Definition: Spira shoes are Smart Footwear because they were developed to ease heel and foot pain. The creators, having heel and foot pain, actually taped springs to the shoes to see if they could possibly make walking easier. Even on that first very crude attempt, they felt like they were walking on a bed and knew it could be done.
The shoes have titanium springs in the sole of the shoe. The springs are at the heel and metatarsal areas in some shoes and at the heel only in others. The springs allow less impact on the foot and joints (20% less) and give a push at toe off (87% more than the foot alone provides). In fact, the shoes are banned from some events in competitive track and field, considered too much of an unnatural competitive advantage. Where the shoes have springs in the forefoot, the spring creates a firm and non-flexible forefoot sole and the advantages that come with that.
For those who participate in high impact sports, it is recommended they rotate their workouts using Spira shoes with other athletic shoes. This reduces long term wear and tear on joints and tendons.
Benefits: These shoes reduce step shock and joint wear and tear tremendously, much as working out on elliptical devices provides the benefits of weight bearing exercise without the adverse and unnecessary negative effect wear and tear on feet and joints. The shoes look like any other walking or running shoe and serve well as a work shoe.
Text: Copyright 2007-2010 Carole Romig Image: All: Spira.com
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