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Asymmetric Heel

The asymmetric heel is an Asics brand heel construction manufactured to reduce the risk of injury for people whose feet tend to overpronate. The heel itself was designed to enable the foot to make a smoother transition from initial impact to toe-off. The definition of overpronation is that the foot tends to excessively roll inward which can cause injury to the knee and hip, especially for those who run considerable amounts of distance.  Although these injuries typically develop over time, the problems could start immediately depending on how excessive the overpronation is.

People who overpronate tend to have a low to normal foot arch making the need for stability crucial. The asymmetric design controls the movement of the heel, making it land straighter and smoother so the foot doesn't roll inwards too much before toe-off. The movement is controlled so that the heel lands at the proper angle to help prevent the degree of overpronation.

The heel itself is constructed with a heavy plastic that holds the heel in place so that it does not move inside of the shoe. The asymmetric heel cannot be viewed from the outside of the shoe, but it does make the shoe itself more rigid. The technology assumes that if the heel lands correctly that the rest of the foot will proceed in accordance. Overpronation can be a serious problem that will inhibit a person from performing their regular athletic activities. The asymmetric heel found specifically in the Asics brand will help to curb the problem of overpronation in people with a low to normal arch.