PHP Research Study

SCIENCE-BACKED TECHNOLOGY, BUILT INTO EVERY PAIR

Independent Study Confirms FRANKIE4’s Heel Pain Benefits

SCIENCE-BACKED TECHNOLOGY, BUILT INTO EVERY PAIR

Independent Study Confirms FRANKIE4’s Heel Pain Benefits

STUDY SUMMARY

KEY RESULTS

WHO WAS INVOLVED

WATCH & LISTEN

CONCLUSION

Science-Backed Comfort from FRANKIE4

STUDY SUMMARY

Founded over 15 years ago by podiatrists, FRANKIE4 was built on the belief that footwear can and should do more than just look good: it should actively support foot health and comfort every day.

Plantar heel pain (PHP) affects 1 in 10 people, and while footwear is often recommended to reduce tissue stress during standing and walking, limited research has guided effective shoe design for this condition. To address this, FRANKIE4 partnered with Queensland University of Technology (QUT, a leading Australian research institution) on an independent, government co-funded, ethics-approved study to explore how everyday footwear impacts women living with heel pain.

This groundbreaking research is the first to focus on women’s everyday footwear (not just athletic shoes) using both biomechanical measurements and patient-reported comfort. The study, focused on women with plantar heel pain, found our Jackie sneakers and Sole Hero® Footbed deliver immediate biomechanical benefits.

The study: “Immediate Effects of Footwear Design on In‐Shoe Plantar Pressures, Impact Forces and Comfort in Women With Plantar Heel Pain”. Read the article here¹.

STUDY PARTICIPANTS

29 women with symptomatic PHP (mean age 47, ranging from 24 to 73) tested six randomized footwear conditions. The test shoe, our sneaker Jackie, featured a compressible polyurethane outsole with a 14-mm heel-to-toe pitch, compared to a control shoe with a firmer rubber outsole and 4-mm pitch. Five different insoles varying in material, density, and arch contouring were also evaluated within the test shoe.

RIGOROUS, INDEPENDENT METHODOLOGY

This study was fully independent. FRANKIE4 stepped back from data collection, analysis, and reporting to ensure unbiased results. It was ethics-approved and conducted using a rigorous methodology that included randomized testing order, validated comfort scales, rest breaks, and controlled bias.

“It has been a privilege to work with FRANKIE4 on this innovative project. I look forward to seeing more evidence come to light about the importance of footwear design for foot health!”

DR SHEREE HURN | PODIATRIST & SENIOR LECTURER, QUT

STUDY SUMMARY

Founded over 15 years ago by podiatrists, FRANKIE4 was built on the belief that footwear can and should do more than just look good: it should actively support foot health and comfort every day.

Plantar heel pain (PHP) affects 1 in 10 people, and while footwear is often recommended to reduce tissue stress during standing and walking, limited research has guided effective shoe design for this condition. To address this, FRANKIE4 partnered with Queensland University of Technology (QUT) on an independent, government-funded, ethics-approved study to explore how everyday footwear impacts women living with heel pain.

This groundbreaking research is the first to focus on women’s everyday footwear (not just athletic shoes) using both biomechanical measurements and patient-reported comfort. The study, focused on women with plantar heel pain, found our Jackie sneakers and Sole Hero® Footbed deliver immediate biomechanical benefits.

The study: “Immediate Effects of Footwear Design on In‐Shoe Plantar Pressures, Impact Forces and Comfort in Women With Plantar Heel Pain”. Read the article here¹.

Key Results

• 15% reduction in peak heel pressure from shoe design alone.

• Additional 12% reduction with contoured insoles.

• 30% reduction in impact loading rate due to shoe design (inserts did not affect this). Loading rate refers to how quickly force is applied to the foot after the heel strikes the ground during walking; reducing it helps soften impact.

• FRANKIE4’s Sole Hero® Footbed performed biomechanically comparable to prefabricated orthotics, with higher comfort ratings.

• No negative trade-offs: reducing heel pressure did not increase pressure elsewhere on the foot.

• 64% better overall underfoot comfort reported by women with heel pain wearing FRANKIE4 sneakers, with up to 67% improvement specifically at the heel.

• Significantly higher comfort ratings in every foot region; heel, midfoot, forefoot, and overall.

Who Was Involved

This study was led by a team of expert researchers and clinicians including:

Melinda M. Franettovich Smith (UQ)
Wolbert van den Hoorn (QUT and affiliated institutions)
Adele van den Hoek (QUT and affiliated institutions)
Graham Kerr (QUT)
Sheree E. Hurn (QUT)

Together, they ensured the study was conducted to the highest standards of scientific rigor and ethical practice.

Watch & Listen

Get deeper insights directly from the researchers and the FRANKIE4 team as they discuss the study’s design, findings, and what it means for women living with heel pain. Discover how FRANKIE4’s footwear is transforming comfort through science.

LISTEN ON SPOTIFY

In Conclusion

All FRANKIE4 sneakers, including styles beyond the tested Jackie sneaker, are designed using the same proven biomechanical principles. This means you get evidence-backed comfort and support, validated by independent research rather than just marketing claims.

Our innovative outsole design, featuring compressible materials and a carefully engineered heel pitch, significantly reduces heel pressure and impact forces. When paired with our contoured footbeds, the combination delivers the best results for immediate relief and comfort.

FRANKIE4 footwear is made for everyday life because supportive shoes matter most in the styles you wear all day long, not just for sports. Beyond comfort and relief, wearing supportive shoes can even help prevent foot pain before it starts.

What's Next?

Building on these findings, upcoming research will dive deeper into how aesthetics, comfort, and utility work together in footwear design. We’re exploring how stylish design can enhance not just how shoes look, but how they function and feel, because great footwear should never compromise on any front.

1. Franettovich Smith, M.M., van den Hoorn, W., van den Hoek, A., Kerr, G., & Hurn, S.E. (2025). Immediate effects of footwear design on in-shoe plantar pressures, impact forces and comfort in women with plantar heel pain. Journal of Foot and Ankle Research, 18(2). https://doi.org/10.1002/jfa2.70055

*Based on a 2025 independent study by QUT (Australia) in 2025 with 29 women with symptomatic Plantar Heel Pain. Results specific to the Jackie sneaker and Sole Hero Footbed tested. Individual experiences may vary. Comfort ratings are self-reported by study participants and may not reflect results for all wearers. This product is not a medical device and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any medical condition.