Sleeve or liner for an article

An orthopedic device comprising a brace component and a sleeve or liner for the brace component, wherein the brace component is formed as a shell having rigid or semi-rigid properties, the shell defining a peripheral contour and a flexure gradient including a plurality of shell regions having different flexural stiffnesses;

• wherein the sleeve or liner has a main body defining a peripheral contour arranged at least approximately to the peripheral contour of the shell and sized to correspond thereto, the main body of the sleeve or liner defining first and second opposing faces that are secured together along at least a portion of a peripheral edge of the main body of the sleeve or liner;
• and
• frictional material disposed on one of the first and second opposing faces of the main body of the sleeve or liner to define a predetermined pattern of frictional elements including at least a first set of frictional elements and a second set of frictional elements, the frictional elements of the first and second sets having different, respective sizes or shapes and being positioned on the main body of the sleeve or liner at locations corresponding to different shell regions of the flexure gradient;
• wherein the frictional elements of the first set are disposed at locations corresponding to shell regions of lower flexural stiffness, and wherein the frictional elements of the second set are disposed at locations corresponding to shell regions of higher flexural stiffness, and wherein the predetermined pattern of frictional elements varies in size or shape in correspondence with the flexure gradient of the shell.