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Shoe soles are extremely complex to design and manufacture due to their organically shaped but technically precise nature and their manufacturing constraints. Consequently, there is a need for the increased design process flexibility offered by the use of specific CAD methodologies and techniques, to facilitate the work of expert designers and permit effective construction of the three-dimensional elements comprising the complete structure. Recent advances in additive manufacturing systems have extended the possibilities of shoe sole design. These systems can be used to create the final mould and to incorporate dynamic elements that are of particular value in sports footwear. In this article, we present a new methodology for the design and validation of shoe soles. The methodology assists designers in the design concept process and in transfer of the design to manufacturing. The model incorporates both a structural and a functional approach. To this end, a set of specific tools have been developed that can be used to quantify design quality. For example, the model calculates the coefficient of friction or slip resistance, necessary to comply with international standards concerning safety footwear. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Shoe manufacturers reacted to the barefoot subculture of distance running that would proliferate in the mid-1990s by producing and aggressively marketing the 'minimalist' shoe. To overcome the paradox of selling a shoe that mimics running without footwear, we argue that shoe companies co-opt many of the symbols and identities that characterize the oppositional character of the barefoot running subculture. Our analysis seeks to identify the methods through which this process takes place in video advertisements for minimalist running shoes, focusing specifically on New Balance's campaign for the Minimus featuring ultramarathon champion Anton Krupicka. This lucrative market has in effect mainstreamed the concept of barefoot running - a movement with roots tracing back to the 1970s - into mass consumer culture, a process that has commoditized its original principles of mysticism and anti-materialism to promote minimalist shoes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Running shoe construction influences the forces experienced by the human body while running. The aim of this study was to ascertain whether the new sole architecture of theOnrunning shoe reduces ground reaction forces compared with running barefoot or with a conventional running shoe and whether it changes the physiological parameters of running in shoes. Thirty-seven trained male participants were studied while running at submaximal speeds wearing their conventional running shoe, wearing theOnrunning shoe and while barefoot. Additional biomechanical and physiological values were investigated to determine whether theOnrunning shoe induced any changes in these parameters compared with conventional running shoes. TheOnexhibited similar ground reaction forces as conventional shoes, and these were different from the forces experienced while running barefoot, showing that theOnwas more similar to typical shoed running. No difference was observed in running economy between theOnand a conventional shoe model. However, a slightly lower heart rate (HR) (≈1.3%) and blood lactate concentration (≈5.5%) were observed during submaximal running with theOnrunning shoe compared with a conventional running shoe, as well as a greater lateral deviation of the centre of pressure mid-stance. The ramifications of the reduced HR and blood lactate concentration for competitive performance are unknown. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is currently no consensus regarding the effect that barefoot (BFT) running has on running economy (RE). Stride length and shoe mass are confounding variables, with a BFT stride length being shorter than a shod (SH) stride length. Comparison of SH, minimalist shod (MS) and BFT allows controlled variation of cushioning and somatosensory feedback to determine the effect that either and/or both have on RE and running mechanics. Methods: Fifteen female habitually shod, recreational runners visited the laboratory twice. Familiarisation with BFT and SH treadmill running occurred during visit one, in addition to determining SH stride length and BFT stride length. During visit two participants ran BFT, SH and MS with BFT stride length and MS with SH stride length at 10 km·h−1for six minutes with 10-minute rest periods between each condition. Lower limb kinematics, electromyography, impact acceleration andO2were recorded during the final two minutes of each run. Results: BFT RE was significantly better than SH and MS with BFT stride length. SHRE was significantly worse than MS with SH stride length, but similar to MS with a BFT stride length. Low vertical oscillation, peak eversion and peak dorsiflexion, less plantarflexion at toe-off, in addition to an earlier occurrence of heel off, higher impact accelerations and greater tibialis anterior activity were observed during the most economical condition. Conclusions: Heightened somatosensory feedback and lack of cushioning (BFT) offered an advantage to economy over less somatosensory feedback (MS) and cushioning (SH). Whilst the low vertical oscillation and low plantarflexion at toe-off appear to contribute to the improved RE, other changes to running mechanics whilst BFT could potentially influence injury risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For years, shoes have been made around the same stock designs without an appreciation of the forces during walking and running that are related to lower extremity injury?including debilitating knee osteoarthritis. And while for the last 30?40 years especially, the typical cushioned athletic shoe has been heavily marketed as protecting the joints in the leg and the associated muscles and tendons, only recently have peer-reviewed studies demonstrated that such cushioning in fact increases the peak forces on the joints, most notably and concerning, the knee. Specifically, biomechanical studies show that most shoes, as currently made, increase forces about the knee that are associated with the development and progression of knee osteoarthritis. Fortunately, the same biomechanical studies that have demonstrated flaws in shoe design have shown us something else as well: how to build a better, healthier shoe. Now the challenge is for shoe companies to innovate new materials and manufacturing processes to actually make them. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Additive manufacturing (AM) enables faster prototype development for design visualisation, performance studies and personalisation in the sports footwear industry. Among the available AM techniques, stereolithography (SLA), PolyJet (PJ), selective laser sintering (SLS) and three-dimensional printing (3DP) have been used for sports footwear prototyping. A five-point scoring system was used to rate the performance of AM techniques in four important characteristics namely accuracy, surface finish, range of materials supported and building time. Key elements of AM-based footwear personalisation and customisation methodology were also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Accurately and rapidly predicting the shrink mold shape of direct injection-expanded foam molding is an important and difficult task. This molding method is widely used by sports shoe sole manufacturers to create shock-resistant materials. Modifying the shrink mold shape using the numerical optimization method is crucial to rapidly obtaining the correct shrink mold size. This study uses a series of rectangle specimens to identify the relationship between the thermal heating of molding and the expansion ratio of ethylene vinyl acetate foam material and then uses this thermal expansion ratio to simulate expansion behavior. The experiments in this study also use the actual shoe sole type, which has the original three-dimensional (3D) shape, and use the proposed simulation method to obtain the simulation expansion shape. This study also develops an optimization algorithm based on 3D registration and the Newton–Raphson method to obtain the shrink mold shape. We also manufactured the shrink mold and obtained the shoe sole product to compare any discrepancies between the product and the original 3D shape. The results of this method meet the requirements of the shoe sole factory (i.e., achieve a difference of less than 3 mm). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Investigates the geography of athletic footwear production within the context of the international division of labor. Restructuring of the athletic footwear industry; Case study of two United States-based athletic footwear companies; Market share and production geography; Subcontracting in Southeast Asia; Lead times and the tariff system.