Foot alignment tool

Abstract

A foot alignment tool is configured for aligning a foot bearing a load. The tool extends between a handle at one end and a support lever at an opposing end and is characterized in that the support lever is configured to be received under or substantially under the medial longitudinal arch or the cuboid of the foot and configured to be rotated so as translate and/or rotate the foot from the inside of the foot to the outside of the foot or from the outside of the foot to the inside of the foot by a predetermined amount about a foot heel-toe axis wherein the support lever is configured to apply a predetermined torque.

1 . A foot alignment tool configured for aligning a foot bearing a load, the tool extending between a handle at one end and a support lever at an opposing end, the foot alignment tool characterized in that the support lever is configured to be received under or substantially under the medial longitudinal arch of the foot and configured to be rotated so as translate and/or rotate the foot from the inside of the foot to the outside of the foot by a predetermined amount about a foot heel-toe axis wherein the support lever is configured to apply a predetermined torque. 
     
     
         2 . A foot alignment tool according to  claim 1  and configured to translate and/or rotate the foot so as to be substantially aligned with a line extending between the anterior bisection of the talus and the mid-point between the first and second metatarsals adjacent the toes of the foot. 
     
     
         3 . A foot alignment tool according to  claim 2  wherein the foot is translated and/or rotated so as to substantially also align with the anterior of the tibia intermediate the ankle and the knee. 
     
     
         4 . A foot alignment tool according to  claim 1  and configured to translate and/or rotate the foot about the heel-toe axis into a supinated position or a less pronated position. 
     
     
         5 . A foot alignment tool according to  claim 1  wherein the foot is translated and/or rotated about the heel-toe axis to remove a gap in a knee joint, rotate a hip, or stabilize pronation of the foot, or align the ankle or lower spine. 
     
     
         6 . A foot alignment tool according to  claim 1  including a support lever engagement means disposed at or adjacent the end of the foot alignment tool at the support lever end, the engagement means configured to extend downwardly away from the support lever for engagement with a foot support surface. 
     
     
         7 . A foot alignment tool according to  claim 6  wherein the foot support surface is configured to retain the support lever engagement means during rotation thereof. 
     
     
         8 . A foot alignment tool according to  claims 1  wherein upon rotation of the foot alignment tool a vertical force is applied to an upper side of the foot to stabilize its position. 
     
     
         9 . A foot alignment tool according to  claim 1  wherein the foot alignment tool is configured to be received under the navicular of the medial longitudinal arch or the intermediate or the medial, intermediate or lateral cuneiform of the medial longitudinal arch. 
     
     
         10 . A foot alignment tool according to  claim 1  and configured for use in aligning a foot to produce a foot orthotic. 
     
     
         11 . A foot alignment tool according to  claim 10  wherein the foot orthotic is formed from a plaster cast, a mechanical impression in a foot support surface or from electronic measurement of the weight and/or height distribution of the foot when the foot alignment tool is engaged therewith. 
     
     
         12 . A foot alignment tool according to  claim 1  and being substantially S-shaped in cross-section. 
     
     
         13 . A foot alignment tool configured for aligning a foot bearing a load, the tool extending between a handle at one end and a support lever at an opposing end, the foot alignment tool characterized in that the support lever is configured to be received under or substantially under the cuboid of the foot and configured to be rotated to rotate and/or translate the foot from the outside of the foot to the inside of the foot by a predetermined amount about a foot heel-toe axis, the support lever configured to apply a predetermined torque to pronate and/or stabilize the foot. 
     
     
         14 . A foot alignment tool according to  claim 1  wherein the distance between the handle end and the support lever at the opposing end of the foot alignment tool is between 5 cm to 30 cm and the support lever extends a length of between 3 cm and 20 cm. 
     
     
         15 . A foot alignment tool according to  claim 13  wherein the width of the foot alignment tool is between 4 cm to 20 cm. 
     
     
         16 . A foot alignment tool according to  claim 13  and being substantially S-shaped in cross-section. 
     
     
         17 . A foot alignment tool according to  claim 13  wherein the foot alignment tool is configured to be received under the cuboid bone including the rest of the lateral column being the lateral cuneiform and styloid process of the fifth metatarsal bone. 
     
     
         18 . An apparatus configured to align a foot in the creation of a foot orthotic and for aligning a foot bearing a load, the apparatus having a support lever configured to be received under or substantially under the medial longitudinal arch or cuboid of the foot and configured to be rotated to rotate and/or translate the foot from the inside of the foot to the outside or the outside of the foot to the inside of the foot by a predetermined amount about a foot heel-toe axis, the support lever configured to apply a predetermined torque to pronate and/or stabilize the foot. 
     
