ES3033114T3 - Finger exercise device and system for training, warm-up and/or rehabilitation of muscles, tendons and phalange pulleys and method of determining adhesion for climbers - Google Patents

Abstract

Finger exerciser device and system comprising a base (10), including at least one longitudinal guide (11), a carpal support (20), at least one distal phalangeal support (30) guided by the at least one longitudinal guide (11); at least one elastic element (40) configured to offer an elastic resistance to sliding of the at least one distal phalangeal support (30); wherein the carpal support (20) defines a concave carpal seat (21) between a sagittal carpal surface, mostly facing a sagittal direction (DS), and a longitudinal carpal surface, mostly facing a longitudinal direction (DL) perpendicular to the sagittal direction, adjacent, forcing an arched, semi-arched or extension grip of a hand between the concave carpal seat (21) and the concave distal phalangeal seat (31).

Description

DESCRIPTION

Finger exerciser device and system for training, warming up and/or rehabilitation of muscles, tendons and phalangeal pulleys and method for determining grip for climbers

Field of technology

The present invention relates to a device and a finger exerciser system for training, warming up and/or rehabilitation of muscles, tendons and pulleys of the phalanges of the fingers.

This exercise device is especially useful in physiotherapy for the recovery and rehabilitation of hand injuries, especially for athletes such as climbers, and also for training and strengthening the muscles, tendons, and phalangeal pulleys of the fingers.

The proposed system can also be used to carry out a method of determining grip for climbing.

State of the art

In certain sports, such as climbing, specific finger training is required for the training, warm-up, and/or rehabilitation of muscles, tendons, and phalangeal pulleys.

Specifically, in the case of climbing, since the entire body weight hangs from the fingers, the fingers, and especially the tendons and pulleys, are subjected to a great deal of tension. This tension will differ depending on whether the hand grip is arched, semi-arched, or extended, requiring specific exercises for each of these grip positions.

The arched grip consists of flexion of the metacarpophalangeal joints (between the metacarpals and the proximal phalanges), proximal interphalangeal joints (between the proximal phalanges and the intermediate phalanges) and distal interphalangeal joints (between the intermediate phalanges and the distal phalanges) in hypertension, this being the grip that places the greatest tension on the flexor system, mainly on the pulleys that join the sheaths of the flexor tendons to the phalanges, where injuries are frequent in climbers.

The semi-arched grip consists of extension of the metacarpophalangeal joints, hyperflexion of the proximal interphalangeal joints, forming an angle of approximately 90°, and hyperextension of the distal interphalangeal joints.

The extension grip consists of hyperextension of the metacarpophalangeal joints and flexion of the proximal and distal interphalangeal joints in hypertension.

For training, warming up, and/or rehabilitating the muscles, tendons, and phalangeal pulleys of the fingers, there are known stationary exercise devices, such as multi-grip boards. These are attached to a wall or hung from a ceiling or tree, allowing the user to hang from them. However, these devices are very bulky and heavy and do not allow for regulating the tension on the muscles, tendons, and phalangeal pulleys of the fingers, as it depends on the user's weight.

There are also known hand grippers, similar to pliers, equipped with a spring that provides adjustable resistance to the closing of the gripper. This type of hand gripper is designed to be grasped between the thumb, part of the palm, and the middle phalanges of the hand, allowing for warming up and exercising the muscles and tendons associated with hand closure, located primarily in the forearm. The geometry of this type of exercise device does not allow for easy and secure gripping between the area of the hand where the carpals are located and the ends of the fingers where the distal phalanges are located, thus preventing the fingers from being exercised by semi-curved or curved fingers.

Other devices for exercising the muscles and tendons, mainly located in the forearm, associated with the closing of the hand, are also known, for example through documents CN103638647, US689652 and WO2018000412.

These exercise devices, and many similar ones on the market, consist of two parallel handles guided by an elastic element that keeps them separated. As with the hand grippers described above, these devices are designed so that the handles are grasped between the thumb, part of the palm, and the middle phalanges of the hand. These devices can therefore be considered equivalent to the hand grippers described above and have the same limitations, as they do not allow for easy and secure gripping between the area of the hand where the carpals are located and the ends of the fingers where the distal phalanges are located.

The finger exerciser device described in document WO2017171534 is also known. This device has a base provided with a thumb rest and a distal phalanx rest, provided with a concave housing, slidably associated with the base and connected to a spring. This device allows the thumb to grasp the distal phalanx of a finger inserted in the concave housing of the distal phalanx rest, exercising the muscles and tendons of said finger. The geometry of this exerciser device determines a hand position that does not allow the fingers to be exercised by semi-curving or curling the fingers.

The present invention solves the above and other problems, providing an exercise device that, thanks to its geometry and arrangement, allows the three main finger grips to be worked isometrically and eccentrically: extension, semi-arching and arching, allowing correct tendon sliding in all of these grips.

An exercise device according to the preamble of claim 1 is known from document US2016/220863. The present invention solves the above problems, as well as others, by providing an exercise apparatus according to claim 1 and a method according to claim 12 which, as a result of its geometry and arrangement, allows isometric and eccentric work of the three main finger grips: extended, semi-arched and arched, allowing correct sliding of the tendons in all these grips.

The rest of the exercise devices that are known do not allow these exercises to be performed together.

Brief description of the invention

The present invention relates to a finger exerciser device for training, warming up and/or rehabilitation of muscles, tendons and phalangeal pulleys, in particular the third phalanges and pulleys through finger arching.

The presented object thus has the following three different applications or main objectives:

1) Warm up and avoid injuries:

In the sport of climbing, it's common to have to warm up before beginning, with special emphasis on the fingers and, in particular, the third phalanges, which require extra attention because they are an area with a lot of tendons and less blood flow (even more so at low temperatures) than in muscle areas. This need to warm up the hands well is absolutely essential in rock climbing (outdoor mountain climbing), where temperatures are usually low (it's worth noting here that climbing—from a medium to high level onward—requires low temperatures that facilitate skin adhesion to the rock), and climbers have few tools to warm up and exercise them before exposing them to great effort.

2) Strength/resistance training:

Because the scale and its dimensions are chosen by the climber, and the force exerted by the accessory is adjustable, the invention lends itself to strength training similar to climbing gyms, but without the need to go to the gym. Its dimensions make it suitable for use anywhere and anytime, which can even be interesting for use in the workplace by climbers who work in offices, sitting, or in similar conditions; as well as at home, while reading, watching TV, or performing various tasks.

3) Rehabilitation:

Finger injuries are very common in climbing, particularly tendon and pulley injuries. These injuries are often due to poor warm-up, as the finger suffers much more when cold (without proper warm-up) than when warmed up. These injuries take a long time to heal because they affect an area that is not particularly irrigated and require long periods of time (2 to 6 months, for example) accompanied by exercises (usually carried out to the pain threshold) that help bring blood to the affected area for improved healing (thus avoiding possible fibromyalgia, for example). The accessory presented here has the appropriate qualities for performing these exercises, even measuring improvement by adjusting the intensity, thus observing the increase in strength in the affected area over time. Furthermore, it is more than remarkable that few physical therapists are familiar with the exercises to perform for these injuries, as these are very rare injuries (outside of the climbing community) in areas that don't require special strength (again, outside of the climbing community). Thus, only physical therapists specialized in this area or sport effectively treat these injuries. This makes the product another accessory that medical professionals can turn to when recommending finger rehabilitation.

To achieve the aforementioned objectives, the proposed exercise device comprises:

a base, which defines longitudinal, transverse and sagittal directions orthogonal to each other and an anterior face facing the sagittal direction, and where the base includes a first longitudinal guide that extends in the longitudinal direction;

a carpal support, associated with the base, which defines the concave seat of the distal phalanx to support the base of the palm of the hand, where the carpal bones are located;

at least one distal phalangeal support, associated with the base, to support the ends of the fingers where the distal phalanges are located;

the distal phalangeal support being guided by the at least one longitudinal guide, for example two parallel longitudinal guides, which allows relative sliding between the carpal support and the distal phalangeal support in the longitudinal direction along a path between the maximum and minimum extension positions;

at least one elastic element configured to offer elastic resistance to relative sliding, in the longitudinal direction, between the carpal support and said at least one distal phalangeal support.

A carpal support is understood to be a support element intended to support the part of the palm of the hand where the carpus is located, that is, the base of the palm closest to the wrist. Similarly, a distal phalangeal support is also understood to be a support element, typically a ledge, intended to support the part of the ends of the fingers where the distal phalanges are located.

The base will be a shell whose anterior face will be the front face of the base visible from the sagittal direction, typically a face mostly perpendicular to said sagittal direction. Therefore, the anterior face will extend primarily in the longitudinal and transverse directions.

Preferably, the carpal and distal phalangeal supports extend in the transverse direction and are substantially parallel to each other and face each other in the longitudinal direction.

The present invention proposes, in a manner not known in the state of the art, that:

The carpal rest defines a concave carpal seat between a sagittal carpal surface, mostly facing the sagittal direction, and a longitudinal carpal surface, mostly facing the longitudinal direction and adjacent to the sagittal carpal surface forcing an arched, semi-arched or extended grip of a hand between the concave carpal seat and the concave distal phalangeal seat.

Optionally, the aforementioned at least one distal phalangeal bearing may be a replaceable distal phalangeal bearing, selected from a set of different distal phalangeal bearings, or from a set of different distal phalangeal bearings with different sizes, grip configurations, surface textures and/or made of different materials, which replaceable distal phalangeal bearing is fixed to the device by a releasable fixation element or by a releasable fixation element formed by complementary protrusions and recesses, magnets and/or Velcro fasteners.

Replacing the distal phalangeal support allows the device to be adapted to different exercises, simulate different climbing surfaces, adapt the device to different user hand sizes, etc.

It is also proposed that said at least one distal phalangeal bearing defines at least one concave distal phalangeal seat, between a longitudinal distal phalangeal surface oriented mostly in the longitudinal direction and a sagittal distal phalangeal surface oriented mostly in the sagittal direction, or a sagittal distal phalangeal surface defined by the front face of the base, which are adjacent to each other. The concave distal phalangeal seat may have a bulging shape or an irregular roughness.

