81. Foot Pain 101: Everything You Need to Know with EDS and HSD with Lisa Ralston, PT

In this podcast episode, Dr. Linda Bluestein interviews Lisa Ralston, a physical therapist with extensive experience in orthopedics and sports medicine, about foot pain in people with joint hypermobility, including conditions such as Ehlers-Danlos Hypermobility Syndrome (EDS). Ralston emphasizes the importance of posture and alignment in managing foot pain, suggesting that orthotics can be a valuable intervention, especially if properly assessed and customized. She discusses how untailored orthotics can fail and the significance of choosing the right shoes and lacing techniques to manage foot discomfort. Ralston also highlights the importance of addressing foot pain early, particularly in children, to prevent further complications. Through her detailed assessment approach, she identifies hypermobility in different foot joints and the need for exercises to enhance foot mobility and proprioception. Some insights provided are specific to the needs of athletes, especially skaters, but are applicable more widely to managing foot pain in hypermobile individuals.