Move It or Lose It | Episode 142 | Dr. Emily Splichal: The Hidden Strength Within Your Feet

Summary

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Move It or Lose It | Episode 142

Guest: Dr. Emily Splichal
Host: Kathy Chester
Date: December 17, 2025
Title: The Hidden Strength Within Your Feet

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Episode Overview

This episode dives deep into the often-overlooked power and function of our feet, especially within the context of chronic illness, autoimmune conditions like Multiple Sclerosis (MS), and movement disorders. Host Kathy Chester, a long-time MS warrior and fitness trainer, nerds out with renowned podiatrist and human movement specialist Dr. Emily Splichal on the vital connections between the feet and whole-body health. They explore sensory stimulation, product innovations like the Neuro Ball and textured socks, and how emotional responses intertwine with physical symptoms.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Dr. Splichal’s Unconventional Path to Modern Podiatry

Timestamp: 02:36 – 04:57

• Dr. Splichal shares that traditional podiatry training felt incomplete by treating feet in isolation.
• She pursued a Master’s in Human Movement, blending podiatry with fitness, pelvic floor therapy, fascial work, and emotional/autonomic nervous system research.
• Quote:
  • “[Podiatry] was taught very, very isolated. No mention that our feet are connected to the rest of the body. So it was starting to not sit right with me.” (Dr. Splichal, 02:11)

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2. Introducing the Neuro Ball and Sensory-Based Foot Care

Timestamp: 04:57 – 06:56

• Neuro Ball (by Naboso) features patent-pending texture – tiny pyramids designed to stimulate nerves in the feet, much like Braille for the skin.
• Can be split into two domes and used for daily stimulation—especially beneficial for those with MS, Parkinson’s, and other movement disorders.
• New models include a cryo core for usable cold therapy targeting issues like plantar fasciitis.
• Quote:
  • “Those little tiny pyramids are stimulating the nerves in the bottom of the feet. Very similar to how your finger reads braille, actually, your feet are able to read this texture.” (Dr. Splichal, 05:23)

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3. Microcirculation, Raynaud’s, and Non-Cold Stimulation

Timestamp: 08:56 – 10:20

• Circulation issues—such as Raynaud’s—affect many with autoimmune challenges.
• Microcirculation (smallest blood vessels) is especially at-risk in the feet due to their distance from the heart.
• Beyond heat, movement itself (even 50 steps), vibration, and textured stimuli (including Naboso socks) all enhance microcirculation. Don't need to jump straight to cold therapy.
• Cold therapy is best as post-movement recovery, not before activity.
• Quote:
  • “After just 50 steps, you have increased the microcirculation to your feet, which is evident through temperature.” (Dr. Splichal, 09:54)

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4. Textured Recovery Socks and Neuropathy

Timestamp: 11:17 – 14:03

• Textured socks with pyramid patterns inside help “speak the language” of the foot nerves, aiding both under-sensitivity (numbness) and over-sensitivity (allodynia) due to neuropathies in MS and other disorders.
• Socks foster both desensitization in hypersensitive patients and increased awareness for those with numbness.
• Quote:
  • “What that’s doing is that’s allowing you to feel your feet. It’s focusing on the circulation. It’s waking up the muscles.” (Dr. Splichal, 11:51)
  • “Sometimes [patients] are like, it just feels like I’m walking on cotton balls.” (Dr. Splichal, 13:14)

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5. Barefoot Stimulation: Why & How?

Timestamp: 14:03 – 18:24

• 30 minutes per day of barefoot time is recommended to stimulate foot nerves and retain movement confidence, especially important for balance and preventing deterioration in chronic conditions.
• Discomfort from barefoot living is often due to a lack of exposure; adaptation happens surprisingly fast.
• Quote:
  • “There is an evolutionarily important role of the nerves in the bottom of our feet... If you start to disconnect from those nerve endings, it will then create a decrease in your balance... you lose movement confidence.” (Dr. Splichal, 15:41)
  • “As you start to implement barefoot stimulation, you adapt to it very quickly... you actually crave the stimulation.” (Dr. Splichal, 18:13)

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6. Innovative Foot Wedges for Stability and Training

Timestamp: 20:14 – 22:00

• Foot wedges (10 and 25 degrees) with Naboso texture provide stability for barefoot training, helping those who cannot independently hold a neutral foot position.
• “They look like a piece of pie,” Dr. Splichal laughs. Covered with textured grip, they enhance both sensory feedback and safety for training—especially valuable for those with compromised balance or joint motion.
• Quote:
  • “The goal is...if we’re going to advocate barefoot training...the base, your feet, [must be] in a stable position.” (Dr. Splichal, 20:51)

