Guest Lectures

Question 1

components of running shoe

Answer 1

• toe box
• midfoot
• heel counter - make sure heel doesn’t slip out of shoe

Question 2

upper part of a shoe

Answer 2

• mesh wraps top of foot to secure it on midsole platform

- for volumous feet, need to make space between bottom and upper

Question 3

midsole part of shoe

Answer 3

• cushion technology pushes to help absorb shock with foam which can vary in density
• strategically place foam on lateral and medial sides to do different things

Question 4

outsole part of shoe

Answer 4

• provide traction
• protect midsole foams
• flexibility or stiffness determined to allow flexibility at foot joints

Question 5

what are shoe lasts?

Answer 5

• a form that shoes are built around
• can be straight, semi-curved or curved lasts
• standard for women is B, standard for men is D

Question 6

midsole drop

Answer 6

• measure distance to the ground under heel and head of first metatarsal and the difference between the 2 gives us midsole drop
• you can build shoes with multiple midsole drops and see the smoothest transition between VGRF curves on force plate
• achilles injury, higher drop helps recovery of tendon

Question 7

midsole rocker mechanism in shoes

Answer 7

• can help unload foot in orthopedic instances
• helps rock through motion as opposed to flexion and alleviate work at the joint
• decrease foot fatigue by rocking through gait cycle

Question 8

minimalist running shoes

Answer 8

• promote more of a midfoot strike since landing on calcaneus is uncomfortable
• suggest you become more efficient as a runner

Question 9

maximalist running shoes

Answer 9

• very high stack height but low midsole drop

- foot rocker through shoes is supposed to decrease foot fatigue