Shoe, ankle orthosis and method for protecting the ankle

• US 6,692,454 B1
• Filed: 06/29/2000
• Issued: 02/17/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/18/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Barry W. Townsend, Henry E. Pfister
• Original Assignee: Barry W. Townsend, Henry E. Pfister
• Inventors: Townsend, Barry W., Pfister, Henry E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lucchesi, Nicholas D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): HWANG, VICTOR KENNY
• Application Number:
  US09/606,075
• Time in Patent Office: 1,328 Days
• Field of Search: 602/23-24, 602/27-29, 602/65, 602/66, 128/882, 36/88--92, 361/14, 361/16, 361/40, 361/42--45, 361/59, 361/72--73, 361/80
• US Class Current: 602/27
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 5/10 Tennis shoes
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 7/20 Ankle-joint supports or holders
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/0111 for the feet or ankles

Abstract

A method for protecting the ankle against injury, limit subtalar joint motion of the ankle by controlling the motions of segments of the subtalar joint fore and aft of the subtalar joint while permitting motion of the foot about the ankle joint with an improved athletic shoe, ankle orthosis. A supporting structure a part of or connected to the shoe or orthosis is preferably in the form of a heel-sole counter provided about the heel and at least a portion of the foot forward of the subtalar joint which includes a split toe sole extension. The supporting structure has a semi-rigid shape retaining character which is not collapsible vertically and which together with the shoe or orthosis limits torsional movement of the foot about the longitudinal axis of the subtalar joint as seen in a top plan view thereof by an upwardly extending portion thereof which acts as a torsion bar that is, in turn, secured to the lower leg. Preferably, the torsion bar has directional properties for resisting bending which are most rigid in a direction orthogonal or nearly orthogonal to the longitudinal axis of the subtalar joint. In a disclosed embodiment of the shoe motion of the midtarsal joint is also limited by the supporting structure to aid in limiting subtalar joint motion and shoe rollover. The shoe is secured to the foot by way of a strap arrangement which applies a force to the foot in a direction which, together with the heel-sole counter opposes the subtalar joint motion in supination.

Claims

1. A method of protecting a person'"'"'s ankle comprising limiting subtalar joint motion of the ankle by controlling the motions of bony segments of the ankle and foot which form the subtalar joint at locations fore and aft of the axis of rotation of the subtalar joint while permitting motion of the foot about the ankle joint, said controlling including providing a supporting structure about the heel and at least a portion of the foot forward of the subtalar joint for controlling the motions of bony segments of the ankle and foot which form the subtalar joint at locations fore and aft of the axis of rotation of the subtalar joint and securing the supporting structure to limit torsional movement thereof about a longitudinal axis of the subtalar joint by an upwardly extending portion of the supporting structure in the form of a torsion bar located posterior of the heel and achilles tendon and extending upwardly to the lower leg where it is secured to the lower leg with clearance for the lateral and medial malleoli, wherein said supporting structure includes a split toe sole extension which is split longitudinally at its forward end to allow sagittal and frontal biplanar motions of the foot distal to the midtarsal joint, wherein said torsion bar as seen in a transverse body plane view is relatively elongated in a first direction in which it is relatively rigid against bending and is relatively narrow in a second direction, transverse to said first direction of the torsion bar, in which said torsion bar is relatively flexible in bending, and wherein the torsion bar in the vicinity of the heel is shaped to reflect an internal rotation angle in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the subtalar joint as seen in a top plan view thereof such that said first direction of said torsion bar is orthogonal or nearly orthogonal to said longitudinal axis of the subtalar joint as seen in a top plan view thereof.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the motion of the subtalar joint is limited by said controlling to within a normal range of motion of the subtalar joint.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein supination of the subtalar joint is limited by said controlling.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the motion of the subtalar joint is limited in the frontal, sagittal and transverse body planes by said controlling.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the motions of the segments controlled include limiting the inversion of the posterior calcaneus and the abduction of the talus and the anterior aspect of the calcaneus in closed kinetic chain supination.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein said upwardly extending portion is secured to the lower leg in a manner to yieldably resist rotation of the tibia and fibula in a plane transverse to a longitudinal axis of the leg thereby aiding in said limiting of subtalar joint motion.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein said subtalar joint can pronate or supinate, and including securing said supporting structure to the foot in a manner which applies a force to the foot in a direction which opposes supination of the subtalar joint.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein said supporting structure is part of an orthosis which is secured to said foot and lower leg for controlling the motion of the bony segments for limiting subtalar joint motion while permitting motion of the foot about the ankle joint.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein said supporting structure is part of an athletic shoe secured to said foot and lower leg.

10. The method according to claim 9, including shifting the normal anatomical bearing line of the shoe to reduce torsional stress about the subtalar joint.

