Nike creates a state-of-the-art footwear for amputee athletes

Over the years, branded sportswear have always accentuated upon that 'larger than life' aura of sport-stars and athletes around the world. But this time, for a change, it is not the essence, but the utter functionality of a sportswear that has impressed us with its virtuousness. We are talking about the advanced conception of Nike's prosthetic running sole. Specifically created for amputee athletes, the conscientious contraption acts as a flexible yet sturdy artificial limb.

Prosthetic running sole

Christened simply as the 'Nike Running Sole', the design is the fruit of the collaboration of sporting goods giant Nike and orthopedic innovators Össur. Basically, the 'shoe' entails two separate components: a specially made adjustable sole from Nike that can be fitted to the other component, Össur's indigenous 'flex-run' prosthetic running blade.

Coming to the unique structural attribute of the sole, this progressive technology from Nike involves a stacked design, featuring a stretch rubber leash over a rubber waffle outsole. The materials used for the novel contrivance includes reused components from earlier shoes, polyurethane foam, 'aeroply' (a form of thermal plastic urethane) and nylon plastic for affixing the top part of the sole with the flexible blade.

Already touted as being among the first commercial outsoles for handicapped sportspeople, the beneficial impact of this fastidious design can have far reaching consequences for amputee runners. Previously, they had to rely on makeshift contraptions, most of which were homemade and lacking in user convenience as well as quality. But now, with the ideas and technologies propagated by two of the world's leading sports companies, the end result should insinuate both practicality and efficiency. And also, we shouldn't forget about the deft touch of sustainable recycling used in the manufacturing process.

Via: DesignBoom