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7. Re-emergence of Barefoot Shoes and Resources

Timestamp: 22:36 – 25:03

• Early 2000s barefoot shoe “boom” returns, now with a wider array of brands and styles, not just for runners.
• Resource: Anya’s Reviews – a comprehensive review site for barefoot and minimalist shoes of all types.
• Quote:
  • “Not every minimal shoe is a sneaker...You can have sandals, boots, hiking shoes, dress shoes.” (Dr. Splichal, 24:59)
  • “If anyone bought the five fingers, the Vibram five fingers, they thought they then were like, well, I guess now I have to start running. I’m like, where did you get it?” (Dr. Splichal, 23:44)

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8. Powerful Patient Story: Sensory Stimulation Transforming Recovery

Timestamp: 26:30 – 31:03

• Dr. Splichal recounts a patient paralyzed after a surgical accident whose feet were “forgotten” during her rehab—always in socks/shoes, never directly stimulated.
• Upon using Naboso products, the patient felt electrical sensations for the first time post-injury—“like electricity rode up my leg”—and became an advocate as she progressed from a wheelchair to walking.
• Their work together stacked sensory stimulation, visualization, breathwork, and pelvic floor connection into her recovery.
• Quotes:
  • “For the first time...she actually stimulated her feet...She was like, ‘It was like electricity rode up my leg...I can actually feel my feet.’” (Dr. Splichal, 28:21)
  • “Unless they’re trying to actually learn to walk again, [many] don’t realize how important single leg stability is to take each step.” (Dr. Splichal, 30:17)
  • “60% of walking involves you being on one leg.” (Dr. Splichal, 30:49)

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9. The Future of Naboso: Education & Integrative Stimulation

Timestamp: 31:16 – 34:44

• Naboso is focusing on developing educational programming and stacking various forms of sensory input (texture, emotion) for deeper rehabilitation and everyday use.
• Exploring the autonomic nervous system’s emotional responses—how stress, fear, or pain exacerbates symptoms like spasticity—and using “sensory anchors” (like touch, texture) for self-calming.
• Quote:
  • “Your emotional state or this autonomic state can enhance or throw off the nervous system peripheral. So it’s just so deeply intricate.” (Dr. Splichal, 33:36)
  • “It’s about training the mind and the anchored emotion...How can you then just feel the body through it?” (Dr. Splichal, 34:44)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “Our feet are actually speaking a language to our brain all the time.” (Dr. Splichal, implied throughout)
• “30 minutes of barefoot every day... If you don’t use it, you lose it.” (Dr. Splichal, 15:41)
• “You actually crave the stimulation.” (Dr. Splichal, 18:31)
• On the resurgence of barefoot shoes: “It wasn’t just a barefoot shoe boom, it’s a barefoot boom.” (Dr. Splichal, 23:42)
• About the patient who felt again after 2 years: “Like electricity rode up my leg...I can actually feel my feet.” (Patient via Dr. Splichal, 28:21)
• On mind-body interventions: “Your emotional state...can enhance or throw off the nervous system peripheral.” (Dr. Splichal, 33:36)

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Timestamps of Important Segments

| Segment & Topic | Timestamp | |----------------------------------------------------|:--------------:| | Dr. Splichal’s background and philosophy | 02:36–04:57 | | The Neuro Ball and sensory foot care | 04:57–06:56 | | Increasing microcirculation | 08:56–10:20 | | Textured socks & neuropathy management | 11:17–14:03 | | Barefoot living for movement confidence | 14:03–18:24 | | Wedges for sensory stability | 20:14–22:00 | | Barefoot shoes and resources | 22:36–25:03 | | Transformative patient recovery story | 26:30–31:03 | | Naboso’s future and sensory/emotional integration | 31:16–34:44 |

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Conclusion

This rich, insightful conversation between Kathy Chester and Dr. Emily Splichal spotlights just how integral our feet—and the sensory signals they send—are to movement, healing, balance, and well-being, especially for those with chronic illness. They remind listeners to look beyond shoes, take their sensory health into daily practice, and never underestimate the power of feeling the ground beneath their feet.

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Resources Mentioned:

• Naboso Technology
• Anya’s Reviews – Barefoot & Minimalist Shoe Resource

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Transcript

[A]

Foreign.

[B]

Your host, Kathy Chester, and welcome to the Move it or Lose it podcast, a podcast about all things that move the mind, body and soul. The Move it or Lose it podcast is for information, awareness and inspirational purposes only. I am not a doctor and I don't even play one on tv, so please consult your doctor before making any medical decisions. The views expressed by advertisers, guests or contributors are their opinions and not necessarily the views of the Move it or Lose it podcast. Mississippi Disrupted wishes you a very happy holiday season. We are also very excited to launch our very first holiday special for our chronic illness family. For only $19.99, you will be able to purchase a special group training personal session. Then you'll get a free one. So it's a buy one, get one free. You can purchase this for someone you love or get it for yourself. You'll also get a trainer who really understands what it is and how you feel. This is already up for purchase, so you can [e-mail] and we'll walk you through the purchase. My favorite part of this is that once you purchase and have the videos, they are yours to keep forever. So you lose nothing. I'm so excited to see new faces and new people in this group. So go ahead and grab it now. You also have till the end of January. I can't wait to see you guys as we begin this journey together. So welcome to another episode of Move it or Lose It Today. I'm really excited. If you've not met her, I have. Dr. Emily Spickle. Spickle, right? Did I say right?

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Okay, good. Because I know you guys know I never say last names correctly. So very interesting. If you don't know her, if you have never been able to speak with her, we're going to learn a lot about the feet and different aspects of why that could be damaging, why we're not doing things right, why our shoes may not be correct, and different ways that we can have relief from that. So thank you, Doctor for meeting us, for joining us today on the podcast. I am so excited to nerd out with you on the things that I've been very interested in and all that you do. So thank you for being with us today.

[A]

Of course. Thank you so much.

[B]

Absolutely. So I'm interested. When you became a podiatrist, did you know that you wanted to work with different areas of the feet? And just when did you know that there was something different you wanted to do?

[A]

So I think the so my background, in addition to podiatry is fitness, which ties into movement. My passion is movement now, movement, longevity, but movement function, movement disorders. And when I was going through podiatry school, it was taught very, very isolated. No mention that our feet are connected to the rest of the body. So it was starting to not sit right with me.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

And when I was being taught things, I was like, there's more to the story. So I started to seek that out. I actually, after I got my doctorate, I went back and I got my master's in human movement, which is where I studied the sensory side of the foot. And then I studied under pelvic floor specialists, fascial specialist, breast specialists, emotion, autonomic nervous system, all of that. And now I tie that into my practice.

[B]

So.

[A]

So my own exploration versus taught in podiatry school.

[B]

Right. Love that. And I think I agree with you completely. You know what I do? You know, I teach movement for those who have different autoimmune diseases, spinal injuries, things like that. And so I notice a lot, obviously with the feet in different areas, and that is a huge thing. And not taught and not even really, not even really thought of, except for running. As I'm a runner, we go into figure out like, okay, why do these shoes not fit correctly? Why do these not work? When I try to run, I would say that other than that, it's really not not thought about. It's like, I'm going to go get this shoe. Is like, really? I love the color, I love the way. And then I'm going to get it. Does it fit my feet correctly? Do I know anything about this shoe? Not really, but I'm going to grab it. So 100% agree with you. So some of the things that I've seen, I know we've got a million things to talk about, the neural ball. I absolutely love the concept. So I want you to share about that and how that helps our feet.

[A]

Absolutely. So thank you for, thank you for using the neural ball for the listeners. So I have one of our new versions of it, a couple of different ones, but the neural ball, which is from Naboso, which is my sensory based product line company that I launched six years ago. All of the products by Naboso feature a patented texture on it. If people are watching the video, I have the ball with the texture on it.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

But there's a little tiny pyramids across the entire surface of every single one of our products. And those little tiny pyramids are stimulating the nerves in the bottom of the feet. Very similar to how your finger reads braille actually, your feet are able to read this texture of the nabosa products. So the neural ball, specifically, it's a ball that then splits into two pieces. So you have two domes so you can stand on them to stimulate the nerves, wake up the muscles, increase circulation. But it's really important to be able to do something, especially if you have Ms. Or movement disorder, is to do something that feels safe. It's obviously effective.

[B]

Right.

[A]

Every product that we design at Nabo, so I'm actually thinking of the Ms. Or the Parkinson's client that design that it has to be approachable, it has to be effective, it has to be easy, just because it's. It's really so beneficial to that. So, yeah, that's a little bit about nabosu. And then we recommend that people use it every single day to wake up those nerves. And we have seen profound benefits in the Ms. Space and all movement disorder spaces.

[B]

Right. So. So inside you also have. It's a, like a little ball that goes in the. In the freezer or whatever. Right. It's cold. Yeah, I love that part because on.

[A]

This one, the other one has just a touch.

[B]

Okay. So the newer one has the. Has a ball in it and then that goes correct. Yep. Which I love that idea. Yeah.

[A]

It's a cryo pore, so you can put it in the freezer. And then you are introducing cold therapy, targeted cold therapy into the foot, which can be really good if someone has like a plantar fasciitis roma or something like that.

