It’s within you.

/ Longevity Starts at Your Feet: Dr. Emily Splichal on Barefoot Science, Mobility & What Most People Get Wrong About Walking (#007)

Longevity Starts at Your Feet: Dr. Emily Splichal on Barefoot Science, Mobility & What Most People Get Wrong About Walking (#007)

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“Every step you take is a conversation between your nervous system and the ground.”

Dr Emily Splichal, aka the Movement Longevity Doctor, is a Functional Podiatrist, Human Movement Specialist, author of Barefoot Strong and CEO/founder of Naboso.  With over 23 years in the health & fitness industry, Dr Splichal has positioned herself as a global leader on the topics of postural alignment and human movement as it relates to barefoot science, foot to core integration and sensory integration.

Use code VITALIST for 10% off your order at Naboso.com

HIGHLIGHTS:

When fitness and New York were non-negotiable, podiatry became Dr. Emily’s only option (1:19)

Why she quit surgical residency to get her masters in human movement from A.T. Still. (3:35)

Our foot posture will mechanically dictate how the rest of our body will align. (5:24)

What happens to our posture when we don’t have a stable foundation in our feet. (5:47)

How a flat foot is associated with slower stability in the pelvis and low back, increasing the risk of injury in the low back. (6:14)

Dr. Emily reveals what makes a sprinter fast. (7:21)

Everyone is born with flat feet. The key question: at what point does it impair movement? And what’s the real difference between overpronation and structural collapse? (8:13)

Dr. Emily discusses how she works with children knowing “It takes until the age of 7 to develop an adult arch.”  (8:58)

Pediatricians often get this wrong saying “All children will grow out of their flat feet.”  Here’s how this isn’t true. (9:28)

The root cause of bunions is not genetics, it is midfoot ligament laxity. (9:45) Her unique, full body approach to treating bunions. (10:51)

Your feet are sensory in nature, think “eyes to the ground”, feeding your brain constant information to calibrate balance, posture, and performance in real time. (12:09)

Every step you take sends vibrational information through your body. On natural surfaces, it’s resonance; on concrete, it’s distortion. (13:09)

Elite indoor tracks are tuned to the body’s optimal frequency, making world records possible. (14:10)

The truth about shoes: Every footstrike is a vibration; cushioned shoes mute it. And when your brain receives incomplete feedback, your movement becomes less accurate, less efficient, and more injury-prone. (14:54)

Three facets of movement Dr. Emily uses when working with athletes: Movement Longevity, Movement Accuracy, and Movement Efficiency. (16:37)

How to use tools, such as weighted blankets and the Naboso mat, to improve spatial awareness, speed up recovery, and improve balance.(17:22)

What is body schema and how is different than proprioception. (18:25)

How concussions break down our body schema. (19:24)

A sensory exercise to train body schema, upgrading your internal map to reduce falls and improve balance. (22:00)

How your feet are connected to the pelvic floor. (23:35)

The pelvic floor activation Dr. Emily gives all her patients using your toes and breath. (24:59)

The longevity markers no one talks about: walking pace and single leg stability. (27:22)

The benefits of walking at a fast enough pace. (28:01)

Walking isn’t supposed to be cardio, it is designed to nourish your nervous system. (28:44)

Most people walk with muscles, not fascia. True efficiency requires mobility in your big toe, ankle, pelvis, and spine. (29:26)

How to know if you’re walking efficiently. (30:32) The importance of walking at your unique pace. (32:01)

If your low back hurts after walking, it’s not overuse. It’s a sign your skeleton can’t keep up with your natural pace. (32:54)

Dr. Emily’s new book “Sensory Sapiens” shares how sensory based movement unlocks longevity. (33:56)

Want to wake up your nervous system? Naboso’s textured insoles and mats stimulate mechanoreceptors for better balance, strength, and brain-body precision. (34:30)

RESOURCES:

@thefunctionalfootdoc

thefunctionalfootdoc.com

Youtube: Dr. Emily Splichal

@naboso_technology

Naboso.com Use code VITALIST for 10% off your order

Youtube: Naboso

Dr. Emily’s latest book: Sensory Sapiens

Please enjoy!

Listen to this episode on Youtube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast.