Science · 2026-11-04 · Morning briefing

Foot-stiffening socks reduce running effort by 2%

Researchers at the University of Texas at Austin have developed socks that reduce the metabolic cost of running by 2%. The design incorporates three tightly-knitted 1-millimetre bands around the ball of the foot, applying 24 times more pressure than a standard sock to increase foot stiffness. In a trial of 12 adults, the socks lowered energy expenditure by an amount equivalent to an average person losing 2 kilograms of body weight.

The developers estimate the socks could shave one to two minutes off an elite marathon time and hope to see them used in the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics. The concept builds on the natural stiffness of the human foot, an evolutionary trait that aided bipedalism after diverging from chimpanzees 6 million years ago. The researchers are already working with shoe company New Balance to commercialise the design.

This approach succeeded where previous attempts using stiff-soled shoes failed. According to an expert at the University of Oxford, the key insight was to add stiffness without restricting the foot's final push-off motion. A simple sock may have solved a biomechanical puzzle that eluded more complex footwear.

Summary written by Cup of News with AI from the sources below. Check the originals for the full story.

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• Feet-stiffening socks could help you run further for longer
• My Happy Feet Socks Under Review: The Patented Toe Alignment Socks That Reduce Foot Pain Naturally

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