SYMPTOM-FREE RUNNING BEGINS WITH TOEFREEDOM®
A foot that has adapted to shoes with ‘no freedom’ and become ‘shoe-shaped’ is prone to over-pronation during the propulsive or ‘push-off’ phase of running. Over-pronation during pushoff creates the classic compensatory movement patterns at the ankle, knee and hip that which are associated with the most frequently occurring running related injuries (RRIs).
WHAT IS TOEFREEDOM®?
Most running shoes are designed with a ‘no freedom’ toe box which forces the great and lesser toes inwards creating a “shoe-shaped” foot with weak toes and immobile joints. The weak muscles and immobile joints of the great toe are particularly problematic for runners as the great toe is not only the body’s natural pronationcontrol device but is also responsible for up to 10% of the propulsive power produced during‘push-off’.
A running shoe designed with ‘toefreedom®’ allows the toes to spread and interact with the ground as you run, developing the strength and flexibility of all the toes and and the important stabilising and propulsive action of the great toe
Nature. Perfected!
The Ultreya has been created with one, single goal in mind; to help runners experience a lifetime of pain-free running by combining the therapeutic effect of toefreedom® with a level of shock absorption, comfort and durability runners have come to expect from a modern running shoe.
Lee Saxby
Biomechanist
Lee is one of the most recognised coaches for running technique on an international level. His knowledge and experience in running biomechanics and foot function has benefited injured runners, both recreational and elite around the globe. Best-selling author Christopher McDOugall (“Born to run”) as well as the barefoot professor Daniel E. Liebermann (Harvard University) were able to regain their natural athletic abilities through Lee’s coaching methods.
FURTHER MATERIAL
Feet and Footwear: Applying Biological Design and Mismatch Theory to Running Injuries
The Endurance-Running hypothesis proposes that natural selection has shaped humans into endurance-running specialists. Running-related-injury rates between 20-79% suggests modern humans are prone to injury in this species-specifc movement pattern.
Causes and Prevention of Running-Related Injury: An Engineering Perspective
There is a high prevalence of, and lack of a systematic reduction in running-related injuries. Despite decades of research, there remains a lack of consensus about risk factors and solutions for running injury in the scientific literature.
The History of Toefreedom®