Orthopedic walking brace having a curved sole
Described herein are systems and devices for providing an orthopedic walking brace having a housing and a sole with a curved distal surface. The housing is configured to encompass and immobilize a patient's ankle against flexion. The distal surface of the sole has a posterior region, a mid region, and an anterior region. The posterior region is configured to lie under a heel portion of the patient's foot and has a first anterior-posterior (AP) curvature that increases from a posterior side of the posterior region toward a middle portion of the posterior region and decreases from the middle portion of the posterior region toward the mid region. The mid region is configured to lie under a center portion of the patient's foot. The anterior region is configured to lie under an anterior metatarsal and toe portion of the patient's foot and has a second AP curvature.
1 . A sole configured for use with an orthopedic walking brace, comprising:
a proximal surface configured to receive a foot of a patient; and
a distal surface configured to contact a ground surface underneath the orthopedic walking brace, the distal surface comprising a medial-lateral (ML) curvature that has a first peak adjacent to a medial edge, and a second peak adjacent to a lateral edge of the distal surface, wherein the distal surface is substantially flat between the first peak and the second peak.
2 . The sole of claim 1 , wherein the distal surface comprises a first material having a first density and a second material having a second density that is smaller than the first density.
3 . The sole of claim 2 , wherein the first material is rubber.
4 . The sole of claim 2 , wherein the second material is ethyl vinyl acetate.
5 . The sole of claim 1 , wherein the proximal surface comprises:
a circumferential rim;
a raised platform comprising a plurality of recessed volumes configured to be positioned under a heel of the foot of the patient; and
a circumferential groove separating the raised platform from the circumferential rim.
6 . The sole of claim 5 , wherein the proximal surface further comprises a plurality of notches configured to be coupled to a bottom of a footbed of the orthopedic walking brace.
7 . The sole of claim 1 , wherein the ML curvature varies from a posterior of the sole to an anterior of the sole such that the first and second peaks are larger at the posterior of the sole than at a midportion of the sole.
8 . The sole of claim 1 , wherein the distal surface is symmetric.
9 . The sole of claim 1 , wherein the proximal surface is rigid, and the distal surface is flexible.
10 . The sole of claim 1 , wherein a distance between a highest point on the distal surface and the ground surface defines a thickness and a maximum value of the thickness is about 0.75 inches.
11 . A method of immobilizing an ankle against flexion while approximating a natural gait, comprising:
providing an orthopedic walking brace, comprising:
a housing configured to encompass an ankle of a patient; and
a curved sole comprising:
a proximal surface configured to receive a foot of the patient; and
a distal surface configured to contact a ground surface underneath the orthopedic walking brace, the distal surface comprising a medial-lateral (ML) curvature that has a first peak adjacent to a medial edge, and a second peak adjacent to a lateral edge of the distal surface, wherein the distal surface is substantially flat between the first peak and the second peak.
12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the distal surface comprises a first material having a first density and a second material having a second density that is smaller than the first density.
13 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the first material is rubber.
14 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the second material is ethyl vinyl acetate.
15 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the proximal surface comprises:
a circumferential rim;
a raised platform comprising a plurality of recessed volumes configured to be positioned under a heel of the foot of the patient; and
a circumferential groove separating the raised platform from the circumferential rim.
16 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the proximal surface further comprises a plurality of circular notches configured to be coupled to a bottom of a footbed of the orthopedic walking brace, thereby providing precise and secure attachment of the sole to the footbed.
17 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the ML curvature varies from a posterior of the sole to an anterior of the sole such that the first and second peaks are larger at the posterior of the sole than at a midportion of the sole.
18 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the distal surface is symmetric.
19 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the proximal surface is rigid, and the distal surface is flexible.
20 . The method of claim 11 , wherein a distance between a highest point on the distal surface and the ground surface defines a thickness and a maximum value of the thickness is about 0.75 inches.