Dr. Emily Splichal – human movement specialist and podiatrist – takes a close look at foot health and barefoot training for longevity and performance.  The controversy comes in when discussing the risk-reward of wearing shoes and orthotics.   Some research suggests that, over time, shoes will block sensory information from getting to our feet, making them weaker over time – hence the anti-shoe argument.  It has also been suggested that orthotics will do the same – and therefore a foot strengthening program is crucial to get feet strong and out of the added support.  In certain cases, strength training will not fix the issue and orthotics are inevitable long term. In many cases, orthotics could be just a temporary fix – if a proper strength program is followed and maintained.