[B]

Introducing the pulse device. Cutting edge wearable device, revolutionary wellness. Designed to stimulate circulation, reduce harsh pain and tightness, and speed up recovery. The pulse device uses advanced vibro tactile technology trusted by patients, clinicians, and wellness professionals. Whether you're recovering from an injury, battling a neuro condition, or just want to feel the best every day, Pulse helps you rechange, recharge so that you can live and feel better. Lightweight, powerful, and easy to use. Experience better performance, better recovery, and a better you. Order now and save $30 using my code Ms. Disrupted@pulse device.com the Pulse Device. Is your health recharged? You won't be disappointed. Get it now for yourself. I have it. I love it. Go ahead and grab it. Yeah, I absolutely love that because I think that's so important for our feet. And so what would you say to. To those who have different issues with circulation? Because I know with a lot of my clients, circulation is a big issue. So in the wintertime, I know a lot of my patients. Clients have raynaud's that's a big issue. So they may not be able to come right in and do the cold. So would they get less benefit if they are not able to do the cold right away? They're waiting for their. The very white toes to come back to normal. So. So what would you suggest for those patients and clients?

[A]

Yes, so what I would say first is that the circulation in our feet and then circulation, I'll call it a disorder, even though that's not a great word. Symptom, like rayons, is microcirculation. And this is important to understand because there's different things that stimulate microcirculation. And micro means small. It's the itty bitty blood vessels that skin to the tendons, to the nerves, to the fascia. So all of that. And because our feet are so far away from our heart, that's where you start to see a lot of this. There are many different ways that you can increase microcirculation to the feet. And it's not just warm socks or warm water or something like that. One of the best is movement. And this is really interesting that after just 50 steps, you have increased the microcirculation to your feet, which is evident through temperature.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Vibration is another one using like a whole body vibration platform, a vibration roller, really great way to increase circulation to the feet. And then another is texture. So our socks, we actually have socks with the texture on the inside, actually increase someone's microcirculation to your feet. So, yes, you don't need to jump to the cold therapy.

[B]

Right.

[A]

We actually recommend the cold therapy as part of a recovery. So it's the post side of it, not pre movement. Okay. And pre movement, you want to create a vasodilation, so an opening of the blood vessels, which is through warming or temperature.

[B]

So, yeah, I love that. I like that a lot. And talk to me about the socks, because that's what I really loved is the textured socks. So. Because a lot of times we can't feel, you know, I'll even go through socks. And it's like a crazy thing. I know a lot of my patients and clients will say, my socks don't fit. Right. I can't get them to. They're not working. And I'm like, okay, there's some years ago, I was like, there's something to this. Why do all of us not have socks that are comfortable? Why do our feet. Why do. Why are they never comfortable in shoes and socks? What is going on with our feet? So, yeah, talk to me about the textured socks. Sure.

[A]

So our socks, which we. We consider them like a recovery sock. So think of it as a house sock. You could use it when you work out if you do Pilates or something like that. And yes, you could wear them in shoes as well. But they are socks, which on the inside has the small little pyramids, which may seem at, you know, first glance that that might be painful or irritating or like, could you imagine that on your feet? However, remember that we are speaking the language of your foot nerves.

[B]

Right.

[A]

Your foot is actually positively responsive to it. It's not like nails on a chalkboard or something. So what that's doing is that's allowing you to feel your feet. It's focusing on the circulation. It's waking up the muscles. Also because MS, we're talking specifically MS, Ms. Can get a Ms. Related neuropathy. And all neuropathies have different symptoms, where the symptoms could be numbness, which is like a void of a symptom, actually.

[B]

Right.

[A]

Or it could be what's called allodynia, which is a hypersensitivity to things such as fabrics and shoes and pressure and all of that, where stimuli is perceived as painful when it should painful.

[B]

Right.

[A]

So using something like the naboso socks with the texture.

[B]

Right.

[A]

That desensitizing this allodynia response.

[B]

So it's like that.

[A]

Think of it almost like you're distracting the brain.

[B]

Right, Right.

[A]

Relation of the painful stimulus. But it's something that's important to note is this Ms. Related neuropathy can create a myriad of symptoms. Symptoms that you don't always know how to articulate.

[B]

Right.

[A]

A lot with neuropathy, Pat. And sometimes they're like. It just feels like I'm walking on cotton balls.

[B]

Yeah. Okay.

[A]

Get it. I hear this all the time. Or they're like. It's just like, not my foot.

[B]

Right.

[A]

Yeah, I get that. Like, I've heard. I literally heard every description from neuropathy.

[B]

Yeah, I'm sure. I'm sure you have.

