GB2195552A - Rehabilitation means - Google Patents

Description

1 GB 2 195 55A 1

SPECIFICATION

Rehabilitation means 1 10 The invention concerns a rehabilitation means 70 as defined in the preamble to claim 1.

Various body-building and rehabilitation means are commonly known nowadays with the aid of which various muscles of the hu man body can be rehabilitated and strength ened in a versatile way. However, when dam aged body parts, extremities, joints and, muscles and those which are in poor condition after surgery are being rehabilitated, existing means are not always applicable because fre quently e.g. after an operation the joint can only be. moved within certain limits, and on the other hand free play in the force transmis sion mechanisms of the means, even minor ones, may cause jerks and impacts damaging body parts which_ are in poor condition and vulnerable.

The object of the invention is to eliminate the drawbacks mentioned. In particular, the in vention aims to provide a rehabilitation means with which the motion paths of the body parts being rehabilitated can be exactly delim ited as required, and with aid of which non uniformities in the operation of the force transmission mechanisms can be eliminated, whereby it is possible to rehabilitate even pa tients in poor condition with this means.

Regarding the features which are character istic of the invention, reference is made to the Claims section.

The rehabilitation means which is the object of the invention comprises a frame on which is supported a bench, advantageously adjust able in position. The bench may be a seat, consisting of a seat part and back rest, but it may equally be another type of bench where a person may place himself e.g. in recumbent position, or in any other position which is ap propriate for exercising a given muscle.

In addition, the means comprises a counterforce means with force transmission mechanism. The counterforce means is advantageously a disk stack in which the number of weight disks used can be regulated as required. However, the counterforce means is not confined to the above-mentioned disk stack assembly alone: other kinds of means may also be contemplated in which force re gulati ' on is possible. The counterforce means is connected to operating linkage systeffis by a force transmission mechanism comprising belt, rope, wire, chain or equivalent members which transmit the movement of the linkage to the counterforce means.

Furthermore, the means comprises an adjustable balancing means by the aid of which the body part supported by the linkage, together with its linkage, can be balanced so that the proper weight of the body part will be eliminated, whereby it becomes possible to determine exactly the muscular force applied in exercise or to make the muscular force required to move the body part to be substantially zero. The balancing means is above all appropriate in rehabilitating the muscles and joints of extremities, but it is also well usable in connection with other body parts.

As taught by the invention, the means comprises an adjustable limiter of the motion path of the linkage for delimiting the motion of the linkage to be consistent with the functional limitations of the joint that is being exercised, and a tensioning member for eliminating any free play in the linkage urged against the limi- ter, the force transmission mechanism and the counterforce means and placing them under tension.

In an embodiment of the invention, the motion path limiter consists of two adjustable and fixable limits, the upper limit and the lower limit. The limits are preferably placed in the vicinity of the linkage so that the linkage when moving hits against the limits and thus the linkage can only move between the limits along the motion path defined by them.

The limits are advantageously attached to an arcuate plate conforming in its shape to the curved motion path of the linkage and to which furthermore belongs a scale which al- lows easy adjustment of the limits. Advantageously, the linkage moreover comprises a tongue which points on the scale and moves over the scale when the linkage moves. In this way the motion paths of the linkage can be accurately determined.

The tensioning member of the invention is advantageously placed above the weight disk stack, between the force transmission mechanism and the fixing spindle which is attached to the weight disk stack. It may however equally be located elsewhere in conjunction with the force transmission mechanism.

In one embodiment of the tensioning member, a threaded pin is attached to the weight disk stack fixing spindle, and the rope member of the force transmission member includes a sleeve with inside threads, freely rotatable relative to the rope member. The sleeve may then be rotated around the threaded pin and thus, by rotating the sleeve, the force transmission member can be placed under tension after the limits to be employed and the weights have been set. Also other kinds of tensioning members are conceivable.

The advantage of the present invention over rehabilitation means of prior art is that with the aid of limiters and tensioner the movements of the rehabilitation means can be made accurate and exact, whereby firstly the magnitudes of the motion paths can be accurately delimited within the limits defined by the joints to be rehabilitated and, secondly, all free play and detrimental jerks in the rehabilitation movements are eliminated, whereby even sensitive measurements become possible 2 GB2195552A 2 and the means can be used to rehabilitate very severely traumatized extremities and their joints, with full success.

In the following the invention is described in detail, reference being made to the attached drawing, wherein - Figure 1 presents a rehabilitation means according to the invention, in perspective, and Figure 2 shows the elevational view of the rehabilitation means of Fig. 1.

An embodiment of the rehabilitation means of the invention, depicted in Figs. 1 and 2, comprises a frame 1, in which an adjustable bench 2 has been mounted and supported.

The bench comprises a seat part 22 and a back rest part 23, the positions of both in relation to each other and to the frame being adjustable with an adjusting means 24. In conjunction with the frame a counterforce means 3 has been provided which consists of a great 85 number of separate, stacked weight disks 25, which are movable in guides 26, vertically. The desired number of weight disks may be attached to the fixing spindle 27 with a pin 28 passed through a hole in each weight disk. 90 The fixing spindle has been attached to a rope member 21, which has been connected to the linkage 5 over sheaves 29 mounted on the frame.

