Over 5,000 times a day the human foot is adjusting to the surfaces we walk on, absorbing potential energy from impact forces and propulsing us through each step we take. What allows these basic movement functions to occur? Pronation. What is Pronation? Defined as an unlocking of the foot, pronation is a complex triplanar motion…
Category: Barefoot Biomechanics
Great Toe Mobility : The Linchpin to Movement Longevity | (Part 1 – Anatomy)
This past weekend I was fortunate to present at the Perform Better Summit in Providence, Rhode Island. This 3-day educational event is comprised of some of the best educators and most enthusiastic professionals in the industry. A common theme throughout a couple of the sessions was the association between great toe mobility and…
Can you feel your feet?
Can you feel your feet? Often taken for granted, our feet’ sensation is necessary for optimal movement, balance, and performance. Over 20 million adults in the United States live with decreased foot sensation, also known as peripheral neuropathy. From diabetes to multiple sclerosis and autoimmune disease, this peripheral loss of sensation contributes to over…
Perfecting Your Point (aka Ankle Plantarflexion)
In last week’s Barefoot Strong Blog article I focused on optimizing ankle joint dorsiflexion, which honestly is most of the focus when it comes to the ankle joint and human movement. However, I wanted to take a chance to focus on the opposite movement, ankle joint plantar flexion. With the rise in body weight…
Is My Talus Limiting My Ankle Dorsiflexion?
Ah, ankle joint dorsiflexion. One of the most talked about joints when it comes to joint mobility and optimal movement patterns. Tight soleus, tight gastrocnemius, heel toe drop in shoes, flat feet, high arches……sometimes it seems overwhelming to know exactly what is the cause of this restricted mobility in our clients. This article will…
From Primal to Bipedal : Why we must lock in our rolling and crawling with foot to core sequencing
Rolling and crawling are currently some of the hottest trends in fitness and corrective exercise programming. From Animal Flow to Original, health and fitness professionals are exploring the power of primal movement patterning for correcting movement dysfunction and achieving optimal function. We actually happened to just do a webinar on this exact topic with…
Biomechanics of the Stiletto Strut
Anyone who has followed by work since before 2012 knows that I love shoes! I may be barefoot strong but come Friday night, I, like most women across the world, am strapping on my sexiest stilettos for a night out on the town. Blame it on fashion and living in NYC for over a…
The Functional Impact of Bunions
When you hear the word “bunions”- what comes to mind? Do you picture the foot of a young athlete or that of a stiletto-loving woman? Often associated with high heels or blamed on “genetics”, bunions are actually more often due to improper biomechanics and faulty movement patterns. In the below article we will explore the…
Functional Implications of the Cavus Foot
With the growing popularity of foot fitness and barefoot training within the health & fitness industry, professionals are beginning to appreciate the impact that improper foot function can have on lower extremity alignment and total body function. To truly understand the connection between feet and function, an understanding of the different foot types and foot…
The Windlass Mechanism: A Powerful Addition to your TFL / ITB Stretches
Tensor fasciae latae (TFL) / iliotibial band (ITB) over-recruitment and tightness is one of the most common contributors to movement dysfunction observed in the lower extremity. Whether it is a dancer with an over-supinated foot or a runner with tibial femoral external rotation, hypo-mobility in this muscle (connective tissue) can be a strong deforming force. For…
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