IN CONVERSATION WITH

WITH DR KIK LILLEY

Everything You Need To
Know About
Biomechanical Shoes

Dr Kim Lilley, our in-house expert, provides a masterclass in biomechanics

Biomechanics: it’s a word most of us are familiar with, but what actually does it mean? Enter Dr Kim Lilley – our in-house expert, who has a PHD in the field and over 11 years of experience innovating the technologies in our footwear. From the wonderfully scientific to how biomechanical shoes positively impact your daily life and wellbeing, we spoke to Dr Kim to answer your questions. 

What is biomechanics?

Biomechanics is the study of the principles behind movement and structure. It combines physics, engineering, and biology to understand the interactions between the musculoskeletal system, muscles, and external forces, and the impact this has on your body. Biomechanics can be used to analyse movement patterns, performance, injury prevention, and rehabilitation.

How does our choice of footwear impact biomechanics?

It has a huge impact, especially in activities such as walking, running, and sports. Different types of shoes can affect the way our feet strike the ground, alter our gait patterns, change joint angles, and influence muscle activation, ultimately affecting our overall biomechanics.

"We design bbiomechanical shoes with specific features that aim to enhance the natural way the foot moves, providing comfort and support for all-day wear."

How do you and your team use biomechanics when creating FitFlop shoes?

It all comes down to enhancing the natural way the foot moves so you move better and feel great every single day. When designing biomechanical shoes, the angles, density and flexibility of the upper and sole are calculated to work with your body’s alignment and natural motion. At FitFlop, we’ve engineered various technologies such as Microwobbleboard™, Anatomicush™, iQushion™, Neodynamic™, and more, which help to distribute pressure evenly across the foot and reduce the impact on joints. Our end goal for every shoe we create is to achieve maximum comfort and minimum ergonomic friction for the wearer. 

What is the impact of biomechanical footwear on our movement?

Rigid and supportive shoes are commonly used in high-level activity and sports to provide stability to the foot during rapid directional changes, whereas minimalist shoes allow more natural foot movement. So, if you’re looking to improve your performance and prevent injury, it’s best to wear properly fitting shoes that are tailored to your biomechanical needs and aligned with your body. That’s why we rigorously test all of our footwear at the Human Performance Lab in Calgary, Canada — this allows us to study how our shoes affect muscle activity, optimise pressure diffusion and body alignment.  

What are some key things to look for in shoes to support your body’s natural alignment?

At FitFlop, we ensure that all of our designs work with your body, and not against it — that’s why we create technologies that naturally optimise your posture and reduce muscle fatigue. It’s key for our shoes to follow the natural contouring of your foot, with superior heel support and cushioning to support you when walking or standing (think: less strain underfoot, more energy throughout the day). It’s also important for shoes to be lightweight, as this helps to help avoid unnecessary stress on your muscles and joints. Flexibility is key too, so that your feet can move naturally without restraint. It’s about ultimate freedom to move, with crucial biomechanically engineered support.  

Want to know more? Learn about all of our biomechanically engineered technologies.