1- Can help reduce calf and low back stiffness when associated with foot posture problems
The heel height is designed for really comfortable walking, not too flat and not too high.
Calf tightness is often felt when wearing flatter shoes after high shoes is reduced. In very flat shoes, the body often has to alter spinal posture due to calf tightness and this can cause lower back pain. Scholl Bioprint reduces calf tightness so helps to offset this postural compensation.
Moreover the Bioprint has been specifically designed to be available in different heel heights. This will allow the user a choice to select the most comfortable and functional heel height for their particular anatomy. The higher heel version of this product is anticipated to be most comfortable for woman who are used to regularly wearing a heel higher than 1.5 inches who have subsequently developed some adaptive muscle shortening in the calf muscles.
Why is the heel height important when trying to achieve a therapeutic effect with a shoe?
Many women have functional limitation of ankle motion, (tight calves), because they generally wear higher heels than men and are prone to adaptive muscle shortening as a result. This does not have to be a high heel in the traditional sense - even 1.5 inches can result in calf tightness. Standing on any heel results in adaptive shortening in the calf muscle.
There are usually no adverse effects with this as long as roughly the same heel height is worn most of the time. Most sandals though are much flatter than the shoes most women will usually wear, and this causes the calf to be strained if a flat shoe is worn too quickly.
This occurs because the adaptive muscle shortening, which has occurred through regular use of a higher heel, leads to a functional limitation of motion at the ankle joint. When the user wears a flatter heel than they are used to, the effects of the adaptive shortening are manifested in excess calf tension, which can be perceived as discomfort. The mechanism by which limited ankle motion can increase the risk of mechanical low back pain is related to the anatomical compensation that occurs with any sagittal body plane motion restriction, of which ankle limitation is included.
The anatomical compensation results in increased spinal flexion compensation. (Ref Dananberg papers Chronic Low Back Pain and Its Response to Custom Made Foot Orthoses). This increases the risk of stress related injury to the lower back anatomy.
The specifically calculated heel heights of Bioprint and other features decrease the chance of the user developing compensatory spinal flexion as a result of pre-existing functional limitation of ankle motion.
2- Can help reduce symptoms associated with overpronation (flat foot)
Overpronation is considered to be responsible for many musculoskeletal symptoms in the lower limb and certain spinal symptoms
Bioprint anatomy owns several design solutions to help reduce excessive pronation.
3- The footbed design encourages better posture by helping to maintain the foot in a more correct anatomical position
Articular congruency is an anatomical necessity for optimum joint function because joints are designed to function within a specific range of motion. Variations in terrain and anatomy can result in joints being forced beyond what would be considered a normal range of motion. This can result in injury to the soft tissues and joints.
The shape of Bioprint footbed encourages better posture with its unique anatomic shape that is designed to assist toe function enhancing the foot’s natural ability to support itself.
4- Can offer some lateral stability to the foot to help prevent ankle sprains
In summary the ideal situation for walking is for weight to move centrally through the foot. Too much shift to the inside (flat foot) or outside (high arch) can cause aches and pains. Rather like a car’s wheels being out of alignment causing the car to pull to one side. In human terms, foot misalignment can cause aches and pains in the foot and leg.
The Bioprint has a shaped outside footbed profile to gently resist any going over of the ankle. This also helps to balance the inside profile of the shoe so that the foot is held centrally during walking.
5- Can help efficient propulsion of the foot which in turn can help to make walking easier and more efficient
Bioprint has been designed with a specifically shaped very flexible outsole that mimics the natural metatarsal alignment of the foot.
This specially designed forefoot flexibility system guides the foot to bend at the correct place at the correct time which makes walking easier and more comfortable.
Common Medical Conditions that are likely to be helped therapeutically by Bioprint:
- Mechanical low back pain if related to sagittal plane motion restriction
- Functional limitation of ankle motion and associated symptoms
- Achilles Tendonopathy
- Mild Tibialis Posterior Insufficiency
- Certain knee pathologies where the cause may be related to increased internal rotation of the knee as a result of mild foot pronation
- Mild ankle instability
- Plantar fascitis related to biomechanical foot dysfunction
Bioprint helps reducing calf and low back stiffness; the footbed design encourages better posture by helping to maintain the foot more correct anatomical position; the shape of the footbed enhances foot natural joint motion and correct flexibility grooves make walking easier.
Bioprint is the result of an intensive co-operation between Scholl and the Biomechanics Institute of Valencia, which led to the creation of a footbed with unique characteristics.
It is made of cork and rubber, especially moulded to create a flexible and anatomical footbed which offers the ideal base for the feet.
Cork is natural, light and well known for its isolating properties. Combined with rubber, it forms a flexible footbed that, thanks to its particular anatomy, offers the perfect base for your feet and makes walking easier and more relaxed.
BIOPRINT ALLOWS TO WALK FOR LONGER AND STILL FEEL AS FRESH AS WALKING BAREFOOT
