JP2009153857A - Exercise assisting apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an exercise assisting apparatus capable of enhancing an exercise efficiency without impairing safety. <P>SOLUTION: The exercise assisting apparatus 1 includes: a pair of electrodes 20 to be mounted on the body of a user; a voltage applying part 21 for giving a voltage with the low frequency of 30-40 Hz between the pair of electrodes 20, so as to over-contract a muscle group (quadriceps in a thigh part, as one example) in the specified region of the body; a support part 30 to be at least partially placed on the body of the user; a driving part 31 for moving the support part 30 so as to allow the user to do exercises to stretch the muscle group in the specified region; and a control part 5 for controlling the voltage applying part 21 and the driving part 31. The control part 5 applies the voltage between the pair of electrodes 20 by the voltage applying part 21 during a period when the support part 30 is moved by the driving part 31, and then, over-contracts the muscle group in the specified region. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an exercise assisting device that can obtain an exercise effect without performing spontaneous (active) exercise.

  Traditionally, exercise by passive movement that allows the user to obtain an exercise effect by applying external force to the user's body and expanding and contracting (tensioning / relaxing) the muscle group without spontaneously exerting muscular strength. Various auxiliary devices have been proposed.

  As this type of exercise assisting device, there is known a configuration in which muscle groups are expanded and contracted by reflex of the nervous system by applying stimulation to the body.

  For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a device that simulates walking motion, which is used by a user in a standing position mainly for the purpose of prevention of knee osteoarthritis or walking training. The device described in Patent Document 1 has a pair of steps for placing left and right feet respectively, and by moving each step into a combination of front and rear, left and right linear reciprocating motions, Make a skating action. In this way, by causing the user to perform a pseudo skating operation and shifting the position of the user's center of gravity to the front and rear and from side to side, the reflection of the nervous system is caused to maintain balance, and the muscle group is expanded and contracted. . Therefore, it is not necessary for the user to exercise voluntarily or actively, and it is possible to exercise dynamically as the step moves, simply by placing the foot on the step.

  Moreover, the posture at the time of use varies depending on the muscle group to be expanded and contracted, and there are some that the user uses in the sitting position. For example, Patent Document 2 discloses a device that simulates a riding exercise.

  The device disclosed in Patent Document 2 has a seat on which a user's buttocks is placed (a user sits), and by swinging the seat back and forth and left and right, the user can perform a pseudo riding operation. Let it be done. In other words, in the apparatus disclosed in Patent Document 2, by causing the user to perform a riding operation, as in Patent Document 1, the position of the user's center of gravity is shifted back and forth and left and right to maintain balance. System reflexes are generated, causing the muscle groups to expand and contract.

  Although what is shown in said patent document 1 and 2 is a thing of the structure which expands and contracts a muscle group by the reflection of a nervous system by giving a stimulus to a body, as an exercise assistance apparatus, the load applied to a part of body is carried out. There is also known a configuration that promotes expansion and contraction of muscle groups by changing.

For example, Patent Document 3 discloses that the knee is almost bent and extended by placing the sole of the user on the footrest surface and displacing the seat in a state where the seat is provided and the user's buttocks is supported by the contact surface. There has been disclosed a technique for expanding and contracting thigh muscle groups without performing the above. The device disclosed in Patent Document 3 performs expansion and contraction of muscle groups with little bending or stretching of the joint (knee joint). However, as the exercise assisting device as described above, the bending and stretching movement of the joint is positive. There is also known a configuration that promotes the expansion and contraction of muscle groups related to the joint by performing it automatically.
JP 2003-290386 A JP 2006-61672 A JP 2005-58733 A

  By the way, the exercise assistance apparatus described above is generally lightly loaded. Therefore, there has been a demand to increase muscle strength in a short time by increasing the load on the body and increasing the exercise efficiency. Here, as a method for increasing the exercise efficiency, for example, the step shown in Patent Document 1 may increase the operation speed of the step, and the method shown in Patent Document 2 may increase the swing of the seat.

  However, in such a case, it becomes difficult to maintain the balance of the body, and as a result, the user may fall or fall from the seat and may be injured.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and an object of the present invention is to provide an exercise assisting device that can increase exercise efficiency without impairing safety.

  In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, in the invention of claim 1, a pair of electrodes to be worn on the user's body and a predetermined voltage for overcontracting a muscle group of a specific part of the body are provided between the pair of electrodes. A voltage application unit; a support unit on which at least a part of the user's body is placed; a drive unit that moves the support unit to cause the user to perform an exercise to expand and contract the muscle group of the specific site; and voltage application And a control unit that controls the drive unit, and the control unit applies the predetermined voltage between the pair of electrodes by the voltage application unit while the support unit is moved by the drive unit. .

