In this episode on the Restore To Explore podcast, Nick welcomes Irene Davis on the show. Irene discusses her background in biomechanics and physical therapy, as well as her interest in feet and the shift in focus towards understanding the importance of natural foot movement. She shares her epiphany moment and the change in perspective that led her to question traditional footwear paradigms. Irene highlights the challenges in changing the perception of footwear and the need for education and empowerment among runners. She emphasizes the importance of viewing the lower body as an integrated system and the role of foot muscles in overall foot health. Finally, she provides a simplified explanation of the ideal footwear, which allows the foot to function naturally. She explains that while there are now more options for natural footwear on the market, it is essential to educate individuals on what to look for in a shoe. Davis also shares her current research focus on the impact of minimal shoes on bone health, particularly the metatarsals. She encourages health professionals to explore the topic of minimal footwear and references a paper on the subject as a valuable resource. Finally, Davis and Nick discuss the future of foot health and the potential for a shift towards functional and natural footwear.Chapters00:00Introduction and Background03:01Interest in Feet and Shift in Focus10:04Epiphany Moment and Change in Perspective18:38Challenges in Changing Footwear Paradigm25:27Educating and Empowering Runners32:09Viewing the Lower Body as an Integrated System36:03Importance of Foot Muscles and Lack of Awareness41:37Changing the Perception of Feet42:53Simplified Explanation of Ideal Footwear43:36The Importance of Natural Movement and Footwear47:10Current Research and Future Directions49:48Advice for Health Professionals50:45The Future of Foot Health
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Music:
Dream Chaser - Lunareh
Written By - Wiriyapa Chansuwong
Performed & Produced By - Lunareh