ITBO20130191A1 - DEVICE FOR PERFORMING EXERCISES OF MOBILIZATION OF PARAVERTEBRAL MUSCLES - Google Patents

Description

DESCRIPTION

Device for performing mobilization exercises of the paravertebral musculature.

The present invention relates to a device for performing exercises to mobilize the paravertebral musculature.

The invention relates to the sector of mechanical rehabilitation tools, aimed at providing an aid in the treatment of pathologies of the spinal column, or rather of the rachis, to limit or postpone the use of surgical therapies by resorting to a â € œpreservative physiotherapy treatmentâ €.

In fact, the non-surgical treatment of pain caused by pathologies of the spine begins with a decontracting therapy that continues with the teaching of the correct postures to be assumed and with the teaching of appropriate exercises. To consolidate the work done and reduce the likelihood of relapse, it is necessary to strengthen the posterior, paravertebral musculature of the spine extensors. The goal of this mobilization is to give greater stability to the spine, strengthening the muscles that directly fit on its vertebrae, and which form a sort of natural â € œbustâ € for the lumbar spine. The stronger the musculature, the more unlikely it is that the assumption of incorrect posture will cause the disc to move towards structures that cause pain, ie towards the spinal cord and its nerves.

The correct execution of the exercise for the training of the spinal paravertebral muscles, allowing the work exclusively on this musculature, is carried out with rehabilitation machines.

A correct execution of the exercise requires that the patient assume, on the machine or tool, a starting position sitting well erect, so that the spine and the femur form an angle of approximately 90 degrees.

From this initial position, the exercise is performed, extending the back against a resistant force. The extension must take place for an amplitude of about 40 degrees with respect to the starting upright position. Once the predetermined width has been reached, return to the initial position by reversing the motion of the back.

It is important that the return movement ends when the back is in a vertical position; in fact, if the back flexes beyond this position, the abdominal muscles are brought to work, which act in the opposite way to the paravertebral ones and the forward flexion squeezes the disc posteriorly again.

Examples of such tools are provided by patent documents EP1543867A2 and US5100131A.

The devices known from these patent documents are designed to allow a person to perform exercises that strengthen the paravertebral musculature.

In particular, the device described in EP1543867A2 is a portable device, which allows it to be folded into a position of minimum bulk. In fact, this device comprises a seat and a backrest hinged to the seat, in which the backrest can be folded over the seat in a closed position, with minimal bulk.

Furthermore, the backrest can be rotated with respect to the seat starting from the closed position in an opening direction, to bring the backrest into a first operating position, at the beginning of the exercise, in which the person sits on the seat and rests his back on the backrest.

During the execution of the exercise, the backrest moves from the first to a second operating position, in an active movement in which the person overcomes the resistant force and, from the second to the first operating position, in a passive return movement.

The resistant force consists of a pre-loaded elastic element, capable of generating a resistant force in opposition to a rotation of the backrest from the first to the second operative operation, to counteract a thrust applied by the person using the paravertebral musculature.

This elastic element consists of a system of springs housed in a compartment defined by the seat and kinematically connected to the backrest by means of a cam.

The function of the cam is to make the resistant force of the springs intervene only in the rotation from the first to the second operating position, and not in the rotation from the closed position to the first operating position.

However, such known devices entail some disadvantages.

First of all, such devices are inconvenient for those who perform the exercise.

Furthermore, they are particularly complicated, from the constructive point of view. The purpose of the present invention is to make available a device for carrying out exercises to mobilize the paravertebral musculature which overcomes the drawbacks of the prior art mentioned above.

In particular, it is an object of the present invention to provide a device for carrying out exercises to mobilize the paravertebral musculature, which is particularly comfortable and effective for the person who uses it.

A further object of the present invention is to propose a device for carrying out exercises to mobilize the paravertebral musculature, which is particularly simple in construction, while ensuring high performance.

