What are toes supposed to do trapped in modern shoes? What can they do? They’re forced into a crunched together pointed shape dictated by improper shoe design (whose foot is shaped like a shoe?) and rendered basically useless. Toes should have room to spread out and be free to dig in and grip to help drive body forward at end of foot roll.

If one compares feel and function of bare foot in sand to that within a modern shoe, it becomes apparent why problems arise. The solution is to return foot to sand. The design we have created allows foot to experience support and movement possible in sand and thus restore foot to its living functional role in movement and health. (see http://www.wysong.net/images/insole/print.jpg) If you walk barefoot in sand and look behind at impression left, that is contour created by this new insole. The feel of foot in sand and on insole is also strikingly (and refreshingly) similar.

Arch Support In sand, foot is primarily supported by arch, not heel. Most shoes and insoles only hint at arch support. A proper ergonomic design lifts foot with comfortable support of both transverse and longitudinal arches. This takes pressure off heel by properly distributing weight over largest surface area of foot, arch and ball. In a run, a heel strike concentrates 5,120 foot pounds of force directly to a point on calcaneus (heel bone). With a well-designed insole, this force is spread over approximately 15 square inches of resilient ligamentous tissue under-girded by long metatarsal bones in arch and ball area. (see http://www.wysong.net/images/insole/arch.jpg)

Tendon and Bone Reliefs Carefully designed depressions in insole Wysong developed accommodate major tendons (plantar aponeurosis) running from great and 5th toes to heel, as well as metatarsal tuberosity on lateral side of foot. If one were to examine impression of a foot in sand, ergonomic design (ED) insole Wysong is patenting is an exact replica in all detail, accommodating precise anatomy of foot undersurface and encouraging proper foot dynamics. (see http://www.wysong.net/images/insole/relief.jpg)

Heel Cup Heel pain is perhaps most common of all foot problems. It would seem at first glance that way to relieve it would be to place soft shock absorbing materials under heel. But when this is done, foot is lifted off arch and even more pressure is concentrated on heel. What is needed is to get weight off heel by transferring it to arch and ball of foot. The significant arch supports in ED lift foot off heel, and absence of underlying insole under heel effectively relieves pressure and pain in heel and permits healing. This is precisely how physicians provide relief for body pressure points, suspending them in air by creating cushioning foam “donuts” around such parts. (see http://www.wysong.net/images/insole/donut.jpg)

Ball Bed As foot naturally rolls forward from arch, ball of foot (metatarsal heads) then receives majority of weight. When running, this area receives it all if “on-the-toes” stride is correct. The heel is not supposed to have significant impact but rather merely be a point of contact to create balance for human upright position in standing and slow walk modes. Virtually no other creature allows heel to strike ground in movement. Rather, they are lifted to ball of foot or even onto ends of toes as in horses. (see http://www.wysong.net/images/insole/animal.jpg) The ED encourages foot to roll onto ball as it is designed. To help attenuate shock, a special absorbing visco-elastic material underlies this area. (see http://www.wysong.net/images/insole/insert.jpg)

Toe Grips The toe grips in ED permit toes to become active in movement thus increasing balance and athletic capability. As foot lifts off in forward motion, or moves laterally, toes can grip ED as they would in sand to increase speed, power and agility. The sensation is one of digging in with toes and new-found power and control over movement results. The feet feel like they come alive and a sense of strength and spring return to movement. (see http://www.wysong.net/images/insole/grips.jpg) The sensation is quite remarkably like “ready to go!” (No liability assumed for breaking speed limits.) Materials And Fit Only highest quality medical-grade foams and shock-attenuating materials are used in ED. Unlike shoe insoles or aftermarket products, EDs are substantial and create an almost miraculous feel of bare foot in sand. ED microporous materials breathe to permit escape of moisture and to decrease bacterial growth. Air channels are designed to pump air to feet with each stride. EDs also retain their memory rather than set to a non-elastic and ineffective board-like state. (see http://www.wysong.net/images/insole/air.jpg)

EDs may be placed on top of existing insoles (if there is room without constricting feet), or shoe insoles may be removed. Using wide width shoes or open-toed sandals is another option to properly accommodate EDs. If shoe does not accommodate all aspects of insole, they may be trimmed with scissors as necessary. Once properly placed, feel of insole seems to disappear and foot feels immediate relief. Once used for a time, it is almost impossible to tolerate shoes without them. (see http://www.wysong.net/images/insole/trim.jpg)

One user wrote, “I wish I had known of your insoles before I spent $500 on orthotics. Yours are first solution I have found and my orthotics are now in closet unused.”

Not Ordinary The new ergonomic insoles are not usual fare by any means. They look unusual and are unusual. No insole under toes? No insole under heel? It would seem that a mistake has been made. But sometimes mold has to be broken in order for advance to occur. The modern foot has been forced into an immobile, injury prone position for too long.

The wisdom of nature is answer to most of modern man’s health problems. By using nature as principle in its design – returning foot to sand – ED brings a new era of foot comfort, and with that a new opportunity for better overall health as well. (see http://www.wysong.net/images/insole/insole.jpg)