ROCKER SOLE REVOLUTION
movement from heel to toe, decreasing impact
forces, spreading the load across the foot more
evenly and minimizing stresses higher up in
the kinetic chain. Normally of course, a shoe
flexes across the metatarsal heads on a slight
transverse angle, this is called the ‘break’ of the
shoe in the forepart. The MBT midsole rocker
creates a natural instability underfoot with
its integrated (convex) balancing area, requir-
ing an active and controlled rolling motion
with each step. This function, combined with
a rigid forepart in the shoe may be of use for
those with functional hallux limitus; though
it may equally inhibit the normal flexibility of
the 1st MTP joint and windlass mechanism in
those with normal functioning feet. In certain
brands of ‘rocker soled’ shoes the claim is simi-
lar, even though they are built with a neutral
sagittal plane sole, they claim the same effect
is achieved by using varying density materials
imitating a midsole rocker effect in the sagittal
( Fig.3 )
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Pedorthic Footcare Association | www.pedorthics.org
plane without the introduction of a mechanical
fulcrum.
A LEGACY OF FOOTWEAR MARKETING
This is where ‘shoe marketeering’ enters into
the concept. Rocker soles used in footwear
up until this century, where used strictly for
medical purposes, as explained above. They are
still a reliable treatment modality for pedor-
thic and podiatric practitioners. Now, that the
words ‘instability underfoot’ has entered into
the lifestyle footwear lexicon (compliments of
MBT), (Fig.3) there has been a rush to justify
the marketing claims made by its many imita-
tors. Many copiers turned to biomechanists to
explain and justify the postural changes that
rocker soles were introducing, not so much on
the feet (that was well known from the medi-
cal side) but on the whole body giving rise to