Penguins Aren’t The Only Ones with Happy Feet

While we don’t claim that our shoes can cure ailments, our innovative shock dispersion system is engineered to mitigate the risk of injuries. Each foot-to-ground contact generates a shockwave, manifesting as vibrations that permeate the entire body, resulting in continuous micro-traumas. In activities like Irish dancing, where foot strikes are forceful and frequent, these shockwaves lead to persistent micro-traumas, contributing to dancer-specific conditions such as periostitis, epiphysitis, fractures, and various injuries affecting the feet, knees, and spinal column. Reducing the occurrence of micro-traumas becomes crucial in minimizing potential injuries.

Every Ryan & O’Donnell shoe incorporates a full insole layer made of NOENE. NOENE boasts an impressive up to 98% reduction in rebound, maintaining this efficiency throughout its approximately two-year lifespan. It has successfully undergone rigorous medical testing, earning the distinction of being the sole shock-dispersing insole classified as a class 1 medical device, exclusively featured in Ryan & O’Donnell dance shoes.

Derived from the Italian NO-Energia-NEgativa, meaning No Negative Energy, NOENE is seamlessly integrated into every Ryan & O’Donnell shoe. The material is so thin that it seamlessly replaces the regular inner sole without compromising sensation or flexibility. Its integration during the production process ensures zero movement within the shoe during dancing, eliminating the typical shifting associated with additional insoles.

The Biomechanics Laboratory at the University of Brussels conducted tests measuring the forces transmitted through a person running and walking, particularly due to foot-ground impact. These measurements utilized sensors embedded in the footwear and were analyzed using a Light Electronic Gait Analyser. A comparison was drawn between conventional footwear and footwear featuring a 2mm thick Noene foam plantar insert.

Under dynamic conditions with a frequency of 70 steps per minute, equivalent to a cycle of 860 milliseconds, the time during which return forces act accounted for about one-third of the cycle. The measurements at the heel, where the lateral and medial tubercles are located—bearing the initial and primary shock—revealed that ordinary footwear registered a maximum response pressure of 7.6 N/mm2, while Noene insert footwear exhibited 6.4 N/mm2. With Noene inserts, the duration of return force decreased by 20%, and the total force exerted, calculated as the product of momentary forces and their duration time, was reduced by 40%. The utilization of Noene in footwear not only diminishes fatigue but also mitigates the risk of micro-traumas on osteocartilage structures, addressing the root causes of tendinitis and periostitis.