This article is part of the supplement: 1st Congress of the International Foot & Ankle Biomechanics (i-FAB) community .

Keynote presentation

The role of research in the development of athletic footwear

Mario Lafortune

Nike Sport Research Laboratory, USA

author email corresponding author email

Journal of Foot and Ankle Research 2008, 1(Suppl 1):K3doi:10.1186/1757-1146-1-S1-K3

Published:	26 September 2008

First paragraph (this article has no abstract)

The three main needs of athletes are performance, injury protection and comfort. Footwear enhances performance through increases in traction and biomechanical efficiency. Footwear protects the foot at the interface with the ground and the entire body against the forces resulting from repeated feet-ground impacts. Footwear can also reduce injuries by correcting for the locomotor system static structural misalignments. Footwear uppers, insoles or sockliners being considered upper elements, are responsible to maintain the feet over the shoe soles. Uppers fit is most important to athletes' comfort.