     
         19 . A mechanical foot alignment apparatus for aligning a loaded foot into a corrected position in the production of a foot orthotic, the apparatus comprising:
 a medial foot alignment tool extending between an outer end and a support lever at an opposing end and configured to be received substantially under the medial longitudinal arch of the foot and configured to be rotated so as to translate and/or rotate the foot from the inside of the foot to the outside of the foot by a predetermined amount about a foot heel-toe axis; and mechanical apparatus to rotate the medial foot alignment tool   
     
     
         20 . A mechanical foot alignment apparatus for aligning a loaded foot into a corrected position in the production of a foot orthotic, the apparatus comprising:
 a cuboid foot alignment tool extending between an outer end and a support lever at an opposing end and configured to support the cuboid of the foot and configured to be rotated to rotate and/or translate the foot from the outside of the foot to the inside of the foot by predetermined amount about the heel-toe foot axis to the inside of the foot, the cuboid foot alignment tool configured to apply a predetermined torque to pronate and/or stabilize the foot; and a mechanical apparatus to rotate the cuboid foot alignment tool   
     
     
         21 . A mechanical foot alignment apparatus according to  claim 19  wherein the foot alignment tool is configured to:
 translate and/or rotate foot so as to be substantially aligned with a line extending between the anterior bisection of the talus and the midpoint between the first and second metatarsals adjacent the toes of the foot; and/or 
 translate and/or rotate the foot so as to substantially align with the anterior of the tibia intermediate the ankle and the knee; and/or 
 to translate and/or rotate the foot about the heel-toe axis into a superintend position or a less pronated position. 
 
     
     
         22 . A mechanical foot alignment apparatus according to  claim 19  wherein the medial foot alignment tool is configured to be received under the navicular medial longitudinal arch or the intermediate of the medial, intermediate or lateral cuneiform of the medial longitudinal arch. 
     
     
         23 . A mechanical foot alignment apparatus according to  claim 20  wherein the cuboid foot alignment tool is configured to be received under the cuboid bone including the rest of the lateral column being the lateral cuneiform and styloid process of the fifth metatarsal bone. 
     
     
         24 . A method of forming a corrective foot orthotic for a foot under a load, the method comprising the steps of:
 placing a foot on a support surface;   adhering an upper and lower sheet of thermo-formable plastic material together and adhering a non-plastic sheet layer on the underside of the adhered pair of thermo-formable sheets;   heating the thermo-formable plastic sheets to a predetermined temperature and disposing it intermediate the foot and the foot support surface;   disposing a foot alignment tool intermediate the foot support surface and the underside of the thermo-formable sheets:   under or substantially under the medial longitudinal arch and having an outer end and a support lever at an opposing end, the foot alignment tool configured to be rotated so as to translate and/or rotate the foot from the inside of the foot to the outside of the foot by predetermined amount about a foot heel-toe axis wherein the foot alignment tool is configured to apply a predetermined torque to move the foot into a corrected position; or   under or substantially under the cuboid of the foot and extending between an outer end and a support lever end to be rotated to rotate and/or translate the foot to the outside of the foot to the inside of the foot by a predetermined amount about a foot heel-toe axis such that the foot alignment tool applies a predetermined torque to pronate and/or stabilize the foot to correct the foot position;   removing the fitted thermo-formable plastic sheets and allowing to cool; and   adhering a top sheet layer to the cooled thermo-formable plastic sheets.   
     
     
         25 . A method according to  claim 24  wherein the foot alignment tool is configured to:
 translate and/or rotate the foot so as to substantially also align with the anterior of the tibia intermediate the ankle and the knee; and/or 
 translate and/or rotate the foot about the heel-toe axis into a supinated position or a less pronated position; and/or 
 translate and/or rotate the foot so as to be substantially aligned with a line extending between the anterior bisection of the talus and the midpoint between the first and second metatarsals adjacent the toes of the foot. 
 
     
     
         26 . A method as defined in  claim 24  wherein the upper and/or lower thermo-formable plastic sheets are reinforced. 
     
     
         27 . A method as defined in paragraph  24  wherein the foot alignment tool is rotated by a mechanical apparatus or the foot alignment tool includes a handle at the outer end to allow manual rotation thereof. 
     
     
         28 . A method according to  claim 24  including the step of disposing a foot foam intermediate the foot and the foot support surface such that the foot alignment tool is disposed under the foot foam. 
     
     
         29 . The method as defined in  claim 24  including a wrap wrapped around the foot on the foot foam to secure the foot thereto.