Performance-enhancing socks for energy-efficient human locomotion

Background

Improving the efficiency of human locomotion can enhance endurance, reduce fatigue, and boost athletic performance across a wide range of activities such as walking, running, hiking, and sprinting. These improvements are valuable not only for elite athletes but also for individuals managing age-related declines in mobility or seeking better physical performance in daily life. Most current strategies for optimizing locomotion rely on altering footwear, such as adding carbon fiber plates or modifying midsoles. While effective in some contexts, these methods often restrict natural foot movement, particularly toe-joint flexion, limiting engagement of the foot’s windlass mechanism and reducing biomechanical adaptability.

Technology overview

This innovation consists of athletic socks that apply targeted compression around the metatarsal heads to increase the curvature of the transverse arch. This enhances foot stiffness through cross-axis coupling while preserving natural toe-joint mobility. The socks are made from cotton, synthetic fabrics, and self-adhesive bandage material, offering both flexibility and support.

By increasing transverse arch height, the socks reduce mechanical energy loss during gait and improve the ankle's gear ratio, allowing calf muscles to generate force more efficiently. Preliminary studies suggest reductions in metabolic cost during walking and running, indicating improved locomotor economy. Unlike conventional footwear modifications, this technology works by directly modifying the biomechanics of the foot, not the shoe.