Unreal Results for Physical Therapists and Athletic Trainers

Anna Hartman

The Unreal Results podcast helps physical therapists and certified athletic trainers feel confident and get better outcomes for their clients by teaching about the influence of the viscera organs and the nervous system on human movement, pain, and injury. Explore how a visceral and neural-based lens of view can provide a new perspective to performance-based physical therapy, athletic training, and sports medicine.

  1. A Clinical Case Study in Sacral Pain & Index of Suspicion

    3D AGO

    A Clinical Case Study in Sacral Pain & Index of Suspicion

    In this episode of the Unreal Results podcast, I walk through a recent clinical case of mine involving a Navy SEAL BUD/S candidate who came in with persistent “back pain.” Once he pointed more specifically to the sacrum, the case immediately changed direction and led us down a very different path involving visceral drivers, kidney irritation, and neurovascular patterns. I share how location-specific questioning, structured assessment, and developing a strong index of suspicion can uncover connections between the viscera, nervous system, and musculoskeletal system that are easy to miss. In this episode, you’ll hear: • Why sacral pain should immediately shift your clinical questioning • How kidney and urogenital organ irritation can refer pain to the sacrum and knee • How tools like the LTAP® fit into broader clinical reasoning and assessment • Why asking the right questions can completely change the direction of treatment If you’re a health or movement professional interested in improving your diagnostic thinking and getting better outcomes with complex cases, this episode will help you refine how you assess presentations that don’t follow the usual patterns. Resources & Links Mentioned In This Episode: Ep. 45: The Kidneys - Visceral Connections To Movement Ep. 49: Pain On The Sacrum Ep. 147: Why Expectations Shape Clinical Outcomes Kidney Regen Session Learn the LTAP® In-Person in one of my upcoming courses 🚨 Enroll in The Missing Link in Orthopedic Rehab 2-part live virtual training series. Learn how ONE change to your assessment can help you get immediate results for your physical therapy and athletic training clients. In this training, you will: Learn how to apply the first assessment test of the MovementREV LTAP® (The Locator Test Assess ================================================= Watch the podcast on YouTube and subscribe! Join the MovementREV email list to stay up to date on the Unreal Results Podcast and MovementREV education. Be social and follow me: Instagram | Facebook | Twitter | YouTube

    34 min
  2. Rethinking the Popliteus in Knee Rehab

    FEB 26

    Rethinking the Popliteus in Knee Rehab

    In this episode of the Unreal Results podcast, I explore the anatomy and clinical significance of the popliteus — the small, often overlooked muscle that unlocks the knee and why it may be a missing link in lateral knee pain, shin splints, post-surgical inhibition, and chronic joint irritation. I share reflections from my own ACL-deficient knee during an 8 week plyometric intensive and how restoring dynamic confidence changed not just my performance, but my joint symptoms. We’ll also explore how the popliteus interfaces with the fibula, meniscus, joint capsule, and even the SI joint and why treating it in isolation rarely creates lasting change. In this episode, you’ll learn: Why the popliteus is central to unlocking knee flexion in closed-chain movementWhy this muscle becomes hypertonic after injury and why releasing it isn’t enoughHow posterior capsule, fibular motion, and meniscal connections influence knee painPractical ways to combine manual therapy and yielding plyometrics for better outcomesIf you’ve ever wondered why the popliteus keeps “tightening back up,” this episode will help you understand what it’s protecting and how to work with it instead of against it. Resources & Links Mentioned In This Episode: Ep. 8: Unlocking The Fibula Ep. 21: Easily Restore Knee Extension After Injury or Surgery Ep. 25: The Peripheral Heart Ep. 78: Easily Restore Knee Flexion After Injury or Surgery Ep. 79: The Deeper Impact of Plyometrics w/ Matt McInnes Watson Ep. 138: The Link Between Potassium and Shin Splints Squat Warmup Video Tutorial to Improve Knee Flexion Video Book I Mentioned: New Manual Articular Approach: Lower Extremity by Jean-Pierre Barral & Alain Croibier Sign Up For A Barral Institute Course (Tell them Anna Hartman sent you!) Learn the LTAP® In-Person in one of my upcomin 🚨 Enroll in The Missing Link in Orthopedic Rehab 2-part live virtual training series. Learn how ONE change to your assessment can help you get immediate results for your physical therapy and athletic training clients. In this training, you will: Learn how to apply the first assessment test of the MovementREV LTAP® (The Locator Test Assess ================================================= Watch the podcast on YouTube and subscribe! Join the MovementREV email list to stay up to date on the Unreal Results Podcast and MovementREV education. Be social and follow me: Instagram | Facebook | Twitter | YouTube

