An improved shoe, promoting a heel-to-toe motion of a foot, comprising an outsole and an upper part. The outsole has a contraction extending to a first area where a back of the foot is located. The upper part has a heel guide, including one of a heelplate and a flexible heel brace, which are arranged in a second area where the heel of the foot is located, such that an Achilles tendon of the foot is free.

An article of footwear includes a sole assembly and an upper secured to the sole assembly. A sole plate is positioned between the upper and the sole assembly. The sole plate includes a midfoot member comprising a medial member having a base plate and at least one medial pillar extending upwardly from a medial edge of the base plate; with the base plate having a substantially planar finger extending forwardly and configured to extend under a foot of a user; and a lateral member having at least one lateral pillar extending upwardly from a lateral edge thereof. A forefoot member has at least one finger extending upwardly along an exterior surface of the upper.

An orthotic insole usable in an article for footwear for aligning a foot with its lower leg to provide balance and support having a support base, an expandable rail section moveable between a receiving position and a grabbed position around an outer edge of the foot, and an expandable rail section moveable from the receiving position to the grabbed position when the foot is placed in the article of footwear.

A sole component for an article of women's footwear intended to address biomechanical characteristics unique to women. The sole component includes a lateral alignment portion underlying and extending through a region beneath the distal head of the second metatarsal, the distal head of the fifth metatarsal and the proximal head of the fifth metatarsal, and not into the flex zone ahead of the distal heads of metatarsals. The lateral alignment portion provides relatively firm resistance to compression. The sole component may further include a forefoot fixing portion underlying the distal head of the fifth metatarsal. The forefoot fixing portion provides relatively soft resistance to compression. In some embodiments, the sole component may also include a medial alignment portion extending along the medial side of the component from the heel through the arch.

The present application teaches a device and method for adjusting the width, girth, and foot shape of an article of footwear. Lasting boards having different configurations and alternate positions for selectively affixing various portions of an upper can be used to adjust and customize the fit of an article of footwear for an individual wearer. The lasting board can also comprise a spring element which can provide improved cushioning, stability, running economy, and a long service life. Unlike the conventional foam materials presently being used by the footwear industry, the spring element is not substantially subject to compression set degradation and can provide a relatively long service life. The components of the article of footwear including the upper, insole, lasting board and/or spring element, and sole including possible midsole and outsole portions can be selected from a range of options, and can be easily removed and replaced, as desired. Further, the relative configuration and functional relationship as between the forefoot, midfoot and rearfoot areas of the article of footwear can be readily modified and adjusted. Accordingly, the article of footwear can be customized by a wearer or specially configured for a select target population in order to optimize desired performance criteria. Moreover, the present invention teaches a novel method of manufacturing an article of footwear, and also, a novel way of doing both retail and Internet business.