What if the secret to fixing back pain, avoiding dementia, and living longer is…your feet? Dr. Courtney Conley breaks down why your shoes are failing you.

Dr Courtney Conley is a physician specialising in foot and gait mechanics. She is the founder of ‘Gait Happens’ and ‘Total Health Solutions’, where she aims to educate people about the importance of the human foot to overall health.

She explains:

How foot pain leads to emotional distress, depression, and inactivity
How 500 extra steps a day can cut heart attack risk by 7%
Why 4,000 steps a day can slash dementia risk by 50%
How Courtney’s overcame addiction and used movement to save her life
Why children’s shoes are sabotaging their future health

00:00 Intro

02:22 Why Care About Feet

06:07 The Most Common Foot Injuries

07:49 What People Get Wrong About Foot Pain

11:48 The Link Between Walking, Longevity, and Depression

19:20 What Shoes Should I Wear to Help My Foot Strength?

25:55 Our Feet vs. Tribe Feet

28:09 Insoles Help Initially but Not Long Term

30:58 1 in 3 People Will Develop Foot Pain

31:36 Pain in the Heel (Plantar Fasciitis)

34:04 Bigger Problems from Foot Issues

35:34 Problems with Wearing Heels

37:54 Characteristics of Good Shoes

39:54 Super-Cushioned Running Shoes: Good or Bad?

43:59 The Shocking Link Between Movement and Dementia

45:16 The Rise of Run Clubs

47:49 The Foot Gym

48:26 Bunion Diagnoses

57:12 Ads

59:16 Importance of Strong Feet at the Gym

1:06:17 What Is a Running Gait?

1:10:02 Are We Supposed to Be Barefoot?

1:17:42 Ads

1:19:42 Should We Wear Socks?

1:21:47 Viewer Comments

1:23:46 What Happens After Ankle Injuries Heal

1:26:58 What You'll Most Likely Regret in 10 Years

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Follow Dr Courtney:

Instagram - ⁠https://bit.ly/43mfyoU⁠

Gait Happens - http://doac.gaithappens.com/

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Research document: https://stevenbartlett.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/DOAC-Courtney-Conley-Independent-Research-further-reading.pdf

Sponsors:

Vivobarefoot - https://vivobarefoot.com/DOAC with code DIARY20 for 20% off
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