    50 min
  3. The Clinical Power of the Spiral Line

    FEB 18

    The Clinical Power of the Spiral Line

    In this episode of the Unreal Results podcast, I discuss the spiral fascial line not as something to memorize, but as a lens to better understand human movement and efficiency. You’ll hear how the spiral line influenced the name MovementREV, how it shows up repeatedly in LTAP® findings, and why freeing up rotation can transform gait, balance, and efficiency. In this episode, you’ll hear: What the spiral line actually connects and why it matters clinicallyHow the spiral line supports gait and whole-body efficiencyHow pelvic floor and diaphragm stiffness limit spiral expressionI hope this episode helps you recognize the spiral line and rotation as a foundational movement pattern, one that can clarify recurring clinical findings and elevate your outcomes with greater precision. Resources & Links Mentioned In This Episode: Episode 8: Unlocking The Fibula Episode 26: Sartorius B.I.G. Episode 44: Using Weight Shifting To Improve Movement Patterns Episode 73: The Sartorius: It's More Powerful Than You Think Episode 145: 5 Treatment Areas That Consistently Improve Outcomes Learn the LTAP® In-Person in one of my upcoming courses 🚨 Enroll in The Missing Link in Orthopedic Rehab 2-part live virtual training series. Learn how ONE change to your assessment can help you get immediate results for your physical therapy and athletic training clients. In this training, you will: Learn how to apply the first assessment test of the MovementREV LTAP® (The Locator Test Assess ================================================= Watch the podcast on YouTube and subscribe! Join the MovementREV email list to stay up to date on the Unreal Results Podcast and MovementREV education. Be social and follow me: Instagram | Facebook | Twitter | YouTube

    29 min
  4. Why Expectations Shape Clinical Outcomes

    FEB 12

    Why Expectations Shape Clinical Outcomes

    In this episode of the Unreal Results podcast, I share a candid look at expectations in clinical practice, especially after learning a new framework like the LTAP®. I break down why early wins can create unrealistic internal pressure, how I think about my 1-3 session benchmark, and why managing patient expectations is often the missing piece in overcoming imposter syndrome. I also walk through a real case example of a Navy SEAL BUD/S candidate to show how I decide when to adjust the plan, refer out, or stay the course. In this episode, you’ll hear: What “guaranteeing results” really means and what it doesn’tWhy mismatching assessment precision with treatment precision can worsen outcomesHow expectations (yours vs. your patient’s) shape confidence and resultsThe six questions that dramatically improve clarity, buy-in, and clinical directionIf you’re a clinician who wants better results without burning yourself out or second-guessing every session, this episode will sharpen your reasoning and steady your confidence. Resources & Links Mentioned In This Episode: Ep. 119: Guaranteeing Results... Until You Can't Ep. 125: You're Already Treating The Viscera... You Just Don't Know It Ep. 126: How Many Sessions Do Clients Really Need? Ep. 131: Raising The Bar On Patient Outcomes Learn the LTAP® In-Person in one of my upcoming courses 🚨 Enroll in The Missing Link in Orthopedic Rehab 2-part live virtual training series. Learn how ONE change to your assessment can help you get immediate results for your physical therapy and athletic training clients. In this training, you will: Learn how to apply the first assessment test of the MovementREV LTAP® (The Locator Test Assess ================================================= Watch the podcast on YouTube and subscribe! Join the MovementREV email list to stay up to date on the Unreal Results Podcast and MovementREV education. Be social and follow me: Instagram | Facebook | Twitter | YouTube

