Toes of the foot are easily damaged and must be immobilized during a healing period. The normal treatment is wrapping the damaged toe with tape and wearing an orthopedic shoe.
Devices have been constructed to immobilize toes during recovery, but most of these devices have been placed on the bottom of the wearer's foot. A tape or other wrapping material wound about the pad keeps the pad below the foot. However, this pad must be sufficiently thick to support the weight of the person. Because it is thick, the pad is uncomfortable as the person takes a step. Moreover, since the pad is on the bottom of the foot, flexing of the bottom of the foot causes flexing of the pad which adds to the discomfort due to the pad. Thus, a pad of conventional design is difficult to fit and, even if were fitted in what might be considered a proper manner, the pad still causes discomfort to the foot. Over long periods of time, the conventional pad creates an environment in which healing of a damaged toe takes longer than is necessary. Therefore, the normal device for immobilizing damaged toes is simply to wrap them with tape.
Because of the foregoing drawbacks, a need exists for improvements in devices for supporting and immobilizing a toe in a manner such as to enhance the healing of the toe after it has been damaged. The present invention satisfies this need.