How to strengthen your feet:

The year was 2020.

The unemployment payouts started to decrease.

The summer of golfing and reading books at the lake was coming to an end.

I was hired by a small PT company and was told I would be working in a podiatrist office.

Meaning I would be seeing people for their foot pain.

People’s feet can be grotesque.

But after seeing enough of them, I got over it.

The thing that was more alarming was how many people had foot pain (without a prior injury).

Why were so many people’s feet so weak?

The obvious reason is people are on their feet less.

For 99% of human history people walked at least 5 miles a day.

Today, the average person walks less than 2.

But the less obvious problem I discovered was with shoes and flat surfaces.

Our feet were designed at a time when the best support was animal skin.

And flat surfaces did not exist.

Each foot has 26 bones, 33 joints, and 34 muscles.

Our feet were designed to adapt to unpredictable ground.

Our soles were poked, turned, and twisted with each step we took.

Most people think the best shoes have more support.

I took the opposite approach.

I told my patient’s to wear supportive shoes as little as possible.

Exercise has a positive effect when you challenge the tissue (heart, joints, muscles).

When you’re injured it’s a fine line between increasing the pain and promoting healing.

But some amount of strain is required to improve foot function.

Also known as Hormesis: The body gets stronger with frequent low dose stress.

Short term stressors for long term adaptation.

That’s why I’ve made the transition to minimalist foot wear.

Or bare-feet when possible.

I stopped wearing shoes that have a big cushion.

I don’t think supportive shoes are beneficial for your feet (in the long term).

Overtime, your feet will become more stable and you’ll have a better connection to the ground.

Balance problems and weak feet are affecting the way your whole body moves.

A simple but effective way to strengthen your feet:

Consistently walk on uneven ground.

The beach, a local park, or your backyard to bring peace to your mind (and feet).

Your good friend,

Tyler Van Acker, Doctor of PT

PS

What’s the secret to strengthening your feet?

Walk and exercise on uneven ground.

I’m calling it Barefoot fitness.

Stay tuned for more info on how to bulletproof your feet.