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, when the user performs an exercise to expand and contract the muscle group of the specific part of the body, the muscle group of the specific part is in an over-contracted (excessive tension) state. Therefore, it is possible to increase the load on the body without increasing the moving speed of the support portion by the drive portion, and therefore it is possible to increase the exercise efficiency without impairing safety.

  According to a second aspect of the invention, in the first aspect of the invention, the predetermined voltage is a low frequency voltage of 30 to 40 Hz.

  According to the invention of claim 2, the muscle group can be excessively contracted appropriately.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first or second aspect of the invention, the control unit is configured to cause the muscle group of the specific part to expand and contract by the movement of the support unit, and the predetermined applied between the pair of electrodes. It is characterized in that the voltage synchronizes the timing at which the muscle group at the specific site contracts excessively.

  According to the invention of claim 3, since the muscle group of the specific part is over-contracted only when the muscle group of the specific part of the body expands and contracts, a load can be efficiently applied to the user's body.

  The present invention has an effect that exercise efficiency can be improved without impairing safety.

  As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the exercise assisting apparatus 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a stimulus applying unit 2 that applies electrical stimulation to overcontract a muscle group of a specific part of a user M's body, and a user. Passive motion means 3 for causing M to perform a passive motion is provided.

  The stimulus applying means 2 has a pair of electrodes (conductors) 20 attached to the body of the user M. The pair of electrodes 20 are in electrical contact with the body surface (skin) of the body of the user M at a predetermined interval, and an electric current flows between the pair of electrodes 20 through the body of the user M. Electrical stimulation is given to the body of the user M. In the illustrated example, a pair of electrodes 20 are attached to the hip joint side and the knee joint side of the thigh so that electrical stimulation can be applied to the quadriceps muscle that is one of the thigh muscle groups. ing. That is, the specific part in the present embodiment is the quadriceps muscle. As such an electrode 20, what can be attached or detached with respect to a body by the adhesive material which has electroconductivity is employable. However, the electrode 20 is not limited to the above example, and other well-known ones (for example, those worn using a belt or the like) can be employed.

  The pair of electrodes 20 is connected to the voltage application unit 21 by an electric wire (not shown). The voltage application unit 21 provides a predetermined voltage between the pair of electrodes 20 to cause the muscle group of the specific part of the body to over contract (maintain the muscle group in a contracted state). Here, the predetermined voltage is a voltage that can cause the muscle group to over contract appropriately, and for example, a low frequency voltage of 30 Hz to 40 Hz (for example, a pulse voltage of 30 Hz to 40 Hz) is known. ing. Since such a voltage application unit 21 can be configured using a conventionally known circuit (a converter, a chopper circuit, an inverter, or the like), detailed description thereof is omitted.

  Therefore, according to the stimulus imparting means 2, by attaching the pair of electrodes 20 to the body, it is possible to apply electrical stimulation (flow current) to a part of the body between the pair of electrodes 20 (that is, the specific part). Thus, the muscle group of the specific site can be over-contracted.

  The passive movement means 3 is, for example, installed on the floor and used. The passive movement means 3 is a support unit 30 on which a part of the body of the user M is placed (supported), and the support unit 30 with respect to the gantry 32. The drive unit 31 to be moved is provided on a plate-like gantry 32 installed on the floor. The support unit 30 includes a saddle-shaped seat 30a on which a buttocks that is a part of the body of the user M is placed, and a pair of saddles 30b that are suspended on both sides of the seat 30a and on which the left and right feet of the user M are placed. It is configured. Note that the use of the bag 30b is arbitrary.

  The drive unit 31 includes a drive source (not shown) including a rotary motor (for example, a stepping motor) and a drive mechanism (not shown) that transmits the power of the drive source to the support unit 30. Yes. The drive mechanism is configured by, for example, combining a reduction gear train that decelerates rotation of a rotary motor and mechanical elements such as a cam, a crank, a link, and a clutch. The support 30 is swung in the front-rear direction (the left-right direction in FIG. 2) or the left-right direction (the direction perpendicular to the paper surface in FIG. 2) by rotation (in FIG. 2, the manner in which the support 30 is swung). (Shown by a broken line), the user M is caused to perform a riding exercise (riding operation). In such riding exercises, nervous system reflexes occur to maintain balance, and muscle groups (mainly abdominal, back, buttocks, thighs, and lower leg muscles) expand and contract. In addition, since the conventionally well-known thing can be employ | adopted about the said drive mechanism of the drive part 31 which enables the said riding exercise | movement, detailed description is abbreviate | omitted.

