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Walking, Movement and Health Stories and Brands
Activate your feet and hands with NABOSO sensory-motor tools – NABOSO activation, performance and neuro insoles, foot recovery socks, neuro ball, splay.
Your feet are the foundation of every movement. Have a little think: do you give them enough care? Do you actually feel your feet when you walk? Do you pay attention to the surface you’re walking on?
And yet it’s your feet that, with every step, send thousands of signals to every corner of your body so it knows how to respond and how to move. Stimulating the feet helps us feel our walking and focus on it.
As a result, our movements become more coordinated, the body feels better, and life feels happier.
And that’s exactly why NABOSO was created – our American namesake, focused on developing sensory-motor tools to activate the feet and support a better connection between the brain and the body.
Sensory-motor function is the interplay between the senses and body movement. It’s how our body responds to what it sees, hears, feels, tastes, senses through touch, or perceives in any other way. Sensory and movement systems work together in a coordinated way.
Sensory-motor responses are usually subconscious, guided by natural reflexes and learned movement patterns. Put simply: they’re our body’s reactions to external stimuli that we perceive through our senses. Like pulling your hand away when you prick yourself on a thorn, or putting your fingers in your mouth when a piece of chocolate suddenly appears there.
Sensory-motor movements also include simply standing or sitting. With poor movement habits, such as slouching at a computer, some muscles can become chronically overloaded, which can lead to various aches and pains (back, neck, or the musculoskeletal system in general).
Issues like these are addressed with movement therapy and sensory-motor stimulation, where the body builds and practises better coordination between sensory input and movement.
In this article, we’ll gradually look at specific products for sensory-motor stimulation. But since we’ll be focusing mainly on products from the American brand NABOSO, which we collaborate with at naBOSo, let’s introduce it first. Not least so you’ll understand why we share the same name.
Do you know the term podiatry? It’s a medical discipline focused on our feet—directly and exclusively. The NABOSO story began with a podiatrist who threw herself fully into her work. She treated conditions and injuries, but also searched for their root causes.
Over many years of practice, she discovered that nature didn’t give us feet with thousands of nerve endings for no reason. And that by exercising and stimulating these points, remarkable things can happen in the body—things that bring us back to natural movement.
Behind the brand with a Czech name is Dr Emily Splichal—a name with a hint of Central Europe too. So what’s the story? Dr Emily isn’t Czech, as it might seem; her family roots are in neighbouring Germany. But she has a very warm relationship with the Czech Republic. She often travels to Prague to lecture about her work, and it was during one of those talks that the idea for the name NABOSO came about:
“When I was developing my first product, I travelled to Prague to give a lecture and someone had the word NABOSO on their T-shirt. It caught my attention, so I asked what it meant—and as soon as I found out NABOSO means barefoot, I knew my company had to be connected to that word,” says the founder herself.
Dr. Emily Splichal is a globally recognised podiatrist and human movement specialist. In her research, she combines expert medical knowledge with years of hands-on experience in human movement and sensory perception. She has lectured on her unique approach to movement in 35 countries to more than 20,000 professionals, and is widely regarded as an authority in barefoot walking and rehabilitation. The core idea behind Dr Emily’s research is that our experiences are built on sensory stimulation—put simply, practising and encouraging our senses—and on our ability to perceive and process this information effectively.
NABOSO’s motto is FEEL MORE TO MOVE BETTER. The aim and purpose of NABOSO is to improve our movement, our senses, and overall quality of life—through a stronger connection between physical movement and the sensory side of things. And it does so in a very pleasant way – through foot massage.
Neurostimulation activates and trains thousands of nerve endings, sending stronger signals to the brain. The brain then responds more sharply and attentively to all the movements of our body.
Nerves run throughout the body and carry out various tasks sent by the brain. They work like a perfect communication network, transmitting impulses to the brain and from the brain to the relevant organs and body parts. By stimulating nerve endings, this essential communication process becomes sharper and better trained.
