04/07/2026 Jack Reingold, DPM
When Did Buying Arch Supports Become a Medical Visit? (Allen M. Jacobs, DPM)
It is interesting to see the recent number of
posts regarding the Good Foot Store. Whether what
they have done over the last 44 years—since the
first store was established—is good or bad, it is
remarkable and perhaps points to a PR failure for
podiatry. My experience with them goes back
further than any other podiatrist because they
opened their first store in 1992 in Solana Beach,
a small coastal town in San Diego County, where I
practiced. They even asked me if I would be their
“Podiatry Director.” In spite of the promised
riches, I turned them down.
This is the history as I know it, from first hand
accounts. In those days, infomercials were big
business, and the money was not in selling the
products but in producing the commercial and
selling the airtime. The founder was in that
business and was looking for a product he could
market, eventually deciding on an “innersole.” In
the beginning, they cost a couple of hundred
dollars and came in only one design. One of his
employees told me they were getting them from
China for $2.50. They have since changed their
marketing plan and now use high pressure sales,
often suggesting an orthotic package costing
around $1,000. I have personally observed this. I
believe there are almost 300 locations now, with
about 30 of them being franchises. Their income is
not published, as it is a private company, but it
is likely in the many, many millions.
Why is this a podiatry PR problem? The public
should be rushing to our offices when they have
significant foot pain—not to a shoe store, a
running store, a pharmacy, a chiropractor, or
Amazon, just to name a few. We have always faced a
recognition problem due to our small numbers. When
I graduated, we had around 12,000 podiatrists for
225 million Americans. Today, we have around
18,000 for 345 million Americans. Due to small
class sizes and the aging of our colleagues, it is
estimated that in 10 years we may number only
10,000. I used to tell patients that podiatrists
were the best kept secret in healthcare. I don’t
have the whole PR/image solution, but we need to
grow. All of us need to talk to every young person
about how great the profession is and what a
bright future it has.
Before I retired, I had about a dozen young people
come through my office, and I am proud to say that
every single one is a podiatrist today. Yes,
having an observer in the office slows you down,
and we all get home late enough as it is, but it
is worth it. Rather than complain about the Good
Foot Store, let’s promote our profession.
By the way, here is another true story I know
first hand of. The head of the California State
Podiatry Board was at the Sacramento County Fair,
where he observed a vendor promoting orthotics in
a “medical manner.” In California, the Attorney
General’s office enforces the medical board’s
laws. He called the AG’s office, identified
himself, and informed them that someone was
"practicing medicine without a license,"
requesting an officer. They told him they had more
important things to do and ignored his request.
Again, it is up to us to determine our future.
Jack Reingold, DPM, Encinitas, CA
