This invention relates to exercise machines and exercise devices used to condition and tone the human body. More particularly, the invention relates to a resistance band exercise kit to condition and tone the various joints in the body.
Exercise machines in the market today are predominantly designed for burning calories and maintaining cardiovascular fitness. These exercise machines fall into the category of treadmills, elliptical machines, stationary bicycles, cross trainers and the like. Another category of exercise machines and devices popular among exercise buffs focuses on isolating and toning specific muscle groups in the body such as abdominal muscles, lea muscles, arm muscles etc. However, exercise machines specifically focused on maintaining the health of the various joints in the body are not well known in the art.
Joints or articulations play a pivotal role in maintaining movement of the skeletal system in the human body. Maintaining the health of the movable joints such as the ball and socket joints of the shoulders and hips, the hinge joints of the elbows and knees and the gliding joints of the wrists and ankles are critical in ensuring the mobility of the human body. Yet, not enough attention has been given to developing exercise machines and exercise devices to condition and tone the various movable joints in the human body or in restoring their health after an injury or surgery.
Post surgical rehabilitation of the body's hinge joints and ball and socket joints pose a particular challenge. After surgery, swelling in the joints of the knees and shoulders limit the functional range of motion of the legs and arms and delay their healing and rehabilitation process. Swelling in the knee after surgery limits the ability of the knee to move through its maximum range of motion and decreases the contractile ability of the quadriceps and hip flexor musculature which in turn impairs the ability to walk properly and slows down the recovery process. A similar impairment manifests in the shoulder joints after surgery. Thus, there is a need in the art for exercise machines and exercise devices that isolate and condition the movable joints of the body and maintain their health after an injury or surgery.
The use of portable resistance bands to train particular muscle groups in the body have gained in popularity in the last decade because of their ease of use as compared to the heavy machines with resistance cords, cables, and pulley devices. Most resistance bands in the market are comprised of an elongated stretch of rubber tubing with handles that require a user to stand on the bands and pull up, down, or sideways to maintain and release resistance according to the capacity of the user. Many of these elastic type band/tubing and handle systems do not provide stability when used for strengthening the targeted muscles. In addition, they do not specifically isolate and condition the movable joints.
There is a need in the art for a simple exercise device that is primarily focused on maintaining joint health as well as restoring joint health after an injury or surgery. There is also a need for such an exercise device to be portable to facilitate ease of use at home or when traveling, without the need to go to a gym. The present invention provides such an exercise device.
The present invention overcomes a deficiency in the prior art for an exercise machine or device specifically constructed to tone and condition the movable joints in the human body when the joints are healthy and for their rehabilitation after an injury or surgery.
An exemplary embodiment of the present invention is comprised of a tubular resistance band assembly made of durable material with an interchangeable ankle strap and/or hand grip pad having a hook and loop fastening arrangement and a band holder at the opposite end having a means to hold the resistance band in place when a door is closed upon the band holder. In this embodiment, the means to hold the resistance band in place is a cylindrical thick loop knot at the top end of the band holder which is placed in the hinge side of the door beyond the door and door frame and holds the band holder and the connected resistance band securely in place when the door is closed.
In the exemplary embodiment of the invention, the tubular resistance band of the invention is secured to the door through the band holder at one end and the ankle grip strap configured at the other end of the resistance band is placed around the ankle of a user of the device. In this embodiment, the individual wishing to exercise the knee joint sits in a chair with a pillow or rolled towel placed under the knee atop the chair to facilitate floating the foot above the ground. While seated in this position, the ankle of the floating foot is placed inside and enclosed within the ankle strap and secured with the hook and loop fastening arrangement which causes the foot to float further upward. In this embodiment of the invention, a 12 to 18 inch unattached strap is placed around the heel of the foot and secured to the ankle grip strap through a hook and loop fastening arrangement to provide stabilization to the ankle grip strap and prevent it from moving up or down the ankle. The knee of the floating foot is then swung down using momentum at which point the resistance band automatically swings the knee back up to its original position in a bouncing motion. This action is repeated several times during the day or as recommended by the health professional to tone and exercise the knee joint after an injury or surgery.
In yet another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the resistance band of the invention is secured to the door through the band holder at one end and the padded grip strap with the hook and loop fastening arrangement configured at the other end of the resistance band is placed around the palm of the hand having the injured shoulder enclosing the four fingers with the thumb on the outside. In this embodiment of the invention, a 12 to 18 inch unattached strap is placed around the wrist of the hand and secured to the hand grip strap through a hook and loop fastening arrangement to provide stabilization to the hand grip strap and prevent it from moving up or down the wrist. In this embodiment of the invention, the individual wishing to exercise the shoulder joints while in a standing position holds the grip padding on the resistance band with the palms facing down. In this position, with the resistance band at arm's length, the palm is brought down to the hip and front of the body and the resistance band then automatically swings the shoulder back up to its original position. This action is repeated several times a day or as recommended by the health professional to tone and exercise the shoulder joint after an injury or surgery.
The process of performing active assistive range of motion exercises, such as the exercise this device allows the user to perform, is proven to decrease joint swelling. Decreased joint swelling allows for improved range of motion through the ability to reach end range with knee and shoulder flexion and extension and limits scar tissue formation, another complication that slows recovery. Decreased joint swelling allows for proper gait performance and speeds post surgical recovery by allowing the patient to walk and use their arms with the least restrictive assistive device or no assistive device at all.
The embodiments of the joint health exercise device and system of the present invention as described can be used in toning and exercising the joints of the body after injury, or surgery as well as when the joints are healthy.
In this summary of the invention and in the specification in general, the various references to “the exemplary embodiment” and “yet another exemplary embodiment” do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment (s). Rather, these references to the various embodiments only mean that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in conjunction with an embodiment is included in at least some embodiments, but not necessarily all embodiments of the invention. The objects, features and advantages of the joint exercise system of the present invention described through its various embodiments in this summary of the invention will be further appreciated and will become obvious to one skilled in the art when viewed in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, detailed description of the invention, and the appended claims.
The present invention is an exercise device and system for toning, conditioning and exercising the various joints in the human body to keep them healthy both before and after an injury or surgery to the joints. The embodiments of the invention comprise an exercise kit that is light weight, portable and easy to use at home or when traveling.
The joint health exercise device of the present invention speeds post-operative recovery of the joints in the body through a painless exercise system that reduces pain and swelling in the joints, decreases post-surgical scar tissue formation by keeping the joints in repetitive motion and increases the post-surgical range of motion of the limb connected to the joint. The exercise system of the invention replaces the continuous passive machines (CPM) in the market.
Referring now to the drawings, more particularly to
The foregoing description of the joint health exercise device and system of the present invention through its figures and preferred embodiments should not be construed to limit the scope of the invention. It should be understood and obvious to those skilled in the art that other possible variations, modifications and applications of the embodiments described are also within the spirit and scope of the invention and the appended claims.
This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Reference No. 61/810,241 filed Apr. 9, 2013 which is incorporated herein in its entirety.
Number | Date | Country | |
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61810241 | Apr 2013 | US |