A combination, comprising: a shoe having an upper and a sole, wherein the shoe is configured to cover an instep of a foot of a wearer; and a heel integration system including an insert having a front end and a back end, the insert configured to be disposed in the shoe, and configured to receive an ankle-foot orthoses brace while the shoe is worn, the insert having a heel portion and an ankle portion, the ankle portion having a curved wall with at least one bulge formed therein,
wherein the bulge is created from an indentation formed on an interior surface of the ankle portion which forms a protrusion on an exterior surface of the ankle portion.

A combination, comprising: a shoe having an upper and a sole, wherein the shoe is configured to cover an instep of a foot of a wearer; and a heel integration system including an insert having a front end and a back end, the insert configured to be disposed in the shoe, and configured to receive an ankle-foot orthoses brace while the shoe is worn, the insert having a heel portion and an ankle portion, the ankle portion having a curved wall with at least one bulge formed therein,
wherein the bulge is created from an indentation formed on an interior surface of the ankle portion which forms a protrusion on an exterior surface of the ankle portion.

A shoe may include a shoe upper, an outsole, and a stabilizing element. The stabilizing element may extend from the outsole upward towards a step-in opening of the shoe upper and rearward towards a heel region of the shoe. Further, the stabilizing element may include an outer layer. The stabilizing element may extend along an outside of the shoe upper. Moreover, an area of the outside of the shoe upper that is not covered by the stabilizing element may be located between the stabilizing element and the outsole. Furthermore, the area may continuously transition into a further area of the outside of the shoe upper which is not covered by the stabilizing element. That further area may extend into a portion of the shoe upper which is configured to receive an Achilles area and/or an Achilles tendon insertion.

A shoe may include a shoe upper, an outsole, and a stabilizing element. The stabilizing element may extend from the outsole upward towards a step-in opening of the shoe upper and rearward towards a heel region of the shoe. Further, the stabilizing element may include an outer layer. The stabilizing element may extend along an outside of the shoe upper. Moreover, an area of the outside of the shoe upper that is not covered by the stabilizing element may be located between the stabilizing element and the outsole. Furthermore, the area may continuously transition into a further area of the outside of the shoe upper which is not covered by the stabilizing element. That further area may extend into a portion of the shoe upper which is configured to receive an Achilles area and/or an Achilles tendon insertion.

An article of footwear is provided. The article of footwear includes a sole with a heel cushion mechanically engaged with a first end of a shank at an interface that includes one or more connectors in the shank that are snap-fitted with corresponding holes in the cushion. The sole further includes a midsole body at least partially surrounding the heel cushion and the shank and the midsole body has a greater hardness than the heel cushion.

A sole structure for an article of footwear has a sole plate that may include a midfoot region, and also may include a forefoot region or a heel region. The sole plate may have a foot-facing surface with ridges extending longitudinally in the midfoot region and in the forefoot region or heel region. The sole plate may have a ground-facing surface with grooves extending longitudinally in correspondence with the ridges. A thickness of the sole plate from the foot-facing surface to the ground-facing surface may vary at a transverse cross-section of the sole plate through the ridges, or along a length of at least one of the ridges, or at both the transverse cross-section and along the length of the at least one of the ridges. The ridges may have crests at least some of which may extend non-parallel with one another in a longitudinal direction of the sole plate.

A sole structure for an article of footwear has a sole plate that may include a midfoot region, and also may include a forefoot region or a heel region. The sole plate may have a foot-facing surface with ridges extending longitudinally in the midfoot region and in the forefoot region or heel region. The sole plate may have a ground-facing surface with grooves extending longitudinally in correspondence with the ridges. A thickness of the sole plate from the foot-facing surface to the ground-facing surface may vary at a transverse cross-section of the sole plate through the ridges, or along a length of at least one of the ridges, or at both the transverse cross-section and along the length of the at least one of the ridges. The ridges may have crests at least some of which may extend non-parallel with one another in a longitudinal direction of the sole plate.

A device configured to surround a portion of a foot-receiving cavity at a heel region of an article of footwear includes a control bar having a center segment, a medial side arm extending from the center segment, and a lateral side arm spaced from the medial side arm and extending from the center segment. The device may include an extension extending toward the control bar. At least a portion of the control bar may be elastically deformable under an applied force depressing the control bar toward the extension, and the extension may limit movement of the control bar. The control bar may be adapted to return to an unloaded position upon removal of the applied force.

A device configured to surround a portion of a foot-receiving cavity at a heel region of an article of footwear includes a control bar having a center segment, a medial side arm extending from the center segment, and a lateral side arm spaced from the medial side arm and extending from the center segment. The device may include an extension extending toward the control bar. At least a portion of the control bar may be elastically deformable under an applied force depressing the control bar toward the extension, and the extension may limit movement of the control bar. The control bar may be adapted to return to an unloaded position upon removal of the applied force.

An article of footwear includes an upper extending from a first end in a forefoot region to a second end in a heel region. The article of footwear also includes a sole structure attached to the upper and including a posterior end extending beyond the second end of the upper. The sole structure includes a bladder having a portion disposed between the second end of the upper and the posterior end of the sole structure.