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What do you think?
http://www.springboost.com/en/

http://www.springboost.com/en/dorsif...mechanics.html

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Craig Payne
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Wow - the Swiss have done it again (i.e. MBT is Swiss also) with another (albeit, not new) shoe concept. Earth shoes have a similar i.e. negative heel concept. In fact Earth (Danish) has some Swiss connections also.

This "Springboost" shoe range does look interesting. This apparent "DORSI Technology"; not to be confused with Earth's - "Negative Heel Technology" (a lot of technology going round ) seems to work off the concept of heel striking (as seen here)... from what I can make out.

It doesn't appear that "Springboost" is marketing a running shoe (???).

Anyway, so we have the traditional training shoe with its 12mm heel-forefoot differential (HHD) - hence the foot functioning in a relative plantarflexed position. We have now the "Springboost" range with a negative heel - now with "Dorsiflexion Technology" via the following concept...
Haven't as yet discovered the degree of dorsiflexion used above.

Then we have my position of a plantigrade/zero drop/flat running shoe (although I don't claim this idea as my own ) - come to think about it, maybe I could develop a shoe with... "Plantigrade Technology" . Being apparently the middle of the road I could be quite successful with it (along with my profound logic behind the "technology").

Just thinking about it, one has to wonder how these above concepts affects the STJ role/function - just to name one varying aspect between these diverse concepts. Does anybody else wonder how/why we can be in a position where there is apparent support for the benefits of such a range i.e. elevated HHD to negative HHD. Is there an optimal answer here or are we to confuse the Central Nervous System on a continual basis.

One could be excused for asking an apparent naughty question - which is more... "NATURAL" ... heel elevated, forefoot elevated... or maybe placed in a position not conflicting with the primordial anatomical design. Anyway, who am I (& for that matter, anybody else... except maybe the Designer of the lower limb) to say what is "natural" in this area. Being "natural" is a rather airy fairy ambiguous term, maybe we should be asking/researching what is more biomechanically efficient for the intended activity or the intended objectives. Or maybe we should just allow the physiology of the foot/lower limb to do the talking here... just accommodate for its protection whilst eliminating the potential for (adverse) influence - just a thought.

Anyhow, all very interesting & something to think about... & further confuse the general public as to what they should be wearing on their feet .

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- alias: Matthew Thomas - Podiatrist.
Back On Track Podiatry.

"To give anything less than your best is to sacrifice the gift": Steve Prefontaine.

Achilles tenon injury, here they come.

Regarding heel elevated, forefoot elevated, natural etc. A three word question: variation in terrain?

Say we have a shoe which due to the heel height differential plantarflexes the foot by 5 degrees and then we walk / run up a 5 degree incline? etc.

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Who? What? When? Why? Yeah? And? So? What?

"My mission drive is to open up my eyes, 'cause the wicked lies and all the sh!te you say..." http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V4NW5S1UTPQ

"Science is the antidote to the poison of enthusiasm and superstition."

"Variation in terrain" - this is true Simon (or do you prefer to be called Dr Spooner?... or Spooner... or Spoony). Anyway, it's all relative... because if we take this logic further (to use your example)... "the heel height differential plantarflexes the foot by 5 degrees and then we walk / run" down "a 5 degree incline" the shoe then exacerbates the plantarflexion condition further to potentially to end ROM... compensation kicks in & we then have the potential for other problems (stressors/forces). However, the majority of the time we humans are functioning on a relatively level surface, hence the nature of the base of the footwear will be influencing the body posture the majority of the time... same principles would also apply to those orthotics we sometimes prescribe as well (i.e. influences by the variation in terrain [saggital & frontal plane]/nature of base of shoe).

This I feel is yet another reason for flat/zero HHD to be now seriously considered across the board. Fat chance I know for women’s fashion shoes - but hey, what can you do... the heels?.

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- alias: Matthew Thomas - Podiatrist.
Back On Track Podiatry.

"To give anything less than your best is to sacrifice the gift": Steve Prefontaine.