[A]

It can be very frustrating because, again, you don't know how to fully articulate it. And if someone doesn't. Can't empathize, meaning, like, oh, I totally know what you're saying.

[B]

Right. Like, I feel that too.

[A]

Like, I can't do that because I don't have.

[B]

Right.

[A]

But I can bring the compassion, the understanding to say, yes, it's a valid concern. And then here's some ways. Using texture, if you're focusing on neboso, to desensitize or to upregulate so you can actually feel. Feel your feet.

[B]

Yeah, yeah. Because that would be the pins and needles and the weird sensation that you have or don't have feeling in your foot that you can feel. Then with the socks, I would imagine I don't have them yet, but I would imagine. And I got very excited about that because there is that. That time, most of the times where a lot of Ms. Patients or I have rheumatoid as well, we can't feel a lot of that, you know, a lot of our hands and feet and different parts of our body. So to have the textured socks, I would imagine that would. That would give us the opportunity to feel more. Absolutely, yeah. So I think that that's really. And I loved, like, reading more about you too. Is that the blending the barefoot? Because I think a lot of us. I've never. I've always felt like my feet were uncomfortable barefoot. And I know that's a lot of what people say, but I know now I have to go barefoot for a while. So I've been forcing myself to go barefoot more. And it's like at. It was so uncomfortable. And so now I'm just more and more often. It's funny because my kids are always barefoot and I'm like, how do you do that? So I'm like doing it more and more. So what do you think that is where a lot of us that have different autoimmune things or, you know, a lot of my stroke patients will not want that. And I. I love the Neurobot, the. For that as well, for them to be able to use because a lot as you. As, you know, a lot of stroke survivors can't open their feet all the way or their hands. So I love that as well. But yeah.

[A]

So I, I recommend that everyone get at least 30 minutes of barefoot stimulation every day. That could be, you know, walking around your home barefoots. And that really is. Which is kind of based off of your podcast name, you don't usually lose it kind of thing, where the nervous system is very plastic and there is a evolutionarily important role of the nerves in the bottom of our feet as far as how we stand up, how we relate to gravity, the ground, the movement, impact forces, all that fun stuff that if you start to disconnect from those nerve endings, it will then create a decrease in your balance. It will shift your posture, you will start to have a fear in your movement. So you lose movement confidence. As you said, what's going to happen? And if we don't feel confident to move. You're not going to move. Right. And then that's, again, goes back to the name of your podcast. So, yeah, with. With is as much as we can. We want to get people barefoot.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

In chronically shod environments or people whether they have Ms. Or not or rheumatoid or not.

[B]

Right.

[A]

There is oftentimes a hypersensitivity because of a lack of exposure to it.

[B]

Yeah. Right.

[A]

Also, we. When we are in cushion, we are very tuned out of our feet. Absolutely. Suddenly stand on something barefoot, you are forced to be tuned in.

[B]

Right.

[A]

So there is a. You almost, like, overshoot the response.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

I had people. I've been at conferences where we'll have the naboso mats. We make yoga that have these tiny little pyramids across the whole thing, and they put their foot on it, and they're like, oh, it was not painful. Like, really. Right. But it's. Yeah, it's sometimes how people respond.

[B]

Right. Like me putting someone on the roller, and they're like. And I'm like, really? Come on. Like, don't be a baby about this. Yes.

[A]

But I think it's almost like an anticipatory. I'm very intrigued with, like, emotion, and I think it's an anticipatory anxious pain response.

[B]

Right.

[A]

So it's just new, and their brain is like, I don't know. I'm gonna think. Yeah, right, right. Versus, like.

[B]

Absolutely.

[A]

Okay. So what I will say for the listeners is that as you start to implement barefoot, stimulation, Stimulation, vibration, you adapt to it very quickly.

[B]

Yeah. Very, very quickly.

[A]

So what is initially, like, ooh, give it like, a. Even a day or two.

[B]

Yeah, for sure.

[A]

You actually crave for the stimulation.

[B]

Yeah, yeah, absolutely. Because a lot of us, especially as a trainer for, you know, a million years, you know, you're. I'm. I'm in the gym with cushioned, obviously, shoes for most of the day. So getting them. The beginning, it feels great, right. Like, you get home, you want your shoes off, and then all of a sudden, there's that uncomfortable feeling, like, I got to have something on my feet. But it's been really good to, like, not do that and just say, nope, I'm going to stay barefoot for a while. And at first, you're absolutely right. It was like, nope, this is so uncomfortable and weird. But. But you do get used to it. And then there is that feeling of, like, this is what I need. I need to feel that, and I need to have my feet feel the floor. And again, with balance, that is so crucial to have that. So I love that. I love the. The science behind it and the fact that I was. I was told about you, and I was like, oh, my gosh, where have you been? How do I not know you? I also was watching. One of the things I was watching as well was the foot wedges. Now, back in the day, we would put our feet on the. On the weights, the dumbbells, and do that. And I've always loved that, where you elevate your feet. But the foot wedges, obviously, for patients and clients, this is a lot safer. Now, I do use the small wedges, but I love the wedges that you have. It is. I love the idea of elevating the heel, obviously, stimulating, like, the. For the lack of, like, dorsiflexion. Awesome. And I love the idea of having that. So when did you guys start? When did you guys come up with that?