Said objects are fully achieved by the device according to the present invention, which is characterized by the contents of the claims reported below.

In particular, the device of the invention is a device for carrying out exercises to mobilize the paravertebral musculature.

This device comprises a seat and a backrest hinged to the seat.

The backrest and the seat are movable relatively to each other to be rotated in a closing direction, in relative approach, up to a closed position; and to be rotated in an opening direction, starting from the closed position up to a first operative position and further up to a second operative position.

The first operating position is an exercise start position, in which the seat and the backrest are substantially perpendicular, to allow a person to sit on the seat, leaning his back on the backrest.

The second operating position is rotated with respect to the first operating position in the opening direction (for example by about 40-50 degrees).

The device comprises an elastic element, kinematically coupled to the seat and back, to generate a resistant force in opposition to a rotation of the back from the first to the second operating operation.

This elastic element is preferably a pre-loaded elastic element. The elastic element has the function of counteracting the thrust applied by the person using the paravertebral musculature, to move the backrest from the first to the second operating position.

The back has a frame. The seat is hinged to said frame; in particular, the seat is hinged to the frame to allow relative rotation between the backrest and seat around at least one axis of rotation. According to the invention, the backrest comprises a support element, configured to be operationally in contact with the person's back during exercise, which is movably connected to the frame of the backrest.

In particular, the support element is movably connected to the frame to move with respect to it under the (ie by effect of) the thrust applied by the person to move the backrest from the first to the second operating position.

Therefore, the support element supports the movement of the person's back and makes the backrest dynamically adaptable to the position of the back, during the exercise, according to the angle of inclination between the seat and the backrest (in particular between the first and second operating positions).

This makes the device particularly comfortable and effective, as it prevents the back from rubbing against the backrest.

Note that the backrest frame is elongated, moving away from an axis of rotation of the backrest with respect to the seat, along a longitudinal axis. In other words, the backrest frame is stretched along a longitudinal axis perpendicular to the axis of rotation between seat and back (or to an axis parallel to it). For example, the backrest frame includes a bar.

Preferably, the support element has at least one mobile surface parallel to said longitudinal axis.

Preferably, the mobile element (of the backrest) comprises a slide slidingly coupled to the frame of the backrest, to move along the frame (along said longitudinal axis) towards and away from the axis of rotation of the backrest relative to the seat. In particular, the slide moves closer to the axis of rotation between the backrest and the seat, as the opening angle of the backrest increases with respect to the seat, and moves away from the axis of rotation between the backrest and seat, as the opening angle of the backrest decreases with respect to the seat.

In this way, the area of the back in contact with the support element remains the same during the exercise.

This makes the device even more comfortable and effective.

As regards the connection modality of the slide to the backrest frame, the use of rolling elements is foreseen, or, alternatively, of a sliding contact.

In any case, preferably, the frame is provided with a guide (arranged along said longitudinal axis along which the frame is elongated); this guide is coupled with rolling elements or sliding elements, to guide the sliding of the support element along the frame.

Preferably, the supporting element of the backrest comprises at least one roller rotating around an axis parallel to the axis of rotation of the backrest with respect to the seat. In this case, the person's back rests on the roller.

If the device includes the aforementioned slide (sliding along the frame of the backrest), this roller is hinged to said slide. In this way, the roller has its own axis of rotation which is movable along the frame.

It should be noted that an embodiment is also provided (without slide), in which the support element of the back includes said at least one roller, which is hinged to the frame of the back in a fixed position. In this case, the roller has its own axis of rotation stationary with respect to the frame.

Also in this case, however, during the execution of the exercise, the portion of the roller instantly in contact with the back moves parallel to the plane on which the backrest lies (in practice it moves on a plane parallel to the plane on which the back rest lies. back and tangent to the outer surface of the roller).

It is also envisaged that, in the embodiment that includes the sled, the latter defines a support surface for the back, without the interposition of a roller.

