Abstract:
A device for treating conditions associated with excessive pronation of the subtalar joint of a human foot, including a substantially T-shaped strap member having an elongate leg section and a head section substantially transverse to the leg section. The head section is configured so as to be positionable to substantially wrap around a toe of the human foot, such as the big toe.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to orthotic devices. More particularly, the invention relates to devices for providing foot comfort. 
     BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The hindfoot of the human foot is made up of two bones known as the talus and the calcaneus or heel bone. The talus connects to the calcaneus at the subtalar joint. A variety of foot discomforts have been attributed to excessive pronation (calcaneal eversion internal rotation and palntar flextion of the talus) of the subtalar joint including plantar fasciitis, heel spurs, shin splints, turf toe, arthritis of the big toe (hallux limitus and hallux rigidus) bunions and the like. 
     Accordingly it is an object of the present invention to provide a device for treating conditions associated with excessive pronation of the subtalar joint. 
     Still another object of the present invention is to provide a device of the character described that is suitable for providing foot comfort. 
     Yet another object of the invention is to provide a device of the character described that may be worn while a user is wearing shoes. 
     A still further object of the invention is to provide a device of the character described that is economical to produce and uncomplicated in configuration. 
     With regard to the foregoing and other objects, the present invention is directed to a device for treating conditions associated with excessive pronation of the subtalar joint and midtarsal joint of a human foot which results in instability of the foot during the gait cycle. 
     In a preferred embodiment, the orthotic device includes a substantially T-shaped strap member having an elongate leg section and a head section substantially transverse to the leg section. The head section is configured so as to be positionable to substantially wrap around a toe of the human foot, such as the big toe, to maintain it in a desired orientation. 
     In another aspect, the invention relates to a method for treating conditions associated with excessive pronation of the subtalar joint of a human foot. 
     In a preferred embodiment, the method includes the steps of providing a strap having a first portion configured for engaging a toe of the foot, positioning the first portion of the strap about the toe of the foot and securing the first portion adjacent the toe, exerting a tension on the strap so as to urge the toe to a desired orientation, and securing the strap adjacent the foot so as to maintain the tension on the strap so that the toe remains in the desired orientation. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Further advantages of the invention will become apparent by reference to the detailed description of preferred embodiments when considered in conjunction with the figures, which are not to scale, wherein like reference numbers, indicate like elements through the several views, and wherein, 
     FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a strap system in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention and FIG. 1 a is a cross-sectional view of a strap member of the system of FIG.  1 . 
     FIGS. 2-7 are perspective views showing installation of the strap system of FIG. 1 onto a user&#39;s foot. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     With initial reference to FIG. 1, the invention relates to a strap system  10  that is particularly suitable for providing comfort to a human foot by controlling pronation of the foot and by cushioning the foot. The strap system  10  includes a strap member  12  and fastening members  14  and  16 . 
     The strap member  12  is preferably of one-piece construction and made of a soft and substantially elastic material. A preferred material is an open-celled, elastomeric, non-latex foam material  18  having a hook-receptive fabric  20  on one surface (FIG. 1 a ). A preferred material of this type is available under the trademark FABRIFOAM from Fabrifoam Products of Exton, Pa. However, virtually any suitable substantially elastic material may be used to provide the strap member  12 . 
     The strap member  12  is substantially T-shaped, having a leg section  22  having a length L and a width W, and a “T” or head section  24  having a width W′ defined by wing portions  24   a  and  24   b  that is greater than the width W and a length L′ that is substantially less than the length L of the leg section  22 . The strap member  18  has a thickness T, with the foam material having a thickness T′ and the fabric  20  having a thickness t. 
     Use of the preferred FABRIFOAM material renders the strap member  12  with a foam surface  26  and an opposite fabric surface  28 . T-strap member  12  also includes end  30  terminating the head section  24  and an opposite end  32  terminating the leg section  22 . The leg section includes opposite sides  34  and  36 . Opposite curved sides  38  and  40 , preferably connect the leg section to the head section  24 . Opposite sides  42  and  44  extend between the curved sides  38  and  40 , respectively, and the end  30 . The sides  42  and  44  have a length L″. 
     For the purpose of example only, the strap member  12  may have the following dimensions: 
     
       
         
               
               
               
             
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                 Reference 
                 Dimension 
               
               
                   
                 numeral 
                 (inches) 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
             
               
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                 L 
                 33 
               
               
                   
                 L’ 
                 1.5 
               
               
                   
                 L” 
                 0.5 
               
               
                   
                 W 
                 2.5 
               
               
                   
                 W’ 
                 5 
               
               
                   
                 T 
                 5/64 
               
               
                   
