The present disclosure relates to portable devices for exercising muscles in the ankle, foot, and/or leg, and related methods. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to portable devices, and related methods, for exercising muscles in the ankle, foot, and/or leg of a user to increase blood circulation, which may, for example, assist in preventing venous thromboembolism.
The section headings used herein are for organizational purposes only and are not to be construed as limiting the subject matter described in any way.
Venous thromboembolism (VTE) occurs when red blood cells, fibrin and, to a lesser extent, platelets and leukocytes, form a mass (i.e., clot) within an intact vein. The thrombus (i.e., blood clot) is referred to as a deep venous thrombosis (DVT) when formed within the deep veins of the legs or in the pelvic veins. A pulmonary embolism (PE) results when a piece of thrombus detaches from a vein wall, travels to the lungs, and lodges within the pulmonary arteries.
VTE is often a concern in situations where an individual is immobile and/or relatively nonambulatory for a relatively long period of time, such as, for example, during hospitalization, after surgery, during pregnancy and/or in the postpartum period, while traveling (e.g., in a car, plane and/or train), at work, and/or in a more sedentary lifestyle (e.g., the elderly and/or obese). Blood returning to the heart does so through veins. Large veins, such as those found in the legs, lie near and between muscles and contain valves that maintain the flow of blood in the direction of the heart by preventing backflow and stasis. The contraction of these muscles (e.g., through walking) forces the blood through the veins in the direction of the heart, usually against the force of gravity, thereby preventing blood from accumulating in the extremities. If these muscles are not used and/or minimally (e.g., infrequently) used for an extended period of time, however, the lower limbs may swell with stationary blood, greatly increasing the risk of VTE.
Because of this potential danger, preventative measures against VTE have become standard, for example, in prolonged hospitalizations and postoperative care. Consequently, in conjunction with early ambulation, a number of prophylaxis devices have been developed to help prevent VTE, including, for example, graduated compression stockings, intermittent pneumatic compression devices, and pneumatic compression devices. Such compressive techniques, however, fail to treat and articulate a patient's ankle and/or knee joints, or otherwise contract the ankle, foot and/or leg (e.g., calf) muscles. These devices and methods, therefore have limited exercise and therapy capabilities, and are generally impractical for use outside of a hospital setting.
Various additional exercise devices serve to articulate a patient's joints, thereby providing joint therapy while contracting the muscles of the ankle, foot, and/or leg to prevent blood from accumulating in the lower extremities of the body. Such devices, however, often fail to allow both full flexion and extension of a user's ankle, to provide both plantar flexion (i.e., movement which increases the approximate 90° angle between the front part of the foot and the shin, thereby contracting the calf muscle) and dorsiflexion motion (i.e., movement which decreases the angle between the front part of the foot and the shin, thereby stretching the calf muscle). Furthermore, many of these devices are bulky, cumbersome, complex and expensive; being impractical for use during transition care or between care locations, or for use by other VTE at-risk groups, such as, for example, travelers.
Due to growing concerns over the continued prevalence of VTE related medical cases, it may be desirable to provide a relatively simple, inexpensive device and method with full exercise and therapy capabilities, which allows for full flexion and extension of a user's ankle joint, while also being lightweight and compact. It also may be desirable to provide a device that is portable, being useful for all VTE at-risk individuals.
The present disclosure may solve one or more of the above-mentioned problems and/or may demonstrate one or more of the above-mentioned desirable features. Other features and/or advantages may become apparent from the description that follows.
In accordance with various exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure a portable exercise device includes a pedal pivotably connected to a pair of supports. The pedal has a neutral position relative to a pivot axis. The pedal is configured to rotate about the pivot axis in a first direction toward one support and in a second direction, opposite the first direction, toward the other support. The exercise device also includes a resistance mechanism configured to exert a force on the pedal about the pivot axis in a direction opposite to the respective direction of rotation of the pedal about the pivot axis. The device is movable between an open, in-use configuration, where the pedal is disposed in the neutral position to receive a foot of a user and the pair of supports together form a triangular base, and a closed configuration, where the pair of supports are flush against the pedal.
