Beyond Flexibility: Airway Health, Fascia & the Missing Link in Pediatric Movement
Jason Racca, PT, DPT, CFMT, OCS

Join Jason Racca, PT, as he discusses the apparent decline in children’s physical health, activity level, performance and the potential connections to airway dysfunctions. He will discuss the often-overlooked connections between multiple systems of the body that may be contributing to this, and a common factor in these systems, fascia. Additionally, he will talk about how movement (or lack thereof) can be an essential part of this puzzle, and where airway health in children comes into play. This webinar explores how fascial restrictions and nervous system imbalances contribute to reduced flexibility, poor posture, and compensatory breathing patterns—issues that impact many kids today. Learn how a systems-based, physical therapy approach can enhance outcomes for pediatric patients and support the work of airway-centered professionals.

Learning Objectives:

1. Identify and describe various dysfunctions that are being seen in children’s physical health and performance with proposed theories why we are seeing this shift.

2. Explain how fascial health connects to the nervous, immune, and other systems.

3. Identify movement dysfunctions that may contribute to or result from airway restrictions, specifically in children.

4. Discuss how physical therapy and manual therapy can support airway health in children.

5. Evaluate collaborative care strategies that include physical therapy for whole-child outcomes.

Jason Racca is a licensed physical therapist and founder of R3 Physio, a holisitic, systems-based physical therapy practice located in Keller, Texas. With over 15 years of clinical experience, Jason specializes in treating complex and chronic conditions through a holistic lens—including TMJ dysfunction, airway-related disorders, and movement imbalances in both children and adults.

He is a board-certified Functional Manual Therapist (CFMT) through the Institute of Physical Art as well as a board-certified Orthopedic Specialist. He holds advanced training in visceral manipulation, craniosacral therapy, and neuromuscular re-education. His approach integrates hands-on manual therapy with a whole-body systems assessment to uncover the root causes of dysfunction that traditional therapies often overlook.

Jason is widely known in the local airway-centered community for his collaborative work with dentists, myofunctional therapists, ENTs, and speech-language pathologists. His care of both pre- and post-frenectomy patients—including children and adults—has made him a trusted referral source for complex airway and tethered oral tissue cases. He has lectured on the relationship between fascia, movement, the autonomic nervous system, and airway function.

Jason also treats many dancers and performing artists at various levels, including many local youth dancers. He is a youth soccer coach as well, and between treating youth dancers and coaching youth soccer, he sees first-hand the change in performance level of our children.

His passion lies in connecting the dots between seemingly unrelated systems of the body—helping providers and patients alike understand how dysfunctions in breathing, posture, jaw mechanics, and fascial tension can converge to impact long-term health and performance.

1 CE credit available to AAPMD members