Patent Application
20090318271
The invention relates to a device for training the musculature of the human locomotor system, comprising a support unit that is at least indirectly connected to a holding arm and can be releasably attached to a patient, which holding arm is mounted, in the region of its bottom end remote from the support unit, on a carrier chassis by means of at least one resilient element. The support unit is usually releasably attached to the patient in the hip region.
Devices of the kind mentioned above are used in the prior art to help persons suffering from fear of falling to train the musculature of their locomotor system (for example together with a treadmill) and also to train their sense of balance and their spatial orientation.
In the prior art, standing trainers are used for this purpose, in which patients can be held in a fixed position. However, this does not allow for training of a dynamic series of movements. Also known are balance trainers for achieving “dynamic standing”, these being used for paralyzed patients such as, in particular, patients in wheelchairs.
Muscle training appliances comprising holding brackets are also known in which the patient can stand unsupported. However, such devices are suitable only for patients who are already capable of standing steadily.
A device of the aforementioned type is disclosed in EP 1 305 087. This prior device suffers from the drawback that two holding arms are necessary for a sequence of functional movements, so that the device is bulky, heavy, and expensive to manufacture.
It is thus an object of the invention to provide a muscle training device which makes it possible to train walking or running movements implementing natural movement dynamics without risk of stumbling or falling, said device being compact and light in weight.
According to the invention this object is achieved in that a resilient element is coupled to at least one stabilizing assembly which prevents torsion of the holding arm about its longitudinal axis and also restricts movement of the holding arm such that that end of the holding arm which is remote from the carrier chassis is capable of movement over a predetermined area and the support unit pivotally attached to said holding arm is thereby capable of movement within a predetermined volume.
Preferred embodiments of the invention are subject matter of the subclaims.
Due to the combination of features comprising a resilient element coupled to at least one stabilizing assembly which prevents torsion of the holding arm about its longitudinal axis and also restricts movement of the holding arm such that that end of the holding arm which is remote from the carrier chassis is capable of movement over a predetermined area and the support unit pivotally attached to said holding arm is thereby capable of movement within a predetermined volume, the device of the invention makes it possible for a patient to carry out standing, walking or running exercises to train his locomotor system while standing with his full body weight on a base. This means that full demands are imposed on the patient's spatial coordination and his sense of balance, just as would be the case during free progressive movement, which properties are thus trained accordingly.
At the same time, the support unit will cushion a fall of the patient, since the support unit and thus the hip of the patient can only move in a predetermined safety region, which can be set by the radius of the circle in which the support unit is free to move. The patient is thus safely prevented from stumbling, although he feels his full body weight during movement training.
The support unit is preferably attached, not necessarily pivotally, to one end of a support arm, the other end of which is pivotally attached to one end of the holding arm.
In a further preferred embodiment of the invention, a stabilizing assembly for limiting the movement of the holding arm includes a motion restrictor acting on the holding arm. The motion restrictor is preferably in the form of a ring so as to configure said predetermined area of movement as a circle. The motion restrictor can preferably be formed by the face end of a hollow cylinder in which the resilient element is disposed. Alternatively, the motion restrictor might be designed so as to configure said predetermined area as a polygon.
In the device of the invention, a resilient element can be in the form of, say, a spiral spring and/or a block of resilient plastics material.
In the above embodiment of the invention, a stabilizing assembly for limiting the movement of the holding arm preferably includes two interconnected pivot joints, which are arranged such that each allows for movement in a plane perpendicular to the other and permits movement of the support unit in two directions of rotation, again mutually at right angles. One part of a first pivot joint is connected at least indirectly to the carrier chassis, whilst one part of a second pivot joint is pivotally connected at least indirectly to the holding arm.
Furthermore, an at least indirectly pivotal connection between one part of the second universal joint and the holding arm comprises two pivot joints each arranged so as to allow for movement in a common plane.
