Fastest man on two feet or shoes?

Usain 'Lightning' Bolt has shattered his own world record and delivered a stunning first place finish in the 100m at the Olympic Stadium in Berlin recently. The Jamaican sprinter clocked the fastest time ever recorded for the 100m race at 9.58 seconds wearing his PUMA, custom-designed Theseus Pro sprint spike. The PUMA YAAM are now the fastest shoes in the world. This sprint spike was developed by a team of PUMA designers and technicians who studied and measured Bolt's stride and foot form. They created a custom-made sprint spike to suit the sprinter’s body kinetics. Manufacturer’s claims the shoes contain a lightweight carbon plate to add speed and power might be construed as ‘performance enhancing’ footwear which is not ‘officially’ allowed. Since the introduction of computerised timing the world record has never before been broken by such a big margin and since record breaking occurrences have been few and far between in the last decade, questions may be asked.

23: The history of a shoe: Premier

The long awaited movie and book 23: The Street History of a Shoe by A.R. Shaw is about to be released. 23 is an Air Jordan documentary about the social, political, and economic phenomenon from the perspective of people who wear them. Premier in Atlanta on 23rd April.

Beno Nigg's Future of shoes

Beno Nigg on the Future of Footwear

Do expensive trainers prevent injury?

Researchers at the University of Newcastle have found no scientific evidence to support claims that commonly recommended running shoes prevent injuries in runners. This is rather well known and not a new revelation by any means. The basic assumption is shoes (by themself) prevent injuries but there is certainly no evidence to prove this. Common sense would suggest a good (comfortable) pair of sport shoes capable of enduring the stresses of a prolonged activity would allow the foot to function at optimal efficiency. This is the basic premise we all hold true but manufacturers do tend to overplay this with their marketing rhetoric. Claims made by sports shoes manufacturers usually relate to patented materials or systems strategically incorporated within the shoe design. In the absence of evidence based outcomes however advertisers are now ‘cooling their heels’ about overstating their claims for their shoes. Particularly since there is increasing evidence to support some additions to shoes are likely to contribute to injury. Independent surveys from around the world consistently reinforce budget shoes match more expensive shoes in terms of structure and make up. Research from the Institute of Motion Analysis & Research, University of Dundee would support cheap sport shoes are as good as more extensive brands. Under test conditions shoe properties vary with brands and for different areas of the foot but overall shoes exhibit similar characteristics regardless of brand or price. The Dundee researchers concluded when buying sport shoes the key is to find a pair of shoes that fit the foot (comfortable) and ignore the price. ‘Cheap sports shoes are a false economy’ is a fallacy promulgated by quality shoe retailers. I have been involved in a couple of research surveys of marathon runners and reported injuries. The findings were consistent and runners wearing cheaper shoes were less likely to report injury and more likely to replace worn shoes more frequently. The vast majority of sport shoes are sold for fashion and not sport, manufacturer’s priority is to produce a shoe that looks good on the streets with less emphasis of making athletes’ feet comfortable on the track. The most important factor is to buy a shoe that is comfortable and designed for the particular activity you wish to put it too. Care and maintenance are important and worn shoes need to be replaced. The midsole layer of a shoe provides the cushioning and stability and this area usually wears out before the outsole shows major signs of wear. Once a shoe looses its functional stability this increases the risk of stress and subsequent injury. Running shoes should be replaced approximately every 350-550 miles depending on your running style, body weight, and the surface on which you run. For runners who log 25 miles per week shoes should be replaced every three to four months. Frequent runners should rotate their shoes.

Bespoke Foot Orthoses: CAD/CAM

Foot orthoses come in different types from simple insoles to biomechanically calculated platforms to help stabilise the foot during phases of walking. In recent years there has been a sizable industry grown around the manufacture and prescription of the latter which is now estimated at $30 million US per anum. Prescribed foot orthoses often referred to as function foot orthoses are used by sports specialists, surgeons, physiotherapists and podiatrists and prices vary from $20 to $300 per pair depending on the type, time spend and materials used. Over the counter foot orthoses are often as effective as bespoke varieties but due to the material combinations may not always last quite so long. Conditions definitely apply. For over a decade the manufacture of foot orthoses has involved Computer Numerical Controlled(CNC) systems where CAD/CAM software programs are used to produce a computer file that is interpreted to extract the commands needed to operate a particular machine, and then loaded into the CNC machines for production which involes a complex series of steps needed to produce in this case a foot orthoses. CAD software produces 3D scanned design data which can be manipulated to add a range of models, add-ons and cut-outs or corrections to the foot mould. Many companies which supply bespoke foot orthoses use the technology to increase their production. The established method of producing bespoke foot orthoses was both time consuming and prone to human error. After physical examination of the leg and foot, technicians took plaster of Paris moulds of the feet set in a reference position. These negative casts are then filled with setting plaster before drying at hot temperatures. When the foot models are completely dried high temperature plastics are melted over the prepared cast before trimming. The process of creating unique prescriptions for patients suffering from various foot and joint ailments will take anything from 3 days to three weeks to complete. A primary advantage of CAD/CAM manufacture is the time reduced in producing quality foot orthoses as providing prescribed quality foot orthoses in a timely fashion translates well to high profits. Turnaround time is extremely important in the bespoke foot orthotic business. Delcam's OrthoModel , is a new software specifically for modelling and machining custom foot orthoses. Once the information is input into the OrthoModel CAD software, the information is transfered to the CAM component OrthoMill and routed to complete the milling process. Top covers and other finishes are added once the foot orthoses have been milled. Delcam Crispin is a UK based company founded in 1965 and their software includes a series of menus which incorporate the biomechanical terminology used by the industry to describe the various features of the foot orthosis.

Measures - Unit Coverter: Neuwert Media

If you have an iPhone and want to put it to good use when buying shoes you might like to get the 99 cent "Measures - Unit Converter. " Now available at iTunes App Store this useful app will convert just about anything including shoe sizes. U.S., European, Mexican, Japanese, UK, and Australian. Women's sizes available for conversion range from U.S. 5-14, and men's conversions are available for U.S. sizes 3-14. "Measures" was created by Neuwert Media.

Interesting site
Shoe Size and Conversion Charts

Chuck Taylor - the true story

netizens

Aamidor A., 2006 Chuck Taylor, All Star: The True Story of the Man Behind the Most Famous Athletic Shoe in History .

This is an asset to any book collection on footwear.