Abstract: An improved athletic shoe, ankle orthosis and method for protecting the ankle against injury, limit subtalar joint motion of the ankle by controlling the motions of segments of the subtalar joint fore and aft of the subtalar joint while permitting motion of the foot about the ankle joint. A supporting structure a part of or connected to the shoe or orthosis is preferably in the form of a heel-sole counter provided about the heel and at least a portion of the foot forward of the subtalar joint. The supporting structure has a semi-rigid shape retaining character which is not collapsible vertically and which together with the shoe or orthosis limits torsional movement of the foot about the longitudinal axis of the subtalar joint as seen in a top plan view thereof by an upwardly extending portion thereof which acts as a torsion bar that is, in turn, secured to the lower leg.

Abstract: A thumb wrist splint with a main body portion which includes a plurality of straps for encircling the wrist and securing the same firmly to the wrist with desirable palmar and dorsal stays. A sewn thumb spica/splint is fabricated, and finished by normal binding around the periphery. The thumb strap loop is fixed to the splint and a removable securable anchor is also applied to the spica/splint. The spica/splint is a VOLARA.RTM. grade polyolefin closed foam material which is desirably laminated to nylon cloth on one side. The sewn thumb spica is secured to the main body portion. Thereafter, the entire blank, as just described, is positioned over an anvil intended to form a curvilinear pattern to the thus encapsulated VOLARA.RTM. so that it will conform to the upper portion of the wrist. Once secured in place on the wrist by means of the straps around the wrist portion, the thumb strap is secured.

Abstract: A copolymer thermoplastic natural foot orthosis for supporting and controlling the movement of a lower extremity and method for manufacturing the same. The orthosis is fabricated by forming a positive mold of the lower extremity, and modifying the positive mold in predetermined locations to accomplish the type of lower extremity control desired. A strip of heated thermoformable copolymer material is strategically positioned around predetermined locations on the positive mold for providing increased support for the natural foot orthosis at these predetermined locations. A sheet of heated thermoformable copolymer material is then drape mold around the positive mold and copolymer strip, wherein the copolymer sheet is vacuum sealed to conform to the shape of the positive mold. During the vacuum formation process, the copolymer sheet and copolymer strip combine together so that the copolymer sheet and copolymer strip are integrally formed into a single supporting structure.

Abstract: An athletic ankle brace is custom-formed to the shape of a wearer's ankle. The ankle brace includes a hardenable brace panel adapted for being molded while flexible to the medial and lateral aspects of the lower leg and ankle of the wearer. Upon hardening, the molded brace panel provides a rigid custom fit for restricting inversion and eversion of the foot during wear. The brace panel defines an integrally-formed hardenable posterior heel tongue adapted for being molded while flexible to the heel of the wearer and extending under the heel to further support the ankle upon hardening.

Abstract: An orthopaedic brace having a cuff formed as a single piece from bendable sheet material comprises a generally U-shaped frame having a center segment and two extensions projecting from the ends of the center segment in a common direction. The center segment has a reduced stiffness as compared to the extensions to permit the center segment to be more readily shaped to conform to the body part of a wearer. A molded one-piece covering, such as a thermoplastic material, forms a continuous covering surrounding portions of the cuff. The cuff may be fabricated by stamping it from a sheet of metal, such as aluminum, or a composite material. By forming the sheet such that it has a variable thickness along one edge thereof, the center segment may be formed by the portion of the sheet having reduced thickness, while the extensions may be formed from the remainder of the sheet.

Abstract: There is provided a testing device for determining the amount of tension in the quadriceps muscle for the anterior cruciate ligament to fail. There is also provided a knee brace having three point fixation and includes a pair of first arm members positioned on opposite sides of the knee joint. The lower leg brace member has a pair of second arm members oriented and positionable on opposite sides of the knee joint. The rigid thigh member and lower leg member are secured to the wearer's leg by means of a flexible strap extending around the back of the leg and adjustably attached thereto. The mating ends of the arms are connected by a pair of parallel spaced-apart face plates forming polycentric hinges which permit the mating ends of the arms to pivot about the connections. Various forms of extension cushions are provided to limit the proximity of the mating ends to one another to thereby limit the forward movement of the arms.

