Simple Steps to Foot Pain Relief: The New Science of Healthy Feet

I spent two years visiting podiatrists trying to get pain relief from my plantar's fasciitis. The first one gave me steroid shots in the tendons - apart from being THE most painful shot I've ever had - it did relieve the pain AMAZINGLY well, but it eventually came back. Bought the $500 inserts (not covered by insurance) and wore nothing but tennis shoes. Once the shot wore off I was back at square one. Tried another podiatrist who - irrespective of his being an ass - did nothing for me. I asked for shoe/exercise recommendations and he just told me that if anything hurts, I'm doing more damage. So on chance, I stumbled on this book in the library and read it. A quick, easy read, but filled with common sense suggestions. A month after starting her suggestions on gait training and stretching, I've gotten more relief than in the previous two years under "professional medical care". I'm a real skeptic with non-physicians, so for me to sing the praises of the advice in this book is unheard of. I even went back and bought it just to have it for myself.

This is a purchase I regret. I bought the book hoping to find some inspiration on how to get relief from foot pain. But there are only a handful of exercises and those are not all impressive. Any quick google search on foot exercises would have provided me with those.I would say over 60% of the book is the author repeating over and over that shoes with heals are bad. Well, my husband never wears heals and still has foot pain and the book doesn't help at all with that.I also have to question the common sense of the author because she writes in the book how her husband uses a skill saw to remove heals of various shoes as a cheap way to convert them to shoes without heals. Seriously? Maybe there are some shoes that are suitable for such a modification but my guess is that most shoes will be a nightmare for many reasons after that conversion and that we would do more harm than good. Such an idiotic suggestion makes me question everything else the author has to say.

I'm a bit biased, because I'm a long time barefooter (I go barefoot everywhere), but this is an excellent entry-level book to anyone who may have a shred of suspicion that their foot pain may be caused by their shoes. Even to those that do not see their shoes as a culprit, you'll learn. ☺ This book keeps its explanations at ground level, only getting technical when necessary to make a point. You should know a little about how your body works if you want to fix it, shouldn't you? Also, there are great exercises to help rebuild muscle and flexibility in probably the most neglected and mistreated part of the human body. If you're like me, and want more detailed explanations with a more comprehensive corrective exercise program, check out  Whole Body Barefoot: Transitioning Well to Minimal Footwear , also by  Katy Bowman . In fact, if you want the all-over treatment, check out Katy's whole collection of books about restoring strength and flexibility in the most neglected parts of our bodies.

I liked this book so much I decided I needed a kindle and a hard copy. Start doing these exercises and say goodbye to your foot problems. My balance in Yoga has improved so much since I started this foot health plan and removed the “casts” off my feet! As a joke my son refers to Katy as my cult leader. I call her my healer. Keep the awesome info coming Katy!

Is a book of good information...but if you have read her book, "Move Your DNA" you have read most of this book too.Has some good stretches & practical information.

I developed plantar fasciitis and decided to check this book out. I am now pain free and completely obscessed with Katy Bowman movement information. I've incorporated nutrious movement through out my day and now the pain in my hips and shoulders are improving and I'm getting more flexible. I can not say enough about this book!

I own Katy Bowman's book on Dynamic Aging and was excited to see she wrote one on feet. I'm a long-distance walker who is starting to have aches and pains (plantar fasciatis) & pulled sciatic muscles so this will reinforce what I know already plus add some new insights so I can keep climbing those mountain trails. Antarctica is my next stop in January.

I'm only half way through the book but have skimmed thru most of the pages and I am really enjoying the exercises shared and the writing style. I am a massage therapist by trade and like how this is written to be understood, enjoyed and implemented by anyone who can read.

Interesting book. Easy to ready and good diagrams. Written in an easy to understand Manor too

Very informative and cheaper than going to a chiropractor!

Very will written, informative and easy to follow. Like all of her books, very useful for both practitioners and general public.

REALLY HELPFUL BOOK

Excellent book, some of the ideas are a repetition of her first book, " everywoman's guide to pain relief ",still very relevant information to anyone suffering from foot pain, highly recommended it.