An ankle foot orthopaedic apparatus (10) includes a sole (66), a control part (18), and a connection arrangement (16) for connecting the sole (66) to the control part (18) for controlling or guiding the orientation of the sole (66) in use. The sole (66) includes a sole connector part (20), which comprises part of the connection arrangement (16). The control part (18) includes a control part connector part (22), which comprises part of the connection arrangement (16). The connection arrangement (16) permits movement of the apparatus (10) between a connected condition, in which the sole (66) is connected to the control part (18), and a disconnected condition, in which the sole (66) is disconnected from the control part (18).

An ankle foot orthopaedic apparatus (10) includes a sole (66), a control part (18), and a connection arrangement (16) for connecting the sole (66) to the control part (18) for controlling or guiding the orientation of the sole (66) in use. The sole (66) includes a sole connector part (20), which comprises part of the connection arrangement (16). The control part (18) includes a control part connector part (22), which comprises part of the connection arrangement (16). The connection arrangement (16) permits movement of the apparatus (10) between a connected condition, in which the sole (66) is connected to the control part (18), and a disconnected condition, in which the sole (66) is disconnected from the control part (18).

A shoe for preventing ankle injuries comprises a sole with a ground-engaging surface, and lateral and medial edges associated with respective lateral and medial connecting portions interconnecting and extending between the ground-engaging surface and the lateral and medial edges. At least one of the connecting portions defines a surface area of reduced friction provided, e.g., in the form of retrofitted patches, which are circumferentially surrounded by adjacent surface areas having a relatively high coefficient of friction. Friction is differentiated in different areas of those parts of the shoe which are implicated in injury mechanisms, and injuries may thus be prevented in the recovery phase after injury, and primary prophylaxis may be achieved. The area of reduced friction reduces the ability of the wearer's foot to rotate relative to ground when the load of the wearer's body is shifted towards or lands near the edge of the shoe.

A shoe for preventing ankle injuries comprises a sole with a ground-engaging surface, and lateral and medial edges associated with respective lateral and medial connecting portions interconnecting and extending between the ground-engaging surface and the lateral and medial edges. At least one of the connecting portions defines a surface area of reduced friction provided, e.g., in the form of retrofitted patches, which are circumferentially surrounded by adjacent surface areas having a relatively high coefficient of friction. Friction is differentiated in different areas of those parts of the shoe which are implicated in injury mechanisms, and injuries may thus be prevented in the recovery phase after injury, and primary prophylaxis may be achieved. The area of reduced friction reduces the ability of the wearer's foot to rotate relative to ground when the load of the wearer's body is shifted towards or lands near the edge of the shoe.

A gait assistive device that may be used to improve a gait disability by replacing or compensating movement of joints of an ankle and a foot that occur during a gait or that may be used for a bottom structure of a gait robot is disclosed.

The present invention provides a gait assistive device including: a foot supporting part; a rear connecting part coupled to a heel portion of the foot supporting part; and a rearfoot plate coupled to the rear connecting part, wherein the rear connecting part may include a joint, and a shaft of the joint is installed on a line or rear line of a load line at heel strike during a gait cycle based on a direction of a gait.

A shock absorbing member includes: support members spaced apart from each other; and a connection member laid across, and connecting together, the support members. Each of the support members includes: an inner wall capable of elastically deforming by external force in a vertical direction; and a first tube and a second tube each provided to one of an outer wall and the inner wall. While inserted through the first and second tubes of the support members, the connection member is integrally formed in a closed shape with ends of the connection member having no seams.

A shock absorbing member includes: support members spaced apart from each other; and a connection member laid across, and connecting together, the support members. Each of the support members includes: an inner wall capable of elastically deforming by external force in a vertical direction; and a first tube and a second tube each provided to one of an outer wall and the inner wall. While inserted through the first and second tubes of the support members, the connection member is integrally formed in a closed shape with ends of the connection member having no seams.

A shoe balancing device including a housing, configured to be attached to a shoe of a wearer; a power source to power the device; one or more sensors configured to determine an imbalance state of the device; a hardware board configured to act as the operation control center of the device; a motor configured to be activated by the hardware board if the one or more sensors determine(s) an imbalance state beyond a predetermined threshold; and a stabilization rod connected to the motor so as to be moveable from a default undeployed state to a deployed state, wherein the deployed state being a position in contact with a surface underneath the wearer's location, wherein when a wearer of the shoe begins to fall the device is actuated.

An article of footwear includes a navicular support structure on a medial side. The navicular support structure includes a non-stretch, tensioned material that reduces an interior volume of the upper of the article of footwear and redirects applied forces from the midfoot region of the article of footwear to other regions, such as the forefoot region.

An article of footwear includes a navicular support structure on a medial side. The navicular support structure includes a non-stretch, tensioned material that reduces an interior volume of the upper of the article of footwear and redirects applied forces from the midfoot region of the article of footwear to other regions, such as the forefoot region.