Foot and ankle strengthening device

A foot and ankle strengthening device is an apparatus used to provide stimulus to muscles typically weakened in people who suffer from various foot and ankle problems, particularly plantar fasciitis. A pair of angled surfaces is used to reinforce healthy foot arches. The apparatus comprises a first foot-bracing platform, a second foot-bracing platform, a textured roller, and an elongated balance block. The first foot-bracing platform is a surface against which a user may place a foot for support and appropriate positioning. Similarly, the second foot-bracing platform provides a surface for the user's opposite foot. The textured roller is a generally cylindrical device that enables the user to apply targeted pressure to specific pieces of the user's foot or ankle. The elongated balance block is a generally rectangular prism-shaped protrusion that, in the preferred usage of the apparatus, provides the contact point with the ground.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to medical devices and exercise devices. More specifically, the present invention relates to a device which is designed to activate and strengthen lower leg muscles.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Weakness of the medial arch of the foot due to inhibited and weak lower leg muscles causes a breakdown of the kinetic chain, which can cause internal rotation and flattening of the feet and create stress on the feet, knees, hip and back. Many health professionals, including podiatrists, chiropractors, and physical therapists, utilize orthotics and custom shoe inserts to artificially raise the arch of the foot, reducing the stress in the foot, knee, hip and back. These solutions may cause a short-term correction of the issues; however, by treating the symptoms instead of the root cause, such solutions over a long time period also often cause a breakdown and weakness of the muscles which are tasked with supporting the arch naturally.

Plantar fasciitis is one of the most common resultant issues found in clinical sports medicine practice. Most of the time, this condition results from excessive stress of the plantar fascia due to a breakdown of these lower leg muscles. When these muscles are activated, an almost immediate relief from the symptoms from plantar fasciitis can be seen. Correction by strengthening of the medial arch naturally reduces stress in the lower body, which consequently improves the strength of the posterior chain and thus reduces stress in the overall body.

An objective of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for stabilization and relief of symptoms caused by weak lower leg muscles. The present invention, preferably referred to as the arch rocker, is a wobble board designed to activate and strengthen specific leg muscles by stimulating the leg muscles' specific action, thereby strengthening and stabilizing medial arch of the foot. The arch rocker can also include a built-in foot roller which can be frozen to reduce inflammation and pain. The activation of these muscles over time can create a stronger and more functional arch, thus reducing dropped arch and associated conditions such as pes planus, plantar fasciitis, posterior tibial tendonitis, anterior tibial tendonitis (also known as shin splints), Achilles tendonitis, calf sprains/strains, knee, and/or hip and lower back pain which can be caused by these dysfunctional and weak muscles altering biomechanical actions in the kinetic chain. The arch rocker can activate and strengthen various leg muscles including, but not limited to, the posterior tibialis, the anterior tibialis, the peroneus longus, the flexor hallucis longus, and/or the gastrocnemius, soleus, and Achilles tendons.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a foot and ankle strengthening device that is used to provide stimulus to muscles typically weakened in people who suffer from various foot and ankle problems, particularly plantar fasciitis. The present invention utilizes a pair of angled surfaces to reinforce healthy foot arches, and a block as the primary support. The present invention comprises a first foot-bracing platform1, a second foot-bracing platform5, a textured roller6, and an elongated balance block12, as seen inFIG. 1. The first foot-bracing platform1is a surface against which a user may place a foot for support and appropriate positioning. Similarly, the second foot-bracing platform5provides, in the preferred usage of the present invention, a surface for the user's opposite foot. The textured roller6is a generally cylindrical device that enables the user to apply targeted pressure to specific pieces of the user's foot or ankle. The elongated balance block12is a generally rectangular prism-shaped protrusion that, in the preferred usage of the present invention, provides the contact point with the ground.

These components together enable the present invention to provide an appropriate muscular-skeletal stimulus for the user's ankles and feet. The first foot-bracing platform1and the second foot-bracing platform5each comprise a proximal edge2and a distal edge3. The proximal edge2is the edge closest to the space between the first foot-bracing platform1and the second foot-bracing platform5. The distal edge3is the edge furthest from the space between the first foot-bracing platform1and the second foot-bracing platform5. The proximal edge2of the first foot-bracing platform1and the proximal edge2of the second foot-bracing platform5are positioned adjacent to each other. The first foot-bracing platform1and the second foot-bracing platform5are therefore positioned adjacent to each other, thus enabling the user to stand with feet positioned near each other.

