Toe Walking Prevention Device

Description

BACKGROUND

Toe walking is a habit that develops when a child learns to walk. Often toe walking is caused by an underlying condition. For example, the child may have a short Achilles tendon. If the Achilles tendon is too short, it may prevent the heel from touching the ground.

Toe walking is a pattern of walking when a child walks on the balls of their feet, with no contact between the heels and the ground. Treatment for persistent toe walking often involves a period of casting or bracing to stretch the muscles and tendons in the calves and encourage a normal gate.

Typically, toe walking is idiopathic, which means the cause is not known. In a small number of cases, persistent toe walking is a sign of an underlying medical condition, such as cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy, a spinal cord abnormality or a neurological conditional.

Treatment of toe walking can vary. Nonsurgical treatment can include observation, serial casting, bracing and/or Botox therapy. In some cases, surgery may be required. For example, surgery may be performed to lengthen the Achilles tendons. Lengthening the tendons improves range of motion and allows better function of the foot and ankle.

Furthermore, physical therapy is often used after both nonsurgical and surgical treatment. Physical therapy helps the patient learn to walk flat-footed more consistently.

DRAWINGS

The present disclosure can be better understood with reference to the following drawings. The elements in these drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale but are included to clearly illustrate the principles pertaining to this disclosure. Furthermore, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

FIG. 1A is an exploded view of a toe walking prevention device in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure showing a solid skeleton, a pre wrap, and a Coban wrap.

FIG. 1B is an exploded view of the toe walking prevention device of claim 1 showing the solid skeleton wrapped with the pre wrap and the Coban wrap.

FIG. 1C is the toe walking prevention device of claim 1 showing the sold skeleton wrapped with the pre wrap and the pre wrap wrapped with the Coban.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a foot aligned with the toe walking prevention device and aligned with a shoe.

FIG. 3 is a side cut-away view of the foot in the shoe and showing the toe walking prevention device under the ball of the foot.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present disclosure describes a toe walking prevention device. A toe walking patient places the toe walking prevention device near the vamp of a shoe. The patient places his/her foot in the shoe so that the patient's ball of his/her footrests on the toe walking prevention device so that the patient's ball of his/her footrests over the toe walking prevention device. As noted above, toe walking is a pattern of walking in which a child walks on the balls of their feet with no contact between the heels and the ground. Placing the toe walking prevention device under the patient's ball of his/her foot most likely causes the patient to not be able to walk on his/her toes, which pushes the patient's heel to the ground.

FIG. 1A is an exploded toe walking prevention device 103 in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. The toe walking prevention device 103 comprises layers of a cotton elastic bandage wrap 102 or Coban 102. Note that Coban 102 is a lightweight cohesive elastic which provides controlled, consistent compression and conforms to all body contours.

The Coban 102 is a self-adherent wrap used to secure dressings and other devices; compress or protect wound sites; immobilize injuries, and more. The Coban 102 is convenient because it sticks to itself without the need for adhesive, pins, or clips. The Coban 102 is secure in that the wrap stays in place and eliminates the need for frequent readjustment. The Coban 102 is comfortable, lightweight, porous, and breathable. Further, the Coban 102 is versatile in that it is used to secure and protect primary dressings and other devices. The Coban 102 further helps immobilize injuries and provide compression. The Coban 102 is available in sterile and non-sterile versions.

The Coban 102 is a self-adherent elastic wrap that functions like tape but sticks only to itself. The Coban 102 is used to secure dressings and other devices; compress or protect wound sites; immobilize injuries and more. The Coban 102 is available in sterile and nonsterile versions and in a variety of widths and colors to meet application needs.

Further, the exploded toe walking prevention device 103 comprises layers of pre wrap 101. Note that pre wrap 101 is a very thin layer of foam often used to cover the skin before a supportive adhesive wrap is applied. The pre wrap 101 prevents irritation of the underlying skin. It's like a cushion and is softer than the Coban 101.

The exploded toe walking prevention device 103 further comprises two solid cylindrical wooden sticks 100. The pre wrap 101 wraps around the two wooden sticks 100 to give the toe walking prevention device 103 a supportive skeleton. Note that the wooden sticks 103 may be, for example, short pencils. Therefore, the toe walking prevention device 103 comprises a skeleton, e.g., two short wooden pencils 103, an inner layer of pre wrap 101, and an outer layer of Coban 102.

The length of the toe walking prevention device 103 is approximately the length of a toe box in a child's shoe, i.e., the toe walking prevention device 103 fits snugly in the toe box of the child's shoe and secures the ball of the patient's foot in an upward and curled position. This position of the ball of the patient's foot of the child helps the child learn to walk on his/her heels.

FIG. 1B is the toe walking prevention device 103 showing the sticks 100 wrapped with the pre wrap 101. The pre wrap 101 wraps around the sticks 100. The pre wrap 101 is designed to help protect skin from skin irritation caused by tape and bandages, that may cause chafing or inflammation. It goes on before athletic tape to protect the area being bandaged. Pre wrap 101 can also be used to hold equipment or clothing in place.

In the present disclosure, the pre wrap 101 wraps around the sticks. The foamy characteristic of the pre wrap 101 protects the patients foot from the edgy sticks that form the skeleton of the toe walking prevention device 103. Note that the edgy sticks may be any type of solid stick that can form a solid skeleton for the toe walking prevention device 103.

FIG. 1C is the toe walking prevention device 103 with the pre wrap 101 wrapped around the sticks 100. The pre wrap 101 protects the patient from injury from the edges of the sticks 100. In this regard, pre wrap 101 is designed to help protect skin from skin irritation caused by tape and bandages, that may cause chafing or inflammation. It goes on before athletic tape to protect the area being bandaged. Pre wrap 101 can also be used to hold equipment or clothing in place.

Coban 102 wraps around the pre wrap 101. The Coban 102 is a self-adherent elastic wrap that functions like tape but sticks only to itself. The Coban 102 is used to secure dressings and other devices; compress or protect wound sites; immobilize injuries and more.

FIG. 2 is an exploded view showing how the toe walking prevention device 103 is implemented. In this regard, the toe walking prevention device 103 is placed inside shoe 202 approximately near shoe vamp 201.

In one embodiment, a sole (not shown) of shoe 202 is removed to make insertion of the toe walking prevention device 103 easier to insert in the shoe 202. In another embodiment, adhesive material, such as Coban, may be used to secure the toe walking prevention device 103 and keep the toe walking prevention device 103 from moving out of place when foot 200 is inserted in shoe 202.

FIG. 3 depicts a foot 200 in a shoe 202, and the ball 300 of the foot 200 is supported by the toe walking prevention device 103. Toe walking prevention device 103 is placed at approximately vamp 201 of the shoe.

The toe walking prevention device 103 rests on the bottom of the shoe in alignment with the ball 300 of the foot 200. The toe walking prevention device 103 pushes upward on the ball 300 of the foot 200, which prevents the patient from walking on his/her toes and ensures that the heel 301 of the foot touches the ground.