A concave seat is understood to be one whose cross-section, in a plane perpendicular to the transverse direction, is concave, providing a firm and secure support point for positioning the base of the palm of the hand or the ends of the fingers.

It is also understood that the sagittal surface of the carpal and distal phalanges, mostly facing the sagittal direction, will be a surface accessible to the user in the sagittal direction, the projection of said surface in the sagittal direction being greater than the projection of said surface in the remaining longitudinal and transverse directions.

Likewise, the longitudinal surfaces of the carpal and distal phalanges, which mostly face the longitudinal direction, will be accessible to the user in the longitudinal direction, with the projection of said surfaces in the longitudinal direction being greater than the projection of said surfaces in the remaining sagittal and transverse directions. The longitudinal surfaces of the carpal and distal phalanges will be in opposition, oriented in opposite directions and not facing each other.

These concave seats allow the insertion, in their concave interior, of the base of the palm of the hand or the tips of the fingers, in the sagittal direction, that is, in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction in which the distal phalangeal support slides.

This allows a user to rest the part of the hand containing the carpals on the concave carpal seat and to rest the fingertips, where the distal phalanges are located, on the concave distal phalangeal seat. Flexion of the various joints of the hand will cause the distal phalangeal support to slide, bringing it closer to the carpal support, overcoming the elastic resistance of the elastic element. The position and geometry of the carpal and distal phalangeal supports described above determine whether the hand is positioned in an arched, semi-arched, or extended grip during the exercise.

According to a preferred embodiment, the longitudinal surface of the distal phalanges and the sagittal surface of the distal phalanges may be surfaces of the distal phalangeal rest that define a recess in the distal phalangeal rest. That is, the concave distal phalangeal rest may be defined by at least one recess defined on an anterior surface of the distal phalangeal rest accessible in the sagittal direction. For example, the rest may include one or more recesses for inserting one or more fingers.

Alternatively, it is proposed that the longitudinal surface of the distal phalanges may be a surface of the distal phalangeal rest, and the sagittal surface of the distal phalangeal rest may be a surface of the anterior surface of the base, adjacent to the distal phalangeal rest. That is, the concave distal phalangeal seat may be a concave region defined between the distal phalangeal rest and a sagittal surface of the anterior surface of the base, said concave region being accessible in the sagittal direction and adjacent to the distal phalangeal rest. According to this embodiment, the concave distal phalangeal seat is defined between the distal phalangeal rest and a portion of an anterior surface of the base, over which the distal phalangeal rest slides.

Similarly, the longitudinal carpal surface and the sagittal carpal surface could be surfaces of the carpal support that together define a concavity in the carpal support. That is, the concave carpal seat could be defined by a concavity defined on an anterior surface of the carpal support accessible in the sagittal direction.

Alternatively, the longitudinal carpal surface could be a surface of the distal phalangeal support, and the sagittal carpal surface could be a surface of the anterior surface of the base. That is, the distal phalangeal support could be defined between the carpal support and an anterior surface of the anterior surface of the base, accessible in the sagittal direction and adjacent to the carpal support. According to this second alternative, the concave carpal support would be defined between the carpal support and a portion of an anterior surface of the base, on which the carpal support is fixed, and which provides a support, on the base, for the base of the palm of the hand.

Alternatively, the aforementioned at least one distal phalangeal support may define a sagittal distal phalangeal surface oriented mostly in the sagittal direction and provide at least one distal phalangeal friction seat. The sagittal distal phalangeal surface may be, for example, flat, smooth, honeycomb-shaped, or convex, or have an irregular roughness. This distal phalangeal support may be one of several interchangeable distal phalangeal supports available for placement on the exercise device, such that one allows for a friction grip, while others provide a concave seat that provides a different grip for other types of exercises.

Preferably, the anterior surfaces of the anterior face of the base, adjacent to the carpal rest and the distal phalangeal rest and defining the concave carpal and distal phalangeal seats, will be substantially coplanar with each other.

In another embodiment, the carpal support and/or the distal phalangeal support can be secured to the rest of the device in different positions by means of a releasable fixation element, modifying the distance between the carpal support and the distal phalangeal support. The releasable fixation element can be formed, for example, by complementary protrusions and recesses, magnets, and/or Velcro fasteners.

For example, the base may also include, on the front face, multiple anchor points for removable fixation of the carpal support in different positions of the base by means of a releasable fixation device, thus allowing the initial distance between the carpal support and the distal phalangeal support to be adjusted, adapting to different hand sizes.

In such a case, the releasable fixation device may consist, for example, of pins protruding from the carpal support in the sagittal direction and inserting tightly into complementary openings provided in the front face of the base.

Alternatively or additionally, the exercise device may also include an adjustment device configured to modify the maximum extension position and/or minimum extension of the travel distance between the carpal support and the distal phalangeal support, adapting the travel distance to different user hand sizes. This adjustment device may consist, for example, of an adjustment screw that, upon rotation, causes the fixation point to move, thereby securing the distal phalangeal support to the longitudinal guide.

The aforementioned at least one elastic element may consist, for example, of at least one spring, of at least one band of elastic material, or of at least one pneumatic piston, located between a first stop associated with the aforementioned at least one distal phalangeal support and a second stop associated with the base, causing elastic compression and/or elongation of the at least one elastic element with the relative movement between the at least one distal phalangeal support and the carpal support.

