Longevity Starts at Your Feet: Dr. Emily Splichal on Barefoot Science, Mobility & What Most People Get Wrong About Walking (007)
The Vitalist
Foot Mechanics and Sensory Feedback
This chapter delves into the vital role of foot mechanics and sensory feedback in maintaining balance and mobility. It contrasts the benefits of natural surfaces and barefoot movement against rigid surfaces and traditional footwear, emphasizing their impact on walking and running dynamics.
Your feet aren’t just for walking, they’re the foundation of your posture, your performance, and even your longevity. In this episode, Dr. Emily Splichal, functional podiatrist, barefoot science expert, and founder of Naboso, breaks down the overlooked role of the feet in whole-body healing.
You’ll learn why 10 seconds of single-leg balance predicts your lifespan, how foot posture impacts your spine and pelvis, and why the way you’re walking might be limiting your mobility, stability, and overall strength.
We dive into:
The $0 exercise Dr. Emily gives all her patients
How your feet connect to your pelvic floor (and your tongue) via fascia
The real reason your shoes might be making you stiffer and slower
Why walking isn’t cardio, it’s a neurological tune-up
How movement accuracy, sensory input, and foot mechanics unlock true mobility
Whether you’re healing chronic tension, chasing performance, or aging with vitality, this conversation will change how you move through the world, one step at a time.
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:
Youtube: Dr. Emily Splichal
Naboso.com Use code VITALIST for 10% off your order
Youtube: Naboso
Dr. Emily's latest book: Sensory Sapiens
Never miss an episode. Subscribe to get notified about what's coming next.
Follow us @TheVitalistPodcast
Visit us @KinfolkOptimalLiving
The AI-powered Podcast Player
