DK2056776T3

DK2056776T3 - EXERCISE TO EXTEND PATTERN MUSCLE

Info

Publication number: DK2056776T3
Application number: DK07808775.6T
Authority: DK
Inventors: Vesa Koskela
Original assignee: Vesa Koskela
Priority date: 2006-08-29
Filing date: 2007-08-29
Publication date: 2015-08-17
Also published as: EP2056776B1; US20100234195A1; EP2056776A4; ES2544862T3; SE530231C2; WO2008026981A1; EP2056776A1; SE0601768L

Description

DESCRIPTION

Technical field [0001] The present invention relates to an exercising apparatus for calf muscle stretching.

Background [0002] During exercise, keep-fit activities and rehabilitation, it is common that a practician carry out so called stretching, for stretching of different groups of muscles like, inter alia the calf muscle. The calf muscle consists of two parts: the twin muscle (gastrocnemius) with its two projections from the back side of the condyles of the thigh-bone and the soleus muscle, a flat muscle on the back side on the fibula. The muscle parts join in the Achilles tendon that attach on the heel bone (calcaneus). For stretching of the calf muscles, a usual exercise is to place the leg to be stretched in a direction behind the body as far back as possible, with the heel in contact with the base. The other leg is suitably placed a distance ahead of the body. Either the person leans against the wall or the similar, or tries to balance with the hands around the waist of the body. The stretching of the calf muscle is activated by forcing the foot blade against the base a few seconds, in order then to slowly bend forward in the ankle joint such that the calf muscle is stretched. By a straight knee, the gastrocnemius muscle is stretched and by a bent knee the soleus muscle is stretched.

[0003] Shortened calf muscles may result in that the foot decides to take a position with the toes pointing downwards. This may give inconveniences such as periostitis, Compartment syndrome, difficulties to descend stairs in a usual way, and also weakness in the shortened musculature. The problem related to stretching of gastrocnemius and soleus is that unstressing is difficult since the muscle must be balanced, stressed and relaxed. It is also difficult to find the correct stretching movement.

[0004] An exercise for stretching of the calf muscle as has been described above may thus be difficult or even impossible to perform correctly alone without facilities, for instance for unskilled exercisers or persons that are during rehabilitation training, and therefore there is a need for facilitating the stretching of the calf muscle.

[0005] Various means for facilitating the stretching of the calf muscle are known. In common for those known apparatus is that they are either relatively complicated or that they are not working satisfactory in a desired way.

[0006] By US-A-5,611,770 an aid is previously known for the stretching of the calf muscle for patients during rehabilitation.

[0007] US 2006/0058719-A discloses an apparatus for ankle mobilisation.

Description of the invention [0008] An object with a present invention is to provide an aid for stretching of muscle groups of the calf that at least partially eliminates those drawbacks that are associated with devices according to the state of the art. Afurther object is to achieve an aid for stretching of the calf muscle that may provide sufficient power during the stretching, for efficient stretching of the calf muscle. An additional object is to achieve an equipment for calf muscle stretching that is sample to use and prevents the risk for incorrect stretching of the calf muscle.

[0009] This object is achieved by an exercising apparatus for the calf muscle stretching of a leg of a practician according to the present invention as defined in claim 1, which comprises a foot support having an upper side for supporting the foot of the practician and a lower side intended to be arranged on a base, where the upper side is arranged with an inclination compared to the lower side such that a first part of the foot support, for supporting a toe part of the foot, is arranged on a distance from the base, and where the foot support has attachment means at a second part of the foot support for securing a heel part of the foot. On one side of the foot support, at the second part of the foot support, a bar extending in the vertical direction is arranged in a joint, the bar is rotatably arranged to the foot support in said joint. The bar comprises a handle part and a supporting part, which supporting part is arranged between the handle part and the joint, which supporting part is intended as support for the calf of the practician. The supporting part extends at least around a part of the calf, where a stretching of the calf muscle of the practician may be provided by bringing the bar during rotation in the joint in a direction against said first part of the foot support while the heel part of the practician is secured at the foot support and the calf is supported by the supporting part and brought in the rotational direction, such that a sufficient stretching of the calf muscle is achieved.

[0010] An advantage with this solution according to the present invention is that stretching of the calf muscle may be performed in a correct way such that the stretching becomes sufficiently effective and powerfully performed. Yet an advantage is that stretching may be performed in a safe and reliable way, such that the risk for injuries may be avoid. Yet an advantage is that the present invention eliminates the need for an instructor for correct performance of the stretching. The exercising apparatus according to the present invention is further more user-friendly. Stretching of the calf muscle may be performed by straight or bent knee and it is also possible to lean the foot sidewards on the foot support, for stretching different muscles of the calf. In that the foot board is arranged with an inclination against the base, the practician may stand steadily with support of the foot placed on the upper side of the foot support and additionally the practician does not need to lean the leg as far forward, during the stretching of the calf muscle, during the use of the exercising apparatus, which makes the stretching of the exercising apparatus according to the present invention user-friendly, safe and efficient. By the apparatus according to the present invention, the calf muscle may be stretched in relaxed condition without having stresses in the other muscles, so called antagonists, influencing the stretching ability. It is also possible to keep the stretching position a longer time, since other muscles are not strained.

