Episode 762: Drs. Dr. Courtney Conley & Milica McDowell: WALK, Your Life Depends on It!

Unlocking the Power of Walking: Feet, Movement, and Health. This episode dives deep into how something as simple as walking is a foundational pillar for health, longevity, and overall well-being. Dr. Karen Litzy welcomes expert insights from Dr. Courtney Conley and Dr. Melissa McDowell. You'll learn practical strategies to optimize foot health, rethink footwear choices, and incorporate walking into everyday life for maximum benefit. In this episode: Why walking is considered a sixth vital sign and what it means for health assessment The evidence-based optimal step range and busting myths around 10,000 steps How foot strength and proper footwear influence pain, injury, and longevity The biochemistry of walking and its effects on hormones, brain health, and disease prevention Strategies clinicians and individuals can use to operationalize walking as a therapeutic and preventive tool Challenging misconceptions about shoes, orthotics, and barefoot walking More About Dr. Courtney Conley: Dr. Courtney Conley is the founder of Gait Happens, where she pursues her passion for helping as many people as possible reclaim their foot function. As an internationally renowned foot and gait specialist, Dr. Conley teaches both nationally and internationally. She is a chiropractic physician with a BA in Kinesiology, a BA in Human Biology, and a Doctorate in Chiropractic Medicine. Based in Lakewood, CO, Dr. Conley owns and operates Total Health Solutions clinic and Total Health Performance gym, where she leads patient care focused on restoring gait mechanics and resolving foot problems to help people move more easily and pain-free. She is also a founding member of the Healthy Foot Alliance, an international team of practitioners dedicated to promoting the benefits of natural footwear, preventing unnecessary surgeries, and improving foot function to create a stable foundation from the ground up. More about Dr. Milica McDowell: Dr. Milica McDowell holds two Bachelor of Science degrees (Exercise Physiology and Health Promotion, (Montana State University), a master’s degree (Physical Therapy, University of Colorado Health Sciences Center), and a Doctorate degree (Physical Therapy, Idaho State University). She served as a university faculty member in Human Performance for nearly a decade, has developed numerous medical education curricula and has been an invited speaker on many national stages, including the American Physical Therapy Association and American College of Sports Medicine’s conventions. She has been an invited presenter for numerous professional organizations, and she has delivered over 300 educational lectures at state, regional, and national levels. Dr. McDowell founded Clearwater Physical Therapy, Bluebird Medical Supply Company, and co-founded Epic Fitness, 4C Sports Injury Analytics, and CrossFit Send It. In 2023, Dr. McDowell was recognized as one of the Top 50 Women Leaders in Healthcare by the Women We Admire organization. She has edited textbooks, written several university science courses, and developed professional continuing education courses that are sold in a global marketplace. One of her present interests is the responsible use of AI technologies to produce multimedia learning experiences in professional education. Subscribe to Healthy, Wealthy & Smart: Website: https://podcast.healthywealthysmart.com Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast... Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6ELmKwE... SoundCloud:   / healthywealthysmart   iHeart Radio: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/263-he...