Recently, you may have seen some elite athletes such as LeBron James and Cristiano Ronaldo wearing natural footwear (or barefoot/minimalist shoes) in their training. Naturally (pun intended), it has sparked some discussion about this type of footwear and its role in sports. As an ATC in the NBA, I am a major advocate for athletes (as well as clinicians and non-athletes!) paying more attention to what they wear on their feet, both on and off the court. By this, I mean wearing footwear that allows our feet to function properly. This means wearing shoes that don't have a narrow toe box, extra and unnecessary cushion and support or otherwise attempt to detract from letting our feet work the way they were designed. I wrote an article about natural footwear and why it is so important for having and maintaining healthy and resilient feet. I describe the "5 F's" of natural footwear and how what we wear on our feet affects us profoundly. Is this a new concept to you? Have you ever worn or considered wearing natural footwear? Do these concepts make sense in the way we should be viewing feet in athletes and beyond? Are you already wearing and recommending natural footwear with your athletes? I hope this topic can spark some interest and discussion, as well as spread awareness. I look forward to hearing your thoughts! Summit Performance and Therapy Why Natural Footwear is Essential for Healthy Feet The post highlights the importance of foot health and natural foot function, emphasizing that feet are complex and resilient structures. It argues that modern footwear often hinders foot mobility a…

Connor, I agree with the previous comments. The BFR protocol is great and folks seem to respond well to it. In general, I’ve found that everyone responds differently and may like one “thing” more than another and their routine may vary from others depending on age, position, previous experiences etc…I think giving them/teaching them different strategies (not just what, but how and when and combined with what else) has been helpful. BFR recovery protocol, different hot/cold contrast routines, pool jogging/workouts, normatec, stretching/mobility, massage, etc….but keep in mind the foundation needs to be sleep and appropriate nutrition. Good luck!

Might not be exactly the answer you may have been looking for, but I would recommend focusing on natural (or barefoot) footwear that allows your foot to function naturally. What I mean by that is a shoe with a wider toe box that is flexible and thin-soled. This is something that will likely take some dedicated effort and practice transitioning to but will improve your foot health over time. Some brands I would recommend include: Vivobarefoot, Xero Shoes, Bahe, Barebarics. I started wearing barefoot shoes last season and it is a game-changer! Wear them all day at work and on the bench during games. Would also recommend checking out content from The Foot Collective. Tons of free resources to help improve foot health and transition to more natural footwear. The stronger your feet are, the less you might feel like you need additional cushioning in your shoes! Below is a link to an article I wrote about the benefits of barefoot shoes. Happy to chat more with whoever might be interested! Summit Performance and Therapy Why Natural Footwear is Essential for Healthy Feet The post highlights the importance of foot health and natural foot function, emphasizing that feet are complex and resilient structures. It argues that modern footwear often hinders foot mobility a…

The PFATS application portal for 2026 NFL Seasonal and Summer Internships opens on September 1st! Please see the link below to apply or get more information on what the internships entail. I am also happy to answer any questions! https://www.pfats.com/internships/

Sounds great. Is there a registration link I can access? Many thanks.

Hi @cfaber - You can visit this link to learn more about sideline kits and what's included. You can also find contact information there as well. Thanks!

For the way that I treat now, (more manual) I have found the CES really valuable for at least muscle imbalances and find myself reviewing the material. As far as the PES, I have the book for reference and found useful information, but I didn't see the use for getting certified and went the CSCS route instead.

Just a basic nutrition coach certificate

No, but does it work for you?

Polarpod