Mid-hind foot stabilizer

An apparatus for distributing forces incident on the pretalar and infratalar joints of a foot disposed in a shoe comprising:

• a plantar strap for being disposed beneath the inner sole of the shoe proximate the plantar fascia at the attachment point thereof to the calcaneus bone, said plantar strap integrally molded with the sole of the shoe such that it is below the inner sole and above the bottom surface of the sole, said plantar strap having first and second ends for partially extending up the sides of the foot exterior to the shoe;
• a first dorsal strap for being disposed adjacent the dorsum of the foot exterior to the shoe on one side thereof, said first dorsal strap secured at one end to the first end of said plantar strap;
• a second dorsal strap for being disposed adjacent the dorsum of the foot exterior to the shoe on the other side thereof, said second dorsal strap secured at one end to the second end of said plantar strap;
• first means for removably attaching the other end of said first dorsal strap to the other end of said second dorsal strap to completely cover the dorsum of the foot;
• an achilles strap for being disposed exterior to the shoe and adjacent the tendo-calcaneus proximate the attachment point thereof to the calcaneuos bone, said achilles strap having one end thereof secured to the first end of said plantar strap;
• means for limiting movement of said achilles strap adjacent the heel of the foot to limit variation of the angle formed between said achilles strap and the sole of the shoe;
• and
• second means for removably attaching the free end of said achilles strap to the second end of said plantar strap, said first and second attaching means enabling adjustable tensioning of said doral strap, said achilles strap and said plantar strap to distribute forces incident on the infratalar joints during exercise and to secure the shoe about the foot with the force provided by said dorsal strap directed along the line of motion of the pretalar joint, the force provided by said achilles strap directed generally parallel to the line of motion of the infratalar joints towards the region of the posterior talo-calcanean joint and the force provided by said plantar strap directed towards the infratalar joints, the center of intersection of said plantar dorsal and achilles straps being located in the vicinity of the navicular bone of the wearer when worn.