A video in DVD format is attached as an Appendix to this patent application, illustrating the use of the present invention to provide fundamental balance strengthening benefits. This video is incorporated by reference into this patent application.
The present invention generally relates to physical therapy and/or general fitness devices utilizing resistance bands.
Balance is foundational to any and all age groups, whether athletes or not. From a baby learning to walk and gaining their balance, to the gifted athlete or seniors, all can benefit from improved balance. Statistically, falls account for the death every 20 minutes of an older person in the United States. 76% of these falls are lateral or sideways falls, according to the Center for Disease Control. Falls are the top cause of fatal injuries in older adults, and many falls are preventable. One-third of adults aged 65 or older fall each year, while 95% of all hip fractures are caused by falling. In fact, health complications from hip fractures result in a higher female mortality rate than breast cancer. Fallers typically have less muscular strength in their lower extremities than non-fallers, according to the American Council on Exercise (Orr et al. 2008). Falling one time doubles your chance of falling again. Falls presently cost our U.S. health care system over $50 billion annually. Current demographics show an acceleration in the elderly population, which is the group most at risk of falls, with attendant health care costs only increasing.
Optimizing balance and fall prevention requires strengthening the leg muscles, including the hip flexors, hip extensors, hip abductors, knee flexors, knee extensors, ankle dorsiflexors and ankle plantar flexors. Strengthening these leg muscles results in a statistically significant improvement in balance (Journal of Physical Therapy Science 26: 1771-1774, 2014). However, seniors often struggle with balance, as they lose muscle mass with advancing age, while also becoming more afraid of a fall as they age.
Resistance bands have been used to optimize balance and increase leg strength. However, while these bands are excellent tools, they can be dangerous. First, they can easily slip out from under the users' foot and snap up and hit the exerciser. Second, standing on an exercise band is not recommended as the wear and tear from shoes onto the tubing can cause the tubing or band to fray, weaken and break. Accordingly, it would be advantageous to provide a physical therapy and fitness device that enhances balance and strengthens leg muscles, while avoiding these problems encountered with resistance bands.
The objects mentioned above, as well as other objects, are solved by the present invention, which overcomes disadvantages of prior physical fitness devices using resistance bands, while providing new advantages not previously associated with them.
In a preferred embodiment, a physical therapy and fitness device is provided which includes a pair of handles, each graspable by a user's hand, and one or more balance pedals (preferably a pair), adapted to removably support a user's foot of the user. In the particularly preferred embodiment, the balance pedal(s) are slidable along one or more bands attached, directly or indirectly, to the handles. The bands may be elastic or inelastic, but are preferably elastic.
In one preferred embodiment, the balance pedal(s) stay connected to the user's feet due at least in part to upward forces generated by the user's hands acting upwardly on the band(s) and therefore the pedal(s), and not because it is necessary to tie in or otherwise attach the user's feet to the pedals.
The balance pedal(s) may include an aperture or cavity through which the band(s) pass, thereby permitting the balance pedal to be slidable relative to the band(s) when a lateral force is exerted on the pedal by a user's foot. Preferably, the aperture or cavity is adapted for relatively frictionless sliding contact between the aperture or cavity and the band(s) passing through it.
In one preferred embodiment, a top surface of the balance pedal(s) may include opposing projecting lips to facilitate holding a user's foot in place during use of the device. In another embodiment, the distance between the projecting lips may be adjusted. A top surface of each balance pedal may also include frictional grooves adapted to provide a gripping action between the top surface of each balance pedal and a user's foot.
Preferably, the length of the pedal(s) is less than the length of a user's foot, thereby enabling the foot to rock back-and-forth relative to the pedal during use of the device, further enhancing the stability exercise.
In yet another preferred embodiment, the bands may color-coded to: denote different lengths for seating or standing use; and/or to denote differing resistances.
The terms used in the claims of the patent are intended to have their broadest meaning consistent with the requirements of law. Where alternative meanings are possible, the broadest meaning is intended. All words used in the claims are intended to be used in the normal, customary usage of grammar and the English language.
“Balance pedal” means a foot support, slidable along an elastic band. Each balance pedal may but need not be connected by an elastic band to a handle.
