Orthotic insert for decreased forefoot loading

Abstract

The present teachings provide orthotic inserts, methods of employing the same, and footwear comprising the same, for decreased forefoot loading. The insert can be configured to-fit in a footware such as a surgical boot or other footwear. The inserts are useful in any application in which decreased forefoot loading is desirable. The insert can be used as an adjunct in the healing of and pain relief from various medical conditions relating to the forefoot.

1 . An orthotic insert for a footwear, comprising:
 a top portion spanning a length and a width of the insert;   a bottom portion spanning the length and the width of the insert;   a heel portion beginning at a back edge of the length of the insert and having an average thickness comprising the top and bottom portions;   a forefoot portion terminating at a front edge of the length of the insert and having an average thickness, comprising the top and bottom portions, that is greater than the average thickness of the heel portion; and   a transition portion, between the heel and forefoot portions, having an average thickness comprising the top and bottom portions, greater than the average thickness of the heel portion and less than the average thickness of the forefoot portion, and inclined from the heel portion to the forefoot portion.   
     
     
         2 . The orthotic insert of  claim 1 , wherein the insert comprises two or more layers, the top portion comprises a first material, the bottom portion comprises a second material, and the first material is softer than the second material. 
     
     
         3 . The orthotic insert of  claim 1 , wherein the first material is a foam and the second material is a rubber. 
     
     
         4 . The orthotic insert of  claim 1 , wherein the bottom portion comprises at least one arch region. 
     
     
         5 . The orthotic insert of  claim 1 , wherein the bottom portion bends upwardly at the back edge. 
     
     
         6 . The orthotic insert of  claim 1 , wherein the transition portion is inclined at an angle from 30 degrees to 40 degrees relative to horizontal. 
     
     
         7 . The orthotic insert of  claim 1 , wherein the transition portion comprises at least one side wall for centering a foot on the top portion of the insert. 
     
     
         8 . The orthotic insert of  claim 1 , wherein the transition portion comprises an outer region along the top portion and an inner region along the top portion, and the outer region has a greater angle of inclination than the inner region. 
     
     
         9 . The orthotic insert of  claim 8 , wherein the average angle of inclination of the outer region is from about 2 degrees to about 5 degrees steeper than the average angle of inclination of the inner region. 
     
     
         10 . The orthotic insert of  claim 1 , wherein the forefoot portion generally slopes downwardly, relative to horizontal, from the transition portion to the front edge. 
     
     
         11 . The orthotic insert of  claim 10 , wherein the downward slope is less than about 10 degrees relative to the horizontal. 
     
     
         12 . The orthotic insert of  claim 1 , wherein the forefoot portion has an average thickness, the heel portion has an average thickness, and the average thickness of the forefoot portion is from about 125% to about 500% of the average thickness of the heel portion. 
     
     
         13 . The orthotic insert of  claim 1 , wherein the forefoot portion has an average width, the heel portion has an average width, and the average width of the forefoot portion is from about 150% to about 250% of the average width of the heel portion. 
     
     
         14 . The orthotic insert of  claim 1 , wherein the forefront portion comprises from about 45 percent to about 70 percent of the length of the insert and the heel portion comprises from about 20 percent to about 35 percent of the length of the insert. 
     
     
         15 . A footwear comprising the orthotic insert of  claim 1  inserted therein. 
     
     
         16 . The footwear of  claim 15 , wherein the footwear comprises a boot. 
     
     
         17 . In combination, an orthotic insert set comprising two or more inserts, each insert comprising:
 a top portion spanning a length and a width of the insert;   a bottom portion spanning the length and the width of the insert;   a heel portion beginning at a back edge of the length of the insert and having an average thickness comprising the top and bottom portions;   a forefoot portion terminating at a front edge of the length of the insert and having an average thickness, comprising the top and bottom portions, greater than the average thickness of the heel portion; and   a transition portion, between the heel and forefoot portions, having an average thickness comprising the top and bottom portions, greater than the average thickness of the heel portion and less than the average thickness of the forefoot portion, and inclined upward from the heel portion to the forefoot portion.   
     
     
         18 . The combination set of  claim 17 , wherein the two or more inserts comprise at least one insert having a left foot configuration and at least one insert having a right foot configuration. 
     
     
         19 . A method of preparing a footwear for minimizing pressure on a forefoot of a user, the method comprising:
 inserting an orthotic insert into at least one footwear for a user, the insert comprising
 a top portion spanning a length and a width of the insert, 
 a bottom portion spanning the length and the width of the insert, 
 a heel portion beginning at a back edge of the length of the insert and having an average thickness comprising the top and bottom portions, 
 a forefoot portion terminating at a front edge of the length of the insert and having an average thickness, comprising the top and bottom portions, that is greater than the average thickness of the heel portion, and 
 a transition portion, between the heel and forefoot portions, having an average thickness comprising the top and bottom portions, that is greater than the average thickness of the heel portion, less than the average thickness of the forefoot portion, and inclined upwardly from the heel portion to the forefoot portion. 
   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising:
 placing a foot of a user in the footwear prepared according to  claim 19 .   
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising first performing a surgical operation on a forefoot of a user. 
     
     
         22 . An orthotic insert for a footwear, comprising:
 a top portion spanning a length and a width of the insert;   a bottom portion spanning the length and the width of the insert;   a heel portion beginning at a back edge of the length of the insert and having an average thickness comprising the top and bottom portions;   a forefoot portion terminating at a front edge of the length of the insert and having an average thickness, comprising the top and bottom portions, that is from about 150% to about 450% the average thickness of the heel portion; and   a transition portion, between the heel and forefoot portions, having an average thickness comprising the top and bottom portions, greater than the average thickness of the heel portion, and comprising an inner side wall and an outer side wall for centering a foot on the top portion of the insert.