Advanced orthopedic manual therapy drawn from the top schools of thought (Maitland, Mulligan, McKenzie, and more)
Michael Bogden, PT, DPT, SCS, FAAOMPT — Founder of FWDfuel Physical Therapy & Co-Founder of FWDfuel Sports Nutrition
Dr. Michael Bogden is a board-certified sports physical therapist (SCS) and Fellow of the American Academy of Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapists (FAAOMPT). He founded FWDfuel Physical Therapy and co-founded FWDfuel Sports Nutrition with his wife, Kylene Bogden, RD. Together, they help athletes and driven individuals identify the root causes of why they’re not recovering or performing at their best, whether that’s lingering injuries, fatigue, gut issues, mold illness, parasites, heavy metals, or exposure to environmental toxins.
His background as a Division III football player at John Carroll University and years spent battling fatigue, slow recovery, and mold toxicity forced a complete rethinking of performance and healing. Those challenges revealed the limits of conventional care and became the foundation for how he practices today—identifying root drivers and building plans that let athletes not just recover, but truly thrive under real training demands. (edited)
2:57:30
MARATHON PR • BOSTON QUALIFIER
Credentials & Clinical Background
Michael’s foundation started on the football field at John Carroll University. That experience sparked a lifelong obsession with strength and conditioning. He studied advanced Russian plyometric and isometric methods and flew to Arizona to train directly under strength coach Jay Schroeder. He also worked with elite exercise physiologist and strength coach Tim Robertson, who has prepared countless professional athletes.
He earned his undergraduate degree in Exercise Science from John Carroll (Cum Laude) and went on to Walsh University for his Doctor of Physical Therapy. After graduation, he completed a sports residency at the Cleveland Clinic and was named Cleveland Clinic Health Educator of the Year. He later completed his fellowship training at Daemen College, where he also earned a Master of Science in Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapy.
On the clinical side, he deliberately sought out the best in the profession. He trained under two of the top orthopedic professionals in the world, Dr. Rick Kring and Dr. Megan Donaldson. He has studied and integrated the approaches of Maitland, Mulligan, McKenzie, Cyriax, Paris, Grimsby, Panjabi, Dr. Shirley Sahrmann, and others.
His clinical approach combines advanced dry needling (including Fu Subcutaneous Fascial Needling, the only provider in Ohio), spine care, and athlete-specific rehab with postural and lifestyle modification strategies to address the root causes of functional issues. He also integrates biohacking tools and longevity optimization into patient care, enabling athletes and active individuals to perform better now and stay healthy longer.
SCS
Board-Certified Sports Physical Therapist
FAAOMPT
Fellow, American Academy of Orthopedic
Manual Physical Therapists
DPT
Doctor of PT in Orthopedic Manual
Physical Therapy
Michael’s Personal Journey — Why FWDfuel Exists
Michael built FWDfuel because he saw the gaps in conventional care. While training as an endurance athlete, he dealt with stubborn fatigue, gut issues, and recovery that never quite matched the work he was putting in. On top of that, he faced mold toxicity, an experience that showed him how environmental factors can quietly sabotage energy, inflammation, and healing even when bloodwork and training logs look fine.
Working with his wife, Kylene (a functional nutrition expert), changed the trajectory. Targeted food quality, digestive support, and recovery habits produced measurable results: in 2017, he shaved 5 minutes off his half-marathon PR. He has qualified for the Boston Marathon multiple times. In April 2026, he ran a 2:57:30 PR at the Brew City Marathon in Milwaukee at a 6:46/mile pace while training for bigger goals and running a business with two young kids at home.
Those personal wins, along with the patterns he kept seeing in athletes who had “tried everything,” became the blueprint for FWDfuel: elite manual therapy and movement work combined with functional nutrition and recovery tools that fit real life.
How Michael Works With Athletes
How Michael Works With Athletes
Michael treats the whole athlete, not just the injury or the symptom. As a certified running specialist, he performs detailed running analysis to identify inefficiencies that contribute to injury and limit performance. He looks at movement quality, tissue restrictions (especially fascia), systemic inflammation, gut function, sleep, stress, and the effect of lifestyle and environment. Then he builds a plan that respects the athlete’s training schedule and life.
Comprehensive dry needling with a focus on systemic functional improvement for fast pain relief and muscle re-activation
Fu Subcutaneous Fascial Needling for stubborn fascial restrictions and chronic inflammatory issues that standard techniques often miss
Close collaboration with Kylene Bogden and the other performance dietitians on the FWDfuel team to optimize health outcomes through aligned nutrition and manual therapy strategies
Strength and conditioning principles inspired by Dr. Rick Kring and the Ola Grimsby method, Shirley Sahrmann and the Movement Systems approach, neural priming and retraining, Russian methods, isometrics/plyometrics for comprehensive muscle neural re-education, and work with Tim Robertson, applied safely during rehab and return-to-performance phases
Biohacking tools he uses on himself first, including deep HRV and sleep analysis using data from Oura, Whoop, Garmin, and other wearables, along with PEMF, red light, HBOT, cold exposure, and targeted supplementation to accelerate results
On-site athlete visits bring treatment directly to the home, gym, or training facility, saving travel time, supporting consistent care, and allowing Michael to assess movement in the athlete’s actual training environment.
The goal isn’t short-term relief. It’s building athletes who stay healthy, keep progressing, and actually enjoy training again, rather than constantly managing problems.
Client Success Stories Michael Has Contributed To
Lisa
“Dr. Michael Bogden is a PT genius. His advanced diagnostics, customized treatment plans, dry needling, and phased return-to-activity approach helped my son recover and perform at his best after two different football injuries. After working with other providers without success, Michael delivered the results we were looking for. We feel incredibly fortunate to have found him!”
Sydney Collins
“Unreal results after my very first appointment! I had severe neck and shoulder pain for over a month, and nothing else provided answers or relief. Michael immediately identified the root cause, explained everything clearly, and I walked out pain-free. He’s incredibly knowledgeable, responsive, and truly cares about his patients. I recommend him to anyone dealing with aches and pains—10/10!”
Charles Sroka
“After months of struggling with sciatica and hamstring tendonitis, Michael created a personalized treatment plan that addressed the root cause—not just the symptoms. His expertise, dry needling, and commitment to checking in between appointments made all the difference. Thanks to his care, I completed my college football officiating season pain-free. If you’re struggling with an injury, I highly recommend Michael at FWDfuel Physical Therapy.”
Vince T
“Before working with Michael, I had almost given up hope of ever walking normally again after years of debilitating back pain and sciatica. Nothing I tried—including physical therapy and spinal injections—made a lasting difference. Michael’s treatment, dry needling, and coaching completely changed that. Four months later I was running for the first time in three years without pain. If you’re considering working with him, just do it—you won’t regret it.”
Jonathan Major
“The team at FWDfuel Physical Therapy is second to none. After finishing my Division I collegiate lacrosse career and preparing for an Ironman with a torn labrum, Michael provided the best dry needling I’ve ever received along with the knowledge and tools to continue improving on my own. No matter your goals or athletic background, FWDfuel Physical Therapy will help you get there.”
based on 100+ reviews
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Connect with Michael & Start Your Recovery Journey
If you’re an athlete or active person who’s tired of generic plans and ready for precise work that actually addresses why you’re stuck, reach out. Michael and the FWDfuel team work with everyone from serious weekend warriors to pros dealing with nagging injuries, fatigue, mold illness, parasites, heavy metals, environmental toxins, or stalled performance.
