Shoes

Feet first

Science and sociology of footwear

The design and construction of footwear is constantly evolving in order to maximise its role of providing protection for the external environment, accommodate bony and soft tissue problems and assist in the biomechanical function of … READ MORE

Children should spend more time barefoot to encourage a healthier foot structure

Humans have gone unshod for millions of years; it is only in the last few centuries that people have started wearing shoes. However, a recent survey shows that shoe wearing among young boys isn’t universal. German children and … READ MORE

‘P-rouette’ is a 3D-printed ballet shoe designed to reduce pain

Bezalel Academy of Art and Design graduate Hadar Neeman has created personalised ballet shoes using 3D-printing technology to reduce dancer’s pain. The reimagined ballet shoe is adapted to fit the user’s foot, providing … READ MORE

Footwear habits influence child and adolescent motor skill development

Researchers show that regular physical activity without shoes may improve children’s and adolescents’ balancing and jumping skills. CC0 Public Domain Pixabay Science Daily July 11, 2018 New research finds that children and … READ MORE

Class of 2018: Kinesiology PhD grad helps soccer elite perform their best

Stefan Hoerzer lands dream job with adidas in Germany. University of Calgary PhD grad Stefan Hoerzer was busy customizing soccer footwear in advance of the FIFA World Cup in Russia, which starts June 14. By Scott Cruickshank, … READ MORE

This marathoner with cerebral palsy just got the Nike hookup

On Sunday, Justin Gallegos, who has Cerebral Palsy, completed a half marathon. Nike helped him create his dream shoe. Justin Gallegos. Jordan Beckett Photo courtesy of Nike By Elizabeth Segran, Fast Company May 1, 2018 As a high … READ MORE

Calgary doctor, entrepreneur scores finalist spot in international innovation competition

Dr. Breanne Everett makes smart shoes that can prevent injuries to diabetics’ feet. Dr. Breanne Everett shares her pitch for Orpyx at the Pitch@Palace boot camp at Facebook London on Friday. Pitch@Palace Facebook Sarah … READ MORE

If the shoe fits: How HP is helping NFL players avoid injury

Now installed in all 32 NFL teams’ locker rooms, HP’s FitStation technology helps players find the best cleat models for their feet in a few seconds. Consider the NFL player’s shoe. Aside from being a sponsorship opportunity, … READ MORE

What to know about supination of the foot

Supination and pronation are parts of a stride. Supination occurs when weight is placed on the outside of the foot while walking or running. When the opposite happens, and a person shifts their weight from the heel to the forefoot, it … READ MORE

Parents shouldn’t over worry about early issues with children’s knees and feet

Most early anomalies in a child’s gait will work themselves out, says Dr. Peter Nieman. Childhood development can be a time of both excitement and stress. On the one hand, it is exciting for parents to document their baby’s … READ MORE

Out on a limb: Low tech, high value

The use of advanced technologies to provide feedback to patients during rehabilitation is all the rage in lower extremity healthcare. But, as exciting as these new modalities can be, it’s important to remember that low-tech feedback … READ MORE

Runners’ knees get a lift: Elevating heel cuts patellofemoral load

Wearing heel lifts in conventional running shoes can help reduce patellofemoral joint loading and may offer an alternative to gait retraining in runners with patellofemoral pain (PFP), according to research conducted at the … READ MORE

What is overpronation?

When the arch of the foot collapses excessively downward or inward, this is known as overpronation. Sometimes, people call this condition flat feet. Overpronation is when the arches of the foot roll inward or downward when walking, … READ MORE

New shoe makes running 4 percent easier, 2-hour marathon possible

Eleven days after Boulder-born Shalane Flanagan won the New York City Marathon in new state-of-the-art racing flats known as “4%s,” University of Colorado Boulder researchers have published the study that inspired the shoes’ … READ MORE

Relieving foot pressure with shoe fixes

Many people wouldn’t expect footwear to be a big concern for people who can’t walk, but wheelers know — if you don’t move your feet all day, you’ve got to make sure that things fit just right. Additionally, if you can’t … READ MORE