“Elastic band” means a stretchable band, rope or cord, including but not limited to physical fitness devices commonly known as “resistance bands” or “resistance cords” or “fitness bands” or “fitness cords.” (A nylon band is not considered sufficiently “elastic” for purposes of the present invention.)
The novel features which are characteristic of the invention are set forth in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, together with further objects and attendant advantages thereof, can be better understood by reference to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:
The components in the drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the present invention. In the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.
Set forth below is a description of what are believed to be the preferred embodiments and/or best examples of the invention claimed. Future and present alternatives and modifications to this preferred embodiment are contemplated. Any alternatives or modifications which make insubstantial changes in function, in purpose, in structure, or in result are intended to be covered by the claims of this patent.
Referring first to
Referring to
Referring to
While
The Balance Band™ has been found to overcome problems associated with resistance bands or resistance balls used alone. The unique design, with the elastic tubing running through relatively frictionless apertures in the pedal, keeps the tubing healthy and safe. The wide design of balance pedal 20 distributes the user's weight evenly and avoids the possibility of slipping. Further, a beginner to the Balance Band™ may use it while seated in a chair, providing enhanced safety. All of the exercises using the Balance Band™ can be performed seated or standing.
Balance pedal 20 allows the user to place a foot securely on the pedal, which distributes the weight evenly on the pedal, which is very different—and much safer—than when a user steps directly on an exercise band. Further, the pedal's unique design, in which the elastic band, cord or tubing runs directly through the pedal's nylon-lined cavity or aperture provides a relatively frictionless connection with the pedals, which maintains the health and integrity of the elastic element, providing it with a longer useful life.
Three exercises in particular have been found to best strengthen the necessary leg muscle groups required to optimize balance: lateral side stepping, glute kickbacks, and lateral leg lifts:
A person of ordinary skill will recognize that each of these exercises can be performed using physical fitness device 10 of the present invention. The Balance Band™ is unique in the manner in which it allows a user to strategically pinpoint these muscles important to balance, and to perform the movements as described above. In addition to the general overall strengthening of lower extremity muscles through the use of the present invention, the pedals also provide an additional benefit: as the foot is not fully supported, but rather is permitted to rock back and forth on the pedal, these perturbations or disturbances require the user to continuously seek to regain stability, which further enhances balance. Thus, referring to
Referring to
In an alternative embodiment, shown in
The Balance Band™ enables users to exercise from their own home, while improving your balance at a very low cost. It has great flexibility, too, as the youngest athlete can use it to improve their game, while the oldest adult can use it to strengthen their legs and reduce the risk of falling. Further, because balance pedals 20 can be slid up and down the band, they can be moved to the side and the elastic band can be used for a number of additional exercises, such as triceps strengthening, Triceps are considered a “go-go” muscle by the exercise community, as they are needed to push ourselves up to get out of a chair. (If a user can't get out of a chair, he/she is house-bound, equating to a loss of independence). The Balance band™ also enables users to perform triceps extensions, further empowering users and allowing them to maintain their independence.
Different elastic bands or cords may be color-coordinated to facilitate use. For example, yellow (e.g., 23-inches in length) may be used for seated balance/strength work. Other colors for bands/cords may be used for standing work (e.g., 40-inches in length), with different colors denoting different band/cord thicknesses (and thus differing resistances) selected for the level of the user (e.g., green for beginners, red for intermediate users, and blue for advanced users). Each colored band/cord is preferably interchangeable with the comfort grip handle system.
In a less preferred embodiment, the pedal(s) could be affixed to the band(s), so that the pedal(s) do not slide along the band(s). With this embodiment, the band(s)' width could be widened or thickened in the area adjacent the pedal(s), to strengthen the band(s)/pedal(s) connection.
The above description is not intended to limit the meaning of the words used in the following claims that define the invention. Persons of ordinary skill in the art will understand that a variety of other designs still falling within the scope of the following claims may be envisioned and used. It is contemplated that these additional examples, as well as future modifications in structure, function, or result to that disclosed here, will exist that are not substantial changes to what is claimed here, and that all such insubstantial changes in what is claimed are intended to be covered by the claims.
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
Parent | 16708070 | Dec 2019 | US |
Child | 17495029 | US |