A sealed pneumatic piston is understood to act as a spring by compressing and decompressing the gas it contains.

The exercise device may also include a spring resistance adjustment device configured to modify the tension of the at least one spring element, which determines the force required for relative movement between the carpal support and the distal phalanx support. Such modification of the tension of the at least one spring element may be achieved, for example, by adjusting the distance between the first stop and the second stop in the longitudinal direction.

The second stop can be longitudinally movable using the spring resistance adjustment device. Moving the second stop changes the degree of compression of the spring, elastic band, or pneumatic piston, and thus adjusts the spring resistance to movement of the distal phalangeal support according to the user's needs and preferences.

The spring resistance adjustment device may be, for example, a screw which, by rotating, determines the position of the second stop in the longitudinal direction.

According to the preferred embodiment of the invention, the aforementioned at least one longitudinal guide consisting of at least one rod fixed to the base, with the aforementioned at least one spring, constituting the at least one elastic element, being placed around said rod.

Other alternative embodiments of the aforementioned at least one longitudinal guide and the elastic element are also provided. For example, the longitudinal guide could be a longitudinally extending slot made in the base itself, and the elastic element could be a flexible structure made of plastic, metal, or other material, for example in the form of a leaf spring.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the exercise device may integrate a control device connected to at least one measuring device selected from a strain sensor configured to determine the force exerted by the user in moving the distal phalangeal support, for example a load cell, a motion sensor configured to determine the movement performed by the distal phalangeal support, and/or an exercise device configuration sensor configured to detect at least one of the exercise device settings selected by the user.

Typically, the configuration sensor of the exercise apparatus is selected from a sensor for adjusting the tension of the elastic elements, a sensor for detecting the minimum and/or maximum extension positions of the travel distance, a detector for detecting the fixing position of the carpal supports and/or the distal phalangeal supports, and/or an identification sensor for identifying, from among the various selectable supports, the distal phalangeal support actually fixed to the exercise apparatus at the time of performing an exercise.

It is proposed that each of the different distal phalangeal supports available for attachment to the device may include an identification element detectable by an identification sensor integrated into the exercise device, for example an RFID antenna, a magnetic element for determining a different position and/or intensity and/or orientation, pins, or openings located in positions that can be measured by an optical sensor, etc.

In addition to the aforementioned measuring device(s), the exercise apparatus may include further measuring devices selected from a humidity sensor, a temperature sensor, an atmospheric pressure sensor, a GPS positioning sensor, an orientation sensor, a timer configured to determine the time and/or date at which an exercise is performed and/or the duration thereof.

All of this information can be relevant when assessing the progress of the user's exercise, since atmospheric values, the time of day, or the season of the year can affect the user's performance. In climbing, the conditions of the rock and the user's skin are essential for said performance and are affected by said atmospheric conditions.

Localization also allows you to compare collected data with data obtained in previous sessions at the same location, or to store it for future sessions at the same location.

Preferably, the control device integrates a memory configured to store the information received by said control device, typically the information provided by the measuring devices.

The control device may also integrate an interface configured to transmit the information received by the control device and/or the information stored in memory, for example, via a display screen or via light or sound indicators, and/or to enter information into the control device, for example, via a keyboard. The information entered into the control device may be selected, for example, from user identification information or geographic location information. Optionally, the control device may be connected to a communication antenna to transmit the information obtained by the measuring devices to a portable computing device, typically a smartphone, a tablet, or a laptop. The communication antenna may be, for example, an antenna that transmits using the WiFi or BLUETOOTH protocol.

The antenna can also be used to receive information external to the exercise device, for example, GPS location information, weather information, user identification information, etc.

The at least one distal phalangeal support will preferably be elongated in a transverse direction, providing support for the index finger to the little finger.

Alternatively, the aforementioned at least one distal phalangeal bearing may be a plurality of independent distal phalangeal bearings, one next to the other, each of them being guided in the longitudinal direction and defining an independent concave distal phalangeal seat.

In such a case, each independent distal phalangeal support could have an independent elastic element, with the elastic resistance of each independent elastic element being independently adjustable.

According to a second aspect, the present invention relates to a finger exercise system for training, warming up and/or rehabilitating muscles, tendons and pulleys of a phalanx.

The exercise system will comprise an exercise device, as described above, provided with a control device connected to at least one measuring device, and a portable computing device.

The portable computing device, typically a smartphone, tablet, or laptop, comprises at least one communication antenna and/or a connection port, a memory, an interface such as a display and a keyboard, and a computing device that executes a software application.

It is proposed that the control device of the exercise device be connected to a communication antenna, or to a connection port, and be configured to transmit information from said measuring device to the portable computing device.

The software application executed by the portable computing device will be configured to execute an algorithm that analyzes the information supplied by the control device of the exercise device.

Such analysis may simply consist of creating trend graphs against historical or other user data, projections of future trends, or it may be analyzed to suggest new exercise patterns in response to exercise results, among many other possible analyses.

