Here’s a breakdown of the working principles of the insoles.
1. Arches (Anchoring)
• The arches must anchor to function optimally.
• Solution: The insoles incorporate pilling, which creates indentations that provide anchoring points for the arches, allowing them to stabilize and engage fully.
2. Metatarsal Heads (Splay Room)
• Metatarsal heads require sufficient space to splay for natural movement and force distribution.
• Solution: The insoles provide room between the 1st and 5th metatarsals, enabling the metatarsals to splay freely without restriction.
3. Ankle Set
• The ankle set occurs when the foot rolls in sync with the tibia’s movement.
• Purpose: This creates a distinct phase in which energy from ground collision is either dissipated or stored and released for propulsion.
• Solution: The insoles support this separation of phases to improve energy efficiency during movement.
4. 2-Part Sensory System
• The foot needs to detect:
1. Rolling motion of the foot.
2. Pitching movement of the tibia or weight shift.
• Solution: The insoles enhance sensory input to make these detections more precise, improving overall movement coordination.
5. Tripods of the Foot
• There are four tripods in the foot:
1. Back tripod: heel to the transverse arch.
2. Middle tripod: border of the 5th metatarsal and transverse arch.
3. Sweet spot tripod: transverse arch to the medial arch apex.
4. Front tripod: transverse arch to the big toe.
• Function: Each tripod supports different actions, from yielding to rotation, enabling versatile movement.
6. Calcaneus Pitching (Downward)
• A downward pitch of the calcaneus (heel) complements the ankle set by:
• Enhancing propulsion.
• Preventing reliance on upward pitching, which disrupts efficient mechanics.
7. Heel Yawing
• The yawing of the heel directs force to the 1st and 5th metatarsals, reducing stress on the big toe.
• Mechanism: Rotation focuses on:
• The 1st metatarsal on one foot.
• The 5th metatarsal on the opposite foot.
• Works synergistically with the calcaneus pitching down for optimal alignment.
8. True Path
• The true path is the natural imprint left behind when walking:
• On cement with wet feet (accurate imprint).
• Versus sand (distorted imprint due to yielding ground).
• Purpose: The true path should pass through the tripods, showing balanced and efficient foot mechanics.
By incorporating these principles, the insoles aim to optimize foot function, improve energy transfer, and support natural, efficient movement patterns.