BIOMORPHIC FIT™ TAKES IGS TECHNOLOGY TO AN UPPER LEVEL

asics Impact Guidance System has been the benchmark performance shoe technology for more than 3 years. Continuously evolving, the I.G.S. development programme that has seen major advancements in cushioning and midsole construction, such as the first Windlass Mechanics shoe, the DS Trainer, and now for the first time, the development of a complimentary upper technology called BIOMORPHIC FIT™.

asics Impact Guidance System is the result of leading edge research, prompting change that has led to the development of one the most sophisticated integrated technical running systems ever.

I.G.S. is a technical design philosophy – not just a single design feature in isolation – but a series of interdependent components in the midsole and outsole designed to help the shoe work with the foot and address the deformation that occurs naturally in the foot – normal and important deformation.

The three primary goals of I.G.S. are:

1. To attenuate shock at heel strike.
2. Guide the foot to a neutral position at mid stance.
3. Maintain the most natural position possible throughout propulsion.

I.G.S. is a multi-plane deformation system developed to provide shock attenuation and stability, whilst allowing the foot to act as naturally as possible.

Multi-plane deformation occurs in three directions, forward, lateral and rotational.

Forward and lateral deformation is important in the rear foot and allows the materials of the midsole and outsole to behave very much the same as the fatty tissue does in the heel during initial impact. The fatty tissue is capable of compressing, reforming and rebounding in response to the varying loads applied at impact.

Multi-plane deformation in the forefoot achieves a different function. The fatty tissue beneath the ball of the foot is responsible for allowing rotation to occur as the loading forces of the foot are rapidly transferring from the outside of the mid foot to the centre of the ball of the foot and eventually through the end of the big toe as the foot achieves propulsion. The fatty tissue achieves predominantly rotational deformation.

I.G.S. allows these complex patterns of deformation to occur and the technology has now crossed categories to be included in other asics sports shoes including trail, tennis, volleyball and also fitness walking.

asics commitment to further defining and developing I.G.S. technology is complete. Ultra sophisticated computer technology allows asics scientists to look inside the foot, and for the first time understand the interaction between the foot and the shoe in real time as it happens. They now understand how the complex I.G.S. components work together to deliver exceptional cushioning from the time of initial impact, right through to propulsion.

Apart from its seminal role in providing cushioning, I.G.S. is fundamentally responsible for providing stability to the foot as it progresses from heel contact, to foot flat and on to propulsion. The final role of I.G.S. is proprioception. Arguably the most important function of modern athletic footwear, proprioception is the transmission of nerve signals from the muscles and the sole of the foot to the brain. Proprioception enables the athlete to make the tiny adjustments in style and efficiency that are so important to injury free running.