Achilles and foot arch stretching devices and methods performed therewith

Abstract

Therapeutic devices and methods suitable for stretching the Achilles tendon. Each device includes a base portion and at least one wedge portion. The wedge portion has heel and toe ends, inside-foot and outside-foot edges, and an upper surface. The upper surface has a nonuniform elevation relative to the base portion as a result of the wedge portion having a fore-aft taper in the fore-aft direction and a lateral taper in the lateral direction, wherein the inside-foot edge has an increasing elevation toward the toe end. The wedge portion further has a nonconstant lateral width as a result of the toe end being wider than the heel end. The fore-aft and lateral tapers are sufficient so that placement of a user's foot on the upper surface causes supination and locking of the foot and enables stretching of the Achilles complex.

1 . A therapeutic device for the foot, the device comprising a wedge portion and a base portion, the wedge portion having oppositely-disposed heel and toe ends in a fore-aft direction of the wedge portion, oppositely-disposed inside-foot and outside-foot edges in a lateral direction of the wedge portion, an upper surface delineated by the heel and toe ends and the inside-foot and outside-foot edges of the wedge portion, a nonuniform elevation of the upper surface relative to the base portion as a result of the wedge portion having a fore-aft taper in the fore-aft direction and a lateral taper in the lateral direction wherein the inside-foot edge has an increasing elevation toward the toe end and the outside-foot edge has a substantially constant elevation in the fore-aft direction, and a nonconstant lateral width in the lateral direction wherein the wedge portion has a toe width at the toe end thereof that is greater than a heel width at the heel end thereof, whereby the fore-aft taper and the lateral taper are sufficient so that placement of a user's heel on the upper surface at the heel end and the user's toes on the upper surface at the toe end causes supination and locking of the foot and enables stretching of the Achilles complex. 
     
     
         2 . The therapeutic device according to  claim 1 , wherein the inside-foot edge at the toe end is elevated about 2.5 to about 10 centimeters above the outside-foot edge as a result of the fore-aft taper and the lateral taper of the wedge portion. 
     
     
         3 . The therapeutic device according to  claim 1 , wherein the base portion comprises a rocker feature that enables the wedge portion to be pitched fore and aft for increased stretching of the Achilles complex. 
     
     
         4 . The therapeutic device according to  claim 1 , wherein the nonuniform elevation of the upper surface of the wedge portion relative to the base portion is a result of the wedge portion having a nonuniform thickness defined by the fore-aft taper and the lateral taper of the wedge portion. 
     
     
         5 . The therapeutic device according to  claim 1 , wherein the wedge portion is a first wedge portion of the device and the device further comprises a second wedge portion that is a mirror image of the first wedge portion, the first and second wedge portions causing simultaneously supination and locking of both feet of the user and enabling stretching of the Achilles complexes of both feet of the user. 
     
     
         6 . The therapeutic device according to  claim 5 , wherein the first and second wedge portions are not coupled to each other. 
     
     
         7 . The therapeutic device according to  claim 5 , wherein the first and second wedge portions are coupled to each other. 
     
     
         8 . The therapeutic device according to  claim 1 , wherein the upper surface of the wedge portion is a slip-resistant surface. 
     
     
         9 . The therapeutic device according to  claim 1 , wherein the device is a freestanding structure, the base portion is adapted for placement on a surface of a floor or ground, and the wedge portion enables weight-bearing stretching of the Achilles complex. 
     
     
         10 . The therapeutic device according to  claim 9 , further comprising means for securing the wedge portion to the foot. 
     
     
         11 . The therapeutic device according to  claim 9 , further comprising means for adjusting the elevation of the wedge portion relative to the base portion. 
     
     
         12 . The therapeutic device according to  claim 11 , wherein the adjusting means comprises a rail coupled to the wedge portion and an abutment member movable into engagement with the rail to cause the wedge portion to pivot relative to the base portion and increase the elevation of the upper surface of the wedge portion relative to the base portion. 
     
     
         13 . The therapeutic device according to  claim 1 , wherein the device is a shoe and the wedge portion causes weight-bearing stretching of the Achilles complex when the user walks and runs while wearing the shoe. 
     
     
         14 . The therapeutic device according to  claim 13 , wherein the wedge portion is a removable insert in the shoe. 
     
     
         15 . The therapeutic device according to  claim 13 , wherein the wedge portion is a removable attachment to the bottom of the shoe. 
     
     
         16 . The therapeutic device according to  claim 13 , wherein the wedge portion is an integral portion of a sole of the shoe. 
     
     
         17 . The therapeutic device according to  claim 1 , wherein the device is a splint and the nonuniform elevation of the upper surface of the wedge portion relative to the base portion is a result of the splint twisting the wedge portion. 
     
     
         18 . The therapeutic device according to  claim 1 , wherein the device is an apparatus comprising at least one strap attached to the base portion, the wedge portion being between first and second ends of the strap by which a user can pull the wedge portion to cause stretching of the Achilles complex. 
     
     
         19 . A method of stretching of the Achilles complex using the device according to  claim 1 , the method comprising placing a heel of a user's foot against the upper surface at the heel end of the wedge portion and placing toes of the user's foot against the upper surface at the toe end of the wedge portion to cause supination and locking of the foot and stretching of the Achilles complex. 
     
     
         20 . A method of stretching of the Achilles complex using the device according to  claim 9 , the method comprising placing a heel of a user's foot on the upper surface at the heel end of the wedge portion and toes of the user's foot on the upper surface at the toe end of the wedge portion to cause supination and locking of the foot, and then shifting weight of the user to the foot to cause weight-bearing stretching of the Achilles complex. 
     
     
         21 . A method of stretching of the Achilles complex using the device according to  claim 13 , the method comprising donning of the shoe by a user to cause supination and locking of the foot, and then walking in the shoe to cause weight-bearing stretching of the Achilles complex. 
     
     
         22 . A method of stretching of the Achilles complex using the device according to  claim 17 , the method comprising donning of the splint by a user by placing a heel of the user's foot on the upper surface at the heel end of the wedge portion and placing toes of the user's foot on the upper surface at the toe end of the wedge portion to cause supination and locking of the foot and stretching of the Achilles complex. 
     
     
         23 . A method of stretching of the Achilles complex using the device according to  claim 18 , the method comprising placing a heel of a user's foot on the upper surface at the heel end of the wedge portion and placing toes of the user's foot on the upper surface at the toe end of the wedge portion, and then pulling on the first and second ends of the strap to cause supination and locking of the foot and stretching of the Achilles complex.