• around 170g/day of legumes produced substantial benefit
• soy benefits appeared strongest around 60–80g/day
Why should manual therapists care?
Because blood pressure is not just a cardiovascular issue.
Blood pressure reflects:
• vascular adaptability
• endothelial function
• autonomic regulation
• inflammatory load
• metabolic health
• tissue oxygenation
• fluid dynamics
And all of those influence recovery and tissue quality.
The article discussed several likely mechanisms:
• potassium
• magnesium
• dietary fiber
• short-chain fatty acid production
• vascular relaxation effects
• soy isoflavone signaling
Manual therapists should immediately think about:
• endothelial shear stress
• diaphragmatic pressure regulation
• microcirculation
• fascial hydration
• autonomic tone
• nitric oxide signaling
• mitochondrial function
Because clinically, patients with poor vascular adaptability often present with:
• chronic tension
• headaches
• exercise intolerance
• delayed healing
• inflammatory pain
• dense fascia
• poor recovery
• sympathetic overdrive
Actionable considerations for manual therapists:
1️⃣ Improve diaphragmatic excursion
The diaphragm strongly influences:
• venous return
• lymphatic flow
• thoracic pressure variability
• autonomic state
2️⃣ Respect endothelial physiology
Movement and manual therapy influence:
• nitric oxide signaling
• vascular responsiveness
• microcirculation
• tissue oxygenation
3️⃣ Think about recovery chemistry
Patients recovering poorly may have:
• inflammatory diets
• low fiber intake
• poor micronutrient status
• metabolic dysfunction
4️⃣ Encourage adaptive movement + adaptive nutrition
Mechanics and metabolism constantly interact.
5️⃣ Consider the gut-vascular connection
Fiber fermentation produces short-chain fatty acids that may help blood vessels relax and reduce inflammation. ()
6️⃣ Think “vascular adaptability,” not just blood pressure numbers
A patient with hypertension may also demonstrate:
• altered autonomic regulation
• poor tissue perfusion
• impaired recovery physiology
• decreased movement variability
One fascinating aspect of this study is that simple foods like:
• lentils
• beans
• peas
• chickpeas
• tofu
• soybeans
had measurable physiologic effects on vascular health.
That is systems biology in action.
The body responds continuously to:
• mechanical input
• metabolic input
• inflammatory input
• autonomic input
• circulatory input
The future of rehabilitation may increasingly recognize that:
movement changes chemistry,
chemistry changes tissue behavior,
and recovery depends on both.

Higher soy and legume intake may reduce the risk of high blood pressure, with the greatest benefits seen at moderate daily consumption levels.