Orthotics

Abstract

The present invention relates to an orthotic for a foot, the orthotic having a top side and a bottom side and further comprising a top side raised medial arch structure and a raised lateral arch structure and a flat midfoot section, to a half foot orthotic with the same features, to an orthotic for a foot having a top side valgus and/or varus wedge and a first metatarsal indentation, and to related methods.

Claims

1. An orthotic for a foot, the orthotic having a top side and a bottom side and further comprising: (a) a raised medial arch structure located on the top side of the orthotic at a position corresponding to a medial longitudinal arch or part thereof of a user's foot; (b) a raised lateral arch structure located on the top side of the orthotic at a position corresponding to a lateral longitudinal arch or part thereof of a user's foot; and (c) a flat midfoot section located on the top side of the orthotic between the medial and lateral arch structures at a position corresponding to a midfoot region or part thereof of a user's foot.

2. The orthotic according to claim 1, wherein the medial arch structure is located at a position corresponding to anterior of a medial side of a calcaneus of a user's foot and extending to a first metatarsal zone.

3. The orthotic according to claim 2, wherein the medial arch structure extends to a first metatarsal base.

4. The orthotic according to claim 1, wherein the lateral arch structure is located at a position corresponding to posterior of a lateral side of a cuboid of a user's foot and extending to a fifth metatarsal head or a fifth metatarsal base.

5. The orthotic according to claim 1, wherein the lateral arch structure comprises first and second substructures, wherein the first substructure is located at a position corresponding to posterior of a lateral side of a cuboid of a user's foot and extending to a fifth metatarsal base, and wherein the second substructure is located at a position corresponding to a fifth metatarsal zone of a user's foot and extending to a fifth metatarsal head.

6. The orthotic according to claim 1, wherein the raised structures include a substantially semicircular arc about which a height of the raised structures peaks.

7. The orthotic according to claim 6, wherein the medial arch structure includes two raised substantially semicircular arcs, a first located at a position corresponding to anterior of the medial side of the calcaneus of a user's foot and a second located at a position corresponding to the navicular of a user's foot.

8. The orthotic according to claim 6, wherein the lateral arch structure includes a substantially semicircular arc located at a position corresponding to posterior of the lateral side of the cuboid of a user's foot.

9. The orthotic according to claim 1, further comprising a raised heel structure located on the top side of the orthotic at a position corresponding to posterior of a calcaneus of a user's foot.

10. The orthotic according to claim 9, wherein the heel structure is located at a position corresponding to anterior of the medial side of the calcaneus of a user's foot and extending around through posterior of the calcaneus to posterior of the lateral side of the cuboid of a user's foot.

11. The orthotic according to claim 9, wherein the heel structure is sloped upwardly in a direction from a position corresponding to a centre of the calcaneus of a user's foot towards the perimeter of the orthotic, so as to form a ‘cup’ in which the heel of a user's foot may fit.

12. The orthotic according to claim 11, wherein the heel structure meets and integrates with the medial arch structure and the lateral arch structure.

13. The orthotic according to claim 1, further comprising a valgus wedge located on the top side of the orthotic at a position corresponding to a forefoot region or part thereof of a user's foot and pitched upwardly to a lateral side of the foot, and/or a varus wedge located on the top side of the orthotic at a position corresponding to the forefoot region or part thereof of a user's foot and pitched upwardly to the medial side of the foot.

14. The orthotic according claim 1, further comprising a first metatarsal indentation located on the top side of the orthotic at a position corresponding to a first metatarsal head of a user's foot, to receive a medial side ball of the foot.

15. The orthotic according to claim 1, further comprising a raised forefoot structure located on the top side of the orthotic at a position corresponding to a first metatarsal head of a user's foot and extending to an end of a first distal phalange.

16. The orthotic according to claim 1, further comprising an indented forefoot structure located on the top side of the orthotic at a position corresponding to a fifth metatarsal head of a user's foot and extending to an end of a fifth distal phalange.

17. The orthotic according to claim 1, wherein the midfoot section is located at a position corresponding to a midfoot region of a user's foot.

18. The orthotic according to claim 1, wherein the flat midfoot section is located at a position corresponding to a posterior midfoot subregion of a user's foot.

19. The orthotic according to claim 18, further comprising a raised metatarsal pad located on the top side of the orthotic at a position corresponding to at least second, third and fourth metatarsal zones of a user's foot and extending in a wedge shape to a head of at least a lateral cuneiform of a user's foot.

20. An orthotic for a foot, having a top side and a bottom side, the orthotic being less than half the length of the foot and further comprising: (a) a raised medial arch structure located on the top side of the orthotic at a position corresponding to a medial longitudinal arch or part thereof of a user's foot; (b) a raised lateral arch structure located on the top side of the orthotic at a position corresponding to a lateral longitudinal arch or part thereof of a user's foot; and (c) a flat midfoot section located on the top side of the orthotic between the medial and lateral arch structures at a position corresponding to a midfoot region or part thereof of a user's foot.