Abstract: An extended coverage leg brace having an up and across upper and down and across lower structure carries a number of extended adjustment areas. The structure provides an extended length moment engagement to reduce pressure on the upper and lower leg of the user, while the adjustment areas facilitate and enable the user to form the brace to a configuration which will better fit the user's leg shape and topology. The shape of the upper and lower supports in addition to smaller adjustment area loops produces a large open space which avoids over covering the skin of the upper and lower leg to promote air and cooling to significant areas of the upper and lower leg. A custom pad set has raised areas which fit somewhat through the open spaces left in the looping upper and looping lower structural supports which enable the use of lighter weight and a lesser amount of more efficient padding, which also promotes "breathing" adjacent the leg.

Abstract: A therapeutic system comprising an orthotic device adapted to extend the range of angular movement between adjacent first and second skeletal body parts which have been drawn to and involuntarily held in a limited angular range of motion position relative to one another by contraction of muscle fibers and connective tissue due to immobility of one or both of said skeletal body parts and an electrode component positioned to be effective to conduct an electrical current to at least one of said body parts.

Abstract: A flexor for body building includes an elongated flexible member having two ends, a pair of handles arranged at respective ends of the flexible member, and a device for releasably connecting and securely fastening the handles to the ends of the flexible member such that each of the handles may be adjusted to a desired angle with respect to the flexible member. The flexible member has sufficient resistance to a torque exerted by a user in average health.

Abstract: A multi-function orthosis for immobilizing the lower leg, heel, ankle and foot of a human patient, which also provides adjustable therapeutic pressure on the foot sole, and which allows for ambulation. An upper, leg unit lined with a pneumatic bladder is adapted to receive the lower leg of the patient and is hingedly attached to a lower, foot base unit which is adapted to receive the foot of the patient. Retractable kickstands attached to the foot base unit extend to prevent outward or inward rolling of the patient's foot, leg and hip, and to also provide protection from the bedding. An extendable foot slide adjusts to support the foot of the patient and to retract when not in use, and an adjustable and retractable toe flap is attached to the foot slide to protect the toes when the patient is immobilized or ambulatory.

Abstract: A cervical spine traction apparatus has a generally rearwardly open collar member which has a front portion and a pair of generally rearwardly extending lateral portions. Upwardly open rod supporting housings are provided in the lateral portions. A pair of upwardly extending rods are received within the housing. A rearwardly open chin support is adjustably secured to the rods in overlying relationship with respect to the collar member. The chin support has a front portion and a pair of generally rearwardly extending lateral portions. The chin support may be independently adjusted as to each rod to thereby provide asymmetrical traction to the user or may be so adjusted as to provide symmetrical traction, if desired. A back support member is adjustably secured to the chin support and to the collar member. Such securement may be effected by adjustable straps. The collar member, chin support and back support preferably have rigid body portions with underlying padding.

Abstract: A splint to splint injured parts of a body. The splint includes three rigid members one pair of which are joined together by a hinged joint and a second pair of which are joined by a pivot joint. The hinge joint and the pivot joint each include a locking mechanism that allows the user to select from plurality of numerous positions and thereafter lock each of the joints in a selected position. The splint is used to fix a particular body part in a selected position which may require the members to be hinged with respect to each other, pivoted with respect to each other, or both.

Abstract: Device for stretching and increasing the flexibility of a human foot and leg including an elongate member including a first recess arranged proximate a first end and adapted to receive the sole of the foot, a second recess arranged alongside the first recess closer to a second end of the member opposite the first end and adapted to receive the heel of the foot, a projection arranged alongside the second recess closer to the second end of the member, and a third recess arranged alongside the projection closer to the second end of the member and adapted to receive a calf of the foot. An elastic band is provided to secure the foot in contact with the member.

