An athletic footwear artificial ligament device includes a flexible band securable around a lower leg above an ankle of a foot of a wearer, a ring disposable adjacent an outer side of the ankle spaced below the flexible band, and a plurality of artificial ligaments coupled to and arrayed about the ring. An upper artificial ligament is attached to the flexible band and extends downward to the ring. A lower artificial ligament is attachable to an upper of the athletic shoe, adjacent to the sole and above the heel, and extends upward to the ring. A forward artificial ligament is attachable to the athletic shoe upper forwardly of the ring, above the sole and spaced forwardly from the heel, and extends rearward to the ring such that the artificial ligaments perform as a second set of ligaments providing sprain protection of the ankle of the foot of the wearer.

A figure skating boot has a boot body formed of a structural, monocoque material including a sole portion, inner and outer side wall portions, and ankle portions for receiving a user foot therein. Lower mounting surfaces at a bottom of the boot body support the lower mounting frame of a skate blade thereon. An upper cuff member formed of a material which is less rigid than the monocoque material of the boot body is supported on the boot body such that a rear portion is fixed to the heel end of the boot body and side portions extend forwardly from the rear portion at opposing sides of the boot body to partly overlap the ankle portions. One or more fastening anchors on each side portion allow the cuff member to be fastened about the lower leg of the user while allow some flexing movement relative to the boot body.

An athletic footwear artificial ligament device includes a flexible band securable around a lower leg above an ankle of a foot of a wearer, a ring disposable adjacent an outer side of the ankle spaced below the flexible band, and a plurality of artificial ligaments coupled to and arrayed about the ring. An upper artificial ligament is attached to the flexible band and extends downward to the ring. A lower artificial ligament is attachable to an upper of the athletic shoe, adjacent to the sole and above the heel, and extends upward to the ring. A forward artificial ligament is attachable to the athletic shoe upper forwardly of the ring, above the sole and spaced forwardly from the heel, and extends rearward to the ring such that the artificial ligaments perform as a second set of ligaments providing sprain protection of the ankle of the foot of the wearer.

A material includes a support layer comprising a woven fiber layer less than 30 mils thick. The support layer includes an elongate strap support. The support layer has a ratio of elongation to tensile strength (lb/in-width) that is less than 0.9 in a first direction and greater than 0.9 in a perpendicular second direction. The material additionally includes an adhesive layer on said support layer for adhesive attachment of said support layer to the outer skin surface of a user and a removable cover layer on said adhesive layer. Methods of use of the material and elongate strap support(s) to a human body include providing anatomical support or therapeutic effects.

An improved article of footwear is disclosed herein. The article of footwear includes an upper and a harness. The upper has a midfoot region, a forefoot region, a medial side, a lateral side, and an opening configured to receive a foot of a wearer. The harness extends between the midfoot region and the forefoot region, and includes a panel, a cable, and a tightening mechanism. The tightening mechanism tensions the cable against the panel to apply a compressive force to the foot of a wearer to secure the foot of the wearer in the upper. Consequently, the internal harness prevents the foot of a wearer from shifting or translating in the upper, such as during athletic activity like cutting.

There is provided an orthosis that includes an insole having a lateral side portion and a medial side portion. The medial side portion is formed from a first material having a first density and the lateral side portion formed from a second material having a second density, wherein the second density is greater than the first density. The medial side portion and the lateral side portion join at an oblique angle. In addition, the medial side portion of the insole has a contoured arch support portion. In some embodiments, the orthosis further includes a lateral wedge coupled to a bottom of the insole, wherein the lateral wedge having an opposite side thereof positioned at a lateral side of the orthosis.

An orthotic support insert is configured to be positioned within a shoe. The insert is formed of a cushioning material having a plurality of indicator lines.

An orthotic support assembly is disclosed herein that includes an internal device configured to be inserted within a person's footwear. The internal device is formed of a cushioning material and extends from an internal surface at a bottom portion of the footwear to an internal surface of a top portion of the footwear.

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 structure or shell may be used with footwear intrinsically or as a removable and transferable device. The footwear may be a sandal assembly including a sole, a strap and an orthotic shell. The strap is attached to the sole and configured to secure the sole against the foot. The orthotic shell is positioned within the sole and formed from a semi-rigid material. The orthotic shell includes a heel portion configured to support a heel region of the foot, and a midfoot portion connected to the heel portion and configured to support an arch region of the foot, the midfoot portion comprising an arched shank having a curved convex shape. The arched shank is configured to deflect under a downward force applied thereon which reactively rotates the heel portion toward the heel region of the foot.