Provided is a shoe or device for inserting into a shoe, having a shallow channel on a top side of a contoured insole or shoe, specifically under the 1.sup.st metatarsal shaft of the wearer. The shoe also has a rear region or heel cup positioned to underlying a wearer's calcaneal tuberosity, the rear region being shaped to accommodate a planer surface of the wearer's calcaneal tuberosity, an upper surface of said rear region having a raised portion underlying an area of the wearer's calcaneus immediately forward of the wearer's calcaneus tuberosity.

An orthotic support assembly is disclosed herein that is configured to be attached to a patient's foot. The support assembly defines a first, internal device and a second, external device. The internal device defines at least a portion that extends to a top of a user's foot when positioned within the external device.

An orthotic support assembly is disclosed herein that is configured to be attached to a patient's foot. The support assembly defines a first, internal device and a second, external device. The internal device defines at least a portion that extends to a top of a user's foot when positioned within the external device.

An upper structure for a shoe improves foot fit and hold of an upper at the time of turn motion. In an upper 2 that covers a foot of a shoe wearer, an expandable part 20 is provided at a midfoot region M that corresponds to a midfoot portion of the foot, and a non-expandable part 21 is provided at a lateral side region and a medial side region except for the midfoot region M. A boundary portion 22 between the expandable part 20 and the non-expandable part 21 has a substantially flat or flush surface. At the boundary portion 22, respective end portions 20E, 21E of the expandable part 20 and the non-expandable part 21 are sewn together such that a seam does not appear on the boundary surface. The shoe may further include an outsole having at least one groove in a particular triangular region on a bottom surface of the outsole.

An upper structure for a shoe improves foot fit and hold of an upper at the time of turn motion. In an upper 2 that covers a foot of a shoe wearer, an expandable part 20 is provided at a midfoot region M that corresponds to a midfoot portion of the foot, and a non-expandable part 21 is provided at a lateral side region and a medial side region except for the midfoot region M. A boundary portion 22 between the expandable part 20 and the non-expandable part 21 has a substantially flat or flush surface. At the boundary portion 22, respective end portions 20E, 21E of the expandable part 20 and the non-expandable part 21 are sewn together such that a seam does not appear on the boundary surface. The shoe may further include an outsole having at least one groove in a particular triangular region on a bottom surface of the outsole.

A peg insole including an integrally molded unitary foam body covered. The foam body may be covered with a cover layer, such as a stretchable fabric, on a top surface of the foam body opposite the pegs. The foam body is includes a base layer with a plurality of pegs protruding therefrom. The foam body may include a contoured shaped to comfortably fit a patient's foot including, for example, a medial support portion, a lateral support portion, and a heel cup. The peg insole may be used, for example, in a medical shoe. Also provided is a method for forming the peg insole.

A peg insole including an integrally molded unitary foam body covered. The foam body may be covered with a cover layer, such as a stretchable fabric, on a top surface of the foam body opposite the pegs. The foam body is includes a base layer with a plurality of pegs protruding therefrom. The foam body may include a contoured shaped to comfortably fit a patient's foot including, for example, a medial support portion, a lateral support portion, and a heel cup. The peg insole may be used, for example, in a medical shoe. Also provided is a method for forming the peg insole.

Systems and methods are disclosed including a tri-layer orthotic system having a heel portion and a forefoot portion to support respective heel and forefoot portions of a foot through at least a portion of a gait cycle. The tri-layer orthotic system can include an upper layer suspended over a mid-layer and a base layer to create a rear spring section, a mid-spring section, and a front spring section. A distal toe portion of the mid-layer can form the forefoot portion of the tri-layer orthotic system and a heel upper layer portion of the upper layer can form the heel portion of tri-layer orthotic system.

Systems and methods are disclosed including a tri-layer orthotic system having a heel portion and a forefoot portion to support respective heel and forefoot portions of a foot through at least a portion of a gait cycle. The tri-layer orthotic system can include an upper layer suspended over a mid-layer and a base layer to create a rear spring section, a mid-spring section, and a front spring section. A distal toe portion of the mid-layer can form the forefoot portion of the tri-layer orthotic system and a heel upper layer portion of the upper layer can form the heel portion of tri-layer orthotic system.

Strap systems for securing feet into articles of footwear or other foot-receiving devices include one or more strap members formed or engaged together in a continuous path along an upper for an article of footwear or other foot-receiving device. One or more structures for applying a force to the strap member(s) is provided so as to shorten a length of the continuous path and thereby apply tension to the strap member(s). Such strap systems can be arranged so that the strap tightens during plantar flexion or dorsiflexion. Additional aspects of this invention relate to bootie members for supporting such strap systems, upper members or bootie members including such strap systems, and articles of footwear and other foot-receiving devices including such strap systems.