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THE RESOURCE FOR FEET AND FOOTWEAR REFERENCES
Oodles and oodles of supporting documents, research and articles regarding the foot and footwear follow, the earliest of which appeared in 1860, well over a century and a half ago. First a couple of excerpts, then a list of references and books. BOOM!
"Most of what we now know about foot health—true foot health, that is—comes from scholarly writings that were published, in some cases, well over 100 years ago. These studies, along with the wisdom we have gained from unshod or minimally shod populations, are crucial to our understanding of what constitutes normal, healthy foot anatomy and how to preserve this beautiful, spade-foot shape through adulthood and well into old age.
Dr. Hoffman’s 1905 study…is as illuminating about natural foot health as it is troublesome for the fact that it has largely been forgotten and ignored by contemporary podiatry and the Western world at large.
It is a window through which we can see how our natural foot health heritage has been corrupted and co-opted by footwear that has tried to dominate and improve upon an already (and inherently) brilliant design.
Healthy feet and toes are our birthright. Almost every single one of us was born with perfect feet, and with the proper care and attention [I would add in also, proper USE], and in the absence of traumatic injury, we can maintain healthy foot and toe anatomy and function nearly indefinitely."
Well said, Dr. Ray McLanahan from NW Foot and Ankle!!
"The shoe industry gets away with murder - foot murder - and it has been for generations,"
Dr. William Rossi said in an article here.
Who is Dr. Rossi? Born in 1910, his father, a shoemaker. By 1930 at age 20 he graduated as a podiatrist, yet after only six years in the field building his practice, Rossi abruptly quit citing boredom and predictability of treating “foot-ills." Rossi turned to freelance writing, became a well known author, historian and consultant in the footwear industry. The archives of his work, the William A. Rossi Collection, can be found at the Brockton Shoe Museum at Stonehill College. A complete listing can be found here.
Thank you NW Foot and Ankle for highlighting these four gems of his!
I chose a relevant excerpt from each. Click on the image to see it and then click on the link to go to the full article:
Footwear: The Primary Cause of Foot Disorders William A Rossi
Why Shoes Make “Normal” Gait Impossible Dr. William A Rossi
Children’s Footwear: Launching Site for Adult Foot Ills Dr. William A Rossi
Fashion and Foot Deformation Dr. William A Rossi
1860-1934Various Historical References
The mechanics, mechanical anatomy, and mechanical distortions of the bony structure of the human foot. 1860.
Why the Shoe PInches. 1861.
The Natural Shape of the Foot - How Boots and Shoes Ought to be Made. 1862.
Educated Feet for Correct Posture. [VIDEO]. 1926.
Bad Feet. Heal Thyself. 1934.
More
Recent References
Why Shoes Make Normal Gait Impossible. Dr. William Rossi. 1999.
Footwear: The Primary Cause of Foot Disorders. Dr. William Rossi. 2001.
Children's Footwear: A Launching Site for Adult Foot-Ills. Dr. William Rossi. 2002.
Fashion and Foot Deformations. Dr. William Rossi. 2001.
Effect of Vibram FiveFingers Minimalist Shoes on the Abductor Hallucis Muscle. 2015.
The Effects of Habitual Footwear Use: Foot Shape + Function in Native Barefoot Walkers. 2009.
You Walk Wrong. NY Magazine. 2008.
Haile Gebrselassie Running Barefoot in Slow-Motion [VIDEO]
Effect of a five-Toed Minimal Protection Shoe on Static and Dynamic Ankle Position Sense. 2011.
The Effect of Shoe Toe Box Shape and Volume on Forefoot Interdigital and Plantar Pressures in Healthy Females. 2013.
What does it mean to be BAREFOOT STRONG?
Foot Function and Fascial Lines: The 1st MPJ
The Functional Impact of Bunions
Great Toe Mobility: The Linchpin to Movement Longevity | Part 1 – Anatomy
Great Toe Mobility: The Linchpin to Movement Longevity | Part 2 – Functional Assessment
Great Toe Mobility: The Linchpin to Movement Longevity | Part 3 – Correctives & Client Programming
The Functional Impact of Navicular Drop
Biomechanics of the Stiletto Strut
Optimizing Movement Efficiency in an Unnatural Environment
Classic Study #1: A Comparison of Barefooted & Shoe-Wearing Peoples
Classic Study #3: Feet & Footprints of Solomon Islanders
Cycling Shoe Surgery
The Shoe Cushioning Myth
Problematic Shoe Design Features
Children & Natural Foot Health
ADDITIONAL JOURNAL ARTICLES + SCHOLARLY WRITING
"Athletic Footwear: Unsafe Due to Perceptual Illusions." Steven Robbins and Gerard J. Gouw. " Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise. 1991.
"The Influence of Footwear on the Prevalence of Flat Foot." V. Sachithanandam and Benjamin Joseph. The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery. 1995.
Your child might be wearing heels, right now.
Katy Says Podcast. Episode 18. Whole Body Barefoot.
Katy Says Podcast. Episode 19. I'm All About the Base Part I
Katy Says Podcast. Episode 20. I'm All About the Base Part II
Two year long case study demonstrating an increase in arch height from running in minimalist shoes.
New images from the case study demonstrating increase in arch height.
Foot x-rays revealing structural changes from transitioning to a minimalist shoe.
Why Does the Modern Foot Look the Way It Does?
Footwear Essentials - From Dr. Mark Cucuzella's Running School
History of Foot Fitness: Part I, Part II and Part III
Bonnie Pruden Foot Fitness Routine [VIDEO]
Feet: Going to Fall or Prevent Falling?
BOOKS
Would you
and
please?