21. An orthotic for a foot, the orthotic having a top side and a bottom side and further comprising: (a) a valgus wedge located on the top side of the orthotic at a position corresponding to a forefoot region or part thereof of a user's foot and pitched upwardly to a lateral side of the foot, and/or a varus wedge located on the top side of the orthotic at a position corresponding to a forefoot region or part thereof of a user's foot and pitched upwardly to a medial side of the foot; and (b) a first metatarsal indentation located on the top side of the orthotic at a position corresponding to a first metatarsal head, to receive a medial side ball of the foot.

22. The orthotic according to claim 21, further comprising a flat midfoot section located on the top side of the orthotic at a position corresponding to a midfoot region or part thereof of a user's foot.

23. A method for treating a foot disorder, comprising prescribing to a user the orthotic according to claim 1.

24. A method for improving or optimising the normal function of a foot during locomotion, comprising using the orthotic according to claim 1.

25. A method for correcting the gait cycle, or improving or optimising the normal gait cycle, comprising using the orthotic according claim 1.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS/FIGURES

[0048] FIG. 1 is a pictorial representation of the bones of a foot.

[0049] FIG. 2 is a top view of an orthotic of the present invention including medial and lateral arch structures, no midfoot structure, and other features.

[0050] FIG. 3 is a top isometric view of an orthotic of the present invention including medial and lateral arch structures, no midfoot structure, and other features.

[0051] FIG. 4 is a toe-end view of an orthotic of the present invention including medial and lateral arch structures, no midfoot structure, and other features.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0052] An orthotic of the present invention is shown in FIG. 2. The orthotic 10 is generally in the shape of a foot corresponding to a user's foot and e.g. for placement in a user's shoes. The orthotic includes a base with a top side 14 and a bottom side (underneath; not shown).

[0053] Disposed on the top side of the orthotic 10 is a raised medial arch structure 16 located at a position corresponding to the medial longitudinal arch or part thereof of a user's foot. As is generally appreciated, the raised medial arch structure is generally disposed on the orthotic extending along a line corresponding to the medial arch of a user's foot, running between the first metatarsal head of the foot to the centre of the heel, or calcaneus. In this embodiment, the medial arch structure 16 is located at a position corresponding to anterior of the medial side of the calcaneus of a user's foot and extending to the first metatarsal base. The medial arch structure is sloped upwardly from the base of the orthotic towards the medial perimeter 26 of the orthotic, and includes semicircular arcs about the perimeter where the raised structure reaches peak height; the first 28 being located at a position corresponding to anterior of the medial side of the calcaneus of a user's foot, and the second 30 being located at a position corresponding to the navicular of a user's foot. Given the proximity, the semicircular arcs are conjoined. The height of the raised medial arch structure 16 at first semicircular arc 28 from base to peak is about 25 mm.

[0054] Also disposed on the top side of the orthotic 10 is a raised lateral arch structure 18 located at a position corresponding to the lateral longitudinal arch or part thereof of a user's foot. As is generally appreciated, the raised lateral arch structure is generally disposed on the orthotic extending along a line corresponding to the lateral arch of a user's foot, running between the fifth metatarsal head of the foot to the centre of the heel, or calcaneus. In this embodiment, the lateral arch structure comprises first and second substructures, 22 and 24, respectively. The first substructure 22 is located at a position corresponding to posterior of the lateral side of the cuboid of a user's foot and extending to the fifth metatarsal base. The second substructure 24 is located at a position corresponding to the fifth metatarsal zone of a user's foot and extending to the fifth metatarsal head. In other preferred embodiments, only the first substructure 22 may be included. The lateral arch structure is sloped upwardly from the base 12 towards the lateral perimeter 32 of the orthotic, and includes a semicircular arc 34 about the perimeter where the raised structure reaches peak height, being located at a position corresponding to posterior of the lateral side of the cuboid of a user's foot. The height of the raised lateral arch structure 18 at the a semicircular arc 34 from base to peak is about 15 mm.

[0055] The orthotic 10 also includes a flat midfoot section 20 located on the top side between the medial and lateral arch structures 16 and 18, respectively, and in the area between the lines 44 and 45, at a position corresponding to the midfoot region or part thereof of a user's foot. That is, there are no structures disposed on the base of the orthotic in this region.

[0056] This embodiment also includes, on the top side of the orthotic 10, a raised heel structure 36 located at a position corresponding to anterior of the medial side of the calcaneus of a user's foot and extending around through posterior of the calcaneus to posterior of the lateral side of the cuboid of a user's foot. The heel structure is sloped upwardly in a direction from the centre of the calcaneus of a user's foot towards the perimeter of the orthotic, so as to form a ‘cup’ in which the heel of a user's foot may fit. The heel structure meets and integrates with both the medial arch structure 16 and the lateral arch structure 18. The height of the heel structure is uniformly about 10 mm.

