Irene Davis is the founding Director of the Spaulding National Running Center at the Harvard Medical School. In this episode, Irene describes how her research of biomechanics and clinical work with running injuries, as well as research by others, has shaped her views on maintaining body alignment and foot health. Irene discusses her argument for the role of modern footwear in running-related injuries and how minimalist footwear helps resolve the subsequent biomechanical issues. We discuss: Irene’s path to her Ph.D., her entry into physical therapy, and her interest in biomechanics [3:20]; How Irene’s thinking about the use of orthotics has changed [7:15]; The evolution of the human foot and the transition from walking to running [10:30]; The evolution of shoes and its impact on running injuries [17:30]; An overview of running injuries [26:00]; Cushioned running shoes, heel striking and impact forces [29:30]; Shin splints [33:45]; How heel strike patterns promotes knee stress through rate of loading [35:30]; The critical importance of exercise [42:15]; Impact forces and injury potential [45:45]; How shoe cushioning alters impact forces despite forefoot striking [49:00]; An overview of minimalist shoes [52:30]; Irene’s protocol for transitioning people out of orthotics [58:45]; Transitioning to minimalist shoes and a forefoot strike [1:05:30]; Foot muscle volume, minimalist shoes, and orthotics [1:07:00]; The recognition of the importance of foot strength in podiatry [1:09:45]; Minimalist shoes across the lifespan—from children to adults [1:12:30]; Why learning to forefoot strike on soft surfaces is not the best approach [1:20:00]; Knee valgus and factors related to knee injury [1:21:45]; IT band syndrome [1:28:30]; Physics and ground reaction forces [1:33:15]; Irene’s approach to retraining a runner’s gait [1:36:00]; Case study—How the transition to minimalist shoes decreased injury and improved performance [1:42:15]; Importance of proper movement patterns and the negative influence of our modern environment [1:45:30]; and More. Learn more: https://peterattiamd.com/ Show notes page for this episode: https://peterattiamd.com/irenedavis  Subscribe to receive exclusive subscriber-only content: https://peterattiamd.com/subscribe/ Sign up to receive Peter's email newsletter: https://peterattiamd.com/newsletter/ Connect with Peter on Facebook | Twitter | Instagram.

Why do humans have butt cheeks? Neil deGrasse Tyson, Chuck Nice, and Gary O’Reilly learn about the biomechanics of running with professor and running specialist Dr. Irene Davis, featuring Neil’s interview with author Chris McDougall. NOTE: StarTalk+ Patrons can watch or listen to this entire episode commercial-free. Thanks to our Patrons Stephan Hoffmann Arvidsson, Louis Palen, Kara Young,Nick Skibicki, Jennifer Magnus, Ceasar Perez, Cameron Bishop,dniel, Pouneh Golabian, and Coleman for supporting us this week. Photo Credit: https://fshoq.com Subscribe to SiriusXM Podcasts+ on Apple Podcasts to listen to new episodes ad-free and a whole week early.

Professor Irene Davis, a leading researcher on running injuries and president of the American College of Sports Medicine, discusses our natural ability to run and the impact of footwear on injury risk. She advocates for minimalist shoes, which encourage landing on the forefoot, helping to reduce impact stress. Irene highlights the evolution of running styles and the drawbacks of modern cushioned shoes. She also suggests that retraining your running gait can be beneficial for stubborn injuries, emphasizing the importance of proper biomechanics.