Shoe-string theory: Why shoelaces come untied

High-speed video footage courtesy Prof. Oliver M. O’Reilly, UC Berkeley Dept of Mechanical Engineering. YouTube Apr 11, 2017 By Brett Israel, UC Berkeley April 11, 2017 A new study by mechanical engineers at UC Berkeley finally … READ MORE

Patellofemoral pain symptoms improved after gait modification

Running gait modifications designed to reduce patellofemoral loading also have immediate symptomatic benefits in patients with patellofemoral pain, according to research from Laval University in Quebec City, Canada. College of Liberal … READ MORE

A runner’s guide to the perfect shoe

In 2010, the running-shoe world was in turmoil. The rapid rise of barefoot and minimalist running had sparked a critical re-evaluation of all the fancy technology packed into the most popular shoes – rollbars, heel lifts, cushioning … READ MORE

High heels: Elevating the discussion

The biomechanical implications of high-heeled shoes are well known, and now dramatic weight-bearing images and new study findings are taking practitioner and patient awareness to the next level. But many women are still sacrificing … READ MORE

AFO friendly footwear

THE NEXT GENERATION OF KIDS SHOES. PLAE designs premium quality products that are fun, engaging and built for the way kids play. DESIGNED TO FIT Give your kids healthy, happy feet for a lifetime. We’ve engineered PLAE shoes to … READ MORE

Elderly people who choose the wrong shoes have a lower quality of life

83% wear the wrong shoes. As people get older, they experience changes in their foot morphology. If they do not change their shoe size along with these transformations, older people – most of whom choose the wrong shoes – suffer, … READ MORE

3D-printed Adidas trainers go on sale

Adidas has released a limited-edition run of its 3D-printed trainers, which were worn by a number of athletes at this year’s Rio Olympics. The 3D Runner goes on sale today at stores in London, New York and Tokyo – marking the … READ MORE

Slippery boots: Most winter footwear fails on ice

Of 98 models tested in Toronto lab, only 9 had enough grip for icy conditions. Before you step outdoors this winter, consider what’s on your feet. Did you do as much research buying your winter boots as you did when you last … READ MORE

Minimal shoes may reduce running injuries

Runners who wear running shoes with no cushioning and land on the ball of their foot rather than the heel put significantly less demand on their bodies, new research suggests. Barefoot Running Shoes vs Minimalist Running Shoes: 5 Key … READ MORE

A comparison of over-the-counter foot orthotics on multi-segment foot biomechanics

Over-the-counter orthoses are a cost-effective alternative to custom-made devices. We demonstrated that three commonly used over-the-counter devices influence foot kinematics and plantar fascia strain differently. Clinicians can use … READ MORE

Does a heavy running shoe slow you down?

In a famous study three decades ago, experimental biologists strapped a pair of 1.8-kilogram weights around the waists of volunteers and found that they only had to expend about 4 per cent more energy to maintain the same running pace … READ MORE

Out on a limb: Think outside the knee

We hear a lot about various co-morbidities associated with knee osteoarthritis (OA), and how addressing those additional conditions can help improve knee pain and function. But a growing body of research suggests one set of … READ MORE

Offloading the knee through gait modification

Changing the way people walk can significantly decrease knee external adduction moments, which in turn appears to relieve pain and possibly slow the progression of osteoarthritis. The challenge, however, is finding a gait modification … READ MORE

Chronic ankle instability, gait and muscle activity

Clinicians should be aware of distal and proximal neuromuscular strategies when attempting to improve gait mechanics in patients with chronic ankle instability. New research suggests lower extremity clinicians should consider … READ MORE

Even mild LLD affects gait in ways that could speed knee degeneration

In the moment: Knee OA. The effects of mild limb-length discrepancy (LLD) on gait in patients with knee osteoarthritis (OA) may contribute to disease progression, according to research epublished in August by Clinical Biomechanics. … READ MORE

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