Alexandra Worsley
The Research
YOU CAN RELIEVE YOUR ACHING FEET...
In a recent 20 person study(1) conducted by Salford University, results showed that the pressure-loading rate of a foot wearing a FitFlop sandal was reduced by an average of 25%, pressure in the toes was reduced by an average of 30%, and pressure in the heel was reduced by an average of 15% when compared to a foot in the control shoe. An average 8% increase in contact area between the foot and the shoe was found with FitFlop wearers, with the increase manifesting mainly under the arch area.
“FitFlop footwear has the potential to alleviate planter foot pain and ease symptoms (like heel spur pain and planter fasciitis) by reducing forces and distributing them over a larger area”
Carina Price, KTP Key Researcher
(1) Research was undertaken as part of an ongoing two-year UK Government funded Knowledge Transfer Partnership with the University of Salford’s research team to understand the biomechanical benefits of FitFlop footwear. Data was collected on 20 healthy female subjects using the Medilogic in-shoe pressure system. Each subject walked wearing pressure insoles in FitFlop sandals and the high-street flat pump.
FITFLOP FOOTWEAR CAN HELP REALIGN FORCE THROUGH THE BODY:
Wearing FitFlop footwear can also realign ground reaction force towards your core, helping alleviate back, pelvis and kneestress.(2)
(2) Biomechanist Dr Philip Graham and Richard Jones at Salford University have identified that gait analysis techniques (motion analysis, forces, electromyography and in-shoe pressure analysis) can provide us with an insight as to how the Microwobbleboard™ multi-density midsole is responsible for alleviating a host of muscular-skeletal conditions. Subjects were fitted with small reflective markers and electrodes, photographed and filmed while walking to monitor movement. This information was used to create an animation of a skeleton walking in exactly the same way as the subject. These preliminary findings form part of a two year UK Government funded Knowledge Transfer Partnership to research the biomechanical benefits of FitFlop Microwobbleboard™ technology.
FITFLOP FOOTWEAR CAN HELP INCREASE THIGH AND BOTTOM MUSCLE ACTIVITY(3)
(3) When compared to a control shoe. Case studies were performed on Microwobbleboard technology over a forty-eight month period by Dr David Cook, Senior Lecturer in Biomechanics, and Darren James at the Centre for Human Performance at London South Bank University (LSBU).
