IL115111A - Physiotherapy apparatus for exercising limb muscles - Google Patents

Description

PHYSIOTHERAPY APPARATUS FOR EXERCISING THE LIMBS MUSCLES PHYSIOTHERAPY APPARATUS FOR EXERCISING THE LIMBS MUSCLES BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Present invention relates to exercising apparatus and more particularly to physiotherapy exerciser for stimulating the muscles of the feet and hands simultaneously .

Exercises for the training, developing and physiotherapy of the feet and hands muscles are known in a variety of forms and designs. The most simple device usually comprises a pair of foot-pedals rotatably mounted to a chassis and a pair of hand- pedals also mounted rotatably above the level of the foot-pedals, the two pairs of pedals are coupled to each other by a chain or other motion transmission arrangement .

However, eldery people, patients suffering under muscles dystrophy or limbs atrophy, in particular recovering surgery, victims of road accidents, coma, heart strokes, C.V.A., etc., are unable to benefit from these devices. For them there have been developed feet muscles training exercisers only where the pedals are actively driven, mostly by electrical motors.

It has however been found that these exercisers are inapplicable particularly for patients of most advanced age where any forced movement, i.e. not supported or guided by the muscles (the "TONUS" phenomenon), can cause an irreparable damage to the foot or hand limbs, hips, shoulders, etc. And then, it has been also established that the combined synchronized movement of the feet and the hands, simulating the posture of walking, has unexpectedly brought much better results than by exercising the upper or the lower limbs separately.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Thus proposed according to the present invention is a physiotherapy apparatus for exercising the limbs muscles of a patient comprising a pair of foot-pedals ratably installed at a first, lower level, a pair of hand-pedals reciprocally installed at a second, higher level, first means for converting the rotational motion of one foot-pedal into a reciprocal motion of the one hand-pedal, and second means for converting the rotational motion of the other foot-pedal into a reciprocal motion of the other hand pedal.

The apparatus is further provided with computer controlled electric motor for governing the rotation of the foot-pedals so that in case of a resistance torque exerted by the patient against the motor will immediately case a slowing down or stop of the exercise.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS These and further features of the invention will be more clearly appreciated in the light of the ensuing description of preferred embodiments thereof, given by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings , wherein7 Fig. 1 is a general schematic three-dimensional view of the apparatus featuring the characteristics of the present invention; Figs. 2a, 2b, 2c and 2d illustrate different consecutive operative positions of the apparatus; and Fig. 3 illustrates the apparatus with the hand-pedals supporting bracket mounted in an opposite position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS As shown in Fig. 1 the apparatus, generally designated 10, comprises a platform 12 preferably mounted on wheels 14 for the transportation thereof into any convenient location. On the platform 12 a chair 16 is mounted preferably on a sliding rail 18 for adjusting its longitudinal position as well as with a height adjusting arrangement 20 of any known type.

A housing 22 is mounted at the front side of the platform 12 accommodating an electrical motor and associated controls (not shown) for the purposes to be described later on.

A pair of foot-pedals is rotatably mounted to the housing 20, namely right pedal 24a with toggle 26a and left side pedal 24b with associated toggle 26b.

To the housing top there is attached a bracket denoted 30 which in the illustrated example comprises a pair of rods 32 and 34 bending towards the location above the chair 16.

Pairs of pulleys 36a and 36b, 38a and 38b and 40a and 40b are attached to the rods 32 and 34 respectively, as shown, providing guiding and support to a pair of cables or wires 42a and 42b connecting the pedals 24a and 24b to the respective pair of hand-pedals or grips 44a and 44b.

Thus, rotation of the , foot-pedals 24 will generate up and down, synchronized, inverted movement of the grips 44, as clearly illustrated in the series of Figs. 2a - 2d. Hence, lifting of a foot will cause the lowering the corresponding hand, and vice-versa. This motion is typical of walking of a person, namely where opposite hand and feet limbs are risen and lowered in synchronization .

While the apparatus may be used without a driver, it is particularly important to provide torque sensitive and speed regulated driving means coupled to the food-pedals 24 which is also reversible in sense of directions. The torque sensitive means will take care of any resistance presented by the patient and avoid a passive forced movement which could cause harm or even serious injury to the patient. These controls can be of any conventional design and need not be described in greater detail in the present context.

Another feature of the exercising apparatus is illustrated in Fig. 3 where the bracket 30, as a unit, is mounted in an opposite, mirror-image position. This would enable patients seated on a wheel-chairs to approach the front side of platform 12 and use the pedals 24 and the hand grips 44 in a manner similar to that described above.

Those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that numerous changes, modifications and variations may be applied to the invention as heretofore described without departing from its scope as defined in and by the appended claims.

Claims (10)

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. A physiotherapy apparatus for exercising the limbs muscles of a patient comprising: a pair of foot-pedals ratably installed at a first, lower level, a pair of hand-pedals reciprocally installed at a second, higher level, first means for converting the rotational motion of one foot-pedal into a reciprocal motion of the said one hand-pedal, and second means for converting the rotational motion of the other foot-pedal into a reciprocal motion of the other hand pedal.

2. The apparatus as claimed in Claim 1 wherein said first and second motion converting means comprise means for coupling the said respective foot- and hand-pedals to each other.

3. The apparatus as claimed in Claim 2 wherein said coupling means comprise a cable connected between the respective foot and hand-pedals.

4. The apparatus as claimed in Claim 3 wherein the left foot-pedal is connected to the left hand-pedal and the right foot-pedal is connected to the right hand- pedal .

5. The apparatus as claimed in Claim 4 further comprising means for generating the said rotational motion of said foot-pedals.

6. The apparatus as claimed in Claim 5 wherein the said rotational motion generating means comprise an electric motor.

7. The apparatus as claimed in Claim 6 wherein the operation of the motor is speed and torque controlled .

8. The apparatus as claimed in Claim 7 further comprising a platform, a housing for said electric motor and controls, a chair with means for sliding same back and forth in the direction of said housing, a bracket reliably mounted to the housing, provided with a series of pulleys for supporting and guiding the cables from the foot-pedals to the hand-pedals.

9. The apparatus as claimed in Claim 8 wherein the said bracket is adapted to be installed in a second, opposite position.

10. A physiotherapy apparatus for exercising the limbs muscles substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings. For the Applicants DANIEL FREINMANN, ADV. OL/2-571