And as we all know, training leads to better results. What’s more, it all happens passively. You simply put on socks or insoles in your shoes and you don’t have to think about it—your body takes care of the rest.
NABOSO isn’t just a brand; it’s a whole philosophy. NABOSO products are designed not only to address existing musculoskeletal issues, but also to help prevent them from developing.
With regular stimulation of nerve endings, thousands of small processes are triggered in the body that, over time, support the communication pathway–nerves–brain–movement. This subtly sharpens the senses and trains better movement patterns.
Behind every product is extremely careful research and investigation. They’re used in medical fields such as neurorehabilitation, orthopaedics, podiatry and paediatrics, as well as in sport.
The products have been used in therapy practices and treatment centres worldwide for neuropathies and motor difficulties. Thanks to this, the brand has undeniably valuable data and can track the impact and progress of using its products in real life. NABOSO also monitors the positive effects of stimulating massage products across several sports.
Thanks to research, figures and data, we—as well as many patients and athletes—can confirm that NABOSO products demonstrably restore musculoskeletal function, improve movement coordination, and support the brain and the processing of nervous system signals through stimulation of nerve endings in the feet.
Dr Emily says about the research: “One of the most impressive changes we see with NABOSO products is in patients with chronic neurological conditions. I read research on how texture can positively influence subconscious foot awareness and balance in people with multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease and neuropathy.
But when I saw the reactions and emotions of people who could feel their feet again or walk without hesitation, it was breathtaking. That’s what drives our brand to be involved in medical research. And now, when we develop new products, we always consider the space for neurorehabilitation and the potential opportunity to positively influence patients’ health and lives.”
Do you remember the pointed-toe shoe trend? We don’t have to go back to the dark Middle Ages—narrow toe boxes are still common in high-street shoe shops today.
Closed shoes often don’t give our toes enough space to happily join in with foot movement when we walk. And that’s exactly what they’re for. Toes help with better balance and stability.
Trapping toes in closed shoes is often behind various toe misalignments—unpleasant for the eye and for our wellbeing. Toe deformities aren’t unusual at all; quite the opposite. But few people realise there’s something you can do about it.
NABOSO came up with a solution called Splay TOE SPACERS.
These universal toe spacers are designed so that with regular use, they help restore the natural shape of your feet and toes. They align the toes and guide them back into the right position.
Why is that so important? In healthy, natural walking your foot uses its entire surface—including the toes. And for toes to work properly, they need their own space. This can support better posture and balance overall, including when you walk.
Splay TOE SPACERS can be worn during the day, when they do their job directly. Or you can give them the night shift, letting them work on toe alignment while you sleep. For an overall improvement in foot coordination and whole-body movement when walking, we recommend using them alongside any NABOSO insole.
It’s small, round, gently bumpy, and feels wonderfully pleasant to the touch. What is it? NABOSO NEURO BALL, a 3-in-1 massage and release tool. One brilliant little ball can easily stand in for a masseur’s skilled hands—several times a day if you like. Thanks to tiny pyramid-shaped bumps, it activates nerve endings in the feet, supporting the whole foot and your sensory responses. And it feels so good.
What does 3-in-1 mean? This little ball has three parts. With a simple movement, you can split it into two halves, and inside you’ll find another special mini ball for targeted release of foot muscles. And the two half-domes are perfect for massaging both feet at the same time. Thought through down to the last detail.
NEURO BALL is the smallest and most portable stimulation tool. But that doesn’t take away from its effectiveness—quite the opposite. It’s ideal for any occasion. It brings relief when you’re travelling, and just as much at home in the evening in front of the telly. It fits in your handbag and will sail through airport security.
“There’s probably no need to explain how pleasant—and beneficial—it can feel to massage your feet with a spiky ball or a tennis ball. NABOSO NEURO BALL works in a similar way, but its surface with small pyramids beautifully boosts circulation and stimulates the soft tissues of the foot. By pressing your heel on the designated spot, you can split the ball into two half-domes—and that’s what I like most about it. You can step on the half-domes with both feet at once; they don’t roll away, so you can precisely target the areas you want to enjoy, massage and release.