It is also proposed that the portable computing device include at least one additional measuring device selected from a humidity, temperature and/or atmospheric pressure sensor, a GPS positioning sensor, an orientation sensor, a time meter configured to determine the time and/or date at which an exercise is performed and/or the duration thereof.

The portable computing device will be configured to transmit the information provided by said at least one additional measuring device to the exercise device, and/or to analyze said information together with the information transmitted from the exercise device by the algorithm.

This makes it possible, for example, to reduce the number of measuring devices integrated into the exercise device, taking advantage of many of the sensors already integrated as standard in all smartphones.

The portable computing device may include a connection to a remote server and may be configured to transmit information obtained by the sensor devices and/or additional sensor devices, or to transmit the result of the analysis performed by the algorithm to said remote server.

This allows, for example, data to be stored in the cloud, allowing it to be accessed from any device, compared with other users' data, etc.

According to a third aspect, the invention proposes a method for determining climbing grip using a system such as the one described above.

Adhesion is understood as the coefficient of adhesion by friction between the user's hand and a surface that said hand is gripping.

The proposed method comprises transporting the exercise device to a climbing location, configuring the exercise device according to predefined setting parameters, and performing a grip test by placing a hand on the exercise device, holding the carpal area of the palm of the hand on the carpal support and the distal phalanx area of the hand on the distal phalanx support in the extended grip position, and performing relative sliding between the carpal support and the distal phalanx support toward the arcuate grip position over the travel distance until the distal phalanx support escapes from the user's hand.

The method then proposes to calculate, by means of the algorithm executed by the software application, an estimate of the climbing performance based on the analysis of the grip test result, in relation to the stored reference data that correlates the grip test results and the climbing performance data.

Climbing performance data refers to data that indicates a climber's grip on the rock while climbing. This climbing performance data can include, for example, the time spent climbing, the frequency or number of slips the climber experiences, or other parameters such as a personal assessment by the climber.

Therefore, thanks to the result of the grip test, the estimation of climbing performance will allow the climber to have an idea of whether the climbing conditions are suitable before starting.

Preferably, the reference data contains results from grip tests performed with the same predefined parameters as the grip test to be analyzed.

It is understood that the predefined parameters include the type of support of the distal phalanx and its fixation position for attachment to the exercise device, as well as the tension of the elastic element.

Preferably, the predefined fitting parameters include placing a distal phalanx rest defining a friction seat for the distal phalanx on a sagittal surface of the distal phalanx that faces predominantly in the sagittal direction, or using a surface that faces predominantly in the sagittal direction of the distal phalanx rest as a friction seat for the distal phalanx.

In either case, the distal phalanges will not rest on a concave seat, which offers greater grip, but on a surface that is substantially flat and perpendicular to the sagittal direction, so the grip it provides will be reduced and will be obtained mainly by friction.

It is proposed that the point in the travel distance where the leak occurs be determined by the strain sensor, the motion sensor, or by an analysis performed by the algorithm on the information supplied by the strain sensor and/or the motion sensor.

It is also proposed that the stored reference data correlate the grip test results and climbing performance data with stored information regarding ambient atmospheric values existing at the time and place where the grip tests and climbs were performed, which data are stored as reference data.

The method also proposes obtaining ambient atmospheric values at the climbing location, calculating the estimate of climbing performance taking into account said measured ambient atmospheric values and those stored as reference data.

According to another embodiment of the invention, the stored reference data may also correlate grip test results and climbing performance data with stored information about the geographic location where the grip tests and climbs were performed, which data are stored as reference data. Therefore, the method may comprise obtaining values for the geographic location where the grip test is performed, and calculating the climbing performance estimate by comparing the grip test result with stored reference data obtained at the same geographic location, or at an equivalent geographic location with similar climbing conditions, for example, with similar geology and/or similar climbing difficulty.

It will be understood that the software application can be configured to perform the operations necessary to carry out the aforementioned method.

Also contemplated is a method of using the exercise device by means of adjustment and usage prompts provided by a mobile application that takes into account the user's history of use of the exercise device.

The user would register on the app, creating a personal profile, where they would enter data relating to, for example, their level of climbing experience, previous or current injuries, etc. Based on the data entered, the user could request that the app generate preferred exercise device settings and exercise routines, choosing from warm-up, strengthening, or rehabilitation exercises.

Preferably, the app would also store a usage history of the exercise device and modify settings or routines over time based on that particular user's prior use of the exercise device.

The mobile application could show animations, drawings or demonstration videos of the proposed exercises to be performed.

Other features of the invention will appear in the following detailed description of an exemplary embodiment. Brief description of the figures

The above and other advantages and characteristics will be more fully understood from the following detailed description of an exemplary embodiment with reference to the attached drawings, which should be taken as illustrative and not limiting, in which:

Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of the exercise device, showing in dashed lines the position of a hand of a user using the device;

Fig. 2 shows the same perspective view as Fig. 1 but showing the carpal and distal phalangeal supports separated from the rest of the device;

Fig. 3 shows a cross-section of the exerciser device shown in Fig. 1 by a plane coinciding with one of the first longitudinal guides;

Fig. 4 shows another cross-section of the exercise device shown in Fig. 1 by a central plane of the exercise device coinciding with the screw-shaped elastic resistance adjustment device;

Fig. 5 shows the same cross-section shown in Fig. 4, but according to another embodiment.