In accordance with various additional exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure a method of exercising an ankle, foot, and/or leg of a user includes positioning a foot of a user onto a pedal of an exercise device. The pedal is pivotably connected to a pair of supports and has a neutral position relative to a pivot axis of the device. The method also includes rotating the pedal about the pivot axis in a first direction, toward a first support of the pair of supports, with the foot, against a first resistive force. The method further includes rotating the pedal about the pivot axis in a second direction, toward the second support of the pair of supports and away from the first support, with the foot, against a second resistive force.
In accordance with various further exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure a method of exercising an ankle, foot, and/or leg of a user includes positioning a foot of a user onto a pedal of an exercise device. The pedal is pivotably connected to a pair of supports and has a neutral position relative to a pivot axis of the device. The method also includes applying a first force to the pedal with the foot to rotate the pedal about the pivot axis in a first direction, toward a first support of the pair of supports. The method also includes resisting movement of the pedal toward the first support with a resistance mechanism of the exercise device. The method additionally includes applying a second force to the pedal with the foot to rotate the pedal about the pivot axis in a second direction, opposite the first direction, toward the second support of the pair of supports and away from the first support. The method further includes resisting movement of the pedal toward the second support with the resistance mechanism of the device.
Additional objects and advantages will be set forth in part in the description which follows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the present disclosure. The objects and advantages may be realized and attained by means of the elements and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims and their equivalents.
It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only and are not restrictive of the present disclosure and claims.
The present disclosure can be understood from the following detailed description either alone or together with the accompanying drawings. The drawings are included to provide a further understanding, and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification. The drawings illustrate one or more exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure and together with the description serve to explain various principles and operations.
Various conventional thromboprophylaxis techniques typically rely on devices that are cumbersome, complex, and/or expensive. Consequently, such devices are generally impractical for use during transition care or between care locations, or for use by other VTE vulnerable groups, such as, for example, expectant mothers, travelers and/or other individuals sitting for extended periods. To increase thromboprophylaxis utilization, various exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure provide portable devices for exercising an ankle, foot and/or leg, and methods of using such devices, that provide simple and relatively inexpensive prophylaxis by providing full flexion and extension of the ankle joint to increase circulation in the lower extremities of the body. Various exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure, therefore, provide portable exercise devices that may engage both calf muscle pump and venous foot pump to enhance the return of venous blood from the lower extremities to the heart. Increasing circulation may include increasing circulation in body tissues. Movement of bodily fluids, including blood, lymph, and/or interstitial fluids may be achieved through practice of the disclosed methods and use of the disclosed devices. The increased circulation may be found in one or more of blood vessels, the lymphatic system, muscles, interstitial spaces, capillaries and surrounding body tissues. In addition to the movement of fluids through ankle flexion and extension, the pressure applied to the sole of the foot during the exercise, i.e., plantar pressure, also contributes to movement of fluid through the body tissue and to an increase in circulation of bodily fluids. This plantar pressure can have a massaging effect that stimulates nerves, which may cause the release of certain biochemicals that reduce coagulation and dilation in the blood vessels.
In various exemplary embodiments, portable exercise devices for exercising an ankle, foot and/or leg, and related methods, use at least one pedal that is pivotably connected to a base about a pivot axis. The pedal has a neutral position relative to the pivot axis and is generally positioned such that the pivot axis is centrally located along a length of the pedal. When the pedal is in the neutral position, the pedal is substantially parallel to the base and there is a space between the pedal and the base. In this manner, the pedal is configured to rotate about the pivot axis in a first direction away from the neutral position and toward the base (where a first end of the pedal moves toward the base) and in a second direction away from the neutral direction and toward the base (where a second end of the pedal moves toward the base), wherein the second direction is opposite the first direction.
The devices and methods also use a resistance mechanism that is configured to exert a force on the pedal about the pivot axis in a direction opposite to a respective direction of rotation of the pedal about the pivot axis. For example, in accordance with various embodiments, to exercise the ankle, foot, and/or leg of the user, as explained further below, the force exerted by the resistance mechanism is configured to provide a passive resistance to the rotational movement of the pedal. In other words, the resistance mechanism is configured to provide a passive resistance against the rotation of the pedal throughout a full range of ankle flexion and ankle extension.
