Walking is one of the most powerful health tools we have. It improves cardiovascular fitness, boosts mood, sharpens cognition, and can even be a predictor of how well you'll age. But all those benefits depend on something we rarely think about until it starts hurting: our feet.For many of us, walking is so automatic that we never consider the mechanics that make it possible. Yet the way we move, the shoes we wear, and the strength of the muscles in our feet can have a profound impact on how comfortably and efficiently we walk. When something goes wrong at our physical foundation, the effects can ripple upward, leading to pain not just in the feet, but in the knees, hips, and back.My guest today is Dr. Milica McDowell, a physical therapist and the co-author of the new book <a href="https://amzn.to/4u2KQLh" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Walk</a>. Today on the show, Milica explains why walking speed may be a hidden vital sign, what gives you your signature walking style, and how to spot and address injury-inducing inefficiencies in your gait. We then talk about feet: whether you should worry about pronation, how to rehab plantar fasciitis — and no, it's not stretching — the best kind of shoes to wear, and much more.Resources Related to the Podcast<ul><li><a href="https://www.artofmanliness.com/character/advice/solvitur-ambulando-it-is-solved-by-walking/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">AoM Article: Solvitur Ambulando — It Is Solved By Walking</a></li><li><a href="https://www.artofmanliness.com/health-fitness/health/podcast-1116-why-screen-time-leaves-you-exhausted-and-how-to-reverse-its-effects/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">AoM podcast episode with Manoush Zomorodi</a></li><li><a href="https://www.artofmanliness.com/health-fitness/fitness/health-benefits-of-walking/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">AoM Article: I Started Taking a Walk Every Morning. Here’s What Happened to My Health</a></li><li><a href="https://www.artofmanliness.com/health-fitness/fitness/20-rules-for-walking/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">AoM Article: 20 Rules for Walking</a></li><li><a href="https://www.artofmanliness.com/health-fitness/fitness/run-like-a-pro-podcast/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">AoM podcast episode with Matt Fitzgerald</a></li><li><a href="https://www.altrarunning.com/en-us" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Altra shoes</a></li><li><a href="https://www.vivobarefoot.com/us/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Vivobarefoot</a></li><li><a href="https://www.lemsshoes.com/?srsltid=AfmBOop7jSSS5ecAtgtpmCJO7AuAeEgU48FZB_PCyWUHSS33pp-AbqqU" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Lems shoes</a> (this is <a href="https://www.lemsshoes.com/collections/all-mens-casual-shoes/products/mens-primal-3?variant=40270703951930" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">the pair Brett wears</a>)</li><li><a href="https://tyr.com/products/tyr-mens-l-2-lifter-1" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Tyr weightlifting shoe</a></li><li><a href="https://amzn.to/436ftEI" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Injinji toe socks</a></li><li><a href="https://amzn.to/4wYyg2j" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Toe spacer</a></li><li><a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11923623/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Study on calf raise standards</a></li></ul>Connect With Milica McDowell<ul><li><a href="https://www.milicamcdowell.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Milica's website</a></li><li><a href="https://www.instagram.com/drmilicamcdowelldpt/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Milica on IG</a></li></ul>See Privacy Policy at <a href="https://art19.com/privacy" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://art19.com/privacy</a> and California Privacy Notice at <a href="https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info</a>.

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