When children are jumping, their lower limb joints (such as knee joints and ankle joints) need to withstand an impact force 3-5 times their body weight. Long-term excessive impact can easily lead to abnormal bone development or sports injuries.
The core of shock absorption technology is to use elastic materials to absorb impact energy. For example, midsole materials such as EVA (ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer) and PU (polyurethane) achieve buffering through the compression and rebound of molecular chains. When a child's foot lands on the ground, the material is compressed and deformed, converting the vertical impact force into lateral deformation energy, thereby reducing the instantaneous pressure on the joint. Experimental data show that high-quality EVA materials can reduce the peak impact force by 20%-30%, significantly reducing the risk of micro-injury to articular cartilage.
Air cushion shock absorption disperses the impact force through the pressure difference of the closed air chamber. Taking the "super elastic silk technology" of Jordan children's running shoes as an example, the flat air cushion wraps the fiber filaments. When compressed, the gas in the air cushion is compressed, and the fiber filaments form a spherical structure to release the rebound force. This design allows the air cushion to complete the energy absorption and release cycle within 0.1 seconds, avoiding rigid impact while providing continuous propulsion and reducing the reaction force when landing after jumping.
Children's sports shoes adopt a zoned shock-absorbing design to optimize the material density for high-impact areas such as the heel and forefoot. For example, the 361° Light Feather Children's Rope Skipping Shoes adds a rubber layer at the metatarsophalangeal joint to strengthen the support of the force point; the two-stage rubber design of the front and back of the sole improves grip and reduces the risk of sprains caused by lateral sliding. This structural design disperses the impact force along the biomechanical line of the foot to avoid excessive pressure on a single joint.
Some shock-absorbing technologies store and release energy through elastic materials. Xtep Children's Shock-absorbing Rotation Running Shoes use "Shock-absorbing Rotation Technology", which uses the midsole spiral structure to store energy during compression and provide forward propulsion during release. This design allows children to convert 15%-20% of the impact force into kinetic energy for the next jump when they land after jumping, reducing the burden on the joints while improving exercise efficiency.
The arch of the foot is a natural shock absorber. Children's arches are not fully developed yet and need additional support. Children's sports shoes maintain the shape of the arch of the foot through the concave design of the midsole or the built-in TPU anti-torsion plate, reducing the inversion or eversion of the joint caused by the collapse of the arch during jumping. For example, the midfoot TPU anti-torsion design of Dr. Jiang's children's comprehensive training shoes keeps the foot in a neutral position when landing, reducing the risk of sprains.
The heel is a key part of the impact force transmission, and excessive flipping can easily lead to ankle injuries. Sports shoes limit the range of heel internal rotation by hardening the heel cup and TPU stabilizer. ANTA Children's Energy Ring Technology uses circular patterns to improve the stability of the heel, so that the heel is more evenly stressed when landing, reducing the impact on the Achilles tendon and ankle joint.
A humid environment will reduce the performance of shock-absorbing materials and increase the risk of friction injuries. Children's sports shoes often use mesh uppers and honeycomb insoles, such as the breathable mesh and foam insoles of the 361° Light Feather Skipping Shoes to ensure dry feet. Experiments show that when the humidity in the shoe decreases by 20%, the elastic recovery rate of the shock-absorbing material increases by 15%, extending the protection period.
The shock-absorbing technology of children's sports shoes has built a complete protection system from impact absorption to energy feedback through the collaborative innovation of materials, structure and function. When choosing, parents should pay attention to the rebound rate of the sole material (recommended ≥50%), the hardness of the heel (recommended 55°-65°) and the arch support to ensure that the shock-absorbing technology is truly implemented in the health of children's feet. In the future, with the integration of 3D printing and intelligent sensing technology, shock-absorbing shoes will achieve personalized adaptation and provide more accurate solutions for children's sports safety.