In accordance with the present disclosure, a pivot axis of the device may be located at a point configured to be positioned below a user's ankle during use. In some embodiments, the pivot axis of the device may be located at a point configured to be positioned below a central portion of a user's foot during use, such that the user's foot undergoes a rocking motion as it moves through a full range of ankle flexion and ankle extension. In additional embodiments, as will be described further below, the device may provide two different types of movements, such that the device has a first movement relative to a first side of the device and a second movement relative to a second side of the device. In this manner, the device may be used in a first open, in-use configuration, and flipped over to be used in a second open, in-use configuration. Thus, in such embodiments, each of the first and second open, in-use configurations of the device may employ a different type of motion on the foot as it moves through the full range of ankle flexion and ankle extension.
As used herein, the term “full range of ankle flexion and ankle extension” refers to the complete range of motion that the joints of a healthy user's ankle may undergo. In accordance with exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure, as illustrated in
Accordingly, as illustrated in the exemplary embodiments shown in the drawings, a portable exercise device in accordance with the present disclosure has a simple configuration, which includes three main parts: 1) a base, 2) at least one pedal pivotably connected to the base, and 3) a resistance mechanism which is configured to resist the rotation of the pedal with respect to a neutral position in at least two opposite directions. Furthermore, for portability, devices in accordance with the present disclosure are adjustable to at least two configurations: 1) an open, in use configuration, wherein the pedal is spaced away from the base to enable the pedal to rotate relative to the base, the pedal being disposed in the neutral position to receive a foot of a user, and 2) a closed configuration, wherein the pedal is adjacent to, collapsed against, or otherwise positioned near the base to minimize a space between the pedal and the base, and thereby the size of the device. The closed configuration does not permit use of the device but is configured to facilitate storage and/or transport of the device.
The pedal 101 may be formed from any material suitable for receiving and supporting the foot of a user in accordance with the present disclosure. In various exemplary embodiments, the pedal 101 may, for example, comprise a molded plastic material, such as, for example, a molded polypropylene material. Those of ordinary skill in the art will understand, however, that the pedal 101 may be made of various plastic materials, as well as various other materials, including, for example, wood and/or metal materials, as described further below. Suitable materials can include, for example, materials that are relatively light to facilitate carrying, packing, and transporting the device 100, yet durable and able to withstand repetitive use/motion.
As illustrated in
As discussed above, the pedal 101 includes a toe end portion 104, a heel end portion 105, and a foot surface 150 extending between the toe end portion 104 and the heel end portion 105. The foot surface 150 may include, for example, various ridges, treads (see, e.g., foot surface 550 of portable exercise device 500 of
In various embodiments, the foot surface 150 may include a removable pad upon which the foot may rest for comfort and/or additional support. Additionally or alternatively, the pad may be made from a soft, form fitting material, such as, for example, a shape memory polymer, which may conform to the feet of different users, as would be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art. In various additional embodiments, to simplify the device 100, grip tape and/or laser markings may be applied directly to the foot surface 150.
The pedal 101, and the foot surface 150 of the pedal 101, may have various sizes (i.e., dimensions), shapes, configurations and/or features without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. In various embodiments, for example, a foot guide can be placed on the foot surface 150 to assist in the proper placement of a user's foot on the pedal 101. The foot guide may include, for example, a movable guide and/or a printed outline that is representative of several general foot size categories. In various further embodiments, the pedal may also be extensible to accommodate various foot/shoe sizes. For example, the pedal may be extensible such that both ends of the pedal are configured to move away from a center of the pedal a corresponding distance, to maintain a central position of the pivot axis and maintain stability of the device.
The base 102 may be formed from any material and/or combination of materials suitable for mounting the pedal 101 and stably supporting the device 100 relative to the support surface 160 while the user is using the device 100 in accordance with the present disclosure. In various exemplary embodiments, the base 102 may, for example, comprise a molded plastic material, such as, for example, a molded polypropylene material. Those of ordinary skill in the art will understand, however, that the base 102 may be made of various plastic materials, as well as various other materials, including, for example, wood and/or metal materials, as described further below. Suitable materials can include, for example, materials that are relatively light to facilitate carrying, packing, and transporting the device 100, yet durable and able to withstand repetitive use.