  Therefore, according to the passive movement means 3, the support part 30 can be moved and the user M can be exercise | moved to expand and contract the muscle group of the said specific site | part.

  By the way, the exercise assisting apparatus 1 includes a position detection unit 4 that detects the position of the support unit 30. The position detection part 4 is comprised by the distance sensors 40 and 41 installed in the mount frame 32 of the passive movement means 3, for example. Here, the distance sensor 40 measures the distance between the front end portion (left end portion in FIG. 2) of the seat 30a of the support portion 30 and the mount 32, and the distance sensor 41 is the rear end portion of the seat 30a of the support portion 30. The distance between (the right end portion in FIG. 2) and the gantry 32 is measured. Therefore, according to the position detection unit 4, the position of the support base 30 with respect to the gantry 32 can be detected based on the distances detected by the two distance sensors 40 and 41.

  Such a position detection part 4 is used in order to determine whether the muscle group of the said specific site | part of the user M is expanding-contracting by passive movement. In the passive movement means 3 shown in FIG. 2, for example, when the support portion 30 is located at the front end position or the rear end position in the movement path, the center of gravity of the user M is greatly shifted back and forth. The muscle group of the specific part of the user M expands and contracts. Therefore, in the passive movement means 3 shown in FIG. 2, the position where the muscle group of the specific part of the user M expands and contracts includes the front end position or the rear end position on the movement path of the support portion 30 with respect to the gantry 32. .

  In the exercise assisting apparatus 1 described above, a single control unit 5 causes the stimulus applying unit 2 (the voltage applying unit 21 of the stimulus applying unit 2) and the passive motion unit 3 (the drive unit 31 of the passive motion unit 3) to be used. Be controlled. The control unit 5 is configured using, for example, a CPU, a logic circuit, or the like, and over contracts the muscle group of the specific part of the user M's body by controlling the voltage application unit 21. (Driving stimulus means 2) On the other hand, by controlling the drive unit 31, the user M is caused to exercise such that the muscle group of the specific part is expanded and contracted (the passive movement means 3 is driven). .

  Here, when driving the stimulus applying means 2 and the passive movement means 3, the control unit 5 determines that the position of the support unit 30 obtained from the position detection unit 4 is the specific part of the user M by the passive movement. By applying the predetermined voltage between the pair of electrodes 20 by the voltage application unit 21 when the muscle group is at a position where the muscle group expands and contracts (the above-described front end position or rear end position), The timing at which the muscle group expands and contracts is synchronized with the timing at which the muscle group at the specific site is over-contracted by the predetermined voltage applied between the pair of electrodes 20.

  That is, the control unit 5 does not drive the stimulus imparting unit 2 and the passive motion unit 3 separately, but moves the support unit 30 by the drive unit 31 (the passive motion unit 3 is driven). ), The voltage application unit 21 applies the predetermined voltage between the pair of electrodes 20 (drives the stimulus applying means 2), and thereby the voltage is applied while the support unit 30 is moved by the drive unit 31. The application unit 21 applies the predetermined voltage between the pair of electrodes 20.

  As described above, the exercise assisting apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment causes the pair of electrodes 20 to be worn on the body of the user M and the muscle group of the specific part of the body between the pair of electrodes 20 to over contract. A voltage application unit 21 that applies a predetermined voltage, a support unit 30 on which at least a part of the body of the user M is placed, and an exercise that causes the user M to expand and contract the muscle group of the specific site by moving the support unit 30 And a control unit 5 that controls the voltage application unit 21 and the drive unit 31. The control unit 5 applies voltage while the support unit 30 is moved by the drive unit 31. The predetermined voltage is applied between the pair of electrodes 20 by the portion 21.

  Therefore, according to the exercise assisting apparatus 1 of the present embodiment, when the user M is caused to exercise such that the muscle group of a specific part of the body (the quadriceps of the thigh in the present embodiment) is expanded and contracted. , Because the muscle group of the specific part is in an over-contracted (over-strained) state, it is possible to increase the load on the body without increasing the moving speed of the support part by the drive part. Exercise efficiency can be increased without loss of sexuality.

