Foot strengthening device and method

Abstract

A method and device for strengthening a human foot includes a bladder, a pressure gauge, a check valve for allowing air to flow into the bladder while preventing air from flowing out, and a release valve. The bladder is coupled to the pressure gauge by a flexible tubing. The bladder is placed on the floor under the first and second toes of a user's foot, and the pressure gauge and valve assembly are held in the user's hand. The first and second toes are contracted to squeeze the bladder and thereby cause an increase in pressure in the tubing and at the pressure gauge. The user observes the pressure reading on the pressure gauge and then operates the release valve to release the pressure. The process of contracting the toes, squeezing the bladder, observing the pressure gauge, and releasing the pressure is then repeated for a desired number of repetitions.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of strengthening a human foot, comprising:
 providing a pressure gauge, a bladder coupled to said pressure gauge to force air to said pressure gauge, a first check valve for allowing air to flow into said bladder while preventing air from flowing out of said bladder, and a release valve associated with the pressure gauge;   placing the bladder under first and second toes of a user's foot;   contracting said first and second toes to squeeze the bladder to thereby cause an increase in pressure to said pressure gauge while observing a pressure reading on said pressure gauge;   releasing the pressure from said pressure gauge using said release valve; and   repeating the contracting and releasing steps for a desired number of repetitions to provide a foot strengthening regimen with biofeedback from the pressure gauge as to the strength of contractions of the first and second toes.   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said release valve is provided on or adjacent to said pressure gauge to allow the user to hold the pressure gauge and release the pressure using one hand. 
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said bladder is shaped as an ovoid. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 3 , wherein said bladder is placed on a floor surface and has a size that allows said bladder to fit under a user's first and second toes while a remaining part of the user's foot rests on the floor surface. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said first check valve is provided in a first port of said bladder. 
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said bladder is coupled to said pressure gauge by a flexible tubing coupled to a second port of said bladder. 
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 6 , further comprising a second check valve between said bladder and said release valve. 
     
     
         8 . A foot strengthening device, comprising:
 a pressure gauge;   an ovoid-shaped bladder coupled to said pressure gauge to force air to said pressure gauge, said bladder being sized to fit under and to be squeezed by contractions of a user's first and second toes of a foot to be strengthened;   a first check valve for allowing air to flow into said bladder while preventing air from flowing out of said bladder when the bladder is squeezed by the user's first and second toes; and   a release valve associated with the pressure gauge to allow the user to release the pressure on the pressure gauge after each repetition during use, whereby said device can be used in a foot strengthening regimen that provides biofeedback from the pressure gauge as to a strength of contractions of the user's first and second toes.   
     
     
         9 . The device according to  claim 8 , wherein said release valve is provided on or adjacent to said pressure gauge to allow the user to hold the pressure gauge and release the pressure using one hand. 
     
     
         10 . The device according to  claim 8 , wherein said first check valve is provided in a first port of said bladder. 
     
     
         11 . The device according to  claim 8 , wherein said bladder is coupled to said pressure gauge by a flexible tubing coupled to a second port of said bladder. 
     
     
         12 . The device according to  claim 11 , further comprising a second check valve between said bladder and said release valve.