As shown in
With reference to the device 500 of
The base 102 may take on a variety of sizes, shapes, configurations and/or features without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. As illustrated in
In accordance with various embodiments, for example, to accommodate users in various positions, the device 100 may be used in both a sitting position (see
As illustrated in
In accordance with exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure, the pedal 101 is pivotably connected to the base 102 via at least one hinge. As illustrated best perhaps in the open configuration of
In accordance with additional exemplary embodiments, such as, for example, the dual-sided base support/pedal embodiment of
As used herein, the term “neutral position” refers to a pedal starting position and a position of the pedal without external forces acting thereon to pivot the pedal about the pivot axis P (e.g., about the hinge 109, 509). Thus, when a pedal is in the “neutral position,” the foot of a user, which is received by the pedal, is in a relaxed, un-flexed position (i.e., the user's foot is neither extended or flexed). In the exemplary embodiment of
Similar to the embodiment of
And, when the device 500 is flipped over and in the second, open in-use configuration, in the “neutral position”, the rectangular body 507b, acting as the pedal 501 is substantially parallel to the rectangular body 507a, acting as the base 502. With reference to
The support 110 extending between the pedal 101 and the base 102 has a height h. When the device 100 is in the open, in use configuration, the pedal 101 and the base 102 are spaced apart from one another by the height h of the support 110. This space S has a height HS1 when the device 100 is in the open configuration (see
The resistance mechanism 103 is configured to exert a force on the pedal 101 about the pivot axis P in a direction opposite to a respective direction of rotation of the pedal 101 about the pivot axis P. In one exemplary embodiment, the resistance mechanism 103 comprises a plurality of elastomeric bands 103, each of the bands 103 extending between and connected to the pedal 101 and the base 102. For example, as illustrated in
Accordingly, in various exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure, the force exerted by the elastomeric bands 103 may provide passive resistance to rotational movement of the pedal 101 in both directions (i.e., F and E of
Furthermore, to change the amount of force or resistance exerted by the elastomeric bands 103, various additional embodiments of the present disclosure contemplate, for example, providing elastomeric bands 103 that are removable and/or reconfigurable, such that additional elastomeric bands 103 may be added to the device 100, in addition to and/or in exchange for existing elastomeric bands 103. In this manner, a user of the device 100 may increase and/or decrease the amount of force that is exerted by the elastomeric bands, to, for example, accommodate a user as strength increases or to otherwise scale up and/or down an exercise routine.
In accordance with various embodiments, for example, the pedal 101 of the exercise device 100 may include multiple catches for each elastomeric band 103 (e.g., each respective corner of the pedal 101 may include a set of multiple catches), such that a user may reposition each elastomeric band 103 within the set of multiple catches to increase/decrease the amount of force exerted by the elastomeric band 103 on the pedal 101. As used herein the term “catch” or “catches” generally refers to a feature on the device that may removably retain an elastomeric band. Although in various embodiments of the present disclosure, as illustrated in the accompanying figures, such catches may include recesses within the pedal and/or base of the device, the term catch(es) as used herein is intended to include all types and configurations of indents, recesses, clips, slots, ties, snaps, buttons, etc. that may serve to removably retain an elastomeric band in different positions on the pedal and/or base.
In various embodiments, for example, as illustrated in the embodiment of
Thus, as will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art, a user can reconfigure the elastomeric bands 1703 many different ways (i.e., many different combinations) to provide various different levels of resistance based, for example, on the user's age and fitness, a given need, and/or the proposed application of the device. In other words, the exercise device 1700 may be readily adapted to a specific user and application. Exercise devices in accordance with the present disclosure further contemplate including catches in both the pedal and base portions of the device (e.g., when the device has a flippable configuration as described above with reference to
Various embodiments of the present disclosure also contemplate that additional sets of elastomeric bands (e.g., of different elasticity/resistance) can be separately purchased or sold in combination with the device, such that the bands can be switched out and/or replaced with different bands (e.g., bands made of stronger or different materials, bands having greater or less thickness, bands having more or less elasticity, etc.) as needed during a given exercise application. For ease of use, such bands can, for example, be colored coded based on their weight/elasticity (i.e., the amount of resistance that they provide). Various additional embodiments further contemplate that the disclosed exercise devices can be sold in a kit with different sets of elastomeric bands (e.g., different sets of color-coded elastomeric bands). As illustrated in
Those of ordinary skill in the art will further understand that resistance mechanisms in accordance with the present disclosure may comprise various types, numbers, configurations, and/or combinations of elements that may exert a force on the pedal 101 about the pivot axis P in a direction opposite to the respective direction of rotation of the pedal 101 and are not limited in any way to elastomeric bands, or to the particular exemplary configuration of elastomeric bands 103 of the embodiment illustrated in
When such non-elastomeric resistance mechanisms are utilized (e.g., springs 203, inflatable bags 303, and/or bellows 403), the resistance mechanisms on the same side of the device 100 as the pressing action may assist in returning the pedal 101 to the neutral position. In other words, when the toe end portion 104 of the pedal 101 moves toward the base 102, the non-elastomeric resistance mechanisms connected to the toe end portion 104 may assist in returning the pedal 101 to the neutral position N; and when the heel end portion 105 of the pedal moves toward the base 102, the non-elastomeric resistance mechanisms connected to the heel end portion 105 may assist in returning the pedal 101 to the neutral position N. In various exemplary embodiments, the amount of assist respectively provided by the non-elastomeric resistance mechanisms on the pedal 101 is proportional to the amount by which the pedal 101 is rotated about the pivot axis P and away from the neutral position N.