Inside the ball you’ll also find a small inner ball, which you can use at the end of the massage to pinpoint the most sensitive spots and release them. This is a very suitable tool for foot care, helping you release overloaded structures while also stimulating the foot muscles for further performance,” says Bc. Hana Tonarová, a physiotherapist at the HoneyCare medical centre.
One of the first products NABOSO developed was shoe insoles. Why? Dr Emily works in podiatry—so, issues connected with our feet—and movement, specifically how our feet influence movement.
Through years of research, she discovered just how huge the influence of the feet is on the musculoskeletal system; that strengthening your feet strengthens your whole body; and that the ideal shoes for human health are no shoes at all.
Not everyone can switch straight to barefoot walking. A sensory-motor insole can, in theory, work as a substitute for walking barefoot. It stimulates the foot, boosts circulation, and trains sensory awareness of walking even during everyday activities. With these insoles, you’ll discover what it feels like to truly notice your feet.
But you don’t need to keep the insole in your shoes from morning to night. It can become a morning ritual that gets you going on the way to work. Or an evening wind-down, where improved circulation helps you shake off the day’s fatigue. For active wear, NABOSO SENSORY-MOTOR INSOLES Activation were developed, with a medium level of foot stimulation.
Just as in everyday life, foot stimulation also works brilliantly in sport. Strengthening your feet during training can make your workout feel more intense—both subjectively and physically. For athletes, NABOSO SENSORY-MOTOR INSOLES Performance were designed. With a low level of stimulation, they keep the foot active without distracting you from performance.
All NABOSO insoles are designed so you can easily customise the size and shape to your foot (and your shoe). Simply trace your usual insole and cut it out with scissors.
Foot stimulation also has a major role in medicine. Scientists have already shown that improving circulation in the feet and stimulating nerve endings in the soles can have a significant positive effect for patients with various types of neuropathy.
For this purpose, NABOSO SENSORY-MOTOR INSOLES Neuro were designed, providing a high and intensive level of foot stimulation. They’re also suitable for rehabilitation and neurorehabilitation programmes aimed at improving balance and stability, gait training, and reducing the risk of falls.
Our tip: Planning to switch from conventional footwear to barefoot shoes? NABOSO stimulation insoles can make the transition easier. With regular use, your feet will soon get stronger, and your first kilometres in barefoot shoes will feel like a walk in the park. You can read more about transitioning to barefoot footwear in the article Why choose barefoot shoes, and how to pick and wear them.
A constant mini-massage for your feet—that’s NABOSO FOOT RECOVERY SOCKS, sensory-motor socks with a special texture inside. You’ve never felt socks on your feet quite this intensely—we can promise you that (and we don’t mean the “after-football changing room” kind of intense).
These socks are with you every step of the way, constantly stimulating your feet whether you’re standing, walking or running. They’re tireless little workers that, by stimulating nerves in the soles, support your circulation, help relax muscles and sharpen the senses. This contributes positively to overall wellbeing and fitness.
On the inside of the footbed area, the socks have tiny pointed pyramids that constantly remind you your body includes feet, too. Thanks to this activation, you’ll subconsciously start changing muscle activity across your whole musculoskeletal system, and in turn improve your overall posture.
The word recovery in the name suggests that the ideal time to put on NABOSO socks is after exertion or training, and in the evening, after a long day. For better recovery and tackling fatigue, they work brilliantly; the recommended wear time is at least 60 minutes. But some people need a boost in the morning, when feet feel stiff and sensitive. Just pull them on for your walk to the bathroom and making breakfast. In 20 minutes, your feet will feel like new – warmed up, relaxed and ready for the day.