[A]

So our foot wedges. And for the listeners, so they can kind of visualize it. Imagine. So the smaller wedges are 10 degrees, and then the larger wedges are 25 degrees. So they're different angles, and they look literally like a piece of pie.

[B]

Yeah, yeah. Right.

[A]

Like a triangle. Half a try.

[B]

Right, exactly.

[A]

And. But then it's also covered in the naboso texture. So these we launched two years ago.

[B]

Okay.

[A]

Three. 23 or 20.

[B]

All the years. I know, right. Kind of blur, but.

[A]

So the goal is, this is why we created the wedges, is that if we. I, whoever, advocates barefoot training and getting out of your shoes and doing squats barefoot and doing some bicep curls barefoot, whatever it is, is. I always need the base. Your feet, to be in a stable position. Now, not everybody has a foot type that can hold itself in a nice, stable, neutral position.

[B]

Sure.

[A]

So I will teach patients how to rotate their feet to find a stable base. But then the only way that your feet stay there is if you consciously are like, hold your feet. Hold your feet. Hold your feet. Do something with weights. And it's.

[B]

Yeah, your.

[A]

Your brain can't do that. So edges are essentially being put under the foot to hold it in that position.

[B]

Right.

[A]

So that your brain can focus on the breath or the engagement of your core, whatever it is.

[B]

Right.

[A]

It's essentially following biomechanical or orthotic principle. So this is very much based in kind of orthotics or biomechanics.

[B]

Right, right. Which is so important. I love that. I love the idea of the wedge. I love that they've got the same kind of thing as the socks, too. So you've got that grip on there. And I think that is just. I mean, I use the wedges, like, different wedges all the time in training. But this is such a. Just. Just a step up from that, and I love that. So I'm definitely interested in that as well. So I just think that the products, the stuff you also had the. I remember the barefoot shoes. I remember those. I love that idea. Then it kind of went out. So tell me how you brought them back in kind of in a different way.

[A]

So we actually work with different barefoot shoe companies.

[B]

Okay.

[A]

And then they resell our product or they incorporate our products. But the barefoot shoes, they had their first boom around 2008, 9, 10, 11, like, kind of around that range. And this is when the five fingers came out. Nike Free existed. Nike Free does not exist anymore.

[B]

Right.

[A]

And then you saw some of these other players, like Zero Shoes.

[B]

Right.

[A]

Are probably the two largest. Ultra is also. But Ultra is not truly barefoot, like vivobarefoot and Zero Chairs. So those players have always been around, and they're very much continuing to bring an awareness and kind of advocate for the space. So we work with them. I think that initially, in the beginning, in the barefoot boom, is that people thought you had to be a runner to win them. Remember barefoot running?

[B]

Oh, yeah. Yeah.

[A]

It wasn't just a barefoot shoe. Boom is a barefoot boom.

[B]

Right.

[A]

And I just found it so interesting that if anyone bought a pair of the five fingers, the Vibram five fingers, they thought they then were like, well, I guess now I have to start running. I'm like, where did you get it?

[B]

So true. That's so true. I remember that completely.

[A]

Yeah. You're like, I'm not a runner, so why am I suddenly a runner? Now?

[B]

All of a sudden, we're on the treadmill. When I was teaching, like, I guess I gotta run. I'm like, no, you really don't. You can still walk on the Treadm. You're okay.

[A]

It was just a really interesting consumer trend. But, yeah, honestly, the category is here to stay. Yeah, there are a lot of brands that come out of Europe. Probably most of the brands come out of Europe. And there's a website if the listeners want to check it out. It's called Anya's. Anya's Reviews.

[B]

Okay. That at the bottom of the show.

[A]

Notes reviews on his barefoot shoot. No, on his reviews.

[B]

Yeah. And send it to me for sure. And then I'll put it on the bottom of.

[A]

So now she. She has reviewed literally every shoe probably in the world, and not every minimal Shoe, barefoot shoe, minimal shoe is a sneaker. Like, you can have sandals, boots, hiking shoes, dress shoes.

