--- title: The Connection Between Feet and Performance with Dr. Matthew Zanis description: In our latest episode of Powering Performance, we are joined by Mike Curtis, Head Strength and Conditioning coach for The University of Virginia Men's Basketball.  image: https://blog.bridgeathletic.com/hubfs/Max%20Lankheit%20(16)-1.png --- [![BridgeAthletic Blog](https://blog.bridgeathletic.com/hs-fs/hub/414934/file-1317417595.png?width=150&height=50&name=file-1317417595.png "BridgeAthletic Blog")](https://blog.bridgeathletic.com) - [BridgeAthletic.com→](https://bridgeathletic.com/) ![](https://blog.bridgeathletic.com/hubfs/Max%20Lankheit%20(16)-1.png) November 04, 2020 By BridgeAthletic # The Connection Between Feet and Performance with Dr. Matthew Zanis Share: - - - In this week's episode of Powering Performance, we are joined by Dr.Matthew Zanis, movement expert and owner of Rooted in MVMNT. Tune in to learn about how the foot can impact performance and how Dr. Zanis is able to look at feet in connection with other parts of the body.  **Ways to listen: ** [Spotify](https://open.spotify.com/show/4igsH9ozOtNAzYv5hsRKAC) [iTunes](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/powering-performance/id1402246072) [Web](https://directory.libsyn.com/episode/index/id/16688615) [![New call-to-action](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/414934/1310bda0-38b8-44f1-a561-cf80aea20c71.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/414934/1310bda0-38b8-44f1-a561-cf80aea20c71) Check out these three highlights: 1. Dr. Zanis explains what the foot can tell us about performance and the foot can be used to understand different areas athletes are having issues. For example, when working with baseball players Matthew often didn't want to touch their arms so when a player was experiencing a shoulder issue he would look at their opposite foot. *"We can make some really, really impactful changes just by looking a little bit downstream and impacting how that force is then being transmitted to the upper body." *   2. Dr. Zanis shares how shoes have ruined athletes and can be a reason for so many lower body injuries.  *"Energy cannot be created nor destroyed. It just going to be moved. And when we have a foot that's absolutely immobilized, we have 33 joints in the foot that are meant to be mobile, that energy has got to go somewhere."*   3. DIY. Dr. Zanis provides some tips for how listeners on how they can self-assess their own feet and some suggestions to self correct.  *"Start to go barefoot. Start to expose your feet to as many different textures and surfaces as possible, and see what starts to happen over time. Keep track of it. You're in charge of your own body."*   **Connect with Dr. Matthew Zanis** Instagram: @rootedinmvmnt matthew@rootedinmvmnt.com [![New call-to-action](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/414934/cf67e2fd-29c5-45c0-882f-715d611af8aa.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/414934/cf67e2fd-29c5-45c0-882f-715d611af8aa)   Thanks to Dr. Matthew Zanis for joining us!  #### About the Author [BridgeAthletic](https://blog.bridgeathletic.com/author/bridgeathletic) ![](https://blog.bridgeathletic.com/hs-fs/hub/414934/file-1246672403.png?width=75&name=file-1246672403.png) At Bridge, we are all athletes and coaches first. As athletes, our team has experienced everything from riding the pine on JV, to winning NCAA championships, to competing in the Olympic Games. As coaches, we have helped countless athletes reach their full potential, winning everything from age group section championships to Olympic Gold Medals. ### Related Posts [![](https://blog.bridgeathletic.com/hubfs/coaches%20conference_blog%20card.png)](https://blog.bridgeathletic.com/2022-nsca-coaches-conference) January 20, 2022 #### [2022 NSCA Coaches Conference](https://blog.bridgeathletic.com/2022-nsca-coaches-conference) The BridgeAthletic team attended the 2022 NSCA Coaches Conference in San Antonio, Texas January 6-8... [Read More](https://blog.bridgeathletic.com/2022-nsca-coaches-conference) [![](https://blog.bridgeathletic.com/hubfs/Fusion%20Sport_blog%20featured%20image.png)](https://blog.bridgeathletic.com/2021-fusion-sport-conference) December 10, 2021 #### [2021 Fusion Sport Conference](https://blog.bridgeathletic.com/2021-fusion-sport-conference) The BridgeAthletic team attended the 2021 Fusion Sport Summit - North America at the UFC... [Read More](https://blog.bridgeathletic.com/2021-fusion-sport-conference) [![](https://blog.bridgeathletic.com/hubfs/Max%20Lankheit-2.png)](https://blog.bridgeathletic.com/building-connections-with-megan-young) November 11, 2021 #### [Building Connections with Megan Young](https://blog.bridgeathletic.com/building-connections-with-megan-young) In this episode of Powering Performance, we are joined by Megan Young, formerly the High... [Read More](https://blog.bridgeathletic.com/building-connections-with-megan-young) ## Subscribe to our blog Bunch of awesome content ![Bridge Logo-Black-1200px](https://blog.bridgeathletic.com/hubfs/Bridge%20Logo-Black-1200px.svg) - - - - © 2026 BridgeAthletic [Bridge Blog](https://blog.bridgeathletic.com/) [Explore BridgeAthletic ➞](https://www.bridgeathletic.com) ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "BridgeAthletic", "url" : "https://blog.bridgeathletic.com/author/bridgeathletic" }, "dateModified" : "2020-11-12T16:01:11.345Z", "datePublished" : "2020-11-05T00:49:46.000Z", "headline" : "The Connection Between Feet and Performance with Dr. Matthew Zanis", "image" : [ "https://blog.bridgeathletic.com/hubfs/Max%20Lankheit%20(16)-1.png" ], "mainEntityOfPage" : { "@id" : "https://blog.bridgeathletic.com/the-connection-between-feet-and-performance-with-dr.-matthew-zanis", "@type" : "WebPage" }, "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "https://blog.bridgeathletic.com/hubfs/Bridge%20Logo%20Black%20%5B1200%5D.png" }, "name" : "BridgeAthletic" } } ```