The textured roller6is rotatably mounted between the proximal edge2of the first foot-bracing platform1and the proximal edge2of the second foot-bracing platform5. In this way, the textured roller6is positioned to be equally accessible for each of the user's feet. Further, this positioning provides the textured roller6support across the present invention, thus allowing the user to utilize the textured roller6for ankles and foot muscles while standing adjacent to the first foot-bracing platform1and the second foot-bracing platform5. The elongated balance block12is mounted between the distal edge3of the first foot-bracing platform1and the distal edge3of the second foot-bracing platform5, as seen inFIG. 2. Thus, the elongated balance block12is positioned to provide support across the present invention from the ground or other preferably flat surface upon which the present invention rests. Furthermore, the elongated balance block12is centrally positioned along the distal edge3of the first foot-bracing platform1and the distal edge3of the second foot-bracing platform5. In this way, the elongated balance block12is positioned to provide unstable support. This is desirable, as instability requires the user to activate relevant core muscles to maintain balance.

A sagittal plane15is positioned in between the first foot-bracing platform1and the second foot-bracing platform5. The sagittal plane15is a geometric plane which divides the present invention roughly in half. The first foot-bracing platform1is oriented at a first interior acute angle16with the sagittal plane15, as seen inFIG. 3. This arrangement ensures that the first foot-bracing platform1is at an angle appropriate for supporting the user's foot. Similarly, the second foot-bracing platform5is oriented at a second interior acute angle17with the sagittal plane15. In this way, the second foot-bracing platform5is at an angle appropriate for supporting the user's foot opposite the first foot-bracing platform1. The elongated balance block12is positioned normal to the sagittal plane15. Thus, the elongated balance block12is arranged to provide instable support for the present invention.

The user experience may improve through the inclusion of gripping features and mechanisms for the user's foot. To this end, the present invention further comprises a first textured layer18, as seen inFIG. 4. The first textured layer18is a high-friction surface that may further include a variety of features, including, but not limited to, bumps, ridges, crevices, and more. The first textured layer18is connected across the first foot-bracing platform1, opposite the elongated balance block12. This arrangement provides a foot of the user with ample traction for remaining upon the first foot-bracing platform1.

Furthermore, the user may also benefit from the inclusion of assistive features for the other foot of the user. To this end, the present invention further comprises a second textured layer19, as seen inFIG. 4. The second textured layer19is a high-friction surface that may further include a variety of features, including, but not limited to, bumps, ridges, crevices, and more. The second textured layer19is connected across the second foot-bracing platform5, opposite the elongated balance block12. This arrangement provides a foot of the user with ample traction for remaining upon the second foot-bracing platform5.

The textured roller6further benefits from employment of features that can improve the user's ability to interact with soft tissue in the user's feet and ankles. To this end, the present invention further comprises a plurality of grip-enhancing features20, as seen inFIG. 6. The plurality of grip-enhancing features20is a set of shaped devices, including, but not limited to, bumps, ridges, and other such features that provide unique stimulus to muscular groups. The plurality of grip-enhancing features20is laterally connected around the textured roller6. In this way, the user may control specific stimulus received by areas of the user's foot or ankle area while using the textured roller6.

The plurality of grip-enhancing features20is particularly effective in specific configurations. To this end, in an exemplary embodiment, each of the plurality of grip-enhancing features20is configured into a hexagonal prism, as seen inFIG. 6. This arrangement provides edges and crevices that are advantageous to providing useful acute pressure to specific foot and ankle areas.

The textured roller6, which can be utilized to apply acute or broad pressure to specific regions of the foot or ankle, is made more effective through the employment of components that enable thermal engagement of muscular groups, thus allowing for improved blood flow in areas of interest. To this end, the textured roller6comprises a thermally-conductive housing7and a thermally-resistive core8, as seen inFIG. 5. The thermally-conductive housing7is a generally cylindrical component that is made of any of a variety of thermally-conductive materials, thus enabling rapid transition between low and high temperatures. The thermally-resistive core8is a preferably cylindrical device made of thermally-resistive materials capable of retaining temperature. The thermally-resistive core8is mounted within the thermally-conductive housing7. This arrangement enables proximity between the thermally-conductive housing7and the thermally-resistive core8. The thermally-resistive core8is in thermal communication with the thermally-conductive housing7. This arrangement enables the thermally-resistive core8to transfer heat to the thermally-conductive housing7. The connection between the thermally-resistive core8and the thermally-conductive housing7allows for the transfer of both high temperatures as well as low temperatures. In this way, the textured roller6can be used to apply hot or cold temperatures to target areas depending upon the environment in which the thermally-resistive core8is placed. Placing and leaving the thermally-resistive core8into a refrigerator or freezer allows the thermally-resistive core8to retain and transmit low temperatures, while storing the thermally-resistive core8in an oven or other high temperature space allows the thermally-resistive core8to transmit hot temperatures to the thermally-conductive housing7.