Therefore, according to the various embodiments provided, the back rests directly on a slide sliding along the backrest frame, or on a roller sliding along the backrest frame, or on a roller coupled in a fixed position with respect to the backrest.

According to another aspect of the present invention, the seat has a recess shaped to contain the backrest in the closed position.

This allows to further reduce the overall dimensions of the device, in the closed position.

According to another aspect, concerning the elastic element capable of generating the resisting force, the present invention provides particularly simple and effective solutions to ensure that this elastic element intervenes only (or mainly) in the rotation between the first and second position operative and non-operative (or to a very limited extent) between the first operative position and the closed position.

In this light, it should be observed that the backrest and the seat are rotating relative to each other around an axis of instantaneous rotation, said axis is not necessarily always the same during the movement of the backrest from the closed position to the second. operating position.

Preferably, the elastic element has a first end fixed to the backrest (or to the seat) and a second end operatively connected to the seat (or to the backrest, respectively), at a point located at a variable distance with respect to said axis of instant rotation. .

In particular, preferably, the elastic element (preferably a pre-loaded spring; alternatively, for example, an elastic sheet has a first end fixed to the backrest (or seat) and a second end operatively connected to the seat (or to the seat) backrest, respectively), in a point located, with respect to said axis of instantaneous rotation, at at least a first distance, in a first section of the relative rotation between the backrest and seat, and at at least a second distance different from the first, in a second section of said rotation.

Preferably, more particularly, the backrest and the seat are kinematically coupled so as to rotate around a first axis of rotation, between the closed position and the first operative position, and around a second axis of rotation, placed at a predetermined distance. from the first axis of rotation, between the first and second operating position. In this case, preferably, the elastic element is a (preloaded) spring having a first end fixed to the backrest (or seat) and a second end fixed to the seat (or backrest, respectively), in a point lying on the first axis of rotation.

In this way, the spring maintains a constant length during rotation between the closed position and the first operating position, and varies its length (due to the force applied by the person on the backrest) in the rotation between the first and second operating positions. According to an embodiment variant, said elastic element is an elastic sheet (pre-loaded) fixed to the seat (or backrest) and configured to interact with the backrest (or with the seat, respectively), in the rotation between the first and the second operative position, and configured to be separated from the backrest (or from the seat, respectively), in the rotation between the closed position and the first operative position.

According to another aspect of the present invention, the device comprises means for adjusting the pre-load force of the elastic element.

This allows you to adapt the device to different levels of training or rehabilitation of the person.

For example, if the elastic element is a spring, one of its ends is expected to be fixed in different points of the backrest (or seat); that is, the device comprises a locking and unlocking element configured to release said end fixed to the backrest (or to the seat) and to lock the same end in a different point of the same backrest (or to the seat).

In the event that the elastic element is a sheet, the device comprises a constraint element which is operationally active on a portion of the sheet placed at a distance from the point where the sheet is fixed to the seat (or to the backrest); furthermore, the device comprises a locking and unlocking element configured to release said restraining element from the sheet and re-lock it in a different position, at a different distance from the point where the sheet is fixed to the seat (or to the backrest).

This and other characteristics will be more evident from the following description of a preferred embodiment, illustrated purely by way of non-limiting example in the accompanying drawing tables, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a device according to the present invention;

Figure 2 illustrates the device of Figure 1, in a side view in closed position;

Figure 3 illustrates the device of Figure 1, in side view in a first operating position;

Figure 4 illustrates the device of Figure 1, in side view in a second operating position;

Figure 5 illustrates the device of Figure 1, schematically and in a first embodiment of a movable element;

Figure 6 illustrates the device of Figure 1, schematically and in a first second embodiment of the movable element, in the first operating position;

Figure 7 illustrates the device of Figure 6, in the second operative position;

Figure 8 illustrates the device of Figure 1, schematically and in a second embodiment of the movable element, in the first operating position;

Figure 9 illustrates the device of Figure 8, in the second operative position;

Figure 10 illustrates the device of Figure 8, in the closed position;

Figure 11 illustrates a detail of the device of Figure 8, according to a variant embodiment;

figure 12 illustrates the detail of figure 11, according to a variant embodiment;

Figure 13 illustrates the detail of Figure 12, according to a further variant embodiment;

Figure 14 illustrates a detail of the device of Figure 1, in partially open view and in the closed position;

figure 15 illustrates the detail of figure 14, in the first operative position;

- figure 16 illustrates the detail of figure 14, in the second operative position.