The linkage 5 is turnably carried in the frame 1 in front of the seat part 22, with a shaft 7, which is horizontal and transversal to the seat part. The shaft consists of two parts disposed substantially on either side of the seat part and carried by the frame of the means. The linkage 5 consists of a bight shaped rod structure rigidly connecting the two shafts. The rod structure is composed of parts extending outwards from the shafts and of a transversal part 30 connecting the ends 105 of these parts. To the transversal part is ad justably affixed a supporting member 12, which is a fluted extremity support 13, of which the position and the distance from the seat part can be adjusted. The extremity sup- 110 port can be turned so that its fluted part points either upward or downward, as required.

To one part of the shaft belongs a balanc- ing means 6. This means is composed of a hole 9 in the shaft, of a rod 10 placed in the hole and of a weight 11 on the other end of the rod. In addition, it comprises a clamping member 3 1. The hole 9 piercing the shaft is so directed that the weight on the end of the rod can be disposed substantially on the side of the shaft opposite to the supporting member 12. Thereby, when the rod 10 is shifted in the hole 9, the weight 11 will apply a counterforce to the extremity resting on the extremity support 13 so that the whole system can be brought into equilibrium, and the rod can be locked with the clamping member 31 in this specific position. In this way the extremity and the weight balance each other and the forces required to move the extremity can be accurately determined without incurring any inaccuracy due to the proper weight of the extremity.

As taught by the invention, the means includes an adjustable motion path limiter 14 for the linkage 5. The limiter comprises an upper limit 16 and a lower limit 17, both steplessly adjustable and lockable in place, the linkage 5 being movable in the range defined by them. The limits 16 and 17 find support on an arcuate plate affixed to the frame and which furthermore has a scale 18 on its surface. A tongue 32 on the linkage 5 travels along the scale as the linkage turns, and hereby it is possible with the aid of limiter, tongue and scale to adjust accurately the desired motion path of the linkage, and the extents of the motion paths of the joints being rehabilitated can be accurately measured.

Closely associated with the function of the limiter 14 is a tension member 15-according to the invention between the rope member 21 and the fixing spindle 27. The tension member 15 consists of a threaded pin 19 connected with the fixing spindle and of a sleeve 20 with inner thread, rotatably connected to the rope member.

With the aid of the tension -member 15, the rope member 21, and along with it the linkage 5, can be pre-tensioned against the limit to be used in each instance so that any dead play between the linkage and the counterforce means 3 will be eliminated. The use of the linkage is then safe in rehabilitating body parts which are in poor shape or damaged, because there is no free play in the path of motion which might give rise to abrupt and damaging movements.

The rehabilitation means depicted in the drawing is used as follows. The patient seats himself on the bench 2, and his right leg is palced with the lower leg supported by the fluted extremity rest 13, upon this rest. With the leg resting freely on the support, the counterweight 8 is adjusted by moving the rod 10 in the hole 9 so that the weights of the leg and of the weight 11 cancel each other and the system is brought into equilib- rium. Bending the leg at the knee joint will then demand virtually no force, and the joint will be minimally stressed. It is now possible with the limiter 14 to fix the motion path of the linkage 5 to a given range only if the patient's knee joint should so require, which is frequently the case after various joint surgery interventions.

It is now possible to fix on the fixing spindle 27 the required number of weight disks 25, and the tension member 15 is used to pretension the weight disks and the linkage against the upper limit. Thus, by pressing the leg downwards, the musculature and joints of the leg can be rehabilitated.

Another option is that in which the fluted 3 GB2195552A 3 extremity support is turned downward so that the leg will be disposed between the support and the linkage 5. The force transmission mechanism is then switched to operate so that the weight disks ascend when the linkage is moved upwards. It is then possible in like manner to rehabilitate and test the extensor muscles of the leg. When the extensor muscles of the leg are being exercised, tensioning with the tensioning member of the inven,tion is against the lower limit of the limiter and the movement is directed from the lower limit to the upper limit, that is, opposite to the direction selected when the means is used to exercise the flexor muscles of the leg.

The invention has in the foregoing been described in detail, referring to one of its advantageous embodiments. However, the invention is not confined to the example that has been presented: its embodiments may vary within the scope of the inventive idea delimited by the claims.

Claims (5)

1. A rehabilitation means, in particular but not exclusively for rehabilitation of muscles and joints of the extremities, for force exercis ing and/or measurement of muscular force, comprising a frame, a bench supported on said frame, an adjustable counterforce means with force transmission mechanism and a linkage held in use against the person using the means and connected to said force transmission mechanism and the movement of which the counterforce means has been arranged to counteract; and further including an adjustable limiter of the motion path of the linkage, comprising a lower limit and an upper limit which are steplessly adjustable and can be locked in place, for delimiting the motion of said linkage to be consistent with the functional limits of the joint being exercised, and a tensioning member for eliminating any free play between the linkage held against the upper or lower limit of said limiter and the force transmission mechanism and the counterforce means and for placing them under tension.

2. Means according to claim 1, wherein, in conjunction with the limiter is provided a scale for exact determination of the operating limits of the linkage.

3. Mean's according to claim 1 or 2, wherein, the tensioning member attached to the rope member of the force transmission member comprises a threaded pin and a sleeve with inner threads for tensioning the rope member.

4. Means according to any preceding claim wherein said bench is adjustable.

5. A rehabilitation means substantially as herein described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.

Published 1988 atThe Patent Office, State House, 66/71 High Holborn, London WC1R 4TP. Further copies may be obtained from The Patent Office, Sales Branch, St Mary Cray, Orpington, KentBR5 3RD. Printed by Burgess & Son (Abingdon) Ltd. Con. 1/87.