[B]

So that.

[A]

Or is. Is kind of.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

So hers is great because she just. She's done the whole review.

[B]

That's great. That's a big thing too, because even when you've got like your, you know, your. Where whether it's, I'm kind of out, I don't need a big brace, but whether it's like a small brace that hooks on, I love how it's grown to a point where you can hook them on to a dress shoe or something like that. We're not like, okay, I'm going out. I might need this little help. So what do I do now? Hope I don't fall? Or. I love the way things are being, are made in such a way that they. We can do our life with them. You know, it's not like, okay, you can do this one thing, and for the rest of the day, hope you have a good day. You know, it's not like, well, good luck. So I really love how Naboso has really come up with several things that you can do for the day. It's not just like, well, good luck. We've got this one area for you. So you really have, as you're the cfo, you really have come up with so many things and allowed so many people in with ideas to kind of brainstorm with that. So I really like the way that you've done this. It's just been really interesting to go through all of your stuff and just read more and more about you and the company. And so what. So tell me, what would be in the last, like, year, what has been, like, your favorite story as someone that has been using some of the products and you've been like, wow, so it just really hit your heart.

[A]

Yeah. So I do and totally know exactly what story I'm gonna say.

[B]

Oh, good.

[A]

She's now one of my patients. And so she is a woman who a little over two years ago, she was going in for cervical surgery. She had like a spondylolithesis, I think.

[B]

Or something like that.

[A]

But she went in for cervical surgery. The surgeon nicked her spinal cord. She woke up paralyzed. I know, I just, like, couldn't imagine. She was bedbound. This is over a two year period. She was bed bound and then worked her way into like a wheelchair and then into a little bit more of like kind of a walker device and all of this. Right. But during this two year period when she was working with like, top spinal cord Rehab specialists in this journey. The whole time they were putting her feet in, like, poofy socks and she would have, like, shoes for like, grip or stability.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

The bulky new balance shoe or something.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

And it was kind of that. And it was like her feet were forgotten.

[B]

Right.

[A]

And she was like, well, I don't feel my feet, so.

[B]

Right.

[A]

They're just cover them up.

[B]

Right, right.

[A]

And then she switched spinal cord rehab centers about three months ago, four months ago, something like this.

[B]

Okay.

[A]

And they introduced her to naboso. And for the first time in this, like two year period since this of her feet being perpetually in socks and shoes, she actually stimulated her feet.

[B]

Wow.

[A]

Related the nerves. And she was like. It was like electricity rode up my leg. Like, wow, my God, I can actually feel my feet.

[B]

Like, it was awesome.

[A]

So now she's.

[B]

Wow.

[A]

Huge, Huge, huge advocate of.

[B]

Yeah. But.

[A]

But then she saw me as a patient, so she started. So then she came to me as a patient and she was like, I want to walk again one day.

[B]

Yeah. And then.

[A]

So she was using a walker and then kind of like a single arm walker a little bit. And then so she was essentially like, look at my entire program and tell me how to up sensory in every aspect, from the hands to the feet to the skin. You look at it and just put the sprinkles of sensory on everything.

[B]

Right.

[A]

Which is what I did. I got her to start visualizing. I got her to do diaphragmatic breath work.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

I got her to start to connect to her pelvic floor. So things that, like, no one has had her done. And then obviously stimulate her feet. Stimulate. Yeah, all of that. And so then she came back to me like a month ago for like six weeks, two months.

[B]

Okay.

[A]

I was like, oh, my God, like, she's walking. Wow, you look amazing. Like, watching. Oh, my God. She can get on, like, the examination table. She was. I was like, oh, my God, girl.

[B]

You are like, oh, that's awesome. Yeah. It was so cool.

[A]

So she's now continuing. And then of course, it's layers, the journey. It will be literally a forever journey for her, just as is with everyone.

[B]

Right.

[A]

But then I'm incorporating just even more. Like, how else could we do this?

[B]

Right?

[A]

Like, how could we now integrate her foot muscles a little bit more with her pelvic floor and her.

[B]

Right.

[A]

So she can do a true single leg stance. Because sometimes people don't realize, unless they're trying to actually learn to walk again, how important single leg stability is to take each step. So we can walk.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Ever really doing what's called single limb support.

[B]

You're on speaking my language.

[A]

You're on both feet at the same time, almost the same time during the entire cycle. And that's actually not how we walk.

[B]

Right.

[A]

60% of walking involves you being on one leg. And that's not. So for any of the listeners to. To walk well for a very, very long time, you have to focus on leg stability.

[B]

Yes. So important. So important. Thank you for echoing that for the listeners. So that's really important. I love that you did that. So that's a great story. I love that. That always gets you.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

So what. Where do you see Naboso in two years?