With reference to the figures, the reference numeral 1 indicates a device according to the present invention.

Device 1 is a device for performing exercises to mobilize the paravertebral musculature.

The device 1 comprises a seat 2 and a backrest 3.

The backrest 3 is movably coupled to the seat 2 in order to rotate with respect to it, with continuity, between the following positions:

- a closed position, with minimum distance between the backrest 3 and the seat (in practice, the backrest 3 is folded over the seat 2);

- a first operating position, rotated with respect to the closed position in an opening direction (it is an initial position for the execution of the exercise, in which the person sits on seat 2 with his back at about 90 degrees with respect to sitting);

- a second operative position, rotated with respect to the first operative position in said opening direction (so that the backrest 3 forms an angle greater than 90 degrees with the seat, approximately 130-150 degrees, for example).

Preferably, the backrest 3 is hinged to the seat 2 in order to be able to rotate with respect to it.

The device 1 comprises a pre-loaded elastic element 4.

This elastic element (a spring in the example illustrated) is kinematically coupled to the seat 2 and the backrest 3, to generate a resistant force capable of opposing a rotation of the backrest from the first to the second operating operation, to counteract a thrust (i.e. a pair) applied by the person using the paravertebral musculature.

The backrest 3 comprises a frame 5. For example, this frame 5 is a bar, or an upright, or a rod-like element.

The frame 5 has a first end hinged to the seat 2 and a second free end.

Furthermore, the backrest 3 comprises a support element 6 configured to be operationally in contact with the person's back during exercise. In particular, the support element 6 defines at least a projecting portion overhanging from a wall 7 of the frame 5 facing the seat 2.

The support element 6 is movably connected to the frame 5 of the backrest 3 to move with respect to it; in particular, under the thrust applied by the person to move the backrest 3 from the first to the second operating position.

The frame 5 of the backrest 3 is elongated along a longitudinal axis, oriented by an area in which the frame 5 is hinged to the seat 2 away from said hinge area (i.e. away from an axis of rotation of the backrest 3 with respect to the session 2).

The support element 6 defines at least one mobile surface 8 parallel to said longitudinal axis. This surface 8 of the support element 6 is a surface in operational contact with the person's back during the execution of the exercise.

The support element 6 (in particular said surface 8 of the support element 6) rotates and / or translates with respect to the frame 5 of the backrest 3, as well as moving integrally with the backrest 3 during its rotation with respect to the seat 2 .

In a possible embodiment, the device 1 comprises a slide 9 slidingly coupled to the frame 5; the sled 9 is slidingly coupled to the frame 5 to translate along said longitudinal axis of the frame 5. It should be observed that, functionally, this sled is part of the support element 6 (even if it does not necessarily constitute a support for the person's back ).

Therefore, the slide 9 is slidingly coupled to the frame 5 of the backrest 3, to move along the frame towards and away from said at least one axis of rotation of the backrest 3 with respect to the seat 2. Operationally, during the execution of the backrest 3. Exercise, the slide 9 approaches the axis of rotation between seat 2 and backrest 3, as the opening angle of the backrest 3 increases with respect to seat 2.

The slide 9 is coupled to the frame 5 of the backrest 3 in different possible ways.

For example (figures 8-10) the sled 9 is coupled to the frame 5 of the backrest 3 by means of a shoe 10 sliding on a guide defined by the frame 5 (for example the shoe 10 is defined by the sled itself).