The elongated balance block12must be adequately shaped to provide the structural support required to stimulate the user's foot and ankle muscles appropriately. To achieve this, the elongated balance block12comprises a first block end13and a second block end14, as seen inFIG. 3. The first block end13is the section of the elongated balance block12that receives pressure when the user shifts balance towards the first foot-bracing platform1. Conversely, the second block end14is the section of the elongated balance block12that receives pressure when the user shifts balance towards the second foot-bracing platform5. The first block end13is positioned offset from the distal edge3of the first foot-bracing platform1. This arrangement allows the user to activate muscles required for balancing along the first block end13. Similarly, the second block end14is positioned offset from the distal edge3of the second foot-bracing platform5. This arrangement allows the user to activate muscles required for balancing along the second block end14. The first block end13and the second block end14may be shaped to provide a more advantageous muscular stimulus. For example, the first block end13and the second block end14may be rounded, chamfered, ridged, bumped, or shaped in a variety of other ways.

The textured roller6must be rotatably connected between the first foot-bracing platform1and the second foot-bracing platform5in order to ensure that the user may access the textured roller6to provide acute soft tissue activation. To achieve appropriate connection, the present invention further comprises a roller mount21, as seen inFIG. 5. The roller mount21is at least one fixture capable of enabling a rotatable connection to the rest of the relatively stationary present invention. The roller mount21may include various structures for positioning the textured roller6, as well as bearings, bushings, or other components capable of enabling rotatable connection to the present invention. The roller mount21is integrated in between the proximal edge2of the first foot-bracing platform1and the proximal edge2of the second foot-bracing platform5. This positioning is optimal for enabling desirable mounting of the textured roller6. The textured roller6is rotatably attached into the roller mount21. This arrangement enables the textured roller6to rotate in position relative to the first foot-bracing platform1and the second foot-bracing platform5.

In an exemplary embodiment, the present invention is equipped to support and even partially suspend the textured roller6over the first foot-bracing platform1and the second foot-bracing platform5. To achieve this, the textured roller6further comprises a first mounting protrusion9, a second mounting protrusion10, and a roller body11, as seen inFIG. 1, as seen inFIG. 6. The first mounting protrusion9relates to a rigid structure that extends generally above the proximal edge2of the first foot-bracing platform1and the proximal edge2of the second foot-bracing platform5. Similarly, the second mounting protrusion10relates to a rigid structure that extends generally above the proximal edge2of the first foot-bracing platform1and the proximal edge2of the second foot-bracing platform5. The roller body11relates to the physical volume of space occupied by the textured roller6. The first mounting protrusion9is terminally connected to the roller body11. This allows the first mounting protrusion9to support the roller body11in position within or above the present invention. Similarly, the second mounting protrusion10is terminally connected to the roller body11. This allows the second mounting protrusion10to support the roller body11in position within or above the present invention. The first mounting protrusion9and the second mounting protrusion10are rotatably engaged to the roller mount21. This arrangement ensures that the roller body11is capable of rotating relative to the roller mount21.

The first interior acute angle16may be any angle that is acute between the sagittal plane15and a perpendicular plane; however, a particular range of angles is generally considered most effective at providing desired muscular activation. To this end, the first interior acute angle16is in a range between 70 arc degrees and 80 arc degrees, as seen inFIG. 3. This range ensures both effectiveness and comfort for the user during use. Similarly, the second interior acute angle17is in a range between 70 arc degrees and 80 arc degrees. Together, this arrangement of the first interior acute angle16and the second interior acute angle17, particularly in the exemplary embodiment in which the first interior acute angle16and the second interior acute angle17are equivalent angles, facilitates muscular stimulation without overwhelming or overstressing joints and ligaments.

The first foot-bracing platform1and the second foot-bracing platform5may function at a variety of different sizes; however, the first foot-bracing platform1and the second foot-bracing platform5are optimally of specific dimension ranges. To this end, the first foot-bracing platform1and the second foot-bracing platform5each comprise a platform body4, as seen inFIG. 1. The platform body4is the physical volume of space occupied by each of the first foot-bracing platform1and the second foot-bracing platform5. The width of the platform body4is preferably in a range between 6 inches (15.24 centimeters) to 12 inches (30.48 centimeters). This arrangement ensures ample breadth for the user's foot. Similarly, the length of the platform body4is preferably in a range between 12 inches (30.48 centimeters) to 18 inches (45.72 centimeters). In this way, the present invention has ample lateral space for feet of various sizes.