This application relates generally to an apparatus for balance training, and more specifically to an apparatus that can assist people in developing better balance as part of a training regimen.
Falls are among the most common and devastating injuries that occur in older adults. More than 25% of adults aged 65 years or older fall each year (see CDC Newsroom, 2016). The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention cite falling as the primary cause of fatal and non-fatal injuries among older adults. Falls in older adults are the cause of more than 90% of hip fractures, which substantially alter an older individual's life trajectory by leading to decreased mobility and frequently loss of autonomy.
Although falls are common in older adults, they are not an inevitable occurrence with aging. Studies suggest that evidence-based fall prevention strategies can reduce fall risk by about a third. The major contributor to fall risk is balance impairment, and substantial evidence also shows that balance can be improved with exercise. Although individuals (including older adults) frequently engage in strength and endurance training as part of a general fitness program, individuals rarely incorporate dedicated balance training as part of their regimen. This is evidenced by the paucity of balance training equipment and devices available on the marketplace. To date, the only major balance training equipment involves having users maintain stance on a mobile platform. A significant limitation of a mobile platform is that it does not address balance during walking or turning, which are among the most frequent situations where falls occur. Canes assist with stabilizing an individual's balance during walking. However, canes are an assistive device and are not intended to function as a balance training device.
Disclosed embodiments are designed to improve (i.e., reduce) balance impairment and falls that occur during stance (including during turning) and with motion. Based on expertise in the mechanisms of postural control and effective balance rehabilitation, the inventors have designed a versatile device that permits users to perform many of the exercises prescribed as part of a balance therapy regimen at home. Disclosed embodiments incorporate the elements of personalization and progressive challenge, including its unique articulating, locking joint between the cross bar (sometimes referred to as a handlebar), and vertical stem (leg), which allows users to set the level of challenge appropriate for them. The inventors have also developed a suite of progressive exercises for users to perform with the disclosed embodiments, adapted from practice, which serve to progressively challenge and strengthen the proprioceptive, vestibular, and musculoskeletal systems. Disclosed embodiments can be used to train balance during walking, and there is an additional set of exercises for using the device during ambulatory balance training.
The disclosed apparatus has several novel design features. The device includes a moving handle (also referred to as a cross bar), which can be incrementally adjusted to move in tilt at varying amounts depending on the user's desired level of difficulty. The handle also rotates 360 degrees, which combined with tilt requires users to engage core muscles for strengthening that also contribute to postural stability. The handle is attached to a stem (also referred to as a leg), which reaches the ground. The stem is adjustable for user height, enabling the apparatus to be used while walking or turning.
In accordance with some embodiments, a mechanical apparatus for human balance training includes a cross bar, whose center is attached to a pivotable protrusion extending from a vertically oriented leg having a base at an end opposite the pivotable protrusion. The mechanical apparatus also includes a slidable sheath surrounding a portion of the leg proximate to the pivotable protrusion. The slidable sheath has a plurality of allowed positions relative to the leg, and each position limits tilt of the cross bar to a respective angular range.
In accordance with some embodiments, each allowed position limits tilt of the cross bar by controlling the extent by which the pivotable protrusion extends out from the sheath.
In accordance with some embodiments, the sheath is threaded relative to the leg and the plurality of allowed positions comprises a continuous range of positions adjusted by twisting the sheath relative to the leg. The twisting of the sheath causes sliding of the sheath in a direction parallel to the axis of the leg (the sliding is in a direction normal to the twisting motion).
In accordance with some embodiments, the plurality of allowed positions comprises a finite plurality of predefined locking positions. Each locking position limits tilt of the cross bar to a respective predefined angular range. In some embodiments, each locking position corresponds to a respective opening in the sheath, and the sheath engages the respective locking position when a mechanical button on the leg presses into the respective opening. In some embodiments, each locking position corresponds to a respective opening in the leg, and the sheath engages the respective locking position when a knob on the sheath is inserted into the respective opening. In accordance with some embodiments, each opening in the leg is threaded, and the sheath engages the respective locking position by twisting the knob along an axis perpendicular to the respective opening (e.g., the knob has a threaded end that engages with the threading in the opening).
In accordance with some embodiments, the angular ranges are 0°, 90°, and a plurality of angular ranges between 0° and 90°. When the angular range is 0°, the cross bar is held fixed in a position perpendicular to the leg. When the angular range is 90°, the cross bar can tilt anywhere within a 90° continuum. The continuum ranges from having the cross bar perpendicular to the leg all the way to having the cross bar parallel to the leg. When a degree measure is specified for an angular range, the tilt angle of the cross bar ranges from 0° to the specified degree measure. For example, when there is an angular range of 45°, the tilt angle of the cross bar can be anywhere between 0° and 45°. Typical intermediate angular ranges are 10°, 20°, 30°, and 45°.
