Shoe, a patch and a method for preventing ankle injuries

A method of preventing ankle injuries in humans, comprising the steps of:

• providing the human being with a shoe comprising a sole with a ground-engaging surface;
• a lateral edge and a lateral connecting portion interconnecting and extending between the ground-engaging surface of the sole and the lateral edge;
• a medial edge and a medial connecting portion interconnecting and extending between the ground-engaging surface of the sole and the medial edge;
• wherein said lateral connecting portion defines a surface area of reduced friction which is adjacent to at least one adjacent surface area of at least one of said lateral connecting portion, lateral edge, and ground-engaging surface, and which defines a first coefficient of friction;
• and
• wherein said first coefficient of friction is lower than a coefficient of friction of said at least one adjacent surface area;
• wherein said surface area of reduced friction is provided at the lateral connecting portion;
• wherein the first coefficient of friction is less than 0.5;
• wherein the coefficient of friction of the at least one adjacent surface area is more than 0.55;
• wherein the surface area of reduced friction extends continuously from a top portion of the lateral edge toward the ground-engaging surface such that the surface area of reduced friction mainly covers the lateral edge relative to the ground-engaging surface, and such that a small portion of the surface area of reduced friction extends slightly beyond the lateral connecting portion to cover a portion of the ground-engaging surface;
• and
• mounting the shoe on a human foot, so as to promote sliding between the shoe and ground upon an occurrence of an unbalanced motion of the human foot relative to the ground.

A shoe comprising:

• a sole with a ground-engaging surface;
• a lateral edge and a lateral connecting portion interconnecting and extending between the ground-engaging surface of the sole and the lateral edge;
• a medial edge and a medial connecting portion interconnecting and extending between the ground-engaging surface of the sole and the medial edge;
• wherein said lateral connecting portion defines a surface area of reduced friction which is adjacent to at least one adjacent surface area of at least one of said lateral connecting portion, lateral edge, and ground-engaging surface, and which defines a first coefficient of friction;
• wherein said first coefficient of friction is lower than a coefficient of friction of said at least one adjacent surface area;
• wherein said surface area of reduced friction is provided at the lateral connecting portion;
• and
• wherein the surface area of reduced friction extends continuously from a top portion of the lateral edge toward the ground-engaging surface such that the surface area of reduced friction mainly covers the lateral edge relative to the ground-engaging surface, and such that a small portion of the surface area of reduced friction extends slightly beyond the lateral connecting portion to cover a portion of the ground-engaging surface.

A method of preventing ankle injuries in humans, comprising the steps of:

• providing the human being with a shoe comprising a sole with a ground-engaging surface;
• a lateral edge and a lateral connecting portion interconnecting and extending between the ground-engaging surface of the sole and the lateral edge;
• a medial edge and a medial connecting portion interconnecting and extending between the ground-engaging surface of the sole and the medial edge;
• wherein said lateral connecting portion defines a surface area of reduced friction which is adjacent to at least one adjacent surface area of at least one of said lateral connecting portion, lateral edge, and ground-engaging surface, and which defines a first coefficient of friction;
• and
• wherein said first coefficient of friction is lower than a coefficient of friction of said at least one adjacent surface area;
• wherein said surface area of reduced friction is provided at the lateral connecting portion;
• wherein the surface area of reduced friction extends continuously from a top portion of the lateral edge toward the ground-engaging surface such that the surface area of reduced friction mainly covers the lateral edge relative to the ground-engaging surface, and such that a small portion of the surface area of reduced friction extends slightly beyond the lateral connecting portion to cover a portion of the ground-engaging surface;
• and
• mounting the shoe on a human foot, so as to promote sliding between the shoe and ground upon an occurrence of an unbalanced motion of the human foot relative to the ground.