Episode 83: Foot Pain Fixes: Gait Mechanics, Toe Strength & Barefoot Shoes w/ Dr. Jen Perez

Send us Fan MailDM Us! We love chatting with our audience, please feel free to do so on Instagram and say what's up!Joe GambinoJoe LaVaccaWant to work with us? Apply here!Watch on YouTube here.SummaryIn this episode of the Beyond Pain podcast, hosts Joe Gambino and Joe LaVacca welcome Dr. Jen Perez, a chiropractor specializing in foot and ankle health. Dr. Perez shares her journey into chiropractic care, emphasizing the importance of understanding biomechanics from the ground up. She discusses her co-founded educational platform, Gate Happens, which aims to empower individuals and practitioners to improve foot health through education and practical tools. The conversation delves into common misconceptions about foot health, the significance of individualized treatment plans, and the role of footwear in maintaining foot function.Dr. Perez highlights the complexity of the foot, explaining how strength and mobility are crucial for preventing injuries. She provides practical self-assessment techniques for listeners to evaluate their foot health, such as balance tests and strength assessments. The discussion also touches on the use of orthotics, emphasizing that while they can be beneficial, they should not be a long-term solution without addressing underlying issues. Overall, the episode is packed with insights on how to take better care of our feet and the importance of a holistic approach to health.Takeaways'I usually just shove them his way.''The golden rule of the musculoskeletal system is use it or lose it.''You are not broken because you have flat feet.''Pain just wipes away all memory.''Your shoe should protect you from your environment, but it should not inhibit your foot.''We need to build up enough muscle to start with to be able to not use the orthotic.''There's one word that's not allowed in my office and that is bad.''The foot is designed to be very, very complex.''If you don't use it, you lose it.''Foot health is more than musculoskeletal health.'