The point of NABOSO socks isn’t to wear them all day, but long enough for your feet to get a well-earned relaxing reward, for how brilliantly they serve you. For some people, the first steps can be challenging—maybe even uncomfortable. We’re all sensitive in different ways. But the body is wonderfully adaptable and open to positive change.
After a few days you’ll get used to it—and you may end up loving the intense foot massage so much that it’ll be hard to find a day when you skip it and finally throw the socks in the wash (gentle cycle, no harsh chemicals, and tumble dry only if needed, on a low temperature).
There are three options to choose from:
“I mainly use the sensory-motor knee-highs NABOSO KNEE HIGH RECOVERY SOCKS for recovery after demanding training and match days, but sometimes also before physical activity to ‘wake up’ my legs. The rough texture under the feet helps me massage and increase circulation in the soles and creates a feeling of relief. The high compression sock helps improve circulation and recovery in my calf muscles. I recommend these socks to anyone involved in performance sport who needs quality recovery,” says Lukáš Vraštil, professional footballer at SK Sigma Olomouc.
Do you suddenly feel like your feet need all of these activation helpers? Fair enough—your feet deserve proper care, attention and rest. After all, they carry you lovingly all day long, and sometimes even all night. If you’d like to treat them to a regular dose of relaxation and activation at the same time, we recommend trying the NABOSO FOOT RECOVERY KIT.
This complete set includes the three most popular NABOSO products:
By activating nerve endings in the soles, you’ll wake up not only your feet, but your legs and your whole body too. You’ll likely notice it in your mood quite quickly—you may feel less tired and perform better during the day and in training. This sensory-motor combo can help in the morning, during the day and in the evening. It’s up to you which tool you feel like using at any given moment.
“All of them. My favourites are the Activation insoles, NEURO BALL and RECOVERY SOCKS. Every morning I walk around in house slippers with the insoles inside. It wakes up my feet and my body and gets me ready for a new day full of movement. In my office, I’m usually barefoot. In the evening before bed, I like to release my feet with the NEURO BALL before I put on the RECOVERY SOCKS.
I believe in our products and use them as part of my daily routine,” says Dr Emily Splichal. So—what will your NABOSO rituals be?
Has your mind been taken over by the feeling that you absolutely need all NABOSO products? Good—don’t be afraid of them and go for it. Start slowly, perhaps with the massage ball NEURO BALL. Turn the pleasant mini-massage into a regular (evening, perhaps) ritual. You can easily do it on the sofa while watching a series—just remember.
With regular foot massage, you’ll soon notice changes—in your walking, in your body, and in how you perceive the world around you. And a bonus? These positive changes tend to come with a smile, and people around you will happily smile back.
Live fully. Feel your movement. Learn to listen to your body again—it will reward you. The world will feel closer.
“I’m a big advocate of barefoot footwear. It’s a great way to support natural foot function and increase sensory stimulation. Almost all foot types can benefit from barefoot shoes, and I’ve found that when combined with NABOSO insoles, you truly get a complete stimulation and strengthening effect. I have three pillars of foot health that I recommend to all my patients and everyone I speak to as prevention for pain and issues—activation, strength and recovery:
Activation is the need to keep our feet sensory-aware by walking barefoot, standing on the NEURO BALL, or walking on grass. This daily nerve stimulation keeps us aware of our posture and connects us to the ground. I recommend at least 30 minutes of sensory stimulation every day.
Strength is about how strongly the foot is connected to the muscles on the underside of the foot. These small muscles play a role in every aspect of movement, including how we balance on one leg and manage impact forces. Research has shown that these muscles get stronger when we wear barefoot shoes.
And finally, my favourite: recovery. This is about releasing the feet at the end of the day. Stimulating massage strengthens the foot muscles and improves circulation. I recommend that everyone releases their feet by standing on a half NEURO BALL for five minutes each day, and wearing RECOVERY SOCKS in the evening to support microcirculation to the feet.”
Dr. Emily Splichal, founder of NABOSO
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