Various additional exemplary embodiments further contemplate utilizing a resistance mechanism that is positioned at the pivot P, as disclosed, for example, in International Patent Application No. PCT/US2019/015031, entitled “Devices and Methods for Exercising an Ankle, foot, and/or Leg, and filed on Jan. 24, 2019, the entire contents of which are incorporated by reference herein. Such resistance mechanisms may include, for example, but are not limited to friction devices, torsion bars, spring devices (e.g., torsion springs/linear springs), compliant mechanisms, detent dials, adjustable clutch mechanisms, piezoelectric/nanomotion motors, pneumatic, and/or hydraulic devices, such as, for example, hydraulic cylinders (see below), viscous damping devices, and/or devices utilizing smart fluids, such as, for example, magnetorheological fluids or electrorheological fluids. Various exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure additionally contemplate a portable exercise device that includes a triple hinge that may, for example, also function as the support. In such embodiments, the triple hinge may also incorporate the resistance mechanism. And, as illustrated in
As illustrated in
Although only one slot 1816, 1916 is shown in the embodiments of
To place the device 1800, 1900 in the closed configuration (see. e.g.,
In accordance with various exemplary embodiments, the molded hinges 1809, 1909 and 1811, 1911 may each house an adjustable resistance mechanism, such as, for example, one of the resistance mechanisms disclosed in International Patent Application No. PCT/US2019/015031, entitled “Devices and Methods for Exercising an Ankle, foot, and/or Leg, and filed on Jan. 24, 2019. As above, the resistance mechanisms and the respective ranges of resistance for the resistance mechanisms disclosed in International Patent Application No. PCT/US2019/015031 are incorporated herein by reference. The present disclosure additionally contemplates that various additional types and/or configurations of resistance mechanisms may be incorporated within the hinges 1809, 1909 and 1811, 1911 without departing from the scope of the present disclosure and claims.
The present disclosure also contemplates, for example, that a single resistance mechanism may be incorporated within and span between the two adjacent hinges along the pivot axis P. As illustrated in the embodiment of
And, similar to the embodiment of
For portability, the device 100 is adjustable between at least two configurations. As shown in
Those of ordinary skill in the art will understand that embodiments of the present disclosure contemplate various mechanisms, which include various configurations of features, for transitioning the device 100 between the open and closed configurations, and are not limited in any way to the collapsible support 110 of the embodiment illustrated in
In accordance with various embodiments of the present disclosure, the device 100 may include, for example, a closure mechanism 115 that is configured to transition the device 100 between the open and closed configurations. In various exemplary embodiments, the closure mechanism 115 includes a cord 116 and a clamp 117, such as, for example, a v-clamp 117. As illustrated in the embodiment of
Those of ordinary skill in the art will understand that devices in accordance with the present disclosure may comprise various types, numbers, configurations, and/or combinations of closure mechanisms to transition the device between the open configuration and the closed configuration and are not limited in any way to the cord and clamp mechanism of the embodiment illustrated in
As illustrated in
In accordance with various exemplary embodiments, in the closed configuration of the device 100, the space S between the pedal 101 and the base 102 is minimized such that a height HS2 of the space S is less than the height HS1 of the space S when the device 100 is in the open configuration. Consequently, in the closed configuration of the device 100, an overall height of the device 100 is also reduced. In various embodiments, for example, an overall height H1 of the device 100 in the open configuration (see
To help keep the device in the closed configuration, various embodiments of the present disclosure may also include a restraint. One exemplary embodiment may include a tie mechanism, such as, for example, a band (see, e.g., band 580 of portable exercise device 500 of
