What is “comfort”? Everyone perceives it differently, and a feeling can be difficult to capture in a product design. In this post, we’ll explain how we use biomechanical testing and data to put numbers behind the feeling of comfort and more accurately deliver on expectations for comfortable footwear.
How can footwear developers and designers deliver on the majority of their footwear customers’ individual perceptions of comfort with a single pair of shoes? We know customers have specific demands when it comes to their footwear – and those demands are tied to individual perceptions of comfort, performance, and support. Some need extra support and cushion, while others want a thinner, lighter shoe.
If your footwear company is finding it challenging to meet these needs, it may be time to turn to data.
At INSITE, we rely on biomechanical testing and data to ensure top-notch results. We conduct testing with real people to analyze individual aspects of comfort as they relate to specific insole and footwear designs. We gather valuable feedback data on plantar pressure, impact, and comfort perception during different movements and activities, which informs critical decisions on insole shape, material, and design.
The result is a quality shoe you can confidently sell to customers with a message of truly proven comfort.
Through our ProvenComfort process, we use data to quantify comfort and put brands ahead of traditional footwear development timelines. Our testing tools include a variety of factors and data points, including:
The National Institute of Health defines foot plantar pressure as the “pressure field that acts between the foot and the support surface used during everyday activities.” “By conducting gait analysis and plantar pressure mapping, we’re given a clearer view of the pressure distribution capabilities of the footwear.” This testing ensures our customers receive pressure relief and proper support.
We also conduct material impact testing to ensure our insoles and your footwear can reduce peak impact shock, which is especially important for injury prevention and/or recovery. “This testing method measures compression forces, shock absorption, and rebound.” Insoles informed by this testing data deliver improved rebound and shock absorption to customers to support their everyday movements and athletic activities.
“We use a 12-point psychometric survey to assess perceived comfort, with key comfort metrics including cushioning, fit, comfort, and placement.” These types of tests result in an insole shape, material, and design that provides better overall fit, foot placement, and cushioning.
INSITE ProvenComfort testing is conducted at the Functional Orthopedic Research Center of Excellence (FORCE) Laboratory at Oregon State University-Cascades. FORCE Lab conducts cutting-edge research in the field to prevent injuries, optimize musculoskeletal function, and improve overall well-being and performance.
All INSITE insoles are made using the research processes available to us at FORCE Lab, which provides valuable insights into critical areas of ergonomic performance, including comfort, endurance, and balance.
Our testing methods involve cutting-edge approaches to understanding as much as we can about how people really move. In addition to our ProvenComfort testing methods, we also measure critical metrics like oxygen consumption and muscle responses during certain activities to understand the best insole material, shape, and design to support the type, duration, and intensity of specific movements.
We also use 3D motion capture to track the body’s center of gravity while wearing INSITE insoles. We know how critical it is to assess foot pressure to understand underfoot stability. All of these data points allow us to optimize INSITE insoles for balance.
With INSITE, you can deliver more than a well-fitting, quality shoe to your customers. You can deliver on their expectations for comfort as well. It sounds like a tall order, but with our biomechanical testing and data-driven results, our insoles ensure ultimate comfort, performance, and support.
Through our ProvenComfort method, and our partnership with FORCE Lab, all INSITE insoles are backed by science, testing, data, and experts. Whether you’re designing a line of athletic shoes, workwear shoes, general lifestyle shoes, or orthotics, our insoles can provide the level of comfort your customers want and need.
Last month we sat down with INSITE Biomechanics Research Lab Assistant Lily Bartel to discuss her research as she completes her master’s degree at Oregon State University and how it relates to her work with INSITE.
No matter what sport they’re built for, athletic shoes require insoles that can provide comfort and performance without weighing down the rest of the shoe. But when every gram counts, which insole materials are best for balancing lightweight performance and durability?
Basketball players demand a lot from their feet, and having the right insoles can make a significant difference in comfort, performance, and injury prevention. Here are some key features to look for in insoles for basketball insoles.