Sports & Exercise Medicine Specialist
Apurva Kulkarni
Sports and Exercise Medicine Specialist, Sports Scientist, Entrepreneur
Founder of Linkin Moves Physiotherapy in Pune, a sports and exercise medicine specialist and sports scientist. Her work is about how load travels through the foot, ankle and knee: the mechanics that decide whether a shoe supports a body or works against it. She has worked with national and international athletes across several sports. We described three of our design decisions and asked her to react to them; before we showed her our shoe.
01
When patients come to you with foot or lower-limb issues, what do you typically see?
Most of it comes down to arch collapse and alignment. When the arch begins to collapse, what we call a pronating foot, the impact doesn't stay in the foot. It sets off a chain reaction through the ankle, the knee, and even the lower back. That's why I always start by looking at how the foot is functioning, because that's where most problems begin.
02
What does most footwear get wrong for people over 45?
People either wear shoes that are fashionable and offer very little support, or highly cushioned shoes that feel comfortable but don't address the structural needs of the foot. Comfort and support are not always the same thing. Some brands do build in genuine arch support, but they sit at the premium end of the market. That leaves a gap.
03 · Heel-to-toe drop
We've reduced the heel-to-toe drop to around 5 to 6mm. What's your view on that?
That's the right direction. A high heel drop, where the heel sits significantly above the forefoot, is essentially like wearing a small heel all day. Over time it shortens the calf muscles, alters your gait, and shifts load onto the forefoot in an unnatural way. A lower, more controlled drop encourages a more natural foot strike and better posture, and that matters more after 45, when the gait is already under stress from muscle weakening and joint change.
04 · Wide toe box
We've made the toe box wider and more anatomical. Does that matter as much as we think?
Absolutely. A narrow toe box compresses the toes and contributes to bunions, hammer toes and forefoot pain. The forefoot naturally widens with age, so a cramped shoe becomes more of a problem over time, not less. Giving the toes enough room to sit and spread naturally reduces unnecessary pressure at the front of the foot. And a wider toe box doesn't have to look clinical. You can get the shape right and still design a shoe that feels modern and everyday.
05 · Hands-free entry
We've added hands-free entry so people don't have to bend down. Is that a real problem or a convenience?
That's a detail many people underestimate. Bending down repeatedly, especially while balancing on one foot, becomes genuinely difficult as people get older. If putting on supportive footwear feels like a chore, people are less likely to wear it consistently. A well-designed slip-on removes that barrier, and combined with a secure fit it makes supportive footwear easy to use every day. It's a small design detail with a meaningful effect on daily life.
