Orthotic devices

Abstract

The present invention relates to orthotic devices and footwear. In particular, the present invention relates to orthotic devices comprising a wedge configured to be placed beneath a forefoot.

1 .- 18 . (canceled) 
     
     
         19 . A method of wearing a shoe, comprising:
 obtaining an orthotic wedge that comprises:
 an upper surface, 
 a lower surface, 
 a beveled front surface, and 
 a beveled rear surface, 
 wherein both the beveled front surface and beveled rear surface are angled from the upper surface towards the lower surface; and 
   inserting the orthotic wedge into the shoe such that the beveled front surface, the beveled rear surface, and the lower surface face downwards and such that the orthotic wedge is positioned to be beneath the forefoot of a foot when the foot is inserted in the shoe.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the orthotic wedge further comprises a gradient between the upper surface and the lower surface at an angle increasing from an outside surface of the wedge to an inside surface of the wedge. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the orthotic wedge is positioned beneath a joint between a first proximal phalanx and a hallux of the forefoot when the foot is inserted into the shoe. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the orthotic wedge is positioned to raise the joint between the first metatarsal and proximal phalanx to a greater extent than other metatarsal-phalange joints of the forefoot. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein a thickest point of the orthotic wedge is positioned to be beneath the distal portion of the first metatarsal and the proximal phalanx of the forefoot. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the orthotic wedge is positioned to be beneath a proximal portion of a hallux of the forefoot. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the orthotic wedge is positioned to be beneath the first distal portions of the second metatarsal, third metatarsal, fourth metatarsal, and fifth metatarsal of the forefoot. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the orthotic wedge is positioned to be beneath the second proximal phalange, third proximal phalange, fourth proximal phalange, and fifth proximal phalange of the forefoot. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the orthotic wedge is positioned to be beneath a proximal portion of the hallux of the forefoot. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the orthotic wedge is positioned to be beneath a first metatarsal and a proximal phalanx joint of the forefoot. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the orthotic wedge is positioned to be beneath a joint between a first proximal phalanx and a hallux of the forefoot. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the beveled front surface is configured to extend to a toe-end inner surface of the shoe when the orthotic wedge is inserted in the shoe. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the thickness of the front surface decreases as the front surface extends towards the toe-end inner surface of the shoe. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the beveled front surface extends from a thickest part of the wedge. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the beveled front surface is configured to be positioned under a portion of the hallux and a first distal phalange of the forefoot when the orthotic wedge is inserted in the shoe. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the beveled rear surface is configured to be positioned under a first metatarsal, a second metatarsal, and a third metatarsal of the forefoot when the orthotic wedge is inserted in the shoe. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the orthotic wedge is configured to increase performance of a runner.