  In particular, the control unit 5 sets the timing at which the muscle group at the specific site expands and contracts due to the movement of the support unit 30 and the timing at which the muscle group at the specific site over contracts due to the predetermined voltage applied between the pair of electrodes 20. Since the synchronization is performed, the muscle group of the specific part is over-contracted only when the muscle group of the specific part of the body expands and contracts, so that a load can be efficiently applied to the body of the user M. Moreover, it is possible to prevent an excessive burden on the body of the user M by constantly over-contracting the muscle group of the specific site.

  In the example shown in FIG. 2, the pair of electrodes 20 is attached to a body location where the quadriceps can be overcontracted. However, the place where the pair of electrodes 20 are attached is limited to the above example. It can be set according to the location of the muscle to which electrical stimulation is to be applied. For example, in the above example, the quadriceps muscle is the target (note that the wobble of the knee can be suppressed by training the quadriceps muscles to increase muscle strength or increase muscle mass). If so, it may be a hamstring (biceps femoris, semi-tendon-like muscle, semi-membranous muscle). In addition, the electrode 20 may be attached to the trunk of the body. In this case, the rectus abdominis muscle, the external oblique muscle, and the like are targeted. In this way, it is possible to select a muscle group to which electrical stimulation is applied depending on the place where the electrode 20 is mounted. However, in order to obtain the effect of the present invention, muscles that are expanded and contracted by the passive motion by the passive motion means 3 are used. It is necessary to provide it in a place where it can be over-contracted.

  Moreover, in this embodiment, the position of the support part 30 is detected using a distance sensor, and the timing at which the muscle group of the user M is expanded and contracted by the passive movement means 3 is detected based on the detected position. However, the method for detecting such timing is not limited to the above-described method, such as a rotary encoder that detects the rotation angle of the drive source, an acceleration sensor that detects the acceleration of the support unit 30, and the like. Various conventionally known methods can be applied.

  By the way, the passive movement means 3 shown in FIG. 2 is for causing the user M to perform a riding exercise, but as the passive movement means 3, the user M walks as shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. It may be one that causes exercise (walking motion).

  The passive movement means 3 shown in FIG. 3 is used by being installed on the floor in the same manner as shown in FIG. 2, and the left foot support base 30c and the right foot support base on which the left and right feet of the user M are respectively placed. A plate 30 is provided with a support 30 made of 30d and a drive unit 31 for moving the positions of the left foot support 30c and the right foot support 30d of the support 30 respectively. 3 and 4, the drive unit 31 is not shown. Although not shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, an upper plate having two opening windows for exposing the left foot support 30c and the right foot support 30d is disposed on the upper side of the gantry 32. The upper plate and the gantry 32 constitute a housing. Further, the gantry 32 of the passive movement means 3 shown in FIG. 3 is placed on the floor, but the gantry 32 may be embedded in the floor.

  The left foot support base 30c and the right foot support base 30d are arranged on the base 32 so as to be reciprocally movable in a predetermined direction (for example, a direction of 45 degrees with respect to the front-rear direction of the base 32). Further, the left foot support base 30c and the right foot support base 30d are configured such that the ankle joint is dorsiflexed (or bottom bent) at the front end position of the movement path, and the ankle joint is bottom bent (or dorsiflexed) at the rear end position. It is arranged to incline. Further, in the support portion 30, a phase difference of 180 degrees is provided for the movement of the left foot support base 30c and the right foot support base 30d, whereby the movement direction of the left foot support base 30c and the right foot support base 30d is opposite. It is trying to become.

  The drive unit 31 includes a rotation motor (not shown) as a drive source that generates a drive force for moving the left foot support base 30c and the right foot support base 30d, and the left foot of the support portion 30 is driven by the rotation force of the rotation motor. A drive mechanism (not shown) is provided for reciprocating the support base 30c and the right foot support base 30b. This drive mechanism is configured using, for example, a worm gear having a worm coupled to the output shaft of the rotary motor and a worm wheel meshing with the worm, a crank mechanism, and the like.

  According to the passive movement means 3 shown in FIG. 3, the left foot support base 30c and the right foot support base 30d move as described above, thereby allowing the user M to perform a walking motion. The muscle group of the leg portion of M can be expanded and contracted.

  In such a passive movement means 3, the position detector 4 includes a right foot support 30d and a right inner surface of the gantry 32 (the right inner surface in FIG. 4A), as shown in FIG. A distance sensor 42 for measuring the distance between the right foot support 30d and the rear inner surface of the gantry 32 (the lower inner surface in FIG. 4A), a right foot support 30d and the gantry 32. And a distance sensor 44 for measuring the distance from the upper surface (the upper surface in FIG. 4B). According to the position detection unit 4, the position of the right foot support base 30d with respect to the gantry 32 can be detected based on the distances detected by the three distance sensors 42 to 44.

