Why Your Feet Are The Most Overlooked Element Of Lifelong Health

Mar 3, 2026

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In this episode, I talk with Dr. Courtney Conley, world renowned foot expert and author of the sensational new book, Walk: Rediscover the Most Natural Way to Boost Your Health and Longevity One Step at a Time.

Mark Sisson and I are big fans of Dr. Courtney’s work—there’s so much crossover with what we wrote in Born to Walk—and she does a beautiful job not just highlighting the wonderful benefits of walking, but getting into the specifics of how to create lifestyle habits so you can put in more steps, strengthen your feet, and rethink concepts like the 10,000-steps-a-day recommendation.

We talk about why walking is not exercise, but a physiological necessity—our survival as a species has hinged on one key factor: movement. Dr. Courtney makes the bold case that walking speed should be considered the sixth vital sign, explaining how slower walking pace is predictive of dementia and increased cancer risk, and how simply adding 500 steps to a 2,500-step baseline can reduce all-cause mortality by 7%. We challenge the 10,000-step myth and break down why living in the 5,000–8,500 step range delivers powerful benefits, especially when you sprinkle in five-minute movement snacks and intentional faster walking.

We also go deep into foot strength and modern footwear, including why one in three people over age 45 has foot pain, how constant cushioning can weaken the foot, why pronation is mandatory for a healthy gait, and her 24-hour shoe clock concept—there’s a time and a place for everything, but the goal is trending toward barefoot functionality so the foot can do what it was designed to do.

Dr. Courtney Conley holds a Doctorate in Chiropractic Medicine and bachelor’s degrees in Kinesiology and Human Biology. She is the founder and creator of Gait Happens and has worked with professional athletic organizations including the Phoenix Suns, New York Yankees, Cleveland Browns, New York Giants, San Francisco 49ers, and Minnesota Vikings. She serves as Head of Patient Care at Total Health Solutions and Total Health Performance, premier healthcare destinations known for their comprehensive, science-based approach to patient care.

TIMESTAMPS:

Our survival as a species has hinged on one key factor: movement. (Dr. Conley) [01:17]

Why are we treating the foot so much differently than we're treating the rest of the human body? [07:07]

Gait Happens is an online educational company. [10:48]

The super cushioned shoes can improve performance because it allows your foot to not have to do the work that it is designed to do. But you need to get your feet stronger. [14:32]

One out of three people over the age of 45 have foot pain. [18:39]

Walking should be integrated throughout the day. [24:10]

On the bottom of the foot, we have many sensory receptors. When we put cushioned shoes on, we compromise some important sensory information. [27:09]

The speed of one's gait can be predictive of longevity. [28:43]

When the heel hits the ground, it starts the cascade of the foot unlocking or pronation. That is a mandatory thing that has to happen. [34:46]

The 10,000 steps we have heard so much about is kind of a myth. [39:36]

Walking is all about rotation. You are nourishing your joints. You’re loading your spine and bones. Your muscles are active and your nervous system is engaged. [46:28]

There is a difference between ambient walking and intentional walking. [47:40]

In her clinic, the most common things she sees are heel pain and big toe pain. [49:18]

Many folks in the running population who are heavy users of the elevated cushion shoes visit her clinic to learn ways to strengthen their feet. [53:17]

What exercises and strengthening can people learn from the book? [54:38]

Your shoe should respect the anatomy of the foot. The widest part of the shoe should be the toes. [58:44]

LINKS:

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