The present invention relates to a pad for strengthening the muscle of the sole of the foot, and an insole including same. The subject matter of the present invention is a pad for strengthening the muscle of the sole of the foot, and an insole including same, the pad comprising: an arch support part for supporting the arch portion; a forefoot support part formed at the front of the arch support part to support the forefoot portion; and a connecting passage part for connecting the arch support part and the forefoot support part, wherein weight moves to the forefoot portion through the outer side of the sole of the foot after a load is applied to the rearfoot portion during walking, and the metatarsal bones come into contact with the forefoot support part and are stimulated so that driving power is generated in the direction between the big toe and the second toe, and thus walking is corrected.

A somatosensation and proprioceptor stimulation surface configured to stimulate rapid-firing nerves in the receptive field of a user's glabrous skin. The somatorsensation and proprioceptor stimulation surface includes a plurality of protuberances disposed thereupon, each protuberance sized and spaced apart appropriately to impress the receptive field when pressed in contact with the glabrous skin of the user. Each protuberance widens from an apex toward a base whereby increased pressure applied to the surface increases an area of contact and stimulation by applying stimulation over a larger area of skin. The protuberances are spaced apart to maximize stimulation of rapid firing nerves while lessening overstimulation. The somatosensation and proprioceptor stimulation surface is rendered in the form of a mat or floor covering and alternatively as an insole for wear in a user's shoes.

A somatosensation and proprioceptor stimulation surface configured to stimulate rapid-firing nerves in the receptive field of a user's glabrous skin. The somatorsensation and proprioceptor stimulation surface includes a plurality of protuberances disposed thereupon, each protuberance sized and spaced apart appropriately to impress the receptive field when pressed in contact with the glabrous skin of the user. Each protuberance widens from an apex toward a base whereby increased pressure applied to the surface increases an area of contact and stimulation by applying stimulation over a larger area of skin. The protuberances are spaced apart to maximize stimulation of rapid firing nerves while lessening overstimulation. The somatosensation and proprioceptor stimulation surface is rendered in the form of a mat or floor covering and alternatively as an insole for wear in a user's shoes.

Systems and methods for providing a golf shoe comprising a heel cup with an asymmetrical padding configuration to reduce foot movement during a golf swing. The asymmetrical padding configuration may include one or more heel pads that fit the contour of the heel area of the wearer's foot to provide proper support and fit to a golfer to reduce the voids of space that normally occur around the heel portion in a shoe. The support may lead to a better fit for increased comfort and more stability during the golf swing by reducing foot movement during the swing. The heel pad(s) may be provided between an outer and inner layer of material forming the shoe's upper and may be made of a variety of different materials that may give different stiffness and comfort to the heel area of the wearer's foot. In some examples, the shoe may be waterproof.

Systems and methods for providing a golf shoe comprising a heel cup with an asymmetrical padding configuration to reduce foot movement during a golf swing. The asymmetrical padding configuration may include one or more heel pads that fit the contour of the heel area of the wearer's foot to provide proper support and fit to a golfer to reduce the voids of space that normally occur around the heel portion in a shoe. The support may lead to a better fit for increased comfort and more stability during the golf swing by reducing foot movement during the swing. The heel pad(s) may be provided between an outer and inner layer of material forming the shoe's upper and may be made of a variety of different materials that may give different stiffness and comfort to the heel area of the wearer's foot. In some examples, the shoe may be waterproof.

An insulating shoe insert including a core layer formed of a cellular material, and a top layer and a bottom layer bonded to opposing sides of the core layer, respectively, the top layer and the bottom layer being configured as thin sheets of aromatic polyamide material such that the top layer and bottom layer cooperate with the core layer to create a heat transfer resistance sufficient to resist transfer of heat through the core layer.

An insulating shoe insert including a core layer formed of a cellular material, and a top layer and a bottom layer bonded to opposing sides of the core layer, respectively, the top layer and the bottom layer being configured as thin sheets of aromatic polyamide material such that the top layer and bottom layer cooperate with the core layer to create a heat transfer resistance sufficient to resist transfer of heat through the core layer.

Variable-density soles for articles of footwear and methods for constructing said soles are provided herein. In one embodiment, a variable-density sole for a footwear article comprises a first layer comprising a first density coupled to a bottom surface of an upper of the article of footwear; and a second layer comprising a second density greater than the density of the first layer, wherein the first layer is physically coupled to the second layer forming an interface between the layers. In this way, comfort of the article of footwear may be increased while decreasing the weight of the article of footwear. Further, forming the variable-density sole includes directly molding the first layer to a strobel board, stitching the strobel board to an upper, and injecting the second layer to the upper with the strobel board and the first layer. In this way, the production of a footwear article is simplified.

The invention relates to a system for adjusting pressure locally acting on the skin. Said system includes a set of adjacent modules distributed so as to form a layer. Each module includes a cushion capable of changing shape and comprising a cavity, a valve, a tank, and a pressure sensor, wherein the cavity and the tank are in communication with each other by means of the valve, and the sensor is placed so as to sense pressure directly or indirectly acting on the cushion. The system also includes a feedback loop arranged such as to increase or decrease the change in the shape of the cushion on the basis of the pressure detected by the sensor. The system according to the invention can be built into a shoe so as to re-establish normal plantar pressure under the entire sole of the foot, which is particularly desirable for athletes or for patients suffering from diabetes mellitus or leprosy. It is also possible to incorporate the system according to the invention into a (bed or wheelchair) mattress so as to prevent decubitus ulcers in patients with neurological diseases (hemiplegia, paraplegia, tetraplegia, multiple sclerosis, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis) and any other sensory and/or motor deficit diseases.

A support customising system is described for a sole 1 of a shoe. The sole 1 comprises a relatively soft, resilient midsole 3 and an a harder outsole 4. Hard insert elements 5 are provided for inserting into vertical cavities 2 in the midsole 3. By varying the hardnesses of different inserts 5 in different vertical cavities, a precisely-tunable pronation control effect on the wearer's gait can be effected. First-order, second-order and third-order pronation control effects are described.