On this episode of the Muscle Intelligence Podcast, Podiatrist Dr. Emily Splichal joins us to talk about all things feet: The often overlooked role healthy feet play in your overall posture, how footwear impacts your gait and essentially your health and the role of glute muscles in forming your gait - this interview covers that and a whole lot more. Listen to learn why orthotics are a quick fix and why foot health is all about the sensory input. ___ If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a review on ApplePodcasts to support us and share it with a person you feel will benefit from this conversation.  ___ Thank you to our amazing show sponsors Real Mushrooms. Real mushrooms are the highest quality mushroom extracts I can find. They are 100% mushroom certified organic. They have no added fillers or grains, and they are third party tested multiple times. You can add their mushroom extract powders to things like coffee, tea, smoothies, or oatmeal, or they also have capsules. I use Real Mushrooms Lion’s Mane organic mushroom powder in my Intelligence Coffee every morning, and I use the Cordyceps-M mushroom capsules for improved focus and cognitive performance.  Please visit https://www.realmushrooms.com/ben 30% off for first time buyers with code BEN 20% off all other orders with code MUSCLE ____ Dr Emily Splichal, Functional Podiatrist and Human Movement Specialist, is the Founder of EBFA Global (formerly Evidence Based Fitness Academy), Creator of the Barefoot Training Specialist® Certification, Author of Barefoot Strong and Inventor of Naboso Barefoot Technology. With over 20 years in the fitness industry, Dr Splichal has dedicated her medical career towards studying postural alignment and human movement as it relates to barefoot science, foot to core integration and sensory integration. To find out more about Dr. Emily Splichal, visit:  www.dremilysplichal.com       Instagram YouTube   Additional Links:  Check out VivoBarefoot for the shoes Ben wears exclusively. Use code INTELLIGENCE10 for 10% off.  Please also check out our friends at PosturePro for insoles and to learn more about why feet play a big role in your overall health and performance.PosturePro has also just released its newest course on Foot Mechanics and Gait Cycle.    ⏱Timestamps: [01:23] – What today’s podcast is about! [02:02] – Sponsorship by Real Mushrooms – realmushrooms.com. [03:42] – Welcoming our guest, Dr. Emily Splichal on the show. [04:42] – The current state of feet and why Orthotics is a multi-billion dollar industry [06:50] – How does Emily address feet dysfunctionalities? [09:02] – Role of glute muscles in forming your gait. [14:40] – Emily’s process of assessing her patients. [18:27] – How do we build proper stability to stand up and walk in gravity? [23:10] – T Spine & Foot Relationship. [26:09] – Gait Cycle – Importance. [29:20] – How stride length is implicated in gait! [35:32] – Impacts of inefficient patterns of movement on brain function. [37:03] – Somatics. [38:14] – Bunions – a deformity at the joint.  [41:04] – Impact of heels and pointy shoes on feet. [43:40] – Morton’s Neuroma – Causes. [44:47] – Shoes Emily recommends. [47:00] – Transitioning from high heels to minimal shoes. [50:09] – Where to get Emily’s book: Barefoot Strong. [50:24] – Naboso: Insoles by Dr. Emily Splichal