Achilles and foot arch stretching devices and methods performed therewith

Abstract

Therapeutic devices and methods suitable for stretching the Achilles tendon. Each device includes a base portion and at least one wedge portion. The wedge portion has heel and toe ends, inside-foot and outside-foot edges, and an upper surface. The upper surface has a nonuniform elevation relative to the base portion as a result of the wedge portion having a fore-aft taper in the fore-aft direction and a lateral taper in the lateral direction, wherein the inside-foot edge has an increasing elevation toward the toe end. The wedge portion further has a nonconstant lateral width as a result of the toe end being wider than the heel end. The fore-aft and lateral tapers are sufficient so that placement of a user's foot on the upper surface causes supination and locking of the foot and enables stretching of the Achilles complex.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61 / 164,975, filed Mar. 31, 2009, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]The present invention generally relates to therapy and physical fitness equipment, and more particularly to devices capable of stretching of the calf muscle-Achilles tendon unit.[0003]The Achilles tendon connects the calf muscles to the heel of the foot. The calf muscles pull on the heel through the Achilles tendon, enabling propulsion of the human body through the foot for walking and jumping activities. The combined length of the calf muscles and Achilles tendon should be short enough to contract strongly and generate enough power for daily activities, and also permit sufficient stretching to allow about ten to twenty degrees of ankle dorsiflexion. If the calf muscles and Achilles tendon cannot stretch and allow ankle dorsiflexion to this exte...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0010]A technical effect of the invention is the ability of the devices to achieve greater stretching of the calf muscle-Achilles tendon unit as a result of the devices causing supination and locking of the foot, which results in the foot acting as a rigid lever that transmits essentially all of a stretching motion to the Achilles tendon. In this manner, the effectiveness of the stretching technique is increased to promote the ability of the calf muscles and Achilles tendon to stretch and allow ankle dorsiflexion, thereby reducing abnormal stresses within the midfoot and forefoot. Furthermore, stretching of the arch of the foot is minimized if not avoided, avoiding the creation or worsening of a flatfoot condition.

[0011]Other aspects and advantages of this invention will be better appreciated from the following detailed description.

Problems solved by technology

If the calf muscles and Achilles tendon cannot stretch and allow ankle dorsiflexion to this extent, the midfoot and the forefoot see abnormal stresses leading to pain and conditions like plantar fasciitis, flat feet, posterior tibial tendon dysfunction, stress fracture, and arthritis.

However, such devices achieve limited stretching of the Achilles tendon because stretching of the calf muscle-Achilles tendon unit is more effective if the foot acts as a rigid lever and transmits all the stretch to the Achilles.

If the foot is not rigid, some of the stretching forces tend to stretch the arch of the foot and can create or worsen an existing flatfoot condition.

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