[0011] Further advantages and features according to embodiments of the invention is evident from the claims, and also in the following description of the embodiments.

Description of the drawings [0012] The present invention will now be described more in detail in embodiments, with reference to the attached drawings, without a limited interpretation of the invention to those, where

Fig 1A is a perspective view slantingly from the front showing an exercising apparatus according to the present invention, and Fig 1B is a view straight from the back showing the exercising apparatus according to fig 1 A.

Detailed description of embodiments [0013] In fig 1A and B there is shown an embodiment of an exercising apparatus 2 for calf muscle stretching of a leg of a practician, according to the present invention. The exercising apparatus 2 comprises a foot support 4 having an upper side 6 for supporting of the foot of the practician and a lower side 8 intended to be arranged against a base 10. According to the embodiment shown in fig 1A-B, the foot support 4 is designed with an elevated part 11, that comprises the inclined upper side 6, and two protruding flat side parts 11' that are extending on each side of the middle part 11. This design has been achieved by bending of a sheet metal. Of course, the foot support may be designed and produced in another way, for example by moulding in one piece. The upper side 6 is arranged with an inclination a in comparison to the lower side 8 such that the first part 12 of the foot support, for supporting of a toe part of the foot, is arranged with a distance D from the base. In the shown embodiment in fig 1A and B, the inclination of the upper side of the foot support relative the base, and with that the distance D, can not be adjusted. Of course, it is within the scope of the protection of the present invention that the upper side may be adjustably arranged at the foot support such that the inclination a and the distance D relative the base may be adjusted. The foot support 4 has attachment means 14 at a second part 15 of the foot support for securing a heel part of the foot. Attachment means 14 may be in form of a strap (not shown) or the similar that is arranged at the foot support 4, or a U-shaped clamp 16 securely arranged at the foot support, as is evident in fig 1A and B.

[0014] At a long side 18 of the foot support 4, at the mentioned second part 15 of the foot support, suitably in close connection to a foot joint of the practician when the foot is placed on the foot support, a bar 22 is arranged in a joint 20 extending in a vertical direction. The bar 22 is rotatably arranged to the foot support 4 in said joint 20. The bar 22 comprises a handle part 23 and a support part 24 intended for supporting the calf of the practician. The supporting part 24 is arranged between the handle part 23 and the joint 20. The bar 22 has suitably a straight longitudinal extension, preferably vertical, in a first part 26 that extends from the joint 20 up to the supporting part 24, which constitutes a second part 28 of the bar 22. The supporting part 24 is designed such that it extends at least around a part of the calf. As is evident from the embodiment shown in fig 1Aand B, the bar may be in the shape of a round pole, that in the middle in the second part 28 has been designed with a partly helically bending 29. If the bar 22 is viewed in an elevated view straight from above or from below, that is seen perpendicular against the horizontal plane, the bending presents a semicircular form or a U-shape, form fitted after the shape of a calf. From a viewpoint of comfort and for adapting of different sizes of calfs, the supporting part may suitably be provided with a soft non-rigid material. The handle part may suitably have a straight longitudinal extension, essentially vertical, in a third part 30 of the bar that extends from the connection to the supporting part 24. As is evident in the shown embodiment in fig 1Aand 1B, the bar 22 is designed such that the bar extends in the first part 26 along a side of the leg of a practician and that the third part 30 comprising the handle part, extends at least along a part of the opposite other side of the leg of the practician, when a practician of the exercising apparatus has placed the foot on the foot support 4 and the calf of its leg in contact with the supporting part 24.

[0015] According to a second alternative embodiment (not shown), a second bar may be rotatably arranged in a joint at a second long side 18' of the foot support 4, opposite the first long side 18, which second bar is arranged to the supporting part 24. According to this second embodiment, the exercising apparatus may then be shaped such that the two bars are extending essentially vertically on each long side of the foot support and where the supporting part 24 is arranged between the bars.

