Patent ID: 6692454
Filing Date: 2004-02-17
Classification: A43B,A61F

Abstract:
A method of protecting a person's ankle comprising limiting subtalar joint motion of the ankle by controlling the motions of bony segments of the ankle and foot which form the subtalar joint at locations fore and aft of the axis of rotation of the subtalar joint while permitting motion of the foot about the ankle joint, said controlling including providing a supporting structure about the heel and at least a portion of the foot forward of the subtalar joint for controlling the motions of bony segments of the ankle and foot which form the subtalar joint at locations fore and aft of the axis of rotation of the subtalar joint and securing the supporting structure to limit torsional movement thereof about a longitudinal axis of the subtalar joint by an upwardly extending portion of the supporting structure in the form of a torsion bar located posterior of the heel and achilles tendon and extending upwardly to the lower leg where it is secured to the lower leg with clearance for the lateral and medial malleoli, wherein said supporting structure includes a split toe sole extension which is split longitudinally at its forward end to allow sagittal and frontal biplanar motions of the foot distal to the midtarsal joint, wherein said torsion bar as seen in a transverse body plane view is relatively elongated in a first direction in which it is relatively rigid against bending and is relatively narrow in a second direction, transverse to said first direction of the torsion bar, in which said torsion bar is relatively flexible in bending, and wherein the torsion bar in the vicinity of the heel is shaped to reflect an internal rotation angle in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the subtalar joint as seen in a top plan view thereof such that said first direction of said torsion bar is orthogonal or nearly orthogonal to said longitudinal axis of the subtalar joint as seen in a top plan view thereof.