AO3 CRITERIA
The secret to curating our healthy footwear collection
Not all shoes are created equal. Some will help you; and some will hurt you. Yes, you read that right. Beyond the complexities of your unique biomechanical structures, from the moment you put on shoes, you are adding a new variant in your body alignment, that changes your entire kinetic chain. Different shoes will affect different people differently.
The integrity of our footwear lies especially in how we select each model. As experts in footwear construction, we carefully consider the structure and mechanics of footwear according to our three main Align Orthotics, or AO3, criteria.
Always keeping a pulse on fashion trends worldwide, each season we meet with fashion brands to preview their upcoming collections, choose the top trends, then keep only those that meet our AO3 Criteria.
AO CRITERIA 1
REINFORCED HEEL COUNTER
The strength of the shoe that surrounds your heel determines your rearfoot alignment; the stronger it is, the better. A strong heel counter not only provides a suitable foundation for the Align OrthoticTM to function in, it also provides the guidance for your calcaneus (heel bone) to sit properly, with or without an Align OrthoticTM. This feature is most important for Pes Planus and Pes Cavus foot types. It is also beneficial during extended periods of walking.
AO CRITERIA 2
STIFFENED SHANK
AO CRITERIA 3
EFFECTIVE FLEXPOINT
While the A03 Criteria are a basis for curating the collection in the Align Designer Showroom, many other factors in the shoes' construction are at play. It's a small but focused collection designed to take out the barrage of options and guesswork you'll encounter in mass market shoe stores. Here, there are only 'healthy' options and the secret to discovering which are right for you - is your personal shoe shopping tutorial - after we decode your unique biomechanics in our Body Align Assessment.
It's the combination of our medical expertise, appreciation for the art of fashion and beauty; and the desire to have you wearing shoes that will both inspire and heal you.