Put three physical therapists in a room and you will have at least three opinions on footwear and insoles. And yet, I cannot help but open this can of worms.

First of all, I have super flat feet. So much so that, eight years ago, when I was a doctor of physical therapy intern, my feet would be absolutely killing me by lunchtime if my arches were not supported by the Superfeet insoles my dad gave me. My clinical instructor at the time was something of a foot specialist and, seeing my pain, gave me some free advice and a simple exercise, which I started doing while waiting in line at the grocery store. That free advice and subtle habit change has allowed me to experience the awesome that is: Altra shoes.

Altra shoes, super wide fore-foot and minimal to no posting (difference in distance from the ground between forefoot and heel), have become a favorite footwear of mine. Shortly after my dad gave me a pair of their One V3’s for running, I bought a pair of their Solstice model in black to wear to work. Over the next two years I spent 40+ hours per week wearing through three pairs of these non-supportive, minimalistic shoes and raving about them to friends and co-workers. Had you, eight years prior, told me I would wear minimalistic shoes all day, every day at work and LOVE them, I would have called you a liar. My feet would not have been able to handle the abuse.

As a doctor of physical therapy intern, my feet were asked to suddenly transition from 16+ years of spending 8+ hours per day at a desk to 8+ hours per day on my feet, helping people get back to the activities they love. No wonder my feet hurt!

However, our bodies can adapt. I took the advice my clinical instructor gave me, mad a subtle habit change, and began training muscles in the bottom of my feet to do their job, one my Superfeet arch support had been doing. It wasn’t long before I could wear any shoe I wanted without the arch of my foot hurting. It also wasn’t long before I was helping patients do the same.

Now, I’m not going to claim Altra footwear is a must-have for all people. Nor do I suggest bailing on arch supports. Just two weeks ago I discussed arch support options with a patient, weighing out the pros and cons of three different options. What I do suggest however is finding solutions to problems… and pain is a problem. If your feet hurt, that’s not normal. Whether it’s foot pain, shoulder pain, low back pain, or any other kind of nagging pain, Dotson Physiotherapy would like help you own your health and find a new normal - one that doesn’t keep you from doing what love, or what you do to afford doing what you love.

cdotson@dotsonphysiotherapy.com

(509) 350-2506

p.s. If you want to dive deeper into the can-of-worms with me, I’d be happy to talk more about footwear. Feel free to message me here.