Mr_Money said:
Wrong. Seriously, do some research before speaking your mind.
This guy is a consultant for Adidas, Puma, Etonic and Reebok:
http://straws.com/sax_cv.htm
Here's a history of the role sports podiatrists play in athletic shoe design:
Podiatric Thought in Athletic-Shoe Design
By Stephen M. Pribut, DPM and Douglas H. Richie, DPM
Podiatrists first participated in the development of athletic shoe technology in the 1970s. As biomechanical knowledge of foot and leg interactions gained huge momentum in the podiatric medical profession during that decade, the use of corrective devices in shoes achieved widespread popularity. Podiatric medical practitioners commonly added wedges, arch supports, heel cradles, and various cushioning devices to the existing footwear of athletic patients to treat their injuries and enhance their comfort. Soon, some podiatrists offered these technologies to athletic-footwear companies. The subsequent incorporation of such devices into athletic shoes led to monumental success for the manufacturer and redefined the standards within the industry.
The most notable technologies developed by podiatrists in the 1970s were the Dynamic Heel Cradle, for Etonic, by Rob Roy McGregor, DPM, and the varus ?kinetic? midsole wedges for Brooks, by Steve Subotnick, DPM. In the 1980s, Nike incorporated Dr. Harry Hlavac?s cobra pad into the company?s highly successful running shoe, the Equator. Also, Howard Dannenberg, DPM, developed and patented the Kinetic Wedge? addition to the midsole and outsole of a line of Brooks running shoes that became very successful for several years and that formed the foundation of the entire Brooks running-shoe line.
In l981, Joe Ellis, DPM, of La Jolla, California, working closely with Asics, developed the first midsole technology that incorporated medial posting in the midsole section of the running shoe. Today, dual-density midsoles are the standard motion-control feature utilized by virtually every athletic-shoe company in the world. Asics has continued to work with sports podiatrists since the 1980s. Michael Polchaninoff, DPM, the father of the electrodynogram (EDG), also consulted with Asics during the early phases of the implementation of the firm?s Gel technology. Together with Asics, the Langer Biomechanics Group codeveloped the Rx running-shoe model that was specially designed to function with a custom functional foot orthosis.
Fitting orthotics into running shoes can sometimes be a challenge, but New Balance has consistently made shoes that readily accept orthotics. New Balance has also made certain that its shoes came in various widths, a need that most other manufacturers have not attempted to deal with until recently.
During the 1990s, William Olson, DPM, worked closely with many major athletic-shoe manufacturers who wanted to incorporate his TL composite invention into various athletic shoes, including running, basketball, and in-line skating shoes. The TL composite was a proven success in the orthotic marketplace and thus had great credibility and appeal as a high-performance material for use in constructing athletic shoes. The device was first used in the ?Air Jordan 12? basketball shoe during the middle of the 1990s and has been used in every Air Jordan model since.
Many of the companies that utilized podiatric medical technologies also consulted with sports podiatrists to assist in marketing and education. Companies often have proudly promoted new designs, giving full credit to the sports podiatrist who provided the initial invention. During the 1980s, for example, Tom Amberry, DPM, became involved with, and visible in, Vans? educational and marketing programs.
Source:
http://www.drpribut.com/sports/sneaker_odyssey.html
