New Insole Technology Significantly Neutralizes Excessive Pronation and Flat-Footedness
Portland, OR (PRWEB) November 11, 2014 -- Align Footwear today announced the results of a third-party study conducted by Martyn Shorten PhD, of BioMechanica LLC, which determined that Align’s Arch Mobility insoles provide distinct comfort and performance advantages over standard EVA foam insoles, according to Align COO Chris Buck.
To scientifically substantiate its claims that Arch Mobility insoles provide a more neutral alignment of the foot, enhanced pronation control, and improved cushioning, Align commissioned Shortyn, whose BioMechanica lab tests shoes evaluated by Runner’s World magazine, to conduct a study comparing Arch Mobility to standard EVA insoles, commonly supplied with athletic shoes.
“Arch Mobility technology was developed to increase performance and fitness while reducing pain and fatigue to prevent injury,” Buck said. “Over-pronation—or flat-footedness—is a condition 80 percent of the population suffers from, and most don’t know it. We’re both illuminating the problem and providing a solution to it. This isn’t a marketing gimmick. There is science to prove it.”
Shortyn’s study was comprised of 20 subjects (eight men and 12 women) who were tested to compare in-shoe loads and lower extremity motion during treadmill walking. Subjects walked on a motorized treadmill at a self-selected “brisk” walking speed wearing a generic, ”neutral-cushioned” running shoe of appropriate size for two to three minutes. One trial was performed with the stock EVA insole and another with Align insoles. Separate trials were conducted for pressure and motion measurements.
BioMechanica’s full evaluation can be found here. In summary, the study found that:
Arch Mobility insoles help orient the ankle in a more neutral position (32 percent more), decrease pronation (27 percent more), and move the tibia (shin) into a more neutral position (40 percent more) than other leading shoe brands’ insoles.
This neutrality of the ankle and tibia provides the key to increasing performance and reducing pain and fatigue because the foot is better aligned with the entire body. Arch Mobility insoles increase mobility while controlling pronation, promoting better posture and alignment within the kinetic chain, which results in enhanced wellness.
Excessive pronation has been associated with overuse injuries, particularly in runners. These include “runner’s knee,” Achilles tendinitis, plantar fasciitis and other common injuries.
Arch Mobility’s insole technology was invented and patented by noted physical therapist Cheryl Kosta, a former consultant to Dr. Jonas Salk of the Salk Institute and personal physical therapist to Olympic skier Picabo Street and NBA power-forward Kevin Love. Kosta’s more than 30 years of focus on biomechanics and pathomechanics of the lower extremities drove her to create an insole that takes a different tack in preventing foot pain and fatigue: it focuses on aligning the foot—and the entire body—from bottom to top.
Align Footwear, the developer and manufacturer of Arch Mobility insoles, is headquartered in Portland, Oregon. The company created the first and only insole developed to improve biomechanics by placing the ankle in a more neutral position to align the foot and leg, resulting in greater efficiency, less stress, and reduced chance of injury. For more information visit http://alignfootwear.com.
John McIsaac, McIsaac Communications LLC, +1 (503) 481-9621, [email protected]
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