                 T’ 
                 1/16 
               
               
                   
                 t 
                 1/64 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     However, it will understood that the strap member  12  may be provided in various other dimensions suitable for the purpose. 
     The fastening members  14  and  16  are preferably short lengths of a plastic sheet material having a plurality of hook members defined on one surface thereof of a type commonly used for matingly engaging hook and loop material. The purpose of the fastening members is to span between adjacent portions of the strap member  12  and maintain them in a desired orientation. As will be appreciated, tape, adhesive strips or other fasteners could be used as well as tucking or tying of the strap member. 
     Turning now to FIGS. 2-7, there are shown preferred steps in the installation of the strap system of FIG. 1 onto a user&#39;s foot  50  having a first or big toe  51 , second toe  52 , heel  53  and inner and outer heel portions  53   a  and  53   b , top portion  54 , bottom portion  55 , arch  56 , inner and outer front portions  57   a  and  57   b , and inner and outer sides  58   a  and  58   b.    
     Initially, as shown in FIG. 2, the “T” section  24  of the strap member  22  may be positioned (as by a user&#39;s hands H) adjacent bottom surface  51   a  of the big toe  51  with the foam material  18  adjacent the skin of the big toe  51 . The wing portions  24   a  and  24   b  are on either side of the big toe  51 , with wing portion  24   a  being positioned between the big toe  51  and the second toe  52 . 
     With reference to FIG. 3, the wing portion  24   b  is wrapped over dorsal and medial areas or knuckle portion  51   b  of the big toe  51 . The wing portion  24   a  is then wrapped over the wing portion  24   b  and the fastener member  14  positioned to span across the overlap of the wing portions  24   a  and  24   b  and engage the surface  28  thereof to maintain the wing portions  24   a  and  24   b  in the overlapped orientation around the big toe  51 . 
     Turning to FIG. 4, the leg section  22  of the strap member  12  is positioned so that it extends from the thus secured head section  24  adjacent the big toe  51  along the bottom portion  55  of the foot  50  towards outer portion  53   b  of the heel  53  opposite from the big toe  51 , preferably maintaining sufficient tension to comfortably urge the toe  51  in a desired orientation. For example, depending upon the condition to be treated, tension may be applied in different degrees to the strap member  12  to urge the big toe into a straightened orientation or to flex the big toe downwardly, or to place it in a neutral or slightly medial alignment. 
     As shown in FIG. 5, the leg section  22  may then be pulled around the back of the heel  53 , in a “figure 8” orientation through the arch  56  of the foot  50  and across the bottom portion  55  of the foot  50  toward the outer front portion  57   a  of the foot  50 . 
     Following this, as shown in FIG. 6, the leg section  22  may be pulled from the bottom portion  55  of the foot  50  to the top portion  54  as by wrapping it around the outer side portion  58   b  of the foot  50 , preferably maintaining a snug tension in the strap member  12  and avoiding wrinkling of the strap member  12 . Finally, with reference to FIG. 7, the leg section  22  is directed across the top portion  54  of the foot  50  towards the big toe  51 , back around the bottom portion  55  of the foot  50  proximal to the metatarsal phalangeal joints and adjacent the bottom of the big toe  51  and then toward the outer portion  53   b  of the heel  53 . The end  32  of the leg section is preferably adjacent the outer portion  53   b  of the heel  53  and secured in this orientation using the fastening member  16 . If the strap member  12  is too long to enable this positioning of the end  32 , the leg section  22  may be shortened, as by cutting with scissors, so that the end  32  may be positioned in the desired orientation. 
     The strap system of the invention is intended for use under the direction and supervision of a physician or other appropriate health care provider for treating conditions associated with excessive foot pronation by reducing excessive pronation by urging the calcaneus (heel bone) of the foot inward. Also, the strap substantially locks the first ray, talonavicular, calcaneocuboid, navicular cuboid joints and the first metatarso-phalangeal joints in a desired orientation, such as a plantar-flexed orientation. This is believed to promote a neutral alignment of the heel, reduce subtalar joint pronation and aid in stabilizing the mid-tarsal joint of the foot during midstance of the gait cycle. The strap substantially positions the first ray (i.e. big toe joint) in a desired orientation, such as a plantar flexed orientation. The combination of controlling subtalar joint pronation and plantar flexion of the first ray, stabilizes the talonavicular, calcaneocuboid joints as well as engaging and locking a facet between the navicular and cuboid thus stabilizing the foot during the heel lift and push off phases of the gait. In addition, the cushioning properties of the strap member aid in reducing impact to the heel and offer support to the arch of the foot. 
     The foregoing description of certain exemplary embodiments of the present invention has been provided for purposes of illustration only, and it is understood that numerous modifications or alterations may be made in and to the illustrated embodiments without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the following claims.