Given that rocker bottom shoes offer several mechanical remedies, such as aiding in movement and painful joint motion, it’s easy to see why rocker bottoms (apart from orthotic devices) are often referred to as the proverbial “aspirin” for easing temporary and chronic foot issues.īoth rocker bottom shoes and rocker bottom soles are designed to help ease any pain which results from the lack of movement due to an injury or medical condition. The interest in rocker bottoms peaked during the 1950s, but it was not until 1991 that a study done by Schaff and Cavanagh revealed that peak plantar pressures were reduced by 30% in the central, and medial forefoot, including toe regions after using rocker bottoms. The first bottom rocker shoe was designed by a Swiss engineer, Karl Muller, who founded MBT (Masai Barefoot Technology). Rocker soles can replace regular soles on any style of footwear, while rocker bottom shoes are purpose-built. This is to prevent the wearer’s foot from flattening out. In other words, the rocker bottom shoe is a shoe that features a thicker-than-usual sole and a rounded heel.Ī rocker bottom sole is designed to have an arc with a person’s foot at a slight angle. The rocker bottom shoe is defined as a shoe that has contoured out-sole or outsole rocker bar to create a curved anteroposterior profile. One such type of footwear that’s been modified to meet the clinical needs of patients is rocker bottom shoes. To this end, various types of footwear have been modified to improve locomotion and address specific patient needs related to injury prevention and rehabilitation. While traditionally, footwear has been used for protecting one’s feet, it’s increasingly being used as part of rehabilitation for those who are suffering from discomfort or recovering from a foot injury. In the United States, an estimated 23,000 people (both athletes and non-athletes), walk (or rather, limp) into hospital emergency wards in need of medical attention due to an ankle sprain or other foot-related injuries. A Good Day Starts with Comfortable Footwear!