The pivotable protrusion is attached to the cross bar, and a pivoting joint on the protrusion provides for the pivoting of the cross bar. If the sheath were not present, the pivotable protrusion would enable the cross bar to tilt between 0° and 90°. The positioning of the sheath provides a mechanical limit on how much tilting is possible. In some embodiments, the pivoting joint is an elbow joint of T-joint. In some embodiments, the pivoting joint is a ball joint, enabling both the pivoting and rotation of the cross bar.
Embodiments typically enable 360 degree rotation of the cross bar. In some embodiments, the pivotable protrusion is rigidly affixed to the cross bar, and the cross bar rotates by rotating the pivotable protrusion with respect to the leg. The rotatable connection is typically inside the sheath, just below the pivot joint. In this way, the cross bar rotates about an axis defined by the leg. In other embodiments, the cross bar is affixed to the pivotable protrusion using a connecting mechanism that allows rotation of the cross bar relative to the pivotable protrusion. In these embodiments, the cross bar is able to spin in a plane perpendicular to the pivotable protrusion, like a propeller. Some embodiments include a tension screw or other mechanism that controls how freely the cross bar can be rotated.
In accordance with some embodiments, the cross bar includes a pair of telescoping handles at opposing ends of the cross bar.
In accordance with some embodiments, the leg has an adjustable length. In some embodiments, the leg has a first portion that telescopes relative to a second portion of the leg. In some embodiments, the length of the leg is adjusted according to a plurality of leg locking positions. In some embodiments, the first portion has a plurality of openings, each opening corresponding to a respective leg locking position. In some embodiments, a respective leg locking position is engaged when a mechanical button on the second portion of the leg presses into the respective opening in the first portion.
In accordance with some embodiments, a latch is attached to the leg. The cross bar can be detachably coupled to the latch when the sheath is in a position that provides an angular range of 90°. This enables the apparatus to fold into a more compact shape for storage.
In order to use the apparatus, the base touches a floor surface, the ground, or other surface on which a user is standing or walking. There needs to be adequate support/friction so that the base of the apparatus does not slip while in use. In some embodiments, the base is a cap comprising a material having a high coefficient of static friction. In this aspect, the cap may be made of rubber or similar material, as used in conventional canes. In some embodiments, having a high coefficient of static friction means a coefficient that is greater than 0.6. In accordance with some embodiments, the base comprises a disc perpendicular to the leg or the base comprises two or more elongated members in a plane perpendicular to the leg.
Therefore, disclosed embodiments can be used by people for balance training, which can reduce the overall risk of falls.
For a better understanding of the various described embodiments, reference should be made to the Description of Embodiments below, in conjunction with the following drawings in which like reference numerals refer to corresponding parts throughout the figures.
Reference will now be made in detail to embodiments, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. In the following detailed description, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the various described embodiments. However, it will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art that the various described embodiments may be practiced without these specific details.
As illustrated in
At the bottom of the apparatus 100 is a base 108. As illustrated in other embodiments, the base may be constructed using a variety of shapes and materials. In the embodiment of
The apparatus 100 typically includes an adjustment mechanism to accommodate a variety of user heights. In the embodiment of
The inset in
Like
The embodiment in
In some embodiments, the sheath is threaded with respect to the leg 106, and movement of the sheath 110 vertically is performed by rotating the sheath around the leg. In some embodiments, there is a separate locking mechanism (e.g., the lower sheath ring 152), and the sheath can be rotated with respect to the leg only when the sheath is in a released state. In some embodiments, “locking” of the sheath is achieved mechanically by the threading of the sheath with respect to the leg. Because the motion of the cross bar 102 does not generally create a rotational force on the sheath 110, the sheath 110 is able to hold its position.
Various features of an apparatus for balance training have been described with respect to certain embodiments. One of ordinary skill in the art would recognize that features can be combined in many ways, and are not limited to the specific embodiments in which they are described. For example, any of the cross bar implementations can be combined with any of the sheath implementations, and these can be combined with any of the base implementations. Unless physically incompatiable, any combination of the disclosed features may be used to form an apparatus for human balance training as described herein. The scope of coverage is defined by the claims below.
The terminology used in the description of the various described embodiments herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting. As used in the description of the various described embodiments and the appended claims, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will also be understood that the term “and/or” as used herein refers to and encompasses any and all possible combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. It will be further understood that the terms “includes,” “including,” “comprises,” and/or “comprising,” when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.
While preferred materials for elements have been described, the device is not limited by these materials. Plastics, rubbers, metals, woods, and other materials may comprise some or all of the elements of the various embodiments.
The foregoing description, for purpose of explanation, has been described with reference to specific embodiments. However, the illustrative discussions above are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed. Many modifications and variations are possible in view of the above teachings. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical applications, to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated.
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