Patent ID: 6886276

Claim:
A support apparatus for supporting the plantar fascia of a foot, said foot having an arch, a width and a longitudinal axis extending from the toes to the heel of the foot perpendicular to said width, said support apparatus being comprised of an elastic material expandable in said width and longitudinal axis directions and having a limit of expandability beyond which substantially no further expansion is possible, said support apparatus comprising a first portion and a second portion, said first portion, when in operative position on the foot expands to frictionally encircle the instep of the foot and remain in place during walking between the joints of the first metatarsal bone and phalangeal bone and first metatarsal bone and cuneiform bone and joined to the second portion, said second portion extending from said first portion around and behind the heel of the foot above its os calcis bone such that when said foot is caused to bear the weight of a user, said second portion expands along said longitudinal axis to approximately its limit of expandability such that said arch is maintained substantially unchanged as said foot alternates between load bearing and non-load bearing orientations.