Transitioning to minimalist shoes, even without orthotics, requires a pre-gait program of 1-3 months to build foot strength and teach engagement of intrinsic foot muscles during activity.

“so that program can be anywhere from one to three months depending on the person and their age the older you are the more time it takes typically we're a little less plastic as we age but it's a program in which we do foot strengthening we're also addressing other issues it's not just foot problems but foot hip knee we're working on functional activities teaching them how to use those foot intrinsic muscles when they're moving so it's not enough just to strengthen you've actually got to teach people how to engage them during the activity”