The innovative boot housing and modular foot orthosis design is aimed at reducing footwear weight and loading rates while improving comfort, flexibility and energy return.

In this effort, a multidisciplinary team including the University of Delaware Center for Composite Materials, DIApedia LLC and the University of Washington, developed a novel design of an advanced modular In-Shoe Foot Orthosis (ISFO) and Energy Storage and Return Orthotic (ESRO) device within a new boot container assembly. The high rates of lower extremity injuries in the military point to the urgent need to close the footwear performance gap by providing military personnel with footwear and in- boot orthoses that incorporate up-to-date biomechanical knowledge and state-of-the-art materials. Also, while the provision of in-shoe foot orthoses (ISFOs) is commonplace in commercial athletic and outdoor footwear, similar devices that could be accommodated in an army boot have not received significant attention. While such topics as energy storage and return have been studied in the athletic footwear area, there is no indication that these concepts have been explored for military footwear, other than in the context of energy harvesting.

science has made rapid progress in the last decade and this has led to safer and more efficient footwear for sports and expedition activities.

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