[A]

Well, so what I will say for next year. So for 2026. So depending on saying this, for 2026, we are really focusing on the education side. So we. Nabosa just acquired my education company.

[B]

Okay.

[A]

I am all about education being empowerment. So, like, knowledge is power kind of that thing. And really offering and getting more of the programming and the protocol around a lot of our products.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

And then we are looking at other stimulation. So right now, this is term. We're looking at other stimuli that could be stacked with texture. We're also looking very heavily at emotion. So our products stimulate the peripheral nervous system. So we have our central system in the peripheral nervous system. Right, your peripheral nervous system. Then a lot of people think about like, oh, yeah, that's just the nerves in your hands and your feet, which is what it is. That's what allows me to grip things.

[B]

Right.

[A]

Little things. But your autonomic nervous system, simply stated, you know, parasympathetic, sympathetic, which then translates into emotion, is also part of your peripheral nervous system. So I have seen Quite a few CRPs, or RSD, I don't really call it RST anymore, but complex regional pain syndrome. And some of these different. It's actually an autonomic nerve response. But when people get. So let's say in the case of. Of like a spasm in your foot.

[B]

Sure.

[A]

So let's say you have a spasm in your foot and you're just like, oh, my God, it's spasming.

[B]

And then.

[A]

So you're having a response. Right?

[B]

Sure.

[A]

You're starting to have a sympathetic fight or flight response right there. Oh, my God. So possibly in the back of your mind, is, is this going to stop? Is this going to get worse?

[B]

Right.

[A]

So you're thinking things that autonomic emotional response that you're having is actually making your spasm worse.

[B]

Right. Oh, it's 100.

[A]

Which is why they always advocate meditation.

[B]

Right.

[A]

Acupuncture, mind, body for chronic disorders.

[B]

Right.

[A]

Things like ms, Parkinson's spinal cord. Because your emotional state or this autonomic state can enhance or throw off the nervous system peripheral. So it's just so deeply intricate.

[B]

Yeah, but I love what you're saying, because I don't think. I think that's like a daily thing, but I don't think there's enough taught. Like, when you're in the midst of it. Yeah. You know, like, what I think you're saying is that when you're in the midst of having that pain or that spasticity, it's like, you know, you're just here. That's a lot of what I'm teaching, like, new patients that are like, I don't know what's happening. I'm terrified. And it's kind of that, like, breathing, calming down in the midst of it. So I love that. That you're doing that. Love that. Very cool. And then.

[A]

So the angle that we're trying to take with it is because everything that we speak about is feeling your body touch.

[B]

Right.

[A]

Sensory. Right?

[B]

Yes.

[A]

Is how can you then just feel the body through it. Right. And then creating sensory anchors. To me, sensation is very calming to my nervous system. Like, when I touch this, it's just very calming. Something like, ah, this is like that. And it's about training the mind and the anchored emotion.

[B]

Yeah. Right.

[A]

And this is where, like, a lot of cranial sacral therapists will use certain things. It's like, okay, I feel my feet.

[B]

Right.

[A]

I feel the ground.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

I feel the ground below me. I am safe. So here. It would just be like, okay, connect to the body. I feel the weight of gravity on my shoulder.

[B]

Feel the weight.

[A]

So that's kind of how Nabosa is trying to fit appropriately into the conversation, is through feeling and connecting, and that then can modulate the emotions.

[B]

Love that. Love that. Absolutely. So that'll be our next getting together is. I want to hear all about that. What that's like. Well, I cannot tell you. I'm so. I've been so excited. I wanted you to be on so bad. So I know our listeners will have a million questions and we'll want to know all about you. So promise you'll come back for sure. And really excited to know more about you and about this company. And just I know listeners, you know, to pull over because of everything on the show notes like I always do, and just really looking forward to knowing more about you and Naboso and just, just very excited about what you're doing and about how this is helping so many. I mean, it's just so many different people and different issues and I just, I really, I appreciate all that you're doing and I know we all do in, in this community. So thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

[A]

Of course. Thank you so much for having me on.

[B]

Absolutely. I hope you guys love this. Don't forget to hit subscribe and we will see you next week on Move or Lose It. And again, thank you so much for being on Dr. Emily and have a great week, you guys. Talk to you soon. Thank you so much for joining me for another episode of the Move it or Lose it podcast. It would mean the world to me if you subscribed and left a review. Remember, you can find me on Apple, Spotify, Stitcher and YouTube New episodes of the Move it or Lose it pack podcast air every other Wednesday. If you have any suggestions for future guests or topics, please visit my [e-mail]. until next time.