Heel and ankle appliance

A flexible heel and ankle protecting, supporting and cushioning appliance, comprising:

• a pliable cupping means for receiving a heel portion of a patient's foot and a patient's ankle comprising, a sole portion for engaging the heel portion of a sole of the foot, first and second side portions for engaging sides of the heel of the foot, a back portion for engaging a back of the heel and the ankle from the sole of the foot to an upper portion of the ankle;
• first selectively adjustable fastening means, which can be repeatedly fastened and unfastened and passes over an upper surface of the heel portion of the foot between said first and second side portions of said pliable cupping means, for securing said pliable cupping means to the heel portion of the foot and providing support for tendons and tendon sheaths located beneath the upper surface of the heel portion of the foot;
• second selectively adjustable fastening means extending from said back portion of said pliable cupping means, which can be repeatedly fastened and unfastened and encircles the ankle, for securing said pliable cupping means to the ankle and for providing support for tendons and tendon sheaths located in the ankle;
• a third selectively adjustable fastening means, which can be repeatedly fastened and unfastened and encircles a leg of the patient between a knee and a calf portion of the leg;
• first and second substantially inextensible support straps, secured to and extending from said first and second side portions of said pliable cupping means to said third selectively adjustable fastening means, for exerting an upward force on said pliable cupping means at said first and second side portions of said pliable cupping means to limit the degree that an ankle joint of the patient can be flexed without exerting an upward force on a back portion of the heel of the patient;
• said first and second support straps crisscrossing each other intermediate said first and second side portions of said pliable cupping means and said third selectively, adjustable fastening means in a region of the lower leg at the rear of the leg to provide support for the achilles tendon in this region of the lower leg.