    46 min
  5. Bone Health, Loading, & Blood Flow

    FEB 4

    Bone Health, Loading, & Blood Flow

    In this episode of the Unreal Results podcast, I explore why the femoral neck can be uniquely resistant to change and why this often has less to do with exercise selection and more to do with blood flow and neurovascular entrapment. A simple case study question opens into a deeper look at pelvic anatomy, vascular supply, and how circulation drives bone remodeling. I break down the arterial anatomy of the hip, identify common neurovascular entrapment sites that limit blood flow to the femoral neck, & explain why checking distal pulses may be the assessment you’re missing. I also unpack the relationship between pelvic floor tone & inhibited blood flow to the hip joint and how addressing it can change femoral neck response. Resources & Links Mentioned In This Episode: Ep. 9: Left Side Sciatica or Right Side Shoulder Pain? Ep. 75: The Colon Connection Info from the handout I mentioned - Femoral Neck Vascular Anatomy: Hip Joint Anatomy Article (pages 7-8) & Blood Supply to Head of Femur (slides 2-7) - Vascular Entrapment Areas: Iliopectineal ligament and inguinal ligament, pectins/iliopsoas, quadratus femoris, sartorius, proximal rectus femoris - General Pelvic Congestion: Episode 49 - Pain on the Sacrum - Practical Treatment Area: Hip Flexor Release & Obturator Canal - Practical Treatment Area: Posterior Inferior Pelvic floor Mobility - Practical Treatment Area: Obturator nerve glide - Practical Treatment Area: Adductor hiatus / distal sartorius soft tissue mobilization - decompression with flexible cup or self massage - Practical Treatment Area: Hip Medial Glide - Practical Treatment Area: Prone supported frog stretch Tools To Support These Treatments - Soft Ball for Self-Massage* & Flexible Cups* Learn the LTAP® In-Person in one of my upcoming courses *This link is an Amazon affiliate link, meaning I earn a commission from any qualifying purchases that you ma 🚨 Enroll in The Missing Link in Orthopedic Rehab 2-part live virtual training series. Learn how ONE change to your assessment can help you get immediate results for your physical therapy and athletic training clients. In this training, you will: Learn how to apply the first assessment test of the MovementREV LTAP® (The Locator Test Assess ================================================= Watch the podcast on YouTube and subscribe! Join the MovementREV email list to stay up to date on the Unreal Results Podcast and MovementREV education. Be social and follow me: Instagram | Facebook | Twitter | YouTube

    41 min
  6. 5 Treatment Areas That Consistently Improve Outcomes

    JAN 28

    5 Treatment Areas That Consistently Improve Outcomes

    After more than 20 years in practice, I’ve noticed there are certain treatment areas that consistently create change across a wide range of complaints. The key isn’t the technique but understanding why these areas matter and when to address them. In this episode of the Unreal Results podcast, I share five treatment regions I find myself coming back to again and again across elite athletes, Navy SEAL candidates, and complex cases. These are high-payoff regions that consistently influence the body as a whole when addressed with intention. In this episode, you’ll learn: How nerve pathways and fascial relationships explain why these areas matter far beyond local painWhy sequencing matters more than the tool you’re usingHow to apply these concepts without overcomplicating your sessionsThis episode isn’t about adding more techniques, it’s about sharpening your ability to recognize the areas that matter most in each session. Resources & Links Mentioned In This Episode: Episode 9: Left Side Sciatica or Right Side Shoulder Pain? Episode 26: Sartorius B.I.G. Episode 28: The Power Of The Trigeminal Nerve Episode 70: How The Trigeminal Nerve Could Supercharge Your Practice Episode 73: The Sartorius: It's More Powerful Than You Think Episode 86: Decoding The Nervous System For Health Pros Episode 142: The Most Overlooked Skill In Clinical Practice Treatment Video: Superior Gluteal Nerve Glide Treatment Video: Manual Technique For Superior Gluteal Nerve Treatment Video: Neural Manipulation Technique For Superior Gluteal Nerve Online Course: Go-To Treatments For The Viscera & Nervous System Learn the LTAP® In-Person in one of my upcoming courses 🚨 Enroll in The Missing Link in Orthopedic Rehab 2-part live virtual training series. Learn how ONE change to your assessment can help you get immediate results for your physical therapy and athletic training clients. In this training, you will: Learn how to apply the first assessment test of the MovementREV LTAP® (The Locator Test Assess ================================================= Watch the podcast on YouTube and subscribe! Join the MovementREV email list to stay up to date on the Unreal Results Podcast and MovementREV education. Be social and follow me: Instagram | Facebook | Twitter | YouTube

