| abstract |
The present invention pertains to a resilient shoe insole. The shoe insole is comprised of a resilient material having sufficient thickness in the heel and forefoot region to allow the resilient material to act as a spring, thereby absorbing the impact of a foot and then returning at least 70% of absorbed energy to the foot thereon and providing increased lift and response to the foot and reduced O2 demand in running relative to other insoles for a given activity. In a preferred embodiment, the shoe insole has a heel portion and a forefoot portion, wherein the heel portion is thicker than the forefoot portion. The heel portion is at least 3/8 inch thick and the forefoot portion is at least 1/4 inch thick. In another embodiment, the base is comprised of multiple laminations of the resilient material. In another preferred embodiment, the shoe insole is comprised of a wedge-shaped heel pad comprised of a resilient material which absorbs the maximum impact of the heel of the foot and then returns 70% of absorbed energy to the heel; the heel pad is adapted to fit under a standard sockliner of an athletic shoe and is at least 3/8 inch thick. The heel pad is wedge-shaped with at least an 8 DEG taper such that each step causes the foot to be thrust forward. |