A method and wearable system and for enhancing human balance and gait and preventing foot injury through neurological stimulation of the foot and the ankle. Subthreshold stimulation for neurosensory enhancement is provided via electrodes or vibrational actuators, or combination thereof, disposed in or on a wearable a platform, such as an insole, sock shoe, removable shoe insert, or applied without the support of a platform, to the skin surface of an individual. Suprathreshold stimulation for therapeutic purposes, such as improving blood flow, is also provided by the vibrational actuators. The actuators and electrodes are driven by bias signals generated by a bias signal generator that is coupled to a controller. The signal generator under the control of the controller is adapted to generate a non-deterministic random signal, a repetitive pattern or series of patterns. The controller optionally includes a communication port for interfacing with an external computer for purposes of optimizing and programming the controller. The wearable system is powered by a power source.

A comfort insert to be worn inside a person's footwear to alleviate friction between the person's foot and surfaces of the footwear and possibly provide some cushioning, and a method of assembling such a comfort insert. A body portion of the insert may be of crumpled thin plastic film material, and a containment element may be of fine-filament open mesh netting. A portion of an exterior surface of the insert may be provided with a nonslip or adhesive coating to assist in keeping the comfort insert in a desired location.

A removable and adjustable insert for footwear has slots placed in the insole and/or midsole of the shoe to allow access to the arch and/or metatarsal and/or heel regions of the insole and/or midsole. In an embodiment, an insert placed into the arch insert slot that establishes how much the arch protrudes above the remainder of the top surface of the insole. One or more inserts are provided having different thicknesses so that the height of the arch can be varied by the user or at the direction of a third party, such as a doctor or a trainer.

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.

An apparatus for use as at least part of a sole of a shoe or as at least part of an insole of the shoe, the apparatus comprises a fixed section that provides a positioning of a big toe area at a lower position than a heel area and/or at a lower position than an outer edge area, and an adjustable section associated with the fixed section, wherein the adjustable section adjusts at least one of the lower positioning of the big toe area with respect to the heel area and the lower positioning of the big toe area with respect to the outer edge area.

AI driven motion tracking and alignment systems configured to generate time-normalized three dimensional (e.g. frontal, sagittal, transverse) data associated with pronation and/or supination of lower extremities of a user are described. A semi-rigid foot orthotic can have sensors embedded in flexible regions. Data from the sensors is used to measure how the orthotic bends to determine forces from a lower extremity of the user acting on the orthotic. Data on the flexing, bending, and/or rotating of portions of the orthotic (including velocities, accelerations) may be compared to analyze in shoe pronation and/or supination. Other detectors can measure the temperature, body weight, heart rate, and timing of motion. An adjustment device can be used to adjust the orthotic. Data may also facilitate generation of animation that accurately depicts the positions and/or movements of a user's body; the use of augmented and virtual reality for avatar based applications; and presentation of information.

AI driven motion tracking and alignment systems configured to generate time-normalized three dimensional (e.g. frontal, sagittal, transverse) data associated with pronation and/or supination of lower extremities of a user are described. A semi-rigid foot orthotic can have sensors embedded in flexible regions. Data from the sensors is used to measure how the orthotic bends to determine forces from a lower extremity of the user acting on the orthotic. Data on the flexing, bending, and/or rotating of portions of the orthotic (including velocities, accelerations) may be compared to analyze in shoe pronation and/or supination. Other detectors can measure the temperature, body weight, heart rate, and timing of motion. An adjustment device can be used to adjust the orthotic. Data may also facilitate generation of animation that accurately depicts the positions and/or movements of a user's body; the use of augmented and virtual reality for avatar based applications; and presentation of information.

Unique pads, called cuboid lifts, cuboid inserts, or balance-enhancing textured insoles, prevent falls and improve balance by producing site-specific stimulation of different types of cutaneous receptors located along the outer sides of the foot. These cutaneous receptors play a key role in maintaining balance. The outer placement also makes them important in preventing lateral falls, which are far and away the most likely to result in injury. Domes on the upper side of the cuboid inserts increase feedback from the cutaneous receptors as the center of pressure of the person wearing the cuboid inserts moves too far to the outer side of the midfoot. These cuboid inserts are also helpful when managing ankle sprains, as this common injury frequently results in impaired balance.

Unique pads, called cuboid lifts, cuboid inserts, or balance-enhancing textured insoles, prevent falls and improve balance by producing site-specific stimulation of different types of cutaneous receptors located along the outer sides of the foot. These cutaneous receptors play a key role in maintaining balance. The outer placement also makes them important in preventing lateral falls, which are far and away the most likely to result in injury. Domes on the upper side of the cuboid inserts increase feedback from the cutaneous receptors as the center of pressure of the person wearing the cuboid inserts moves too far to the outer side of the midfoot. These cuboid inserts are also helpful when managing ankle sprains, as this common injury frequently results in impaired balance.

Unique pads, called cuboid lifts, cuboid inserts, or balance-enhancing textured insoles, prevent falls and improve balance by producing site-specific stimulation of different types of cutaneous receptors located along the outer sides of the foot. These cutaneous receptors play a key role in maintaining balance. The outer placement also makes them important in preventing lateral falls, which are far and away the most likely to result in injury. Domes on the upper side of the cuboid inserts increase feedback from the cutaneous receptors as the center of pressure of the person wearing the cuboid inserts moves too far to the outer side of the midfoot. These cuboid inserts are also helpful when managing ankle sprains, as this common injury frequently results in impaired balance.