For centuries, the running shoe and footwear industry has worked with symmetrical lasts that are tapered at the front. However, this last shape severely impairs the functionality of the naturally asymmetrical foot: The big toe can no longer fulfil its central function. As the strongest structure in the foot, it stabilises and has the potential to absorb 10% of the force in the propulsive phase! However, if it has no space and is squeezed, this does not work, the entire body becomes unbalanced and the strength potential is not utilised. To compensate for this instability, pronation supports and control mechanisms have been built into shoes for decades or orthopaedists and podiatrists prescribe insoles to compensate.
People have resigned themselves to symptom relief instead of getting to the root of the problem and eliminating it permanently. This is where Joe Nimble shoes come in: Together with renowned running coach and biomechanist Lee Saxby and an expert team of biomechanists, technicians, engineers, industrial designers and shoe industry professionals, we at Joe Nimble have developed a revolutionary shoe design for more toefreedom (toefreedom®) and big toe function (ToePilot®).
A wider, anatomically correct toe box allows the toes to perform their natural stabilising function during the ground contact phase of running, thus protecting the stabilising muscles from overloading. Our lasts are modelled on the natural shape of the foot and give the toes the freedom they need to perform a natural running style. This protects joints and prevents injuries.