Innovative Footwear Solutions for Active Recovery: A Practical Approach to Enhancing Peripheral Circulation

Abstract

The importance of effective recovery strategies in reducing fatigue, enhancing performance, and preventing injuries has driven interest in evaluating innovative footwear solutions. This study aimed to investigate the role of different footwear types in enhancing peripheral circulation, focusing on their ability to influence blood oxygenation and delivery. By analyzing changes in oxygenated hemoglobin (O2Hb) and deoxygenated hemoglobin (HHb), this research provides insights into the physiological impact of footwear during recovery. Four footwear conditions—OOFOS recovery shoes, HOKA footwear, standard shoes, and barefoot—were tested across multiple subjects to evaluate their influence on circulatory dynamics. To ensure accuracy, steady-state values were calculated by averaging the last 3000 data points from each trial, providing a robust baseline for comparison. The analysis included comparisons of O2Hb, HHb, and total hemoglobin (tHb) to determine the effectiveness of each condition in enhancing peripheral circulation. While the statistical analysis revealed no significant differences between footwear conditions, the results identified distinct trends. Notably, OOFOS footwear exhibited the highest delta in O2Hb and HHb differences and demonstrated favorable trends in tHb, suggesting its potential to enhance peripheral oxygenation and recovery. These findings underscore the potential of specialized footwear, such as OOFOS, in promoting peripheral circulation and recovery. However, further research is required to validate these observations and explore their implications for athletic and clinical applications. This study contributes to the growing interest in leveraging biomechanical and material design innovations to optimize recovery processes.

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