The sole (2) for a sports shoe (1) includes a reinforcement element (11) intended to extend below the plantar aponeurosis (44) and having a rear part (21), a front part (22) and a central hinge (23) connecting the front part to the rear part, the front part being less rigid than the rear part, the rear part being intended to extend in front of a posterior contact point (41) of the foot and including at least one longitudinal branch (24, 25) intended to extend between an anteromedial contact point (42) and an anterolateral contact point (43) of the foot.

A shoe sole includes a shock absorber that buckles when the shock absorber receives compressive force applied in a normal direction to a ground contact surface. When a load is applied to the shoe sole, the shock absorber starts to buckle in a state in which a stress occurring in the shock absorber is within a range from 0.15 MPa to 0.80 MPa and a strain of the shock absorber is within a range from 10% to 60%. When a time point at which a strain energy density of the shock absorber reaches 0.157 J/cm.sup.3 is defined as a specific time point, a maximum value of the stress occurring in the shock absorber until the specific time point is 0.80 MPa or less, and a tangential elastic modulus of the shock absorber at the specific time point is 5.00 MPa or less.

A midsole of footwear with an incorporated orthotic support. The midsole includes a soft and flexible member and a more rigid orthotic support. The orthotic support includes a heel cup and an arch support portion that extends forwardly from the heel cup. Embodiments produce the midsole by positioning the orthotic insert between an upper portion of the footwear and an outsole. Then, soft and flexible material is injected into the space surrounding the orthotic. The soft and flexible material subsequently cures forming the multi-part unitary midsole.

A midsole of footwear with an incorporated orthotic support. The midsole includes a soft and flexible member and a more rigid orthotic support. The orthotic support includes a heel cup and an arch support portion that extends forwardly from the heel cup. Embodiments produce the midsole by positioning the orthotic insert between an upper portion of the footwear and an outsole. Then, soft and flexible material is injected into the space surrounding the orthotic. The soft and flexible material subsequently cures forming the multi-part unitary midsole.