FR2779326A1 - Shoe insertable sole providing non-seated wearer with selective and prescribed auto-massage - Google Patents

Abstract

The sole has a set of perforations (1) that follow the anatomical curves (2) of the 'plantar sole'. Detachable auto-massage modules (4) are fixed in the perforations (1) by a button (7) comprising a thin, flexible, 10 mm diameter disc, and sufficient to ensure the stability of the sole-module during walking, while allowing easy exchange of modules (4) on the advice of a health practitioner. The modules are elastomeric of 5 degree Shore harness, and they include 0-10% technical ceramic powders.

Description

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  Careful palpation of the soles of the feet very often reveals areas of nodules in the plantar cushion or what is more commonly called the "plantar sole". This plantar sole is anatomically located between the plantar skin on the surface and the deep muscular and bony plane. It is particularly rich in blood vessels, especially linked to the venous network. In the vertical position, it literally supports the whole weight of the body

  human, hence its importance in terms of the quality of micro-

  blood circulation. The micro-indurations thus detected can be considered as the manifestations of anomalies in local tissue nutrition. They do not cause a real feeling of pain, but a more or less conscious discomfort which most often determines an "incorrect support" of the foot: in a way a reduced equivalent of the so-called "analgesic" position, adopted by a suffering subject a limb or a vertebral segment. The only remedy existing up to now consists of plantar massage sessions carried out by a practitioner, sessions the repetition of which necessary to obtain a result is often a source of problems for patients. "erase" such nodules, flexible soles designed to practice an "individual selective plantar self-massage" of the plantar sole in any position other than the lying position. Such soles include, during the necessary time and at the precise places where nodosities have been detected, a certain number of elements in relief in the form of "modules

removable self-massage "'.

  We emphasize the specificity of this treatment which takes into account the alterations of the whole "plantar cushion" or "plantar sole" and not the possible deformations of the plantar arch, which have been well studied and are already the subject of multiple treatments including, in particular, orthopedic insoles adapted to each individual The method of fixing the "removable self-massage modules" uses a flexible "button" (7) of sufficient width to ensure the stability of the sole / module assembly while walking. The diameter of the thin disc which constitutes the "button" (7) for fixing each removable self-massage module (4) is at least 10 mm. The sole on the one hand, and the "removable self-massage modules" on the other hand, are made of elastomers with a hardness of at least 5 shores for the material of the sole itself, and by a hardness at least equivalent to that of the sole for the material of the

"removable self-massage modules.

  We have also retained the possibility of incorporating into the material itself "removable self-massage modules" a percentage of 0% to 10% of technical ceramic powders having the property of absorbing infrared radiation and of issue

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  such radiations in the spectrum of the far infrared with a very precise selectivity. In particular using the powders referring to the Korean patent

  N 052484 issued to the South Korean company KOREA BIO-

  TECH on 06/24/92, with its authorization. For this particular use, the patient's foot must be bare in the shoe, in direct contact with the material of the removable self-massage modules (4) for the duration prescribed by the practitioner, taking into account that the intensity of these

  FIR (Far Infra Red) radiation is very low.

  The "removable self-massage modules" are therefore implanted, for a fixed duration, at specific points corresponding to the nodules detected in a patient, in these "individual selective plantar self-massage insoles", through perforations of which the network forms a pattern of anatomical curves around two perpendicular axes located in the plane defined by the footprint. This drawing takes into account the lateral curvatures of each foot as well as the change in direction of said curvatures between the heel and the sole of the foot. The use of a rigorous mathematical definition of these curves for each individual is not economically realistic for this type of care, at least currently. We have therefore adopted a typical medium network, which experience has

revealed to be satisfactory.

  The soles themselves used to attach the removable self-massage modules (4) are washable,

  even besides that the removable self-massage modules themselves

  the same. As for the perforations (l) made on these soles but remaining unused for the implantation of removable self-massage modules, they also have the function of

  participate in the aeration of the soles of the feet.

  The invention is illustrated by the accompanying drawings - Figure 1 shows in plan the drawing formed by the network of perforations (1) in the sole. We can distinguish in this drawing the two lines constituting the axes around which the anatomical curves are deployed (2). Their crossing point (3) is located on the central axis of the foot and

at the birth of the heel.

  - Figure 2 shows in section the implantation through the perforations (1) of the sole, of two examples of removable self-massage modules (4) whose bases (5) are circular and the upper parts in the form of spherical caps (6) of different diameters. The attachment of a removable self-massage module (4) is done by means of a "button" (7) located at the base of each module. The button and its stem must be flexible enough to allow passage through the perforation and rigid enough to

  keep the self-massage module in place (4).

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  The realization is carried out in such a way that it is very easy to move the removable self-massage modules (4) in the network of perforations (1) of the sole, according to the recommendations of the practitioner.

pre writer.

  The name "PODO 7 soles" was chosen to designate these "individual selective plantar self-massage soles" which are the invention. The "removable self-massage modules" (4) that can be fixed there, each for a fixed period, can be moved according to the evolution over time of the local situation observed by the health practitioner for

each patient in particular.

  The soles themselves can be made of low density elastomers, so as to combine flexibility, solidity and comfort for the foot, at the same time as an excellent positioning in the shoe. The "removable self-massage modules" (4) must be made of a material that is sufficiently

  flexible and have a "residual elasticity".

  The distance between two perforations (1) must correspond wherever possible, to the largest diameter (5) or the largest width on the plan

  horizontal removable self-massage modules (4).

  It is possible to introduce variants in terms of geometry and material for the execution of these: hardness expressed in degrees shores, height, largest diameter (5) or greater width in the horizontal plane of the part superior. On the other hand, the design of the lower part always remains the same, that of the "button" (7) used to fix each "removable self-massage module" (4) in the sole, thus transforming the latter into a "sole". plantar self-massage

selective individual ".

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Claims (4)

  1) Flexible soles called "individual selective plantar self-massage soles>", for therapeutic purposes and therefore to be used on prescription from a health practitioner trained in plantar massage therapy. Characterized in that they are intended to be placed inside a shoe and comprise a network of perforations (1) which follow the anatomical curves (2) of the "plantar sole", perforations in which one can fix "removable self-massage modules" finding their   standing and walking efficiency.   2) Insoles according to claim 1), characterized by the method of fixing the removable self-massage modules, which uses a "fixing button" (7) consisting of a thin disc, flexible and of a diameter at least 1 mm, sufficient to ensure the stability of the sole / module assembly while walking, while allowing easy positioning of the modules (4) according to the indications of the prescribing health practitioner.   3) Insoles according to any one of the claims   previous, characterized by the fact that the sole itself and the removable self-massage modules (4) are made of elastomers with a hardness of at least 5 shores for the material of the sole itself, and by a hardness at least equivalent to that of the sole   for the material of the removable self-massage modules (4).   4) Insoles according to any one of the claims   previous characterized in that the removable self-massage modules (4) have a percentage of   0% to 10% of technical ceramic powders.   ) Insoles according to any one of the claims   previous characterized by the fact that the soles proper, including the perforations (1) not used in the context of the prescription of the health practitioner also have the function of participating in the aeration of the soles of the feet, as well as the removable self-massage modules (4) themselves are washable. * 1