Embodiments are directed to an insole for footwear. The insole preferably includes a bottom surface, a peripheral sidewall, and a relief. The bottom surface has a perimeter, and the peripheral sidewall preferably extends upward from the perimeter of the bottom surface. The relief is preferably disposed in the peripheral sidewall.

An apparatus and method for treatment of plantar fasciitis. The apparatus includes an insole for wear within a shoe, or footwear, of a patient afflicted with plantar fasciitis. The insole has an opening, or void, defined in a top surface of the insole such that the opening is positioned below a locus of the plantar fasciitis injury. The opening is positioned so that the insole does not impart a contact pressure about the point of injury. The method includes opening a space in the top surface area of an insole under the Plantar Fascia ligament tear to immediately relieve the pressure from the insole that causes Plantar Fascistic pain.

Shoes and/or shoe elements facilitate natural foot motion and/or reduce forces tending to fight natural foot motion. In at least some such structures, a wearer's heel is secured to the hindfoot region of a shoe (e.g., by a strap system) in a manner that permits heel/forefoot rotation and that allows the lower leg to remain straight. In other structures, a shoe can include a heel supporting component that is separate from a midsole component, and this heel supporting component can move toward the lateral side and/or medial side of the shoe along an interface between the heel supporting component and the midsole component. Other suitable shoe and shoe component structures also are described.

An insole having a top sheet, a base layer, a forefoot pad, a heel cushion, and stability cradle. The forefoot pad can be made a blown EVA or other material, and the heel cushion can be made of a clear TPR, soft polyurethane or blown EVA. A heel cup surrounds the exterior back by a heel cup, and a heel pod opening and midfoot pod opening is located in the stability cradle for allowing placement of heel pads and midfoot pads in a replacement manner. There is also a soft metatarsal raised dome on the top (foot contact) surface of the insole which would be directly above the metatarsal midfoot area.

A plurality of orthotic systems are provided. One bi-layer system is constructed from a single sheet of fabric that is molded into two layers. One tri-layer system includes a base layer; a mid-layer; and an upper layer. The upper layer is joined to the mid-layer and the mid-layer is joined to the base layer. The coupling of the base layer, the mid-layer and the upper layer create a rear spring section, a mid-spring section and a front spring section in which the upper layer is suspended over the mid-layer and the heel portion is suspended on the proximal heel end of the base layer.

An apparatus includes a heel platform section, a mid-foot section juxtaposed to the heel platform section, and a toe section juxtaposed to the mid-foot section. The mid-foot section and toe section collectively have a geometric shape having a first slope of a polarity along an inner edge of the apparatus from the toe section to the mid-foot section and a second slope of the polarity along the inner edge of the apparatus to the outer edge of the apparatus at the toe section.

Describes are support elements for a sole of a shoe, in particular a sports shoe, a sole and a shoe with such a support element, as well as a method for the manufacture of a support element. As examples, the support element includes a first partial member formed of a first material, and a second partial member formed of a second material. The first partial member is mechanically joined to the second partial member in a connection region, wherein the connection region is configured to allow the first partial member to rotate or slide relative to the second partial member. The first partial member, the second partial member, and the connection region can be co-molded and joined together in a single fabricating step.

Disclosed is an orthopedic medical device which includes an orthesis structure which is made of a rigid or semi-rigid material or it is made of an elastically yielding material and has at least one external wall to be anchored to a face or wall of an orthopedic guardian adapted to directly or indirectly contact an area of a body limb or body part to be protected.

A removable insole for insertion into footwear, comprises a forefoot portion integral to the insole and extending at least to a metatarsal of a foot and including a resilient layer, the resilient layer including at least two non-contiguous resilient layer sections (including a big toe section). The at least two non-contiguous resilient sections include at least four resilient layer subsections in some embodiments, a continuous rear portion that includes a medial longitudinal arch support portion, a heel surrounding portion and a lateral longitudinal arch support portion; and a heel portion. In some embodiments, the forefoot is customizable by having different levels of hardness for the subsections and big toe section. The insole is therefore tailored a particular sport. The medial longitudinal arch support portion includes a detachable cushion configured to adjust a height of the medial longitudinal arch and to support the foot during pronation of the foot.

A method of forming a castless orthotic for a patient's foot in need thereof. The method comprises preparing an orthotic template for the foot wherein the template extends between a heel end and a toe end. In preparing the template the steps of attaching a three-quarter length or full length upper thermoplastic material to a or three-quarter length lower thermoplastic material, or providing a thermoplastic material having a variable thickness such that said thickness decreases from said heel end to said toe end is provided. Then attaching an outer lower layer to the lower thermoplastic material and attaching an outer upper layer to the upper thermoplastic material, or attaching an outer layer to each face of the variable thickness thermoplastic material and heating the prepared orthotic template for a predetermined period of time at a predetermined temperature to soften the orthotic template. A wrap is then placed on top of the foot foam and the foot of the patient is placed on top of the wrap and foot foam. The patient's foot is lifted and the heated orthotic template is placed on top of the wrap and then placing the patient's foot on top of the heated orthotic template. The wrap is placed about the longitudinal axis of the foot to retain the heated orthotic template intermediate the sole of the foot and the foot foam whereby the sides of the orthotic template are particularly supported by the wrap. The method further includes ensuring the foot is positioned over a cuboid support and a medial longitudinal arch support wherein the cuboid support is disposed on the outside of the bottom of the foot and the cuboid support is moved to push the foot upwardly until a resistance is felt, and where the foot is also positioned over the medial longitudinal arch support which is then pushed and pulled upwardly until the foot is moved into a neutral position or if it is unable to be translated or rotated due to until it reaches its end range of motion. At this time, the heel of the patient's foot is lifted to place their weight substantially on the front of their foot and a coolant is applied to at least the heel end of the orthotic template.