A sole structure for an article of footwear comprises a sole plate that has a forefoot portion with a foot-facing surface. The sole plate has at least one groove extending at least partially transversely in the foot-facing surface. The at least one groove is open when the sole structure is dorsiflexed in a first portion of a flexion range, and closed when the sole structure is dorsiflexed in a second portion of the flexion range that includes flex angles greater than in the first portion of the flexion range.

A sole structure for an article of footwear comprises a sole plate that has a forefoot portion with a foot-facing surface. The sole plate has at least one groove extending at least partially transversely in the foot-facing surface. The at least one groove is open when the sole structure is dorsiflexed in a first portion of a flexion range, and closed when the sole structure is dorsiflexed in a second portion of the flexion range that includes flex angles greater than in the first portion of the flexion range.

A shoe has a sensor system operably connected to a communication port. Performance data is collected by the system and can be transferred for further use via the communication port. The shoe may contain an electronic module configured to gather data from the sensors. The module may also transmit the data to an external device for further processing. Users can use the collected data for a variety of different uses or applications.

A shoe has a sensor system operably connected to a communication port. Performance data is collected by the system and can be transferred for further use via the communication port. The shoe may contain an electronic module configured to gather data from the sensors. The module may also transmit the data to an external device for further processing. Users can use the collected data for a variety of different uses or applications.

An insole assembly is provided comprising an insole having an upper surface upon which an underside of a foot may contact and be supported. The insole assembly has at least one protrusion which projects away from the upper surface of the insole. At least one of the protrusions is detachably connected to the insole. The protrusions may be interchanged to customize an insole assembly to provide enhanced cutaneous stimulation of targeted regions of a foot.

An insole assembly is provided comprising an insole having an upper surface upon which an underside of a foot may contact and be supported. The insole assembly has at least one protrusion which projects away from the upper surface of the insole. At least one of the protrusions is detachably connected to the insole. The protrusions may be interchanged to customize an insole assembly to provide enhanced cutaneous stimulation of targeted regions of a foot.

Shoe insert devices that absorb shock and that redistribute forces within a user's foot and/or knee during use are disclosed. The shoe insert devices comprise a hindfoot insert portion configured to be positioned within a shoe and extend beneath a hindfoot portion of a sole of a foot of the user with a top side of the hindfoot insert portion facing the sole. The hindfoot insert portion is resilient at least in a thickness direction extending between the top and bottom sides thereof. The hindfoot insert portion comprises a fascia projection extending upwardly from the top surface positioned medially between medial and lateral sides of the hindfoot insert portion and being spaced distally from the proximal end, and a lateral projection extending at least one of upwardly from the top surface and downwardly from the bottom surface positioned proximate to the lateral side and distal to the fascia projection.

The present invention is footwear having a convex shaped outsole with opposing wedge shaped configurations in the bottom of the front sole section and the back sole section which provide rotation of the front sole section and the back sole section in opposite directions when weight is applied. The present invention is also footwear convex shaped in the longitudinal direction with a split sole having opposing wedge shaped configurations in the bottom of the front sole section and the back sole section that provide rotation of the front sole section and the back sole section in opposite directions when weight is applied. The invention further includes footwear having at least one pair of wedges on the outsole which provide footwear having improved arch support. The invention is also footwear with a flexible, elastic, member between the front sole section and the back sole section of the sole.

A smartphone or other mobile computer device, general purpose or specialized, wherein the smartphone device is configured to actively control the configuration of one or more bladders, compartments, chambers or internal sipes and one or more sensors located in either one or both of a sole or a removable inner sole insert of the footwear of the user and/or located in an apparatus worn or carried by the user, glued unto the user, or implanted in the user. The one or more bladders, compartments, chambers, or sipes, and one or more sensors are configured for computer control. A sole and/or a removable inner sole insert for footwear, including one or more bladders, compartments, chambers, internal sipes and sensors in the sole and/or in a removable insert; or on an insole; all being configured for control by a smartphone or other mobile computer device, general purpose or specialized.

An active suspension orthotic support system is disclosed. The suspension orthotic support system comprises at least one variable resistance beam extending from a heel section to a mid-arch section of the footwear, wherein rotation of the variable resistance beam from a first position to a second position causes a resistance provided by the variable resistance beam to vary between a minimum resistance to a maximum resistance.