Orthotic device and method of use

Abstract

An orthotic device and method of use are disclosed for suspending toes of a wearer's foot off of a sole of footwear. The orthotic device includes a bottom surface, a top surface, and a distal end. The bottom surface is adapted to be affixed to a sole of protective footwear. The top surface is adapted to be adjacent to the foot when the foot is within the protective footwear and to suspend toes of the foot off of the sole when the foot is in a resting position within the protective footwear. The distal end defines ends of the bottom surface and the top surface, the distal end being substantially aligned with metatarsophalangeal joints of the foot when the foot is within the protective footwear.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A device adapted to be placed beneath metatarsals of a foot comprising:
 a bottom surface being adapted to be affixed to a sole of protective footwear;   a top surface being adapted to be adjacent to the foot when the foot is within the protective footwear and to suspend toes of the foot off of the sole when the foot is in a resting position within the protective footwear; and   a distal end defining ends of the bottom surface and the top surface, the distal end being substantially aligned with metatarsophalangeal joints of the foot when the foot is within the protective footwear.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the top surface includes a level portion and an inclined portion, the level portion being substantially level from the distal end to a midpoint of the top surface, and the inclined portion being inclined downward from the midpoint to a proximal end of the top surface. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 2 , wherein the inclined portion of the top surface is contiguous to the sole at the proximal end of the top surface. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 a proximal edge defining opposite ends of the top surface and the bottom surface,   wherein the proximal edge separates the inclined portion of the top surface from the sole at the proximal end of the top surface.   
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the top surface is inclined from a proximal end of the top surface to the distal end. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 5 , wherein the top surface is contiguous to the sole at the proximal end of the top surface. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 5 , further comprising:
 a proximal edge defining opposite ends of the top surface and the bottom surface,   wherein the proximal edge separates the top surface from the sole at the proximal end of the top surface.   
     
     
         8 . An apparatus comprising:
 a soft insole adapted to be placed on a rigid sole of footwear; and   a wedge adapted to be placed beneath a foot wearing the footwear, the wedge having a first end and a second end opposite the first end, the first end being substantially aligned with metatarsophalangeal joints of the foot, the second end being proximal to the first end relative to the foot, and the wedge suspending toes above a lower surface of the footwear below the toes.   
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the second end is aligned with or forward of a midfoot of the foot. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the wedge has a top surface and a bottom surface, the bottom surface being adapted for being affixed to the soft insole and the top surface being adapted to be adjacent to the foot and having at least an inclined portion that elevates and suspends the toes off of the soft insole and the rigid sole with the toes in a resting position within the footwear. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the inclined portion of the top surface is contiguous to the soft insole at a proximal end of the top surface. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the wedge includes a proximal edge that defines ends of the top surface and the bottom surface, and the proximal edge separates the inclined portion of the top surface from the soft insole at a proximal end of the top surface. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the top surface is inclined from a proximal end of the top surface to a distal end. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the top surface is contiguous to the soft insole at the proximal end of the top surface. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the wedge includes a proximal edge that defines ends of the top surface and the bottom surface, and the proximal edge separates the top surface from the soft insole at the proximal end of the top surface. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the footwear is protective footwear. 
     
     
         17 . A method of suspending one or more toes of a foot within footwear comprising:
 attaching a wedge having a top surface and a bottom surface to a sole of the footwear such that a distal end of the wedge relative to the foot is aligned with and below metatarsophalangeal joints of the foot with the foot within the footwear; and   suspending the one or more toes off of the sole based on the wedge being within the footwear and aligned with the metatarsophalangeal joints of the foot when the foot is within the footwear.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the wedge includes a bottom surface that is adapted to be affixed to the sole within footwear, a top surface that is adapted to be adjacent to the foot within the footwear and to elevate the toes off of the sole, and a distal end defining ends of the bottom surface and the top surface, the distal end being substantially aligned with the metatarsophalangeal joints of the foot. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 removing a distal portion of the sole corresponding to an area of the sole below the one or more toes of the foot when the foot is within the footwear; and   forming the wedge out of the distal portion of the sole.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising:
 shaping the distal portion of the sole into a wedge shape, with a thick end of the wedge shape corresponding to the distal end of the distal portion, to form the wedge.