Fig. 6 shows a schematic perspective view of the proposed system, showing the exercise device and also the portable computing device.

Detailed description of an embodiment

The attached figures show illustrative, non-limiting embodiments of the present invention. The present invention consists of an exercise device that includes a base (10) that defines longitudinal (DL), transverse (DT) and sagittal (DS) directions orthogonal to each other and an anterior face (A) facing the sagittal direction (DS), and where the base (10) includes a first longitudinal guide (11) that extends in the longitudinal direction (DL).

Said base (10) has, in this preferred embodiment, the shape of a box with general dimensions somewhat larger than those of a mobile phone (15cm x 10cm x 1.4cm).

The base has associated, protruding from its anterior face (A), a carpal support (20) and a distal phalange support (30) in the form of a climbing strip, consisting of a small strip, for example made of plastic, wood or other material, between 6mm and 26mm thick in the sagittal direction (DS).

The carpal support (20) defines a concave carpal seat (21) defined by a concavity formed between a sagittal carpal surface (23), oriented mostly towards the sagittal direction (DS), and a longitudinal carpal surface (24), oriented mostly towards the longitudinal direction (DL), the longitudinal carpal surface (24) being closer to the distal phalangeal support (30) than the sagittal carpal surface (23) and being adjacent to the sagittal carpal surface (23), forcing the climbing gestures known as “extension”, “semi-arching” and “arching” of the fingers.

The base (10), inside, contains two parallel rods that extend in the longitudinal direction (DL), as first longitudinal guides (11).

A support (33), contained within the base (10), is threaded onto both rods, allowing them to slide in the longitudinal direction (DL) within the base (10). Each rod has threaded around it a spring, which acts as an elastic element (40), compressed between the support (33), which acts as the first stop of the spring, and a second stop (42). The position of the second stop (42) in the longitudinal direction (DL) is adjustable by means of an elastic resistance adjustment device (43), which in this embodiment is a screw that extends in the longitudinal direction and that, by turning it, produces a displacement of the second stop (42) in the longitudinal direction, increasing or reducing the elastic compression of the spring, and therefore, regulating the force required to move the support (33).

The anterior face (A) of the base (10) has two elongated slots in the longitudinal direction (DL) through which releasable fixing means (32) connect the distal phalangeal support (30), located above the anterior face (A) of the base (10), with the support (33) contained inside it, allowing the movement of the distal phalangeal support (33) in the longitudinal direction, on the anterior face (A) of the base (10), together with the movement of the support (33) contained inside the base (10).

Between the anterior face (A) of the base (10), which is in the form of a flat surface extending in the longitudinal (DL) and transverse (DT) directions, and the distal phalangeal support (30), protruding from said anterior face (A) in the sagittal direction (DS), a concave distal phalangeal seat (31) is defined, where the user can insert the distal ends of the fingers in a direction parallel to the sagittal direction (DS). Said distal phalangeal seats (31) provide a firm grip point.

Similarly, between said flat surface of the anterior face (A) of the base (10) and the carpal support (20), protruding from said anterior face (A) in the sagittal direction (DS), a carpal seat (21) is also defined, where the user can introduce the base of the palm of the hand, where the carpus are located, in a direction parallel to the sagittal direction (DS).

Alternatively, both the carpal seat (21) and the distal phalanges seat (31) may be defined not between the anterior face (A) of the base (10) and the corresponding support, but by a depression or hollow provided in the carpal support itself (20) and/or in the distal phalanges support (30), on a face facing the sagittal direction (DS).

This arrangement of the carpal seats (21) and distal phalanges (31) determines the position of the hand in an arched, semi-arched or extension grip, allowing its exercise both eccentrically and concentrically and isometrically.

Furthermore, the releasable fixing means (32) allow the distal phalangeal support (30) to be replaced by another different distal phalangeal support (30), with a different texture, material, roughness, to provide different sizes, textures or reliefs to the user.

This would allow the device to be customized to the user's needs, to treat a specific type of injury, to train for a specific climbing texture, or to adapt the device to the user's finger size or to train single-finger, two-finger, and three-finger grips, for example.

Different distal phalangeal supports can be obtained, for example, by additive manufacturing techniques such as 3D printing, or by subtractive manufacturing techniques such as milling with a computer-controlled machine tool, both techniques allowing the precise manufacture of different distal phalangeal supports (30).

The flat surface of the front face (A) of the base (10) may include a measuring rule to be able to observe the amount of displacement made, and thus know (by means of a table provided in the instruction manual or by means of a second rule) the force that is being applied at each moment depending also on how the elastic resistance adjustment device (43) has been regulated. This reading of the force could also be done digitally by adding some small electronic device that measures the displacement and, knowing the initial tension of the elastic element (40) when the user does not exert pressure on it, calculate the effort made by the user in each displacement of the distal phalanges support (30).

According to one embodiment of the invention, the device may integrate a control device (50), for example a programmable logic controller, with a memory (52), connected to a measuring device (51). In this example, the measuring device is a strain sensor that measures the force applied on the elastic element by the user. In this example, the measuring device (51) consists of a load cell, for example made of a dielectric material.

Optionally, this exercise device may also include a communication antenna (53) for transmitting the obtained data to a remote server or to a portable computing device (60), or for receiving data, for example data from other users or meteorological data, provided by the remote server or by the remote computing device (60).

In the embodiment shown in Fig. 6, the described exercise device is connected to a remote computing device (60) forming an exercise system. The remote computing device (60) integrates a computing device (61), connected to a memory (62) and a communication antenna (63).

Claims (15)

1. Finger exerciser device for training, warming up and/or rehabilitation of muscles, tendons and phalanx pulleys, comprising: a base (10), which defines the longitudinal direction (DL), the transverse direction (DT) and the sagittal direction (DS) orthogonal to each other and a front face (A) perpendicular to the sagittal direction (DS), and in which the base (10) includes at least one longitudinal guide (11) that extends in the longitudinal direction (DL); a carpal support (20), associated with the base (10), to support the base of the palm of the hand where the carpals are located; at least one distal phalangeal support (30), associated with the base (10), which defines concave distal phalangeal seats (31) to support the ends of the fingers where the distal phalanges are located; the distal phalangeal support (30) being guided by the at least one longitudinal guide (11) allowing relative sliding between the carpal support (20) and the distal phalangeal support (30) in the longitudinal direction (DL) along a travel distance between the maximum and minimum extension positions; at least one elastic element (40) configured to offer elastic resistance to sliding, in the longitudinal direction (DL), of the at least one distal phalangeal support (30); characterized because the carpal rest (20) defines a concave carpal seat (21) defined by a concavity formed between a sagittal carpal surface (23), oriented predominantly in the sagittal direction (DS), and a longitudinal carpal surface (24), oriented predominantly in the longitudinal direction (DL), the longitudinal carpal surface (24) being closer to the distal phalanx rest (30) than the sagittal carpal surface (23) and being adjacent to the sagittal carpal surface (23), forcing an arched, semi-arched or extended grip of a hand between the concave carpal seat (21) and the concave distal phalanx seat (31). 2. The exercise device according to claim 1, wherein the exercise device integrates a control device (50), or a control device (50) integrating a memory (52) configured to store information received by said control device (50), connected to at least one measuring device (51) selected from a deformation sensor configured to determine the force exerted by the user in moving the distal phalangeal support (30), a motion sensor configured to determine the movement performed by the distal phalangeal support (30) and/or an exercise device configuration sensor configured to detect at least one of the exercise device settings selected by the user. 3. The exercise device according to claim 2, wherein The configuration sensor of the exercise device is selected from among a sensor for adjusting the tension of the elastic element, a sensor for detecting the minimum and/or maximum extension positions of the travel distance, a detector for detecting the fixing position of the carpal supports and/or the distal phalangeal supports, and/or an identification sensor for identifying, among the various selectable supports, the distal phalangeal support actually fixed to the exercise device at the time of performing an exercise; and/or The at least one measuring device (51) further includes another measuring device selected from a humidity sensor, a temperature sensor, an atmospheric pressure sensor, a GPS positioning sensor, an orientation sensor, a time meter configured to determine the time and/or date on which an exercise is performed and/or the duration thereof. 4. The exercise device according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the control device (50) integrates an interface configured to transmit the information received by the control device and/or the information stored in the memory, and/or to enter information into the control device, or to enter information into the control device selected from user identification information, or geographic location information and/or includes a communication antenna (53). 5. The exercise device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said at least one distal phalangeal rest (30) is a replaceable distal phalangeal rest (30), selected from a set of different distal phalangeal rests (30), or from a set of different distal phalangeal rests (30) with different sizes, grip configurations, surface textures and/or made of different materials, the replaceable distal phalangeal rest (30) being fixed to the device by a releasable fixation element (32) or by a releasable fixation element (32) formed by complementary protrusions and recesses, magnets, and/or velcro closures. 6. The device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the concave distal phalangeal seat (31) has a bulging shape or irregular roughness; and/or the concave distal phalangeal seat (31) is defined between a longitudinal distal phalangeal surface oriented mostly in the longitudinal direction (DL) and a sagittal distal phalangeal surface, oriented mostly in the sagittal direction (DS), or a sagittal distal phalangeal surface defined by the front face (A) of the base (10), which are adjacent to each other; and/or the concave distal phalangeal seat (31) is defined between a longitudinal distal phalangeal surface oriented mostly in the longitudinal direction (DL) and a sagittal distal phalangeal surface oriented mostly in the sagittal direction (DS), or a sagittal distal phalangeal surface defined by the front face (A) of the base (10), which are adjacent to each other, the sagittal carpal surface and the distal phalangeal surfaces being substantially coplanar with each other; and/or The concave distal phalangeal seat (31) is oriented mostly towards the sagittal direction (DS) and provides at least one distal phalangeal friction seat. 7. The exercise apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the carpal support (20) and/or the distal phalangeal support (30) can be fixed to the rest of the device in different positions by means of a releasable fixing element (22, 32), or by means of a releasable fixing element (22, 32) formed by complementary protuberances and recesses, magnets, and/or Velcro closures, modifying the separation between the carpal support (20) and the distal phalangeal support (30); and/or in which An adjustment device is configured to modify the maximum extension position and/or minimum extension position of the displacement distance between the carpal support (20) and the distal phalangeal support (30), adapting the displacement distance to different hand sizes of the user. 8. The exercise apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the at least one elastic element (40) consists of at least one spring, at least one band of elastic material or at least one pneumatic piston, located between a first stop associated with said at least one distal phalangeal support (30) and a second stop (42) associated with the base (10), causing elastic compression and/or elongation of the at least one elastic element with the relative movement between the at least one distal phalangeal support (30) and the carpal support (20); or the at least one elastic element (40) consists of at least one spring, at least one band of elastic material or at least one pneumatic piston, located between a first stop associated with said at least one distal phalangeal support (30) and a second stop (42) associated with the base (10), causing elastic compression and/or elongation of the at least one elastic element with the relative movement between the at least one distal phalangeal support (30) and the carpal support (20), and an elastic resistance adjustment device (43) is configured to modify the tension of the at least one elastic element (40), which determines the force necessary for the relative movement between the carpal support (20) and the distal phalangeal support (30), or to modify the tension of the at least one elastic element by adjusting the distance between the first stop and the second stop (42) in the longitudinal direction (DL). 9. The exercise apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: the aforementioned at least one distal phalangeal support (30) is elongated in the transverse direction (DT), offering support for the index finger up to the little finger, or the aforementioned at least one distal phalangeal support (30) are a plurality of independent distal phalangeal supports, each of them being guided in the longitudinal direction (DL) and defining an independent concave distal phalangeal seat (31), or the aforementioned at least one distal phalanx support (30) are a plurality of independent distal phalanx supports, each of them being guided in the longitudinal direction (DL) and defining an independent concave distal phalanx seat (31), each independent distal phalanx support (30) having an independent elastic element (40), the elastic resistance of each elastic element (40) being independently adjustable. 10. Finger exercise system for training, warming up and/or rehabilitating muscles, tendons and pulleys of a phalanx, comprising an exercise device according to one of claims 2 to 4, or any of its dependent claims, and a portable computing device (60); the portable computing device (60) comprises at least one communication antenna (63) and/or a connection port, a memory (62), an interface, and a computing device (61) executing a software application; the exercise device control device is connected to a communication antenna, or to a connection port, and is configured to transmit information from said at least one measuring device to the portable computing device, and wherein The computer application is configured to execute an algorithm to analyze the information supplied by the control device of the exercise device. 11. The system according to claim 10, wherein the portable computing device includes: at least one additional measuring device selected from a humidity, temperature and/or atmospheric pressure sensor, a GPS positioning sensor, an orientation sensor, a time meter configured to determine the time and/or date at which an exercise is performed and/or the duration thereof, and wherein the portable computing device is configured to transmit the information provided by said at least one additional measuring device to the exercise device, and/or to analyze said information together with the information transmitted from the exercise device by means of the algorithm; and/or a connection to a remote server and is configured for transmission of the information obtained by the sensor devices and/or additional sensor devices, or for transmission of the result of the analysis performed by the algorithm to said remote server. 12. Method for determining climbing grip by means of a device according to any one of the preceding claims 10 or 11, wherein the method comprises: transport the exercise device to a climbing location; configure the exercise device according to predefined setting parameters; performing a grip test by placing a hand on the exercise device, resting the carpal area of the palm of the hand on the carpal support (20) and the distal phalangeal area of the hand on the distal phalangeal support (30), in the extended grip position, and performing a relative sliding between the carpal support (20) and the distal phalangeal support (30) towards the arched grip position along the travel distance until the distal phalangeal support (30) escapes from the user's hand; calculate, by means of the algorithm executed by the computer application, an estimate of the climbing performance based on the analysis of the grip test result, in relation to the stored reference data that correlates the grip test results and the climbing performance data. 13. The method according to claim 12, wherein the reference data contains results of grip tests performed with the same predefined parameters as the grip test to be analyzed; and/or the predefined fitting parameters include placing a distal phalanx rest (30) defining a frictional distal phalanx seat on a sagittal distal phalanx surface oriented mostly in the sagittal direction (DS), or using a mostly sagittal direction (DS) oriented surface of the distal phalanx rest (30) as the frictional distal phalanx seat. 14. The method according to claim 12 or 13, wherein the point in the travel distance at which the escape occurs is determined by the strain sensor, by the motion sensor, or by an analysis performed by the algorithm on the information supplied by the strain sensor and/or by the motion sensor. 15. The method according to claim 12, 13 or 14, wherein the stored reference data also correlates grip test results and climbing performance data with the stored information: referred to the ambient atmospheric values existing when and where the grip tests and climbs were carried out, and in which the method further comprises obtaining ambient atmospheric values at the climbing site, calculating the estimate of climbing performance considering said measured and stored ambient atmospheric values; and/or refer to the geographical location where the grip tests and the climbs were performed, and where the method further comprises obtaining values from the geographical location where the grip test is performed and calculating the estimate of the climbing performance by comparing the result of the grip test with stored reference data obtained at the same geographical location, or at an equivalent geographical location with similar climbing conditions.