In another example, the slide 9 is coupled to the frame 5 of the backrest 3 by means of rolling elements, such as bearings 11 (spherical or cylindrical or of another type).

In this case, the rolling elements can be coupled to the slide 9 to translate with it along the frame (example of figure 13) or, alternatively, they can be coupled to the frame 5 to remain stationary with respect to the movement of the slide 9 with respect to the frame 5 (example of figure 12).

In a variant embodiment (example of figure 11), the slide 9 is coupled to the frame 5 of the backrest 3 by means of rolling elements, consisting of one or more toothed cylinders 12 engaged in a rack 13 defined by the frame 5. support 6 comprises (defines) said support surface 8 (operationally in contact with the person's back during the execution of the exercise).

According to a possible embodiment, this support surface 8 is defined by the slide 9, that is, it is integral with the slide.

In this case, the supporting surface 8 translates with respect to the frame 5 but does not rotate with respect to it.

According to another possible embodiment, the support surface 8 is defined by a roller 14.

In this light, it is envisaged that the support element 6 comprises one or more of said rollers 14.

Said roller 14 is rotatably coupled to frame 5 at a distance from the axis of rotation between seat 2 and backrest 3.

According to a possible embodiment (example of Figure 5), it is provided that the roller 14 (or the rollers 14) is hinged to the frame 5 in a fixed position. In this case, the supporting surface 8 translates with respect to the frame 5 but does not rotate with respect to it; this translation is given by a rotation around an axis of the roller 14 and said support surface 8 changes as the inclination between the backrest 3 and the seat 2 varies, since the roller 14 rotates with respect to the person's back but its axis rotation remains stationary with respect to the frame 5.

According to another possible embodiment (example of figures 6 and 7), the roller 14 (or the rollers 14) is pivoted to the frame 5 so that the rotation axis of the roller can slide (translate) along the frame 5.

For example, in this case the roller 14 is hinged to a slide 9 (the slide 9 being for example according to one of the types described above).

In any case, the roller 14 rotates around its own axis which is parallel to an axis of rotation of the backrest with respect to the seat.

Preferably, the seat 2 has a recess shaped to contain the backrest 3 in the closed position.

Preferably, the recess 15 of the seat 2 has a flare in an area of the recess facing the opposite side with respect to a hinge area between the backrest 3 and the seat 2.

Preferably, the elastic element 4 has a first end fixed to the backrest 3 (or to the seat 2) and a second end operatively connected to the seat 2 (or to the backrest 3, respectively), at a point placed at a variable distance with respect to said axis of instantaneous rotation (meaning the rotation between seat 2 and backrest 3).

Preferably, the back 3 and the seat 2 are kinematically coupled so as to rotate around a first rotation axis 16, between the closed position and the first operating position, and a second rotation axis 17, placed at a predetermined distance from the first rotation axis 16, between the first and second operating positions.

Furthermore, the elastic element 4 has a first end fixed to the backrest 3 (or to the seat 2) and a second end fixed to the seat 2 (or to the backrest 3, respectively) at a point lying on the first axis 16 of rotation.

In this case, the elastic element 4 is a spring (pre-loaded to work by traction, or by compression).

To obtain this effect of changing the relative rotation axis between the seat 2 and the backrest 3, it is provided, for example (example illustrated in figures 14-16) that the seat 2 comprises an abutment element 18 pivoted to rotate around the second axis 17 of rotation and shaped so as to interact with one end of the backrest 3, to move integrally with the backrest 3 for opening angles of the backrest 3 with respect to the seat 2 greater than or equal to that corresponding to the first operating position.

In an embodiment variant not shown of the elastic element 4 (with respect to the embodiment consisting of a spring), the elastic element is an elastic sheet fixed to the seat 2 (or to the backrest 3).

This elastic lamina is fixed at one end and is constrained in a further point at a predetermined distance from this end, to define a pre-load.