Various additional embodiments of the present disclosure contemplate utilizing a single locking mechanism that functions to both (1) lock the device in the open configuration for use, and (2) lock the device in the closed configuration for storage. In one embodiment, such a locking mechanism may function, for example, similar to a conventional locking mechanism utilized by folding tables, in which the support includes a sliding arm that is spring-loaded on a pin. As will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art, as the sliding arm gets pushed out (i.e., to open the device) and in (i.e., to close the device), the arm may slide back and forth along the pin (i.e., via a slot/track in the center of the arm). And, at either end of the track (i.e., when the device is fully open or fully closed), the arm pops out of the track and locks into place. To change the configuration of the device, the user then depresses the pin to unlock the device and move the pin back into the track. In accordance with various additional exemplary embodiments, as illustrated in
And, in still further exemplary embodiments, the locking mechanism may be built into one of the hinges. In one embodiment, for example, as illustrated in
As described above, those of ordinary skill in the art will understand that the disclosed portable exercise devices, including the pedal and support, may be made of various materials, including, for example, various light weight wood materials, such as, for example, plywood, medium-density fiberboard (MDF), birch wood, and balsam wood. As above, such materials may be relatively light to facilitate carrying, packing, and transporting the device, yet durable enough to withstand repetitive use/motion.
Similar to the portable exercise device 100 described above, each of the devices 700, 800, 900, 1000, 1100, and 1700 includes a pedal 701, 801, 901, 1001, 1101, 1701; a base 702, 802, 902, 1002, 1102, 1702; and a collapsible support 710, 810, 910, 1010, 1110, 1710 connecting the pedal 701, 801, 901, 1001, 1101, 1701 to the base 702, 802, 902, 1002, 1102, 1702 (e.g., via hinges); such that the pedal 701, 801, 901, 1001, 1101, 1701 may be raised and lowered with respect to the base 702, 802, 902, 1002, 1102, 1702. As will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art, each of these devices may also be configured to flip over (i.e., such that the device may undergo the second type of combination motion, in which the pedal travels forward and aft while also rotating about the pivot axis P) similar to the exercise device 500.
Also similar to the portable exercise device 100, each of the devices 1500 and 1600 includes a pedal 1501, 1601 and a base 1502, 1602. In the exemplary embodiments of
To both simplify and reduce the weight of the devices 700, 800, 900, 1000, 1100, 1500, 1600, 1700 in the present embodiments, these components are at least partly made from a wood material. In one embodiment, for example, the pedals 701, 801, 901, 1001, 1101, 1701, bases 702, 802, 902, 1002, 1102, 1702, and supports 710, 810, 910, 1010, 1110, 1710 are each made of plywood, such as, for example, a ¼ inch to a ⅜ inch plywood that is sanded and varnished to a smooth finish. In another embodiment, the pedal 1501 and the supports 1510a and 1510b are each made of MDF, with the pedal further including a birch top piece 1550. In yet another embodiment, the pedal 1601 is made of MDF with a birch top piece 1650, while the supports 1610a and 1610b are made of aluminum. In various embodiments, for example, the supports 1610a and 1610b include bent, hollow tubes. Furthermore, as illustrated in
Those of ordinary skill in the art will further understand that various resistance mechanisms and locking mechanisms, as described above in
As above, for portability it is also advantageous for devices in accordance with the present disclosure (including the wood devices) to have a low profile when in the closed configuration (i.e., to minimize the packing profile). Accordingly, as illustrated in the embodiments of
As illustrated in the embodiments of
Such components and configurations may serve to minimize the packing profile of the device 900, 1000, 1100, 1500, 1600 while also helping to secure the pedal 901, 1001, 1101, 1501, 1601 to the base 902, 1002, 1102, 1502, 1602 during transport. Also, as above, to provide both protection and containment (e.g., of any dirt or contaminants that the device 900, 1000, 1100, 1501, 1601 may have picked up during use), the device 900, 1000, 1100, 1501, 1601 may also be inserted into a storage sleeve 1200 as illustrated, for example, in
As above, those of ordinary skill in the art will understand that the portable exercise devices described above with reference to the wood embodiments of
In accordance with various exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure, an exemplary method for exercising muscles in an ankle, foot, and/or leg of a user 123 using the exercise device 100, as illustrated in the embodiments of
