Disclosed is an orthotic in which the heel portion of a sole is raised above the forefoot-receiving portion by one and one-half inches. The sole is of ordinary shape and dimensions, except that there is disposed upon the sole a rectangular metatarsal pad having one edge extending perpendicularly to the metatarsals and engaging the head of the second metatarsal, the perpendicular sides engaging the medial side of the fifth metatarsal and the lateral side of the first metatarsal. As an addition, a heel spur pad may be secured at the heel-receiving portion of the sole. In an alternative embodiment, the sole may be provided with marginally laterally upstanding lips of approximately one-half inch in height along the shank, so as to retain and obscure from view a scaphoid pad. These marginal lips may be combined with the metatarsal pad. It should also be appreciated that the relative height of the heel with regard to the forefoot receiving portions is to remain the same even though a high heel is attached. Thus, the higher the heel, the thicker the sole at the forefoot portion. The preferred assembly of this orthotic includes a metatarsal pad 16, side lips 48 and 50, heel spur pads 40 and the elevation of the heel-receiving portion 12 with respect to the forefoot-receiving portion 14, as more specifically set forth herein. This combination provides a standard orthotic which is combined in the setting of a standard appearing shoe. The significance of this invention is that not only is this construction intended to relieve a plurality of foot ailments, but it can be beneficially and comfortably worn by those with normal feet. As a result of the general application of this orthotic, many foot ailments may be relieved without the need for specialized treatment by a physician.
Footwear including an insole formed for relieving pressure on a common digital nerve of a foot. The insole has heel, mid and forefoot sections. The forefoot section of the insole is formed with a pad having a neuroma pad section which underlies the third and fourth metatarsal heads of the foot, so that when a bottom of the foot is placed on the insole, the neuroma pad section applies an upward force to the bottom of the foot sufficient to spread the third and fourth metatarsal heads away from one another and thereby relieve pressure on the third common digital nerve to reduce the risk of neuroma. In other embodiments, the pad is formed as a separate pad for placement in footwear. An insole designed for use with thonged footwear is also disclosed.
An orthotic insert adapted to be placed within a shoe having an insole. The orthotic insert has a relatively rigid, resilient base member having a heel portion and an arch portion. The upper surface of the base member is contoured to fit the plantar surface of a person's foot, so as to position the foot in a generally desired angular orientation. At least one curvilinear ridge is formed on the lower surface of the base member, and extends continuously around the rearward end of the heel portion and along the arch portion on both sides of the longitudinal axis of the orthotic insert. The ridge has a sharp lower edge which projects downwardly from the lower surface of the base member for supporting the heel seat in the heel section above the insole when the orthotic insert is placed within the shoe. The lower edge of the ridge is adapted to have material incrementally removed therefrom so that the angular orientation of the foot can be adjusted to suit an individual person. The sharp lower edge of the ridge penetrates into the upper surface of the insole to maintain the insert in position, when the person's weight is applied to the upper surface of the orthotic insert.
A metatarsal arch support is described, in which the support has a raised section of such a size and shape as to roughly match and fill the open space that exists between the insole of the shoe and the portion of the foot that spans the second, third, and fourth metatarsals, which normally constitutes an arch when the foot is supporting body weight. Shoes typically exert pressure, causing the metatarsal arch to flatten. Use of the arch support prevents this undesirable effect.
An orthotic device for insertion into a high-heeled shoe is provided. An orthotic device made in accordance with the instant invention virtually eliminates the problems associated with the wearing of high-heeled shoes, particularly pronation effects, general foot discomfort, posture problems, toe pain, and arch pain. The orthotic device comprises a right or semi-rigid shell for positioning beneath the heel of the foot and extending forwardly towards the toes of the foot. The shell terminates behind the five metatarsal heads of the foot, and is shaped whereby to permit the first metatarsal head freely to evert and plantarflex under load, and is shaped such that the heel of the foot is carried substantially parallel to or slightly backwardly inclined relative to the ground plane.
