Support structure for prophylaxis or treatment of a disorder accompanying a foot deformation

Abstract

[Problems] To provide a supporter, socks or stockings which can maintain the transverse arch even under the user's weight, and enables comprehensive, effective prophylaxis and treatment of disorders accompanying foot deformation (e.g., splayfoot, hallux valgus and PTTD) without discomfort or pain. [Means to Solve the Problems] A support structure for prophylaxis or treatment of disorders accompanying a foot deformation, comprising an instep part, a sole part, and a pair(s) of slip-proof means for gripping the sides of the forefoot, wherein: the instep and sole parts are connected together to form a cylindrical structure such that the borders between the parts are aligned with the sides of the forefoot; the slip-proof means are attached to the inner surface of the cylindrical structure at portions thereof to be contacted with the sides of the forefoot; and the instep part exhibits a larger elongation than the sole part in the widthwise direction of the foot.

1 . A support structure for prophylaxis or treatment of a disorder accompanying a foot deformation, which comprises:
 an instep part for covering an instep of a forefoot,   a sole part for covering a sole of the forefoot, and   at least a pair of slip-proof means for gripping the lateral and medial sides of the forefoot,   
       wherein:
 said instep part and said sole part are connected together to form a cylindrical structure such that, when the support structure is fitted on a foot, the borders between the instep part and the sole part are aligned with the lateral and medial sides of the forefoot; 
 said at least a pair of slip-proof means for gripping the lateral and medial sides of the forefoot are attached to the inner surface of said cylindrical structure at respective portions thereof to be contacted with the lateral and medial sides of the forefoot; and 
 said instep part exhibits a larger elongation than said sole part as measured in a direction corresponding to the widthwise direction of the foot on which said support structure is fitted. 
 
     
     
         2 . The support structure according to  claim 1 , wherein the ratio (A)/(B) of the elongation (A) of said instep part to the elongation (B) of said sole part is 1.2 or more, each elongation being measured in a direction corresponding to the widthwise direction of the foot on which said support structure is fitted. 
     
     
         3 . The support structure according to  claim 1 , wherein each of said slip-proof means for gripping the lateral and medial sides of the forefoot is made of an adhesive material. 
     
     
         4 . The support structure according to  claim 1  which further comprises a pad attached to the inner surface of said sole part, said pad being attached to a portion of the support structure which is to face a metatarsal bone of the foot on which the support structure is fitted. 
     
     
         5 . The support structure according to  claim 1  which is in the form of a sock. 
     
     
         6 . The support structure according to  claim 1  which is in the form of a stocking. 
     
     
         7 . The support structure according to  claim 1 , which further comprises an ankle support band to be fitted around an ankle in a manner such that an anterior of the ankle and a heel are encircled by said ankle support band, wherein said ankle support band comprises:
 an anterior ankle part for covering the anterior of the ankle,   a heel part for covering the heel, and   at least a pair of slip-proof means for gripping the ankle,   
       wherein:
 said anterior ankle part and said heel part are connected together in a manner such that, when the ankle support band is fitted around the ankle, the borders between said anterior ankle part and said heel part are aligned with the lateral and medial sides of the ankle; 
 said at least a pair of slip-proof means for the ankle being attached to the inner surface of said ankle support band, one of the slip-proof means being attached to a portion of the ankle support band to be contacted with medial malleolus of the foot and another slip-proof means being attached to a portion of the ankle support band to be contacted with the foot at an intermediate position between the lateral malleolus and the heel; and 
 said anterior ankle part exhibits a larger elongation than said heel part as measured in a direction corresponding to the widthwise direction of the foot on which said support structure is fitted. 
 
     
     
         8 . The support structure according to  claim 7 , wherein the ratio (A′)/(B′) of the elongation (A′) of said anterior ankle part to the elongation (B′) of said heel part is 1.2 or more, each elongation being measured in a direction corresponding to the widthwise direction of the foot on which said support structure is fitted. 
     
     
         9 . The support structure according to  claim 7 , wherein each of said slip-proof means for gripping the ankle is made of an adhesive material. 
     
     
         10 . The support structure according to  claim 1  or  7  which further comprises a hallux valgus correcting flexible plate, wherein said hallux valgus correcting flexible plate is attached to the inner surface of said sole part and extends along a portion of the support structure to be contacted with an edge of a medial side of the forefoot, said flexible plate having a wedge-shaped cross-section which continuously tapers in thickness from the top to the bottom. 
     
     
         11 . The support structure according to  claim 10 , wherein said hallux valgus correcting flexible plate comprises a shape-memory alloy plate extending in a longitudinal direction of said flexible plate, said shape-memory alloy plate being embedded in said hallux valgus correcting flexible plate or attached to the surface of said hallux valgus correcting flexible plate. 
     
     
         12 . The support structure according to  claim 7  which further comprises a pad attached to the inner surface of said sole part, said pad being attached to a portion of the support structure which is to face a metatarsal bone of the foot on which the support structure is fitted.