126. Going Against the Grain to Eliminate Foot Pain

2024-06-25

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Think of your shoes as the foundation for your body’s performance. In this episode, Dr. Andrew Fix delves into the critical role of proper footwear in maintaining foot health and overall performance. Broadcasting from his Nissan Pathfinder, Dr. Fix compares the functionality of his vehicle to the importance of choosing the right shoes for safe and efficient movement. Dr. Fix highlights how modern shoes, particularly dress shoes, often have narrow toe boxes that force toes into unnatural positions, leading to common foot issues like pl...

Dr. Fix highlights how modern shoes, particularly dress shoes, often have narrow toe boxes that force toes into unnatural positions, leading to common foot issues like plantar fasciitis and bunions. He praises brands like Xero Shoes, Altra, Topo Athletic, and Vivoarbefoot for their wider toe boxes, which allow for natural foot mechanics and better overall foot health.

Drawing from observations of his son Aiden’s naturally wide toes, Dr. Fix challenges conventional uses of orthotics and emphasizes the importance of shoes that let toes splay naturally. He shares success stories of clients who transitioned to these types of shoes and saw significant improvements.

Tune into this episode of The Code to discover how the right footwear can transform your foot health and enhance your overall performance.

Quotes

• “Shoe companies make shoes with a lot of cushion. They narrow towards the front and we start to develop foot issues. Two of the most common—plantar fasciitis and bunions—are so preventable. They’re so preventable if we just don't put ourselves in the environment that breeds that situation.” (05:25 | Dr. Andrew Fix)

• “We were born with a mechanism in the foot where we have a nice strong arch that is intended to resist the forces of the activity we’re doing.” (06:44 | Dr. Andrew Fix)

• “You need to rehab and prehab the foot. You need to work on toe strength. You need to work on foot mobility. You need to get yourself out of that shoe so your foot can splay. You need to mobilize those joints to get them loosened back up after being crammed in that narrow shoe. But a wider toe box shoe for normal daily life, for running, to me is just simply non-negotiable.” (14:50 | Dr. Andrew Fix)

• “I want to help everyone get their feet stronger. I want to help everyone get their foot out of the crappy shoes that are out there, support some of these brands that are out there trying to change the narrative, and help us just live a more functional foot approach.” (19:26 | Dr. Andrew Fix)

Links

https://www.altrarunning.com/

https://www.topoathletic.com/

https://www.vivobarefoot.com/us/

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