Shoe Slide Podiatric Elements Plantar Fascia Mobilization

Solution Overview

Problem

Current footwear products fail to effectively prevent or relieve foot pain caused by conditions like plantar fasciitis and Morton's neuroma, as they primarily focus on cushioning and stabilization, lacking features that mobilize the plantar fascia at its origin and insertion points, leading to recurring issues and the need for costly and time-consuming physical therapy.

Innovation Solution

A shoe design featuring uniquely shaped and positioned podiatric elements, including a rounded rubber protrusion and raised metatarsal pad, that apply targeted pressure stimulation to mobilize the plantar fascia through everyday use, reducing tissue impaction and promoting muscle and connective tissue mobility.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If footwear products emphasize cushioning and stabilization, then comfort and support are improved, but effectiveness in preventing and relieving foot pain caused by plantar fasciitis and Morton's neuroma deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecomfort and supportVSAvoideffectiveness in preventing and relieving foot pain

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The footwear incorporates specific podiatric elements at targeted locations on the footbed: a heel cup at the rearfoot to mobilize the plantar fascia origin, and metatarsal pads at the forefoot to mobilize the plantar fascia insertion. These localized features provide targeted therapeutic action rather than generalized cushioning, addressing the specific anatomical points involved in plantar fasciitis and Morton's neuroma.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The footbed is segmented into distinct functional zones: a heel cup region for rearfoot stimulation, an arch support region, and metatarsal pad regions for forefoot stimulation. This segmentation allows each zone to perform its specific therapeutic function independently, mobilizing the plantar fascia at both its origin and insertion points simultaneously.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Stability of the object's composition

If footwear products provide basic arch support and cushioning, then general foot support is improved, but ability to mobilize plantar fascia at origin and insertion points deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvegeneral foot supportVSAvoidability to mobilize plantar fascia

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The footwear incorporates specific podiatric elements at targeted locations on the footbed: a heel cup at the rearfoot to mobilize the plantar fascia origin, and metatarsal pads at the forefoot to mobilize the plantar fascia insertion. These localized features provide targeted therapeutic action rather than generalized cushioning, addressing the specific anatomical points involved in plantar fasciitis and Morton's neuroma.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The podiatric elements are designed to be automatically activated by the user's own body weight and natural walking motion. The heel cup and metatarsal pads apply pressure and stimulate the plantar fascia during normal weight-bearing activities, eliminating the need for separate manual therapy sessions or active user participation beyond normal walking.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Reliability

If professional massage and physical training solutions are used, then foot pain relief is improved, but time consumption and cost deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefoot pain reliefVSAvoidtime consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The podiatric elements are designed to be automatically activated by the user's own body weight and natural walking motion. The heel cup and metatarsal pads apply pressure and stimulate the plantar fascia during normal weight-bearing activities, eliminating the need for separate manual therapy sessions or active user participation beyond normal walking.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The therapeutic action is continuous and integrated into daily walking activities. Every step the user takes provides automatic stimulation to the plantar fascia at both origin and insertion points, converting ordinary locomotion into therapeutic treatment without requiring dedicated therapy time or interrupting daily routines.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

Data Source

PatentUS12011066B2Shoe slide with podiatric elements

Publication Date: 2024.06.18 PUSHPÜL LLC

AI summary

A shoe slide that includes a footbed having a forefoot area with a top edge, a hindfoot portion with a bottom edge, and a footbed surface. A foam footbed liner is disposed atop the footbed surface, the foam footbed liner having an upper surface. A metatarsal pad in the forefoot area of the footbed protrudes above the surface of the footbed liner and is dimensioned such that when the shoe slide is worn the metatarsal pad engages and applies pressure to the wearer's plantar fascial near the proximal phalanges of the toes at the metatarsophalangeal joints. The shoe slide also includes a raised rubber protrusion in the hindfoot area of the footbed positioned and dimensioned such that when the shoe slide is worn the raised rubber protrusion engages and applies pressure to the wearer's plantar fascia near the calcaneal tubercle.