11. The method according to claim 9, including securing said shoe to the foot in a manner which prevents shoe rollover.

12. A method of protecting a person'"'"'s ankle comprising limiting subtalar joint motion of the ankle by controlling the motions of bony segments of the ankle and foot which form the subtalar joint at locations fore and aft of the axis of rotation of the subtalar joint while permitting motion of the foot about the ankle joint, said controlling including providing a supporting structure about the heel and at least a portion of the foot forward of the subtalar joint for controlling the motions of bony segments of the ankle and foot which form the subtalar joint at locations fore and aft of the axis of rotation of the subtalar joint and securing the supporting structure to limit torsional movement thereof about a longitudinal axis of the subtalar joint by an upwardly extending portion of the supporting structure in the form of a torsion bar located posterior of the heel and achilles tendon and extending upwardly to the lower leg where it is secured to the lower leg with clearance for the lateral and medial malleoli, wherein said supporting structure includes a split toe sole extension which is split longitudinally at its forward end to allow sagittal and frontal biplanar motions of the foot distal to the midtarsal joint, wherein said supporting structure comprises an integral member having a semi-rigid, shape-retaining character with a first portion secured about the leg and a second portion secured about the heel and a portion of the foot forward of the subtalar joint, said first and second portions being connected to one another in spaced relation by said upwardly extending portion in the form of a torsion bar which as seen in a transverse plane view thereof, is asymmetrically positioned with respect to a longitudinal axis of the foot as seen in a top view thereof.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein said torsion bar as seen in a transverse body plane view is relatively elongated in a first direction in which it is relatively rigid against bending and is relatively narrow in a second direction, transverse to said first direction, in which said torsion bar is relatively flexible in bending, and wherein said first direction of said torsion bar at said second portion of the supporting structure is orthogonal or nearly orthogonal to said longitudinal axis of the subtalar joint as seen in a top plan view thereof.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein said torsion bar is twisted along its length between said first and second portions of the supporting structure such that said second direction is progressively turned in the direction of said longitudinal axis of the foot as said torsion bar approaches said first portion for permitting motion of the foot about the ankle joint.

15. A method of protecting a person'"'"'s ankle comprising limiting subtalar joint motion of the ankle by controlling the motions of bony segments of the ankle and foot which form the subtalar joint at locations fore and aft of the axis of rotation of the subtalar joint while permitting motion of the foot about the ankle joint, said controlling including providing a supporting structure as part of an athletic shoe which is secured to the foot and lower leg with the supporting structure about the heel and at least a portion of the foot forward of the subtalar joint for controlling the motions of bony segments of the ankle and foot which form the subtalar joint at locations fore and aft of the axis of rotation of the subtalar joint and securing the supporting structure to limit torsional movement thereof about a longitudinal axis of the subtalar joint by an upwardly extending portion of the supporting structure secured to the lower leg, wherein said supporting structure includes a split toe sole extension which allows sagittal and frontal biplanar motions of the foot distal to the midtarsal joint, and wherein said split toe sole extension has properties of a spring which sole extension in fabrication of the shoe is flexed to pre-load the spring whereby the storage of energy by the pre-loaded spring of the sole extension provides assistance during the stance phase heel-off portion of gait, running and jumping activities for improving athletic performance.

16. A method of protecting a person'"'"'s ankle comprising limiting subtalar joint motion of the ankle by controlling the motions of bony segments of the ankle and foot which form the subtalar joint at locations fore and aft of the axis of rotation of the subtalar joint while permitting motion of the foot about the ankle joint, said controlling including providing a supporting structure about the heel and at least a portion of the foot forward of the subtalar joint for controlling the motions of bony segments of the ankle and foot which form the subtalar joint at locations fore and aft of the axis of rotation of the subtalar joint and securing the supporting structure to limit torsional movement thereof about a longitudinal axis of the subtalar joint by an upwardly extending portion of the supporting structure in the form of a torsion bar located posterior of the heel and achilles tendon and extending upwardly to the lower leg where it is secured to the lower leg with clearance for the lateral and medial malleoli, wherein said supporting structure includes a split toe sole extension which is split longitudinally at its forward end to allow sagittal and frontal biplanar motions of the foot distal to the midtarsal joint, wherein said supporting structure is part of an athletic shoe secured to said foot and lower leg, and said method including securing said shoe to the foot in a manner which prevents shoe rollover, and wherein said support structure is a non-collapsible structure and said securing said shoe to the foot includes tensioning an external strap which is non-stretchable in length over the anterior aspect of the ankle between points of the shoe on or about the lateral heel-sole of the shoe and the medial anterior aspect of the ankle.

17. The method according to claim 16, wherein said non-collapsible support structure vertically supports said tensioned strap and the shoe to maintain said tension and prevent vertical collapsing of the shoe under the tension.