General Foot Health
About Naboso
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 proudly match this evidence-based texture 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. 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
Currently at Naboso, we have three products: our proprioceptive mats, our proprioceptive insoles, and our proprioceptive gym flooring tiles. Each of these products integrates our patent-pending Naboso material. The Naboso Proprioceptive Mats can be integrated into all barefoot training and rehab exercises, including but not limited to yoga, Pilates, bodyweight training, movement prep, and myofascial work.
Our Naboso Proprioceptive Insoles are offered in three unique levels of stimulation which is based on textural design: Activation, Neuro, and Performance. We are particularly excited about the launch of our proprioceptive insoles and the impact they will have in the medical, performance, and wellness industries.
Evolution of surface science
Naboso was founded by Podiatrist, Human Movement Specialist, and Global Barefoot Science Leader 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.