The configuration of the device 100 may be adjusted from the closed configuration to the open configuration by lifting the pedal 101 off the base 102 and into a position substantially parallel to and aligned with the base 102, such that a space S is formed between the pedal 101 and the base 102. In various exemplary embodiments, the pedal 101 may be held in the open configuration position (neutral position) via the support 110, which is positioned between the pedal 101 and the base 102. As previously noted, the support 110 is connected to each of the pedal 101 and the base 102 via a respective hinge 109 and 111. The support 110 may, for example, be raised and lowered with respect to the base 102 (i.e., transitioned between an upright and collapsed configuration as described above) by respectively securing and releasing a cord 116 that is attached to the support 110. In other words, to raise the support 110 and maintain the support 110 in the upright configuration (and thereby raise the pedal 101 and maintain the device 100 in the open configuration), the cord 116 may be pulled taut and secured, for example, within a clamp 117. And, to lower the support 110 (and thereby lower the pedal 101 and place the device in the closed configuration) the cord 116 may be released from the clamp 117, such that the cord 116 is slackened to allow the support 110 to collapse against a top surface 145 of the base 102 via the hinges 109 and 111.
When in the open configuration, a foot 121 of the user 123, for example, a right foot 121 is set on the foot surface 150 of the pedal 101. Upon initial use of the exercise device 100, the pedal 101 may receive the user's 123 foot 121 in a neutral position N relative to a pivot axis P (see
As explained above, in various exemplary embodiments, the amount of force exerted against the pedal 101 may vary with a degree of rotation θ of the pedal 101 about the pivot axis P (see
Although not shown, similarly, the device may be used with a left leg/left foot of the user 123. For example, in the same manner, the left foot may be set on the foot surface 150 of the pedal 101. As above, the user 123 can then rotate the pedal 101 in first and second opposite directions F and E about the pivot axis P against a force exerted against the pedal 101 in a direction opposite to the rotating direction (i.e., opposite to the direction F or E).
Various exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure, therefore, contemplate rotating the pedal 101 in the first and/or second opposite directions F and E to subject the corresponding foot of a user to both plantar flexion motion (e.g., with reference to
In various exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure, for example, rotation of the pedal 101 in the direction F may subject the corresponding foot through up to about 75 degrees of plantar flexion (e.g., rotation ranging from about neutral to 75 degrees); and rotation of the pedal 101 in the direction E may subject the corresponding foot through up to about 60 degrees of dorsiflexion (e.g., rotation ranging from about neutral to −60 degrees).
To demonstrate the efficacy of the devices, a clinical pilot study was performed using 12 healthy, adult volunteers. In the study, each participant used a similar device to the above device 100 to exercise, while being monitored by ultrasound Doppler using a linear probe. The subjects were seated at a sufficient height to achieve bent knees (90 degrees of flexion), with their right foot engaged with the device. Each subject rested in the seated position until blood flow parameters stabilized, after which time resting blood flow measurements were conducted. Blood vessel diameter measurements were taken using the ultrasound Doppler as visualized on the screen and the diameter was observed to remain constant before and through the exercise. Each participant then commenced with 1 minute of exercise, performing maximum effort right lower limb plantar/dorsiflexion maneuvers at 35 cycles per minute, as indicated by a metronome (i.e., wherein one cycle was defined as going from maximum dorsiflexion to maximum plantar flexion and back to the starting position). Blood flow measurements were then repeated immediately following completion of exercise, and then at 5 minutes, 10 minutes, and 15 minutes following completion of exercise. Post-exercise values for blood flow velocity and blood vessel diameter were then divided by pre-exercise values to calculate the respective ratios of each. The results of the clinical study are illustrated in
Upon completion of an exercise session, exemplary methods in accordance with the present disclosure further contemplate that the configuration of the device 100 may be adjusted back from the open configuration to the closed configuration, for example, for storage, transport, or the like. In various embodiments, for example, the device 100 may be adjusted between the open configuration and the closed configuration by collapsing the pedal 101 against the base 102 to minimize the space S between the pedal 101 and the base 102. As above, the pedal 101 may be collapsed, for example, by lowering the support 110 with respect to the base 102 (i.e., transitioning the support 110 between the upright and collapsed configurations as described above) by releasing the cord 116 that is attached to the support 110.