This elastic sheet is configured to interact with the backrest 3 (or with the seat 2, or with the element, between seat and backrest, to which it is not fixed), in the rotation between the first and second operating position, to generate a resistant force that opposes a rotation of the backrest in the opening direction; moreover, the elastic sheet is configured to be in a non-interference position with the backrest 3 (or with the seat 2, or with the element, between seat and backrest, to which it is not fixed), in the rotation between the closed position and the first operating position.

Claims (10)

CLAIMS 1. Device (1) for performing exercises to mobilize the paravertebral musculature, comprising: - a session (2); - a backrest (3) hinged to the seat (2) to be able to rotate with respect to it between a closed position, in which the backrest is folded over the seat, a first operating position, rotated with respect to the closed position in an opening direction to allow a person to sit on the seat by leaning his back on the backrest, and a second operating position, rotated with respect to the first operating position in said opening direction; - a pre-loaded elastic element (4), kinematically coupled to the seat (2) and the backrest (3), to generate a resistant force in opposition to a rotation of the backrest from the first to the second operating operation, to counteract a thrust applied by the person using the paravertebral musculature, characterized by the fact that the backrest (3) includes: - a frame (5), the seat (2) being hinged to the frame; - a support element (6) configured to be operationally in contact with the person's back during exercise and movably connected to the frame (5) of the backrest (3) to move with respect to it under the thrust applied by the person to move the backrest (3) from the first to the second operating position. Device according to claim 1, in which the frame (5) of the backrest (3) is elongated along a longitudinal axis away from an axis of rotation of the backrest (3) with respect to the seat (2), and in which the The supporting element (6) has at least one mobile surface (8) parallel to said longitudinal axis. 3. Device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the element (6) supporting the backrest (3) comprises a slide (9) slidingly coupled to the frame (5) of the backrest, to move along the frame (5 ) approaching and moving away from an axis of rotation of the backrest (3) relative to the seat (2), to increase and decrease an opening angle of the backrest with respect to the seat, respectively. 4. Device according to claim 3, wherein said slide (9) is coupled to the frame (5) of the backrest (3) by means of rolling elements (11, 12) or by sliding elements (10), interacting with a guide integral with the frame (5). 5. Device according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the element (6) for supporting the backrest (3) comprises at least one roller (14) pivoted to said slide (9) and rotating around an axis parallel to a axis of rotation of the backrest (3) with respect to the seat (2). 6. Device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the support element (6) of the backrest (3) comprises at least one roller (14) rotating about an axis parallel to an axis of rotation of the backrest (3) with respect to the seat (2) and hinged to the frame (5) of the backrest (3) in a fixed position. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the seat (2) has a recess (15) shaped to contain the backrest (3) in the closed position. 8. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the backrest (3) and the seat (2) are rotatable relative to each other around an axis of instantaneous rotation, and in which said element (4) elastic has a first end fixed to the backrest (3) or to the seat (2) and a second end operatively connected to the seat (2) or to the backrest (3), respectively, in a point placed, with respect to said axis of instantaneous rotation, at at least a first distance, in a first portion of the relative rotation between the backrest and seat, and at a second distance different from the first, in a second portion of said rotation. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the backrest (3) and the seat (2) are kinematically coupled so as to rotate around a first axis (16) of rotation, between the closed position and the first operative position , and a second rotation axis (17) placed at a predetermined distance from the first rotation axis (16), between the first and second operating position, and in which said elastic element (4) is a spring having a first end fixed to the backrest (3) or to the seat (2) and a second end fixed to the seat (2) or to the backrest (3), respectively, in a point lying on the first axis (16) of rotation. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein said elastic element (4) is an elastic sheet fixed to the backrest (3) or to the seat (2) and configured to interact with the seat (2) or with the backrest (3), respectively, in the rotation between the first and the second operative position, and configured to be separated from the seat (2) or from the backrest (3), respectively, in the rotation between the closed position and the first operative position.