In another preferred embodiment of the invention, a stabilizing assembly includes a carrier element mounted for rotation about its longitudinal axis. The bottom end of the holding arm is pivotally connected to the carrier element. The swivel axis of the holding arm is preferably perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the carrier element. The carrier element is in the form of an elongated panel that is connected at each end to the carrier chassis via pivot joints.
In this embodiment of the invention, there is at least one expandable and compressible resilient element that is connected at one end to the carrier element and at the other end to the carrier chassis so as to urge the carrier element into a predetermined home position. Preferably, two resilient elements are located opposite each other and are expandable in opposite directions, each of the resilient elements being connected at one end to the carrier element and at the other end to the carrier chassis. These resilient elements cooperate so as to urge the carrier element into a predetermined home position.
A further expandable and compressible resilient element can preferably be provided which is attached at one end to the carrier element and at the other end to the holding arm so as to urge the holding arm into a predetermined home position. Here again, two expandable resilient elements are located opposite each other and are expandable in opposite directions, each of the resilient elements being attached at one end to the carrier element and at the other end to the holding arm, cooperating so as to urge the holding arm into a predetermined home position.
In the above embodiment of the invention, a pivot joint for pivotal mounting of the carrier element and a pivot joint for pivotal mounting of the holding arm are each preferably provided with an element that limits the pivot angle, so that that end of the holding arm which is remote from the carrier chassis is capable of movement over a predetermined area and the support unit pivotally connected to the holding arm is thereby capable of movement within a predetermined volume.
The device of the invention is described below with reference to two preferred embodiments illustrated in the drawings, in which:
The devices 100 of the invention, as shown in
The embodiments of the invention illustrated have the common feature that the support unit 110 is pivotally attached to one end 171 of a support arm 170, of which the other end 172 is pivotally attached to one end 121 of the holding arm 120.
In the preferred embodiment of the invention shown in
In the illustrated embodiment, a resilient element 165 is formed by a spiral spring accommodated in the interior of the hollow cylinder 180.
A stabilizing assembly 135, 145 for limiting the motion of the holding arm 120 comprises two interconnected pivot joints 141, 142; 143, 144, which are arranged such that each allows for movement in a plane perpendicular to the other and permits movement of the support unit 110 in two directions of rotation, again mutually at right angles. A part 141 of a first pivot joint 141, 142 is firmly attached at least indirectly to the carrier chassis 190, and a part 143 of the second pivot joint 143, 144 is pivotally connected at least indirectly to the holding arm 120.
The indirectly pivotal connection 135 between the part 143 of the second universal joint 143, 144 and the holding arm 120 comprises two pivot joints 136, 137; 138, 139, which are each arranged so as to allow for movement in a common plane.
In the embodiment of the invention shown in
In the illustrated embodiment, two resilient elements 160, 161, 162, 163 are located opposite each other and are expandable in opposite directions, each of the resilient elements being connected at one end to the carrier element 130 and at the other end to the carrier chassis 190. These resilient elements cooperate so as to urge the carrier element 130 into a predetermined home position.
Furthermore, two resilient elements 150, 151 located opposite each other and expandable in opposite directions are each connected at one end to the carrier element 130 and at the other end to the holding arm 120, cooperating so as to urge the holding arm into a predetermined home position.
The pivot joints 1130, 1131 for pivotal mounting of the carrier element 130 and the pivot joint 140 for pivotal mounting of the holding arm 120 are each provided with an element that limits the pivot angle, so that the end 121 of the holding arm 120 remote from the carrier chassis 190 is capable of movement over a predetermined area and the support unit 110 pivotally attached to the holding arm 120 is thereby capable of movement within a predetermined volume 200.
The exemplary embodiments of the invention described above are intended merely to provide a better understanding of the teaching of the invention defined in the claims, which teaching is as such not restricted to said exemplary embodiments.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 102008029572.8-15 | Jun 2008 | DE | national |