It will be appreciated by those ordinarily skilled in the art having the benefit of this disclosure that the present disclosure provides various exemplary devices and methods for exercising muscles in an ankle, foot, and/or leg useful for increasing blood circulation in the lower extremities of the body. Furthermore, those ordinarily skilled in the art will understand that the disclosed exemplary devices and methods for exercising muscles in an ankle, foot, and/or leg may have other benefits and may treat other conditions, including, but not limited to, peripheral vascular disease, such as peripheral artery disease, PAD, and chronic venous insufficiency.
Further modifications and alternative embodiments of various aspects of the present disclosure will be apparent to those skilled in the art in view of this description. For example, although the particular examples and embodiments set forth herein contemplate an exercise device that receives one foot at a time, various additional exemplary embodiments in accordance with the present disclosure contemplate an exercise device that receives both feet at once, thereby simultaneously exercising muscles in both ankles, feet and/or legs.
Furthermore, the devices and methods may include additional components or steps that were omitted from the drawings for clarity of illustration and/or operation. Accordingly, this description is to be construed as illustrative only and is for the purpose of teaching those skilled in the art the general manner of carrying out the present disclosure. It is to be understood that the various embodiments shown and described herein are to be taken as exemplary. Elements and materials, and arrangements of those elements and materials, may be substituted for those illustrated and described herein, parts and processes may be reversed, and certain features of the present disclosure may be utilized independently, all as would be apparent to one skilled in the art after having the benefit of the description herein. Changes may be made in the elements described herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure and following claims, including their equivalents.
It is to be understood that the particular examples and embodiments set forth herein are non-limiting, and modifications to structure, dimensions, materials, and methodologies may be made without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.
Furthermore, this description's terminology is not intended to limit the present disclosure. For example, spatially relative terms—such as “beneath”, “below”, “lower”, “above”, “upper”, “bottom”, “right”, “left” and the like—may be used to describe one element's or feature's relationship to another element or feature as illustrated in the figures. These spatially relative terms are intended to encompass different positions (i.e., locations) and orientations (i.e., rotational placements) of a device in use or operation in addition to the position and orientation shown in
For the purposes of this specification and appended claims, unless otherwise indicated, all numbers expressing quantities, percentages or proportions, and other numerical values used in the specification and claims, are to be understood as being modified in all instances by the term “about” if they are not already. Accordingly, unless indicated to the contrary, the numerical parameters set forth in the following specification and attached claims are approximations that may vary depending upon the desired properties sought to be obtained by the present disclosure. At the very least, and not as an attempt to limit the application of the doctrine of equivalents to the scope of the claims, each numerical parameter should at least be construed in light of the number of reported significant digits and by applying ordinary rounding techniques.
Notwithstanding that the numerical ranges and parameters setting forth the broad scope of the present disclosure are approximations, the numerical values set forth in the specific examples are reported as precisely as possible. Any numerical value, however, inherently contains certain errors necessarily resulting from the standard deviation found in their respective testing measurements. Moreover, all ranges disclosed herein are to be understood to encompass any and all sub-ranges subsumed therein.
It is noted that, as used in this specification and the appended claims, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the,” and any singular use of any word, include plural referents unless expressly and unequivocally limited to one referent. As used herein, the term “include” and its grammatical variants are intended to be non-limiting, such that recitation of items in a list is not to the exclusion of other like items that can be substituted or added to the listed items.
It should be understood that while the present disclosure have been described in detail with respect to various exemplary embodiments thereof, it should not be considered limited to such, as numerous modifications are possible without departing from the broad scope of the appended claims, including the equivalents they encompass.
This application is a divisional application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/570,742, filed Sep. 13, 2019, which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/731,647, filed Sep. 14, 2018, and entitled “Portable Devices for Exercising Muscles in the Ankle, Foot, and/or Leg, and Related Methods,” the entire contents each of which are incorporated by reference herein.
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20210038943 A1 | Feb 2021 | US |
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62731647 | Sep 2018 | US |
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Parent | 16570742 | Sep 2019 | US |
Child | 16918671 | US |