    45 min
  7. What 2025 Taught Me About The Body

    12/31/2025

    What 2025 Taught Me About The Body

    In this final episode of the year on the Unreal Results podcast, I step away from case studies and techniques to share what I’ve been learning through my own health journey over the past year.  I reflect on how lived experience shapes clinical intuition, why pressure and fluid dynamics matter far beyond the musculoskeletal system, and how these lessons are influencing the way I move, treat, and teach heading into 2026. In this episode, you’ll hear: How changes in pressure and fluid flow can influence neural health and perceptionWhy your own body experiences can sharpen your clinical reasoning and empathyHow nervous system regulation and pacing impact long-term outcomes for you and your clientsThis episode is an invitation to pause, notice what your own body has been teaching you, and let that inform how you move forward in practice and in life. Resources & Links Mentioned In This Episode: Episode 1: My Mom's Cancer Diagnosis Changed My Whole Approach to Sports Healthcare Episode 35: Tongue Twister Episode 36: Listening To The Body Episode 42: The Fundamental Attribution Error and Why You May be the Problem, Not Your Client Episode 66: Ego-Free Healing: Learning A New Paradigm In Patient Care Episode 88: Stop Thinking and Start Feeling Episode 89: The Pink Eye Chronicles Episode 142: The Most Overlooked Skill In Clinical Practice Learn the LTAP® In-Person in one of my upcoming courses 🚨 Enroll in The Missing Link in Orthopedic Rehab 2-part live virtual training series. Learn how ONE change to your assessment can help you get immediate results for your physical therapy and athletic training clients. In this training, you will: Learn how to apply the first assessment test of the MovementREV LTAP® (The Locator Test Assess ================================================= Watch the podcast on YouTube and subscribe! Join the MovementREV email list to stay up to date on the Unreal Results Podcast and MovementREV education. Be social and follow me: Instagram | Facebook | Twitter | YouTube

    41 min
  8. Why Your Best Techniques Sometimes Don’t Stick

    12/24/2025

    Why Your Best Techniques Sometimes Don’t Stick

    Why does the body hold on, even after great treatment? In this episode of the Unreal Results podcast, I sit down with Dr. Satya Sardonicus for a wide-ranging conversation about nervous system regulation, fascia, and the body’s innate intelligence. We unpack why many clients stay stuck in survival mode, how dural and fascial tension influence the central nervous system, and why true healing requires more than just the right technique. In this episode, you’ll hear: How the autonomic nervous system shapes pain, movement, and perceptionWhy overtreating tissues can reinforce protective patternsWhat “capacity” means in treatment—and how to recognize it in real timeHow clinicians can reduce burnout by shifting their role in the healing processThis episode is less about fixing and more about creating the conditions that allow the body to reorganize itself. If you’re a clinician who senses there’s more happening beneath the surface of pain and movement patterns, this conversation will help you see regulation, resilience, and recovery through a more integrated lens. Resources & Links Mentioned In This Episode: Get Dr. Sardonicus' FREE NeuroFascial Flow Method Foundational Paradigm here! Sign up for Dr. Sardonicus' webinar: From Fixating To Facilitating: Reorienting clinical care around capacity, coherence, and integration Connect with Dr. Sardonicus on Instagram Check out everything Dr. Sardonicus has to offer on her website Learn the LTAP® In-Person in one of my upcoming courses 🚨 Enroll in The Missing Link in Orthopedic Rehab 2-part live virtual training series. Learn how ONE change to your assessment can help you get immediate results for your physical therapy and athletic training clients. In this training, you will: Learn how to apply the first assessment test of the MovementREV LTAP® (The Locator Test Assess ================================================= Watch the podcast on YouTube and subscribe! Join the MovementREV email list to stay up to date on the Unreal Results Podcast and MovementREV education. Be social and follow me: Instagram | Facebook | Twitter | YouTube

    1h 12m

Trailer

4.9
out of 5
23 Ratings

About

The Unreal Results podcast helps physical therapists and certified athletic trainers feel confident and get better outcomes for their clients by teaching about the influence of the viscera organs and the nervous system on human movement, pain, and injury. Explore how a visceral and neural-based lens of view can provide a new perspective to performance-based physical therapy, athletic training, and sports medicine.

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