The Impact of Footwear and Insoles
Eighty-five percent of North Americans will see a medical professional for some type of foot-related pathology at some point in their lifetime, according to the U.S. Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Association. In staggering contrast, only three percent of habitually barefoot populations experience foot-related problems. Studies conducted around the world indicate that footwear actually causes the majority of our foot, leg, and back problems. These studies also reveal that, by the age of six, children's feet are negatively affected by conventional footwear.
The feet, as with any other musculoskeletal structure in the body, are positively or negatively affected by environmental stresses. For example, it is commonly accepted that exercising through a full range of motion promotes a balance of strength and flexibility in opposing muscle groups, encouraging optimum bone density and ideal alignment at the joints. The net result is a stronger, more efficient structure, capable of optimal performance with the least degree of unhealthy stress or susceptibility to injury. Conversely, it is also commonly understood that a restrictive or bracing environment leads to muscle atrophy, loss of bone mass, and joint stiffness. The net result of this is a weaker, less efficient structure that is prone to the greatest degree of unhealthy stress due to poor structural alignment, imbalances in strength and flexibility, and over-compensation in opposing muscle groups.
These concepts are well known to medical science. Indeed, facilitating full movement in any musculoskeletal structure is fundamental to most current rehabilitative and sports performance programs. The question is: how do these concepts apply to the feet, the intricate musculoskeletal structures that are comprised of nearly half the bones in the human body?
In an attempt to improve comfort and performance, many footwear companies promote designs that incorporate a variety of support features. Unfortunately, this creates a never-ending cycle where the foot becomes progressively weaker and even more dependent on the added support. The greater the support, the weaker the foot becomes.
Conventional insoles and shoe inserts work in much the same way as supportive footwear - they provide additional cushioning, support, or bracing, which contributes to a weakened muscular structure.
The Barefoot Science Foot Strengthening System is the only technology that addresses the cause of most common foot-related problems by safely retraining and strengthening the muscles that support the feet. As the foot's arch becomes higher, stronger, and more stable, alignment improves throughout the body and painful symptoms caused by stress and strain are reduced or eliminated.
The Barefoot Science System's unique patented dome design works just like an exercise program in your shoes, retraining and strengthening your feet with every step as you stand, walk, or run.
How Barefoot Science Works
After years of research, Barefoot Science has developed revolutionary new technologies that are based on the principles of rehabilitative medicine to not only rehabilitate the structure, but actually prevent problems from occurring in the first place.
The Barefoot Science Foot Strengthening System works right inside the shoes to safely stimulate and retrain the muscle-firing sequences necessary to align, stabilize, and lock the foot's interlocking bones, prior to heel strike.
The unique dome contour of the Foot Strengthening System generates a gentle recoil pressure on the foot's most sensitive plantar surface area, at the location required for an optimal arch apex during weight-bearing. When standing, this pressure is only slightly noticeable, increasing during gait if the foot is functionally unstable. Not comfortable with the pressure, the body attempts to pull away from it, as this area of the foot is not designed to function as a weight-bearing surface. The pressure stimulates involuntary reflex response contractions of the only muscles that can effectively create and stabilize the arch apex, raising the sensitive area away from the pressure. When standing, the neuromuscular reflex response raises the big toe.
As a means of preventing an intensified pressure during the increased loads of gait, the natural proprioceptive biofeedback mechanisms initiate and retrain these muscle-firing sequences during the swing phase. These muscle-firing sequences align the interlocking bones of the foot into the most structurally sound dome-like dynamic.
The intrinsic musculature of the foot then fulfills its primary role, which is fine-tuning its balance during its interaction with the ground. This structural integrity and alignment is maintained up through the body through a wide range of three-dimensional movements. The structure, as a whole, is stronger and more energy efficient, with superior natural shock absorption, and is capable of superior performance with the lowest risk of injury.
The Barefoot Science Foot Strengthening System's unique dome design allows full, unrestricted mobility of the foot, ensuring that ideal structural alignment is consistently maintained. The Barefoot Science System will effectively counteract the negative environmental influences of most footwear. However, the System provides greatest benefit when it is worn in soft, flexible footwear with minimal restriction over the arch area. Footwear should also provide adequate toe box depth with minimal heel flare and height. In all instances, lacing should be very loose - just enough to keep the shoe on the foot.
Benefits of Using Barefoot Science
Stimulates proper firing of the muscles used to align and stabilize the foot, leading to increased strength and flexibility.
Promotes unrestricted range of motion while promoting optimum structural integrity of the foot.
Promotes optimum arch height and stability.
Enhances alignment throughout the body, relieving tension and stress on the knees, hips, and back.
Barefoot Science addresses a host of common foot and gait-related problems.
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