550: How you should walk, train, & shoe shop for optimized foot health | Renowned foot specialist & chiropractor Courtney Conley, D.C.

“If I have weak toes and I have a foot that can't feel anything, the risk of falling goes up. It skyrockets,” says Courtney Conley, D.C. Courtney, a renowned foot health specialist and chiropractor joins us to discuss everything you need to know about taking better care of your feet, including: -A major misconception around cushioned shoes (~02:06) -The best toe shape for a shoe (~07:28) -The truth about zero-drop shoes (~09:49) -The link between foot strength & longevity (~13:33) -How to test your foot strength at home (~15:00) -Must-try at-home foot exercises (~16:00) -The importance of calf raises (~16:45) -When to use toe spacers (~25:12) -A+ shoe brands (~28:49) -Why flip flops are detrimental (~34:33) -How often should you walk barefoot? (~36:30) -Foot health concerns for kids (~47:00) -Homework for stronger feet (~51:45) Referenced in the episode: -Connect with Courtney on Instagram (@gaithappens) & YouTube (@gaithappens5872) -For online gait analysis & to book a consultation, visit https://gaithappens.com/ -Check out the shoe brands mentioned in this episode: Wildling , Paluva , Xero , Vivobarefoot , Belenka , Altra Running , Bedrock , Earth Runners , Natur Athletics , Tolos -Visit the Gait Happens Instagram for more calf raise demo videos & tips -Shop Courtney’s favorite foot health products at https://gaithappens.com/favorite-products -Pick up some Gait Happens Toe Spacers: https://gaithappens.com/product/toe-spacers/ - Research showing how much pressure it takes to stimulate receptors in the foot. (DOI: 10.1111/j.1532-5415.1997.tb00979.x) -Visit lumen.me/mindbodygreen.com to get 15% off your first order at Lumen. We hope you enjoy this episode, and feel free to watch the full video on YouTube ! Whether it's an article or podcast, we want to know what we can do to help here at mindbodygreen. Let us know at: podcast@mindbodygreen.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices