Step 1

Sit barefoot or with socks, placing one ankle on your opposite knee so your foot is free in space.

Step 2

Place your index and fore fingers, behind your small toe and gently move your foot up and down. Notice how easily your foot rises and falls.

The ease of this movement reflects your ankle’s stability or instability.

Step 3

Place your index and fore fingers on the ball of the foot and press the ball of the foot towards your knee.

Notice how easily your arch collapses.

The majority of people will experience an unstable ankle in Step 2 and a collapsing arch in this Step.

This is the dynamic that is occurring when standing, walking, or running when wearing most shoes.

Step 4

Raise your toes, and notice that immediately a natural stable arch is created and your ankle stabilizes.

While maintaining raised toes, repeat Steps 2 and 3.

Press on the ball of your foot as firmly as you can.

Notice that with your toes raised, it takes little or no muscle effort to maintain a strong, stable ankle and arch.

This is the functional strength that Biopods entrains.

Step 5

Relax your toes, press firmly against the ball of your foot, collapsing the arch again and maintain that pressure.

Now try to raise your toes — notice it’s difficult and requires significant muscle effort. Most people can't, or can only raise their toes a little.

This is what is happening when you are wearing conventional footwear.

What you are experiencing is the functional weakness that support and cushioning entrains.