THERAPY SHOE
Methods and systems for aiding with dynamic compression of venous tissue enable improved blood movement, reducing edema, reducing leg cramping, treating plantar fasciitis in the extremities, and/or the like. In an exemplary embodiment, a therapy shoe entirely contains a therapy device which provides a compressive force to the venous plexus region of the foot. The system may assist blood circulation which may reduce the occurrence of undesirable complications such as deep vein thrombosis, ulcers, and the like.
1 . A shoe, comprising:
a housing comprising a housing portion wherein the housing portion comprises;
a bottom surface,
a side surface attached to the bottom surface,
a top surface attached to the side surface wherein the top surface further comprises an aperture;
a housing cavity defined by the bottom surface, the side surface, the top surface;
wherein the housing cavity is configured to receive a therapy device.
2 . The shoe of claim 1 , further comprising a compression garment coupled to the housing.
3 . The shoe of claim 1 , wherein the aperture is configured with a moveable covering in order to conceal the control component of the foot compression system.
4 . The shoe of claim 1 , wherein the side surface has an area of between about 6 square centimeters to about 40 square centimeters.
5 . The shoe of claim 1 , wherein the shoe is an athletic shoe.
6 . The shoe of claim 1 further comprising a therapy device disposed within the housing cavity wherein the therapy device is configured to operate when a wearer of the shoe is not walking and not operate when the wearer is walking.
7 . A method for compressing a foot, the method comprising:
providing an item of footwear having a therapy device contained therein wherein the therapy device further comprises a power supply;
coupling the item of footwear to the foot; and
activating the therapy device.
8 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the activating the therapy device comprises repeatedly compressing the venous plexus region of the foot.
9 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the activating the therapy device comprises:
moving a pressure pad a first time to bring the pressure pad into contact with the foot to compress a portion of the foot;
moving the pressure pad a second time to bring the pressure pad out of contact with the foot to allow the portion of the foot to at least partially refill with blood; and
moving the pressure pad a third time to bring the pressure pad into contact with the foot to force at least a portion of the blood out of the portion of the foot.
10 . The method of claim 7 , further comprising coupling a compression garment to the limb associated with the foot.
11 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the therapy device is configured not to apply a compressive force to the foot when a user of the item of footwear is walking.
12 . An item of footwear, comprising:
a housing having an aperture therethrough, the aperture configured with a flexible aperture cover;
a compression garment coupled to the housing;
a sole; and
a therapy device disposed between the housing and the sole, the therapy device configured to extend at least partially through the aperture to compress a portion of a foot;
wherein the item is footwear is configured to fully conceal the presence of the therapy device when the item of footwear is worn.
13 . The item of footwear of claim 11 , wherein at least one of the housing and the sole are disposable.
14 . The item of footwear of claim 11 , wherein the therapy device is entirely contained within the item of footwear.
15 . An item of footwear, comprising:
a housing;
a therapy device disposed within a cavity in the housing; and
a coupling portion, the coupling portion configured to retain a portion of a foot.
16 . The item of footwear of claim 15 , wherein the housing further comprises an aperture disposed on a portion of the housing configured to be adjacent to a foot, wherein the aperture is configured to permit the therapy device to provide a compressive force to a portion of a foot
17 . The item of footwear of claim 15 , wherein the item of footwear comprises at least one of a boot, an athletic shoe, a dress shoe, or a sandal.
18 . The item of footwear of claim 15 , wherein the item of footwear is coupled to a compression garment.
19 . The item of footwear of claim 15 , wherein the aperture is at least partially covered by a flexible membrane.
20 . The item of footwear of claim 15 , wherein the item of footwear is similar in appearance to an item of footwear lacking a cavity configured to receive a therapy device.
21 . The item of footwear of claim 15 , wherein the item of footwear is configured to be wearable during exercise in order to facilitate athletic recovery.