| OPIS |
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| At OPIS, we define parameters for athletic footwear. We recognize that proper footwear reduces injuries and enhances athletic performance by improving the biomechanics of the lower extremity. The goal of OPIS is to put people into athletic footwear that is ideal for their gender, physical stature, physical activity and foot pattern (biomechanics). | |||
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Testing, Clinical Observations and Case Studies Parameters for footwear have been established by correlating end product testing procedures with clinical observations and case studies. At OPIS, we believe that in order to properly recommend a shoe, one must know, quantitatively, how a shoe can support and control two basic forces that occur in running and walking activities; those two forces are torsion (recognized in pronation and supination) and compression (recognized in foot strike). |
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TCI = Stability Torsional force, if not properly controlled, can contribute to, or even cause, a variety of injuries (knee pain, shin splints, ilio-tibial band syndrome, etc). At OPIS, we measure and quantify the ability of a shoe to control torsion by twisting a shoe around its long axis (from the heel to the first metatarsal) through a fixed degree of motion. The resistance to twisting is measured in inch-pounds (a torque unit); this measurement is the Torsion Control Index (TCI). A higher TCI indicates greater torsional control (greater stability) in a shoe |
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VCI = Vertical Support The second important parameter of a shoe is its ability to provide proper vertical support, which reduces impact forces during the weight-bearing phase of running and walking. Proper vertical support also improves the rebound effect of the shoes and controls heel deviations, which assist in controlling foot torsion (pronation and supination). At OPIS, we measure the vertical support by compressing the midsole to a fixed PSI (pounds per square inch). The amount of compression at this PSI, measured in millimeters, indicates a shoe's vertical support, and is called the Vertical Compression Index (VCI). A higher VCI indicates a softer midsole. In general, people of lighter stature perform well in shoes with softer midsoles, while those of heavier stature generally require shoes with a firm midsole. A common analogy used is to the suspension of an automobile: heavier cars necessitate a sturdier suspension. |
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Numbers Don't Lie Once tested, TCIs and VCIs of shoes are quantified and categorized into three levels of support; Level 1 is maximum; Level 2 is moderate and Level 3 is minimum. Quantitatively knowing what a shoe provides in support allows for the recommendation of the ideal shoe. |
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3 pt Gait Analysis + Case Studies = 5000 shoes per year |
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A correlation of quantitative results and clinical observations is completed through the data accumulated from the sports medicine clinic affiliated with OPIS. We fit over 5,000 pairs of shoes a year, and all employees are required to have completed coursework in anatomy, kinesiology and sports medicine. All of those using OPIS utilize a 3-point visual gait analysis, looking for foot rotation (pronation), tibial rotation and calcaneal deviation (It is necessary to perform a gait analysis with the individual barefoot in order to accurately recognize a natural, un-corrected foot pattern). Variables considered in determining proper support levels and shoe selection include an individual’s gait, gender, stature, activity and orthopedic maladies. Each customer is then placed in a shoe that has been tested and quantified to have the proper parameters to meet that individual’s needs.
Case studies are effective tools in establishing and substantiating shoe parameters. Through our clinical affiliation, we are able to document instances of those individuals having injuries related to running and walking activities. These individuals are required to bring in their current shoes to be evaluated for their level of vertical and torsional support. If the current shoes are inappropriate in meeting the individual’s needs, we recommend a shoe with parameters more likely to relieve the pain of relevant injuries; follow-up calls are made in two to three weeks for subjective feedback on OPIS recommendations. |
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| OPIS strives to develop parameters for athletic footwear so that consumers, retailers and manufactures can benefit from a system of standards that will lead to the selection of appropriate footwear for any individual, and furthermore provide the optimal footwear for enhancing performance and reducing injuries. | |||
