Achilles stretching devices and methods performed therewith

Abstract

Therapeutic devices and methods stretching the Achilles tendon. Each device includes base and wedge portions. The wedge portion has heel and toe ends, inside-foot and outside-foot edges, and an upper surface that includes a planar surface portion that lies in a wedge plane and an arcuate surface portion defined by a projection that extends out of the wedge plane. The wedge plane 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. The fore-aft taper and the lateral taper are sufficient so that placement of a user's foot on the upper surface of the wedge portion causes supination and locking of the foot and enables stretching of the Achilles complex, while the arch of the user's foot is against and supported by the arcuate surface portion.

1 . A therapeutic device for the foot, the device comprising:
 a base portion;   a wedge portion having oppositely-disposed heel and toe ends in a fore-aft direction thereof, oppositely-disposed inside-foot and outside-foot edges in a lateral direction thereof;   an upper surface delineated by the heel and toe ends and the inside-foot and outside-foot edges of the wedge portion, the upper surface comprising a planar surface portion that lies in a wedge plane and an arcuate surface portion defined by a projection that extends out of the wedge plane, the wedge plane having 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 a higher elevation at the toe end than at the heel end and the outside-foot edge has a substantially constant elevation in the fore-aft direction;   the fore-aft taper and the lateral taper being 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; and   the projection extending from the inside-foot edge toward but not to the outside-foot edge in the lateral direction, and extending between but not to the toe and heel ends of the wedge portion, the arcuate surface portion of the projection having arcuate contours in both the lateral and fore-aft directions, and the arcuate contours of the arcuate surface portion defining an apex that is at least ten millimeters to about forty millimeters from the wedge plane.   
     
     
         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 projection extends about 5.5 to about 7.5 centimeters from the inside-foot edge toward the outside-foot edge in the lateral direction, and extends about 9 to about 11 centimeters along the inside-foot edge in the fore-aft direction. 
     
     
         4 . The therapeutic device according to  claim 1 , wherein the arcuate contours of the arcuate surface portion are parabolic or sinusoidal. 
     
     
         5 . 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. 
     
     
         6 . 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. 
     
     
         7 . 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. 
     
     
         8 . The therapeutic device according to  claim 7 , wherein the first and second wedge portions are not coupled to each other. 
     
     
         9 . The therapeutic device according to  claim 7 , wherein the first and second wedge portions are coupled to each other. 
     
     
         10 . The therapeutic device according to  claim 1 , wherein the upper surface of the wedge portion is a slip-resistant surface. 
     
     
         11 . 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. 
     
     
         12 . The therapeutic device according to  claim 11 , further comprising means for securing the wedge portion to the foot. 
     
     
         13 . The therapeutic device according to  claim 11 , further comprising means for adjusting the elevation of the wedge portion relative to the base portion. 
     
     
         14 . The therapeutic device according to  claim 13 , 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. 
     
     
         15 . 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. 
     
     
         16 . The therapeutic device according to  claim 15 , wherein the wedge portion is a removable insert in the shoe. 
     
     
         17 . The therapeutic device according to  claim 15 , wherein the wedge portion is an integral portion of a sole of the shoe. 
     
     
         18 . 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. 
     
     
         19 . 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. 
     
     
         20 . The therapeutic device according to  claim 1 , wherein the wedge portion has a nonconstant lateral width in the lateral direction and a toe width at the toe end thereof that is greater than a heel width at the heel end thereof. 
     
     
         21 . A method of stretching of the Achilles complex using the device according to  claim 1 , the method comprising placing a user's foot against the upper surface of the wedge portion so that a heel of the user's foot is against the planar surface portion at the heel end of the wedge portion and toes of the user's foot are against the planar surface portion at the toe end of the wedge portion to cause supination and locking of the foot and stretching of the Achilles complex, and so that an arch of the user's foot is against and supported by the arcuate surface portion between the heel and toe ends of the wedge portion. 
     
     
         22 . A method of stretching of the Achilles complex using the device according to  claim 11 , the method comprising:
 placing a user's foot against the upper surface of the wedge portion so that a heel of the user's foot is against the planar surface portion at the heel end of the wedge portion and toes of the user's foot are against the planar surface portion at the toe end of the wedge portion to cause supination and locking of the foot, and so that an arch of the user's foot is against and supported by the arcuate surface portion between the heel and toe ends of the wedge portion; and then   shifting weight of the user to the foot to cause weight-bearing stretching of the Achilles complex.   
     
     
         23 . A method of stretching of the Achilles complex using the device according to  claim 15 , the method comprising:
 donning of the shoe by a user to cause supination and locking of the foot, and so that an arch of the user's foot is against and supported by the arcuate surface portion; and then   walking in the shoe to cause weight-bearing stretching of the Achilles complex.   
     
     
         24 . A method of stretching of the Achilles complex using the device according to  claim 18 , the method comprising donning of the splint by a user by placing the user's foot against the upper surface of the wedge portion so that a heel of the user's foot is against the planar surface portion at the heel end of the wedge portion and toes of the user's foot are against the planar surface portion at the toe end of the wedge portion to cause supination and locking of the foot and stretching of the Achilles complex, and so that an arch of the user's foot is against and supported by the arcuate surface portion between the heel and toe ends of the wedge portion. 
     
     
         25 . A method of stretching of the Achilles complex using the device according to  claim 19 , the method comprising:
 placing a user's foot against the upper surface of the wedge portion so that a heel of the user's foot is against the planar surface portion at the heel end of the wedge portion and toes of the user's foot are against the planar surface portion at the toe end of the wedge portion to cause supination and locking of the foot, and so that an arch of the user's foot is against and supported by the arcuate surface portion between the heel and toe ends 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.