Earthling’s product development sits at the intersection of published research, iterative R&D and proprietary engineering. The research cited throughout this site helped inform the principles behind FRE3.0 and ertheX; Earthling then translated those principles into its own patented and patent-pending technologies.
These studies are presented as part of the research foundation that informed product development. Unless expressly stated, they are not studies of FRE3.0 or ertheX and should not be interpreted as independent validation of either product.
Published research helped inform the principles behind our development process. Earthling translated those principles through its own R&D into proprietary engineering, resulting in patented and patent-pending technologies.
Proprietary grounding architecture developed to integrate grounding functionality into conventional footwear.
Proprietary Street Augmenting Foam architecture developed to introduce controlled compliance between the foot and hard urban terrain.
Patent protection relates to proprietary technical inventions and engineering. Patent status does not, by itself, establish or independently validate a particular biomechanical, health or performance outcome.
Earthling’s product architecture has evolved through successive generations of research, prototyping and intellectual-property development. This timeline records filings made across the development program.
This timeline is a history of Earthling’s intellectual-property and product-development activity. It includes priority filings, patent applications and related filings across multiple jurisdictions and patent families. Individual legal status varies by filing and jurisdiction; inclusion does not imply that every filing is currently pending or granted. Patent filings identify proprietary engineering activity and do not, by themselves, establish or independently validate a particular health, biomechanical or performance outcome.
Research used to understand how different walking surfaces change underfoot loading.
Mohamed O, Cerny K, Jones W, Burnfield JM · Foot & Ankle International · 2005
Concrete / grass / plantar pressureResearch considered in developing a footwear architecture intended to preserve movement and sensory interaction.
Sichting F, Holowka NB, Hansen OB, Lieberman DE · Scientific Reports · 2020
Toe springs / biomechanics / foot motionRidge ST et al. · Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise · 2019
Minimal footwear / foot muscle strengthHolowka NB, Wallace IJ, Lieberman DE · Scientific Reports · 2018
Footwear / foot strength / arch stiffnessPublicly verifiable research in which Earthling technology itself was specified, separated from the broader literature that informed our development.
The published protocol for a 146-patient randomised controlled proof-of-concept study following arthroscopic rotator-cuff repair included grounding within a broader seven-intervention biomodulation protocol. For participants wearing non-leather footwear, the protocol specifically identifies the “erthe 3.0 PRJ20, Australia” conductive shoe strap as the universally compatible interface used to bypass insulating rubber soles.
What this establishes: Earthling technology was specifically selected and documented for use in the published research protocol. What it does not establish: the protocol is not a completed efficacy study of ertheX or PRJ20 in isolation, and it does not demonstrate that the strap independently improves healing or recovery.
Research considered in the development context for Earthling's grounding technologies.
Müller E, Pröller P, Ferreira-Briza F, Aglas L, Stöggl T · Frontiers in Physiology · 2019
Grounding / recovery / eccentric muscle loadingResearch evolves. This library reflects selected studies cited within Earthling's product and technology material and may be updated as our research and development continues.
RESEARCH ENQUIRIES →