[0057] This embodiment also includes, on the top side of the orthotic 10, a raised forefoot structure 38 located at a position corresponding to the first metatarsal head of a user's foot and extending to the end of the first distal phalange. The height is about 4 mm. Also included is an indented forefoot structure 40 located at a position corresponding to the fifth metatarsal head of a user's foot and extending to the end of the fifth distal phalange. The height is about 1-2 mm. Also included is a first metatarsal indentation 42 located on the top side of the orthotic at a position corresponding to the first metatarsal head, to receive the medial side ball of the foot. The depth is about 2 mm.

[0058] It will be appreciated that a half-foot embodiment is applicable, for example if the orthotic 10 were to be terminated about the line 44 (which is located at a position roughly corresponding with the tarsometatarsal joint of a user's foot).

[0059] FIG. 3 shows the same embodiment of the orthotic 10. From this viewpoint, the height of the raised medial arch structure is clear, indicated by the first and second semicircular arcs 28 (being located at a position corresponding to anterior of the medial side of the calcaneus of a user's foot) and 30 (being located at a position corresponding to the navicular of a user's foot), as well as their sloped and conjoined formation. Similarly, the height of the raised lateral arch structure is visible indicated by the first and second substructures, 22 (located at a position corresponding to posterior of the lateral cuboid of a user's foot and extending to the fifth metatarsal base) and 24 (located at a position corresponding to the fifth metatarsal zone of a user's foot and extending to the fifth metatarsal head). The semicircular arc 34 is also indicated corresponding to posterior of the lateral side of the cuboid of a user's foot. The raised heel structure 36 (located at a position corresponding to anterior of the medial side of the calcaneus of a user's foot and extending around through posterior of the calcaneus to posterior of the lateral side of the cuboid of a user's foot) is also seen including its formation of a ‘cup’ in which the heel of a user's foot may fit. Also indicated is the flat midfoot section 20 (between the medial and lateral arch structures and the lines 44 and 45) the raised forefoot structure 38 (located at a position corresponding to the first metatarsal head of a user's foot and extending to the end of the first distal phalange), the indented forefoot structure 40 (located at a position corresponding to the fifth metatarsal head of a user's foot and extending to the end of the fifth distal phalange) and the first metatarsal indentation 42 (located on the top side of the orthotic at a position corresponding to the first metatarsal head, to receive the medial side ball of the foot).

[0060] FIG. 4 shows the same embodiment of the orthotic 10. From this viewpoint, the flat midfoot section 20 located on the top side of the orthotic (between the medial and lateral arch structures and the lines 44 and 45), located at a position corresponding to the midfoot region or part thereof of a user's foot, is clear. That is, it can be seen that there are no structures disposed on the base of the orthotic in this region. Also indicated is the raised heel structure 36, the raised forefoot structure 38, the indented forefoot structure 40, and the first metatarsal indentation 42.

[0061] It will be appreciated, especially from the viewpoint of FIG. 4, that one or both of a valgus wedge and a varus wedge, each located on the top side of the orthotic at a position corresponding to the forefoot region or part thereof of a user's foot. A representative valgus wedge is envisioned pitched upwardly to the lateral side of the foot, while a varus wedge is envisioned pitched upwardly to the medial side of the foot to a height of about 10 mm and pitched with an angle of about 6 degrees. A varus wedge is particularly preferred, located in about the region of the indented forefoot structure 40, especially when accompanied by a first metatarsal indentation 42.

Clinical Research

[0062] An orthotic 10 as embodied in the figures and described herein has been privately trialed in clinical research involving over 100 patients.

[0063] In the results, 98% of patients reported a much greater degree of comfort than their current devices. Most patients also reported little to no discomfort immediately, indicating that the orthotic did not need to be gradually worn-in over an extended period of use as is the suggested guideline of the Australian Podiatry Association. All patients also reported experiencing greater freedom of movement during the gait cycle, and this was accompanied by postural improvement. Patients in the trial group who suffered from functionally-related lower back pain all reported experiencing a greater than 80 percent reduction in their symptoms as assessed on a 1 to 10 perception scale. Similarly, patients in the trial group who suffered from hip and knee pain reported about an 85% reduction in symptoms on a 1 to 10 perception scale. Greater than 95 percent of patients also reported a reduction in foot and heel pain.

[0064] The results of the clinical research highlight the benefits of an orthotic having raised medial and lateral arch structures located on the top side of the orthotic and in particular a flat midfoot section there between. It has become apparent that, for many patients, structure in the midfoot region, and particularly in the posterior midfoot region, can cause disruption to the windlass effect and block force transfer through the foot during locomotion which gives rise to discomfort, pain and poor posture. The orthotic of the present invention avoids this disruption to the windlass effect and force transfer blocking, allowing optimal force transfer and functional efficiency during the gait cycle.

[0065] Finally, it is to be understood that various alterations, modifications and/or additions may be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention as outlined herein