Abstract: A medical shoe for use in supporting a patient's foot and a method of using same, the medical shoe comprising an out sole, an upper assembly secured to and partially surrounded by the out sole and an insole assembly substantially enclosed by the outsole and the upper assembly. The outsole having a base portion generally corresponding with the plantar aspect of a human foot and of varying thickness and having a substantially rectangular opening in a top surface of the base portion thereof adapted for accommodating a metatarsal shank. The out sole having a circumferential counter portion extending upward circumferentially from the top surface of the base portion thereof around the base portion of the outsole thereby providing a cavity in the outsole. The upper assembly adapted to surround at least the heel, sides and dorsal portions of the human foot.

Abstract: A novel lower leg, ankle and foot immobilization brace in the form of a short length leg walker. The walker provides controlled, uniform compression of the foot, ankle and leg, while at the same time immobilizing the lower leg and foot. The immobilization walker has a shock absorbing sole, a rigid immobilization plate designed to prevent movement in a patient's ankle and foot, and a flexible boot portion designed to comfortably fit around the patient's foot and lower leg. The immobilization plate and a semi-flexible upper portion effectively immobilize the foot and ankle, while eliminating the need for a rigid boot portion. Two shock absorbing insoles, one of soft density and a one of medium density, allow a portion of the walker's sole to be located within the boot portion.

Abstract: A lower leg, ankle and foot immobilization brace utilizing a semi-flexible open front boot fixed to the top of a walker sole with a plurality of spaced ventilation ports in the boot carries a foam liner within the boot sized to surround the lower leg, ankle, foot and dorsum of the user's limb. Spaced closures spanning the open front boot apply gentle and focal compression to the foam liner encased limb. Appropriate elongated ventilation ports within the foam liner overlap a plurality of spaced ventilation ports in the boot to facilitate cooling air flow directly from the boot exterior to the skin of the user's limb encased by the foam liner.

Abstract: A wedge outsole of generally triangular shaped configuration as viewed from a side thereof is integrated to an insole and shoe upper of a post-operative surgical shoe. The outsole has a flat top surface integrated to the bottom surface of the insole, with the outsole having a thickest portion of a wedge located under a part of the foot just in front of the heel, preferably centered, with the proximal portion of the arch of the user's foot. An integral, substantially thinner portion extends rearwardly from and underlying the heel of the foot from the thickest portion, thereby defining a rearwardly extending recess.

Abstract: A semi-flexible molded polyurethane boot closed at the rear and sides and open at the front surrounds a breathable open pore foam inner liner which covers the lower leg, ankle and foot and which forms a principal element of an improved immobilization brace. The boot is fixed to a walking sole having a minimal rocker effect, and is of minimal thickness. A boot portion of the boot has a rounded heel counter and a contoured footbed. A shock absorbing foam insole within a boot portion recess pads the plantar surface of the sole. The dorsum of the boot and the boot upper are provided with ventilation ports to ventilate the leg, ankle and foot of the user through the porous open foam liner. The dorsum of the boot portion of the boot and the boot upper are provided with spaced adjustable, leverage type closures to provide adjustable general compression and focal compression to assure a proper fit of the brace and to reduce edema induced swelling throughout the leg, ankle and foot.

Abstract: An adjustable height shoe for leg lengthening procedures to correct for leg length discrepancy has a removable outer sole which is coupled to a midsole of a shoe upper with a number of unequal, graduated thickness interlocking connecting filler soles interposed therebetween. A removable heel pad provides a heel lift of one-half of the thickness of the thinnest filler sole. Gradual reduction in the vertical height of the stack of filler soles and the outer sole in conjunction with inclusion or exclusion of the heel pad is correlated to the increase in leg length of the wearer. Opposing, abutting faces of filler soles or of filler soles with the outer sole and midsole are interlocked by correspondingly sized, configured height projections and recesses such as circular pegs and circular holes for the abutting members. Straps passing through aligned vertical slots within the outer sole and the midsole maintain the filler soles as part of a stacked assembly.

Abstract: A wedge undersole of triangular shaped configuration as viewed from a side thereof is integrated to a mid-sole of a sole assembly formed of an impact-absorbing material and having a thickness which varies over the length of the shoe, having flat top and bottom surfaces, and having its greatest thickness at the heel of the shoe and tapering in the direction of the open toe region formed by a upper assembly secured to the sole assembly. The upper assembly is adapted to surround the heel sides and dorsal portion of the foot. Preferably, the upper assembly has a heel region extending upwardly from the sole assembly and forward portions divided into left and right flaps adapted to cover the dorsal region of the foot and strap interconnecting outer face portions of the left an right flaps.

Abstract: A light weight material boot specifically designed to fit a light weight fiberglass cast about the ankle and foot of a patient, has an outer sole constructed with a double rocker bottom including a first pivot point located approximately 30% over the length of the boot measured from the heel to the toe defined by an upwardly and rearwardly oblique, flat bottom surface portion and a central flat bottom surface portion on the bottom of the sole roughly below the front of the ankle and a second pivot point located approximately 70% over the length of the boot measuring from heel to toe where the metatarsal-phalangeal joint of the foot is located defined by an upwardly oblique, flat bottom surface portion from the metatarsal phalangeal joint towards the toe of the boot thereby ensuring that there is a lack of stress on the case or the lower leg and foot of the patient wearing the boot during the gait cycle.

Abstract: A heel cup of molded rubber or noncompressible resilient, flexible plastic, has a relatively thin sole extending from a heel towards the arch of a user when fitted beneath the user's heel. The rear portion of the sole and opposite side portions thereof are curved upwardly forming a thickened arcuate reinforced heel support configured to the user's heel. A horseshoe shaped rim integral with the sole and the heel support projects below the bottom surface of the sole. A plurality of laterally and longitudinally closely spaced pegs integral with the sole project outwardly of the bottom surface at right angles and are of decreasing vertical height from the integral rim to the front portion of the sole. The pegs have a vertical height in excess of that of the rim in the area of the rim. The pegs affect a first wave-like action of gentle pressure and massage to the soft tissue of the heel from the back to the front of the heel during ambulation of the user.