[0016] According to a preferred embodiment, the exercising apparatus according to the present invention comprises a stop member 32 that is arranged such that the bar may be brought sufficiently far forward for achieving a correct and powerful stretching, at the same time as it prevents the bar from being brought forward to long, to prevent occurrence of injuries during incorrect use. Preferably the stop member 32 is adjustably arranged to the bar such that the desired movement of the bar in a direction R1 towards said first part 12 of the foot support may be set to a desired degree. Suitably the stop member 32, for instants in a shape of a threaded pin, may be releasably and adjustably arranged to a disk-shaped plate 34, which plate is vertically arranged around the joint at the side of the foot support 4. The bar 22 may rotate along the disk-shaped plate, that has indications of the inclination in degrees, which the bar may rotate from the initial position at a substantially vertical extension. The stop member 32 may be secured at a desired inclination in degrees to a position where the bar 22 shall be brought forward maximally. The bar may comprise two arms 36 that form a U-shaped part in its end against the joint, which free ends 38 of the arms are arranged in the joint 20, respectively. In the U-shaped part, between the arms, the disk-shaped plate 34 is arranged.

[0017] The upper side 6 of the foot support 4 is suitably also sufficiently wide such that the foot can be leaned sideways, inwards or outwards, in order to be able to decide the stretching effect on the inside or the outside of the calf musculature during bent or extended knee joint. It is also possible according to a non-shown embodiment that the upper side 6 is adjustably arranged at the foot support for setting the inclination sidewards.

[0018] A suitable total height for the exercising apparatus, from the base up to the end of the handle part of the bar, may be about 100 cm and a suitable height up to the connection of the handle part at the supporting part 24 can be about 45 cm. The first 26, the second 28 and the third 30 part of the bar 22 may suitably be mutually adjustable in the longitudinal extension. The distance D of the foot support 4 may suitably be 7-8 cm. Of course, the present invention is not limited to those dimensions mentioned above.

[0019] A stretching of a practician's calf muscle, by straight or bent knee for stretching of the muscle gastrocnemius or the muscle soleus of the calf, may be achieved by bringing the bar 22 in a direction R1 towards said first part 12 of the foot support, during rotation in the joint 20, while the heel part of the practician is secured at the foot support 4 and the calf is supported by the supporting part 24 and brought in the rotational direction R1, such that a sufficient stretching of the calf muscle can be provided.

REFERENCES CITED IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of references cited by the applicant is for the reader's convenience only. It does not form part of the European patent document. Even though great care has been taken in compiling the references, errors or omissions cannot be excluded and the EPO disclaims all liability in this regard.

Patent documents cited in the description • US5611770A FQQ081 • US2Q060G58719Å [8007]

Claims

An exercise device (2) for stretching the calf muscle of a trainer's leg, comprising an foot support (4) having an upper side (6) to support a user's foot and a lower side (8) intended to be positioned toward a base (10), the upper side being disposed with an inclination (a) relative to the base, such that the first portion (12) of the footrest, to support a toe portion of the foot, is spaced apart (D ) from the base, and wherein the footrest has a fastener (14) at another part (15) of the footrest for holding a heel portion of the foot, characterized in that on one side (18) of the footrest (4), at the other part (15) of the footrest, a rod (22) extending in a vertical direction is disposed in a joint (20), in that the rod (22) is rotatably arranged relative to the footrest (4) in the joint ( 20), the rod (22) comprises a grip member (23) and a supporting member (24), said supporting member (24) being disposed between the grip member (23) and the link ( 20), which supporting part is intended as support for the trainer's leg, the supporting part extends at least about a part of the leg, where stretching of the trainer's calf muscle can be achieved by bringing the rod (22) under rotation in the joint (20) a direction (R1) towards the first part (12) of the footrest, while the heel portion of the trainer is held by the footrest (4) and the leg is supported by the supporting part (24) and brought in the direction of rotation (R1) so as to obtain a adequate stretching of the calf muscle.

Training apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the supporting part (24) is designed with a helical bend (29).

Exercise apparatus according to claim 2, characterized in that the helical bend (29) has a semicircular shape viewed perpendicular from a horizontal plane.

Training apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a stop element (32) for preventing the rod (22) from being brought too far during rotation of the rod.

Training apparatus according to claim 4, characterized in that the stop element (32) is adjustably arranged relative to the rod, so that a desired movement of the rod in a direction (R1) towards the first part (12) of the footrest can be adjusted to a desired degree.

Training apparatus according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that the stop element (32) is arranged relative to a disc-shaped plate (34), which plate is arranged vertically around the link (20) next to the footrest (4).

Training apparatus according to claim 6, characterized in that the rod (22) at its end towards the joint comprises two arms (36) forming a U-shaped part, the free ends (38) of the arms being arranged in the joint (20). .

Training apparatus according to claim 7, characterized in that the disc-shaped plate (34) is arranged in the U-shaped part between the arms (36).

Exercise apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the bar (22) is designed to have an extension in the first part (26) along one side of the leg of a trainer, under its position in the training apparatus, and knowing that the third portion (30) comprising the grip portion has an extension along the opposite other side of the trainer's leg.

Training apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that a second bar is rotatably arranged in a joint at a second long side (18 ') of the footrest (4) and in that the supporting part (24) is arranged between the bars.