The Sensory Side of Strong Feet
Naboso, meaning "barefoot" in Czech, is the first-ever small nerve proprioceptive material commercially available and designed for the purpose of improving posture and enhancing movement. Through our innovative products we are dedicated to helping impact lives in the categories of neurorehabilitation, human performance, and wellness.
Why barefoot science?
The skin on the bottom of the foot contains thousands of (small nerve) mechanoreceptors, which are sensitive to different stimuli including texture, vibration, skin stretch, deep pressure, and light touch. When stimulated, these nerves play an important role in how we maintain upright stance, activate our postural muscles, and dynamically control impact forces.
One of the key features of Naboso is the evidence-based texture that is integrated throughout the material. Several studies, including the 2011 study by Hatton et al, demonstrated that specific textures will actually improve balance and stability by reducing medial lateral sway. At Naboso, we have proudly take this research and developed our own patent-pending texture that is defined by a unique shape, height, and distance to ensure that we get the most accurate stimulation of the nervous system.
Another feature of Naboso is our evidence-based hardness of the material, also known as durometer. Again based on research, studies have supported that harder surfaces more effectively stimulate the nervous system and provide increased proprioceptive input from the ground up. A 2012 study by Iglesias et al, demonstrated that the harder the insole studied, the greater the reduction in medial lateral sway.
Our innovative products
At Naboso, we offer a full collection of sensory products including our insoles, socks, footwear, mats and release tools. Each of these products integrates our patent-pending Naboso texture and design to uniquely wake and strength the feet.
Our Sensory Insoles are offered in four unique levels of stimulation which is based on textural design: Performance, Activation, Neuro, and Duo. We are particularly excited about the launch of our Duo Insoles as this is a dual sided insole to allow the user to alternate side and provide their nervous system textured variability.
Our Sensory Socks are the only textured socks on the market which are designed to bring foot awareness and foot recovery to a variety of settings. Offered in studio, ankle and knee high our stimulating socks change the way your foot bridges body and brain.
Our Sensory Mats can be integrated into any barefoot training or rehab exercises, including but not limited to yoga, Pilates, bodyweight training, movement prep, and myofascial work. We have also found many people love to use our Standing Mat in their home such as at their standing desk or next to their kitchen sink.
Evolution of surface science
Naboso was founded by functional podiatrist, human movement specialist Dr. Emily Splichal of New York City. Dr. Splichal has dedicated her medical career to teaching professionals and patients worldwide the power of activating the nervous system and establishing what she calls foot to core stability—from the ground up.
Throughout Dr. Splichal's teachings she began to notice that as soon as people activated their nervous system they would then train on surfaces that would immediately de-activate the feet and delay the nervous system again. What we train on, whether it be a yoga mat or AstroTurf, ultimately influences how our foot activates and communicates with the rest of our nervous system. This is especially important when we are training barefoot or focusing on movements that require rapid stabilization.
No training surface to date has been designed to specifically target the small nerve proprioceptors on the bottom of the feet. Dr. Splichal knew that the time was right and the industry was ready for a material specific to the barefoot stimulation—and thus began the evolution of Naboso.
