Apparatus and methods for stretching the lower leg

Abstract

Embodiments of the invention include a method and apparatus for stretching the posterior compartment of the lower leg. The apparatus comprises a body having a continuous dome-shaped outer surface including an upper rounded section and a plurality of walls extending downwardly from the upper section. The upper rounded section and the plurality of walls are adapted to support portions of the foot in inverted and everted positions.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus for stretching the posterior compartment of the lower leg, the apparatus comprising:
 a body having a continuous dome-shaped outer surface, the outer surface including:
 a rounded upper section for supporting at least a portion of a foot; and 
 a plurality of walls extending downwardly from the upper section, the plurality of walls including at least one sidewall for supporting at least a portion of the foot. 
   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a rim extending along the bottom edges of the plurality of walls for supporting the apparatus on a surface. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the foot comprises a forefoot and a hindfoot. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the forefoot and the hindfoot are supported on the outer surface of the body and the forefoot is positioned at a higher elevation than the hindfoot. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the at least one sidewall supports at least a portion of the forefoot and the hindfoot in an inverted position. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the at least one sidewall supports at least a portion of the forefoot and the hindfoot in an everted position. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the upper section supports at least a portion of the forefoot and the hindfoot in an everted position. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the foot comprises a medial longitudinal arch. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the at least one sidewall supports at least a portion of the medial longitudinal arch. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the upper section supports at least a portion of the medial longitudinal arch. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the plurality of walls further comprises a rear wall, wherein the rear wall supports at least a portion of the hindfoot. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the plurality of walls further comprises a front wall, wherein the front wall supports at least a portion of the forefoot. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a textured material applied to a portion of the outer surface of the body. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the textured material comprises neoprene. 
     
     
         15 . A method for stretching the posterior compartment of the lower leg, the method comprising:
 providing a body having a continuous dome-shaped outer surface, the outer surface including:
 a rounded upper section; 
 a plurality of walls extending downwardly from the upper section, the plurality of walls comprising at least one sidewall; 
   positioning at least a portion of one or more feet on the upper section and on the at least one sidewall.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising contacting the entire plantar surface of the one or more feet on a portion of the outer surface of the body. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the one or more feet comprises a right foot and a left foot and the at least one sidewall comprises a right side wall and a left sidewall. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising placing a portion of the right foot on the right sidewall in an inverted position. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising placing a portion of the left foot on the left sidewall in an inverted position. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising placing a portion of the right foot on the left sidewall in an everted position. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising placing a portion of the left foot on the right sidewall in an everted position. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising placing a portion of the left foot and a portion of the right foot on the upper section in an everted position. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the one or more feet comprise a medial longitudinal arch. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23 , further comprising positioning at least a portion of the medial longitudinal arch on the at least one side wall. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 23 , further comprising positioning at least a portion of the medial longitudinal arch on the upper section. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the one or more feet comprise a hindfoot and a forefoot. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 25 , further comprising imposing a dorsiflexion load by positioning the forefoot and the hindfoot on the outer surface of the body such that the forefoot is at a higher elevation that the hindfoot. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising increasing the dorsioflexion load by tilting the center of mass of a user forward. 
     
     
         29 . A method for stretching the posterior compartment of the lower leg, the method comprising:
 providing a first body having a dome-shaped continuous outer surface, the outer surface comprising:
 a first rounded upper section; and 
 a plurality of walls extending downwardly from the first upper section, the plurality of walls comprising a first sidewall; 
   providing a second body having a dome-shaped continuous outer surface, the outer surface comprises:
 a second rounded upper section; and 
 a plurality of walls extending downwardly from the second upper section, 
 the plurality of walls comprising a second sidewall; 
   positioning at least a portion of a first foot on the first upper section and first sidewall and at least a portion of a second foot on the second upper section and second sidewall.   
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 29 , further comprising placing at least a portion of the first foot on the first sidewall in an everted position. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 29 , further comprising placing at least a portion of the second foot on the second sidewall in an everted position. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 29 , further comprising placing at least a portion of the first foot on the first upper section in an everted position and placing at least a portion of the second foot on the second upper section in an everted position.