A method of protecting an ankle of a foot by resisting forces that may result in a sprained ankle joint, the method comprising:
- placing an athletic footwear artificial ligament apparatus on a wearer, the athletic footwear ligament apparatus having an athletic shoe and an athletic footwear artificial ligament device,
- wherein the process of placing the athletic footwear artificial ligament apparatus on the wearer comprises placing the athletic shoe on the foot of the wearer, wherein the athletic shoe has a sole and an upper, wherein the upper is attached to and extends upwardly from the sole, and wherein the upper includes a first forward connector and a first lower connector,
- wherein the athletic footwear artificial ligament device has an elongate flexible band, a circular ring, an upper artificial ligament constructed of inelastic flexible material, a lower artificial ligament constructed of inelastic flexible material, and a forward artificial ligament constructed of inelastic flexible material,
- wherein the upper artificial ligament includes an upper end that is attached to the elongate flexible band and a lower end having a loop,
- wherein the lower artificial ligament includes an upper end having a loop and a lower end having a second lower connector that is attachable to the first lower connector of the upper of the athletic shoe,
- wherein the forward artificial ligament includes an upper end having a loop and a lower end having a second forward connector that is attachable to the first forward connector of the upper of the athletic shoe,
- wherein the process of placing the athletic footwear artificial ligament apparatus on the wearer further comprises securing the elongate flexible band of the athletic footwear artificial ligament device around a lower leg and above the ankle of the wearer, attaching the second lower connector of the lower end of the lower artificial ligament to the first lower connector of the upper of the athletic shoe, and attaching the second forward connector of the lower end of the forward artificial ligament to the first forward connector of the upper of the athletic shoe,
- wherein the circular ring extends through the loop of the lower end of the upper artificial ligament, through the loop of the upper end of the lower artificial ligament, and through the loop of the upper end of the forward artificial ligament,
- wherein the loop of the lower end of the upper artificial ligament is slidably moveable about an upper portion of the circular ring, the loop of the upper end of the lower artificial ligament is slidably moveable about a lower portion of the circular ring, and the loop of the upper end of the forward artificial ligament is slidably moveable about a forward portion of the circular ring,
- wherein the athletic footwear artificial ligament apparatus resists forces generated during an external rotation at the ankle caused by the foot turning outwardly that may result in a sprain of an ankle joint of the wearer, and wherein the athletic footwear artificial ligament apparatus does not limit a normal range of motion (ROM) of the ankle joint.