Orthotic foot assist apparatus

DETAILED DESCRIPTION In accordance with the present invention, there is provided an apparatus for assisting a person having a foot-drop type disability which includes a leg attachment member, an elastomeric support strap, and a means for attaching the support strap to the wearer's foot.
The elastomeric support strap is secured to both the leg attachment member and the means for attaching the support strap to the wearer's foot.
When the apparatus is in use, the elastomeric support strap contracts to raise the wearer's foot during the time period that the wearer is not forcibly extending the strap by downwardly extending his or her foot.
Preferably, the leg attachment member is an adjustable band secured to the wearer's lower leg on or immediately above the calf and is made of a width of fabric which is bifurcated at one end to form two narrower strips each of which have an adjustable closure device so that either side of the adjustable band may be selectively adjusted to conform to the wearer's leg.
In a preferred embodiment of the present invention the means for attaching to the wearer's foot is essentially a latch and loop, one of which is arranged on the wearer'shoe at a point generally on the forward portion of the shoe and on the lateral (outside) side of the shoe.
The cooperating counterpart of the attaching means is secured to the elastomeric strap which, in turn, is secured to the leg attachment member at a point on the lateral side of the leg so that when the strap operates to raise the foot, eversion (outward turning) is effected.
As a result of this invention, a person having a foot-drop type disability may now use the relatively uneffected muscles without hindrance or discomfort to their fullest extent, e.
g.
by extending the foot (plantar flexion), while at the same time enjoying the benefits of a convenient selectively-active assist mechanism which will help them to walk normally.
Inasmuch as the muscles used to raise the foot (dorsi-flexion) and turn it outward (eversion), both of which are required in walking, are nearly always affected in those persons suffering residual paralysis as a result of a stroke, the present invention is particularly useful to stroke victims, especially since the degree of recovery from paralysis caused by stroke very often depends on the extent to which such victims use muscles having normal active contractility