  Therefore, also in the passive movement means 3 shown in FIG. 3, the muscle of the specific part is determined by the timing at which the muscle group of the specific part expands and contracts by the movement of the support portion 30 and the predetermined voltage applied between the pair of electrodes 20. It becomes possible to synchronize the timing at which the group over contracts.

  The position detector 4 may also be provided for the left foot support 30c. However, in the passive movement means 3 shown in FIG. 3, the operation of the left foot support 30c is interlocked with the right foot support 30d. Since it is not independent of 30d, it is not particularly necessary.

  Further, as the passive movement means 3, in addition to the one shown in FIG. 3, the one shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B can be adopted. The passive movement means 3 shown in FIG. 5 has a gantry 32 placed at a fixed position such as a floor, and a support portion 30 made of a sheet on which the buttock of the user M is placed on the gantry 32 at the upper end. A support post 33 and a handle post 34 provided with a handle 34a that the user M holds by hand as necessary are provided. A footrest 35 having an upper surface as a footrest surface 35 a is provided at a position between the support base 33 and the handle post 34 in the gantry 32. The footrest 35 regulates the foot position by the user M placing his sole on the footrest surface 35a.

  The support base 33 is provided with a drive unit 31 that swings the support unit 30. The driving unit 31 uses a driving source (not shown) to support the user M in a state where the buttocks are placed on the supporting unit 30 and the soles are placed on the footrest surface 35a of the footrest 35. The weight of the user M acting on the leg is changed by swinging 30 to change the position of the buttocks. That is, in the state where the weight of the user M is distributed and supported between the buttocks and the legs, the weight of the user M supported by the buttocks is increased or decreased by changing the position of the buttocks, and the weight acting on the legs as a result. To change.

  Here, when the knee is bent by a predetermined angle, when the ratio of supporting the body weight by the support portion 30 is reduced, the thigh of the user M is performed in the same manner as when the knee is bent by performing a squat exercise. The load acting on the thigh increases, and the thigh muscle group can be contracted. In other words, when the support unit 30 is swung by the drive unit 31, the thigh muscle group repeats tension and relaxation due to the other dynamic motion that is not the voluntary motion of the user M. The thigh muscle group can be exercised.

  Also in the passive movement means 3 shown in FIG. 5, the position of the support portion 30 can be detected by using the position detection portion 4, and thereby the specific portion can be detected by the movement of the support portion 30. It is possible to synchronize the timing at which the muscle group expands and contracts and the timing at which the muscle group at the specific site over contracts by the predetermined voltage applied between the pair of electrodes 20.

  In addition to the passive movement means 3 shown in FIGS. 2 to 5 described above, as the passive movement means 3, one having a support portion 31 on which all, not at least a part of the body of the user M is placed is adopted. can do. Moreover, the structure of the passive movement means 3 shown in FIGS. 2-5 can also be changed suitably.

It is a block diagram of the exercise assistance device of one embodiment of the present invention. It is a schematic explanatory drawing of the exercise assistance apparatus same as the above. It is a schematic explanatory drawing of the other examples of the exercise assistance apparatus same as the above. It is explanatory drawing of the position detection part in the same as the above. The other example of the exercise assistance apparatus same as the above is shown, (a) is a schematic side view, (b) is a schematic top view.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Exercise assist device 5 Control part 20 Electrode 21 Voltage application part 30 Support part 31 Drive part

Claims (3)

A pair of electrodes to be mounted on the user's body, a voltage application unit for applying a predetermined voltage for overcontracting a muscle group of a specific part of the body between the pair of electrodes, and a support for placing at least a part of the user's body A drive unit that moves the support unit to cause the user to move and stretch the muscle group of the specific site, and a control unit that controls the voltage application unit and the drive unit.
The control unit applies the predetermined voltage between the pair of electrodes by the voltage application unit while the support unit is moved by the driving unit.   2. The exercise assisting device according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined voltage is a low frequency voltage of 30 to 40 Hz.   The control unit synchronizes the timing at which the muscle group at the specific site expands and contracts due to the movement of the support unit and the timing at which the muscle group at the specific site over contracts by the predetermined voltage applied between the pair of electrodes. The exercise assisting device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein

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