Artificial Capacity: The Tools Keeping You Moving (or Keeping You Injured)

Artificial capacity is everywhere — shoes, braces, taping, sleeves, supports, straps, and all the tools we slap on our bodies to perform, recover, or just survive daily life. The problem isn’t the tools. It’s using the wrong one at the wrong time.In this episode, Craig breaks down how artificial capacity really works, why it matters, and how misunderstanding it leads to recurring injuries, chronic setbacks, and getting stuck in the doom loop. Alex runs through his growing inventory of braces, and together they walk through how to actually use these tools intelligently — from diagnostics, to load management, to performance.We also cover one of the most misunderstood running injuries: plantar heel pain that’s actually coming from the flexor digitorum brevis (FDB), and how artificial capacity fits into diagnosis and treatment.Topics:• What artificial capacity actually is• The five correct ways to use these tools• Load management vs full unloading• Why a crutch is not the same as a boot• How runners underuse and overuse the wrong tools• A full FDB case example using taping, load management, and progression• How artificial capacity fits into the SPC Phase System----------------------------------------------Welcome to Past Your Prime – the podcast for active adults balancing training, rehab, family, and real life.Each episode, hosts Craig Smith (PT & coach) and Alex Keicher (pro athlete & busy dad) unpack real-world strategies for overcoming injuries, staying strong, and living pain-free—even when life gets chaotic.💡 Learn more, access resources, and join our community:👉 ⁠⁠⁠⁠pastyourprime.com⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow us on Instagram:📲 Alex – ⁠⁠⁠⁠@spikerkeicher⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠📲 Craig – ⁠⁠⁠⁠@craigsmithPT⁠