Devices with internal flexibility sipes, such as slits, provide improved flexibility, improved cushioning to absorb shock and/or shear forces, and improved stability of support. Siped devices can be used in any existing product that provides or utilizes cushioning and stability. These products include human and other footwear, both soles and uppers, as well as orthotics; athletic, occupational and medical equipment and apparel; padding or cushioning, such as for equipment or tool handles, as well as furniture; balls; tires; and any other structural or support elements in a mechanical, architectural, or any other product.

Devices with internal flexibility sipes, such as slits, provide improved flexibility, improved cushioning to absorb shock and/or shear forces, and improved stability of support. Siped devices can be used in any existing product that provides or utilizes cushioning and stability. These products include human and other footwear, both soles and uppers, as well as orthotics; athletic, occupational and medical equipment and apparel; padding or cushioning, such as for equipment or tool handles, as well as furniture; balls; tires; and any other structural or support elements in a mechanical, architectural, or any other product.

A method of differentially tuning a lower limb muscle in a human in need thereof is provided. The method includes placement of at least two calibrated, differential disturbances or protuberances under the human's feet thereby tuning a lower limb muscle.

An article of footwear including a sole structure attached to an upper defining an internal void configured to receive a foot of a wearer is described. The sole structure includes a sole body portion having a central ridge element located in an aperture in the sole body portion and the central ridge element is configured to contact the ground and move relative to the aperture.

A flexible shoe includes an under sole, a foot bed, a first over-foot portion, and a second over-foot portion. The under sole is formed of ballistic nylon. The foot bed is arranged on an upper surface of the under sole. The first over-foot portion is attached to the under sole and is configured to flexibly overly an instep of a foot of a user forward of an ankle of the user. The second over-foot portion is configured to flexibly wrap around a heel of the user rearward of the ankle of the user. The under sole, the first over-foot portion, and the second over-foot portion define a cavity configured to enclose the foot of the user. The foot bed is positioned entirely within the cavity.

A sole structure for an article of footwear includes a midsole and a stabilizing member. The stabilizing member can include a first end portion and a second end portion. The first end portion is positioned along the bottom surface of the midsole. A first sub-portion of the first end portion extends along a first side of the midsole and a second sub-portion of the first end portion extends across the bottom surface from the first side of the midsole to a second side of the midsole. The second portion extends upwardly from the first portion and onto the second side of the midsole to wrap around at least a portion of a periphery of a heel region of the midsole and onto the first side of the midsole.

A footwear including a vamp and an inner sole defining in combination a Volume of Treatment (VOTf) and an outsole coupled to at least one protuberance, that when in use, comprises a Point of Contact (POC) with a surface, and wherein dimensions of the VOTf are defined by a position of said POC in 3D space in relation to the outsole and/or insole and/or any selected point within the VOTf. Also disclosed are a method and a computer program product program code for manufacturing same.

A footwear including a vamp and an inner sole defining in combination a Volume of Treatment (VOTf) and an outsole coupled to at least one protuberance, that when in use, comprises a Point of Contact (POC) with a surface, and wherein dimensions of the VOTf are defined by a position of said POC in 3D space in relation to the outsole and/or insole and/or any selected point within the VOTf. Also disclosed are a method and a computer program product program code for manufacturing same.

Footwear and/or sole structures may include any one or more of: (a) a midsole component having one or more relatively large projections that extend into one or more corresponding openings in a midsole component (wherein the free end surface(s) of the large projection(s) may be siped); (b) a midsole component having one or more relatively small protrusions that extend into one or more small corresponding holes in an outsole component; (c) a midsole component having one or more relatively small holes into which one or more small corresponding protrusions on the outsole component extend; (d) a midsole component having medial and/or lateral side ridges (e.g., at least in an arch area) that receive a portion of outermost side edges of a corresponding outsole component; and/or (e) a midsole component having a relatively large central arch recess exposed through an opening in the outsole component.

A sole for an article of footwear includes an outsole that has longitudinal ribs and a midsole that is disposed above the outsole and that defines notches. The longitudinal ribs are disposed in the notches.