Abstract: Apparatus and techniques for arresting or correcting lower leg, ankle and foot deformities which readily adapt themselves to progressive application of corrective forces to the deformed body portion. A brace is composed of a plurality of articulated portions with fasteners joining the articulated portions. Certain fasteners are periodically released, brace portions relatively moved to new locations and the fasteners relocked to apply renewed corrective bending moments or torques to portions of the anatomy.

Abstract: The present invention provides a hinge for an orthopaedic knee brace comprising first and second hinge members rotatably connected together. The first hinge part is provided with an annular slot for receiving a pin provided on the second hinge member. First and second stop members are provided with opposed stop faces located in the region of the annular slot and are manually positionable circumferentially along the annular slot whereby to define a limited range of relative movement between the hinge members and a clamping member is provided for applying a clamping force to the stop members in a direction parallel to the axis of rotation of the hinge members, the stop members and the first hinge member having inter-engaging projections and recesses whereby to clamp the stop members to the first hinge member.

Abstract: A walking brace is disclosed having enhanced shock absorbing at the patient's heel. A layer of shock-absorbing material disposed along the bottom of the walking brace has a heel portion that extends upwardly through an opening in the sole portion of the walking brace to engage the patient's heel. The bottom of the patient's heel is never engaged, either directly or indirectly by the rigid plastic of the walking brace sole portion.

Abstract: A leg support apparatus is comprised of a pair of upper frames and a pair of lower frames pivotally connected at respective pivot joints. The upper frames are connected to a circumferentially adjustable cuff, which is adapted to be wrapped around the thigh of a user. The lower frames are attachable to the user's footwear. When the apparatus is being worn by the user, the upper frames are positioned on laterally opposed sides of the user's thigh and the lower frames are positioned on laterally opposed sides of the user's calf. When the user is in a sitting position with his leg flexed, the pivot joints are anteriorly positioned with respect to his knee joint. When the user extends his leg and puts weight on his footwear, the pivot joints are moved posteriorly, which moves the upper frames upwardly toward the cuff and tightens the cuff around the thigh to prevent the cuff from slipping.

Abstract: A balance board having a deck and a pair of parallel spaced rails supported on the deck. An underlying roller is rotatably mounted to a carriage having a pair of spaced wheel assemblies which rollingly engage respective ones of the rails. The roller engages the underside of the deck when the wheel assemblies engage the rails, and may be tapered to allow multi-directional use of the board.

Abstract: A back support device has a pair of short crutches each having a shaft with an upper end and an armpit rest carried on the upper end. A pair of ball and socket connections each removably and pivotally support a lower end of each of the crutches. The lower ends of the crutches are each positioned adjacent one of a pair of pelvic bones of an individual and anchored at a fixed point either surgically or non-surgically. Each shaft extends upward from a respective one of the ball and socket connections to a respective one of the armpit rests. The lower ends of the crutches are free to rotate about the respective fixed points relative to the ball and socket connections according to movement of the individual. Unobstructed upper body movement is assured, while the vertical downward forces in the lower back vertebrae are reduced. The device may be hidden from view under a layer of clothing and permits standing, sitting, walking, running and stair climbing while keeping the hands free.

Abstract: A uniaxial orthopaedic hinge (1000, 2000) has a substantially circular body forming a recessed housing (1022, 2022). The upper surface of the housing (1022, 2022) is furnished with a concentric arcuate circular slot (1038, 2038) disposed inwardly from the periphery. The inner surface (2040) is provided with equally spaced radial teeth (1044, 2044). A back plate (1006, 2006) has an extension into a stub arm (1004, 2004) for attaching to the arm of an orthosis and is fixed to the recessed housing (1022, 2022). A locking plate (1008, 2008) also has an extension into a stub arm (1002, 2002) and is disposed in a parallel manner between the recessed housing (1022, 2022) and the back plate (1006, 2006).