JPH0517064Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] [Industrial application field] This invention can be used in cases where there is muscle weakness in the lower limb muscles, dysfunction in the range of motion of the lower limb joints such as the feet or knees, etc.
The present invention relates to a plantar flexor dorsiflexor exerciser for the ankle joint, which is used for recovery exercises for functional disorders.

[Conventional technology]

If you have hemiplegia after a stroke, decreased muscle strength in your lower limbs due to Achilles tendon rupture, or impaired range of motion in your ankle or knee joints due to a fracture in your lower limbs, etc., do not leave these disabilities as they are. If left untreated, the foot or knee joints could contract, resulting in chronic lower limb disability. Therefore, exercise and training are necessary to recover from these functional disorders.

By the way, as an example of the strength of muscle strength, there is a so-called five-stage system as described below, in which exercises are divided into stages according to the muscle pressure.

In other words, automatic movement, in which the disabled person has strong enough muscle strength to perform all movements under the control of his or her own will, assisted movement, in which the disabled person requires the assistance of a caregiver and has sufficient muscle strength to perform the exercise, and There are two types of exercise: automatic assisted exercise, in which the disabled person has enough muscle strength to perform the exercise on their own with the assistance of someone else, resistance exercise, in which the disabled person has enough muscle strength to resist external forces, and resistance exercise, in which the disabled person has enough muscle strength to perform the exercise on their own. This method is divided into five stages, including passive movement, which requires no controllable muscle strength and cannot be performed without the assistance of an assistant.

Functional recovery from functional decline in lower limb muscle strength or impairment in the range of motion of the ankle and knee joints requires exercise and training tailored to the muscle strength of the person with the disability, as described above. Of the plot,
A plantar flexion exercise involves contracting the quadriceps, lengthening the tibialis anterior, shortening the gastrocnemius, and shortening the Achilles tendon to flex the toe of the foot backwards through the ankle joint. There is a dorsiflexion exercise that involves stretching, shortening the tibialis anterior muscle, stretching the gastrocnemius muscle and Achilles tendon, and bending the toe upward through the ankle joint.

If we perform excessive functional recovery exercises that exceed the strength of the disabled person or training that is more extreme than necessary, the disabled person will feel pain and will lose motivation to perform functional recovery training, which may lead to functional recovery training itself. will be discontinued. In such cases, muscle strength actually decreases and functional recovery is delayed. Training for functional recovery itself needs to be carried out patiently and regularly, but as a way for disabled people to become accustomed to recovering their functions over a long period of time without tightening, it is necessary for disabled people to practice their own symptoms under their own control. The most desirable strategy is to restore function by increasing muscle strength accordingly.

For example, the equipment shown in Figure 4 is used to perform functional recovery exercises and training exercises through plantar flexion and dorsiflexion for disabled people who are not allowed to bear weight and who have the muscle strength to sit in a chair on their own. , conventionally,
The arm of a chair s having an arm rest r.
An operating section a is provided on the rest section r, and a wire rope w is connected to the operating section a at one end, and the other end is detachably connected to the disabled leg using a holding part h such as a band, using a pulley or the like. It has a structure in which the handicapped leg that requires exercise and training is held by the holding part h while sitting on the chair s, and the operator himself or herself can pull the leg through the path changing part p. By operating the operating part a, the wire rope w
There was an ankle and knee plantar flexion and dorsiflexion treatment device that performed plantar flexion or dorsiflexion exercises by pulling the disabled leg through the foot.

In addition, other conventional examples are aimed at assisting people with disabilities who have recovered their lower limb muscle strength and lower limb nerve disorders to the extent that they can walk with assisted walking. There is a medical walker that has a structure in which a support fence is erected to surround the support fence, and a number of casters are movably attached to the lower surface of the support shelf.

Then, the disabled person bends his or her upper body forward and pushes the upper body while supporting it on the support fence, and moves the casters to exercise walking either completely independently or with the assistance of a caregiver. and training.

[The problem that the idea aims to solve]

However, the above-mentioned conventional plantar flexion and dorsiflexion exercise therapy device consists of a chair s and an arm rest part r of this chair s.
The device itself has a structure that is formed from an operating part a provided at It is a large-scale structure that is installed in a fixed location, requires a large installation area, and is expensive. If you do not exercise and train appropriately according to the degree of disability, it will be painful and put a lot of stress on the lower limb muscles and nerves, delaying the recovery of function. Although it is suitable for installing and performing therapeutic activities, it is not suitable for people with disabilities to carry out plantarflexion and dorsiflexion exercises of the ankle joint or training based on their own will in preparation for the home. It was hot. In addition, even if the above-mentioned medical walker is supported by bending the upper body forward on the support fence, the weight is placed on the impaired leg, so the impairment of lower limb muscle strength and lower limb nerves can be restored to some extent. However, it is not suitable for use in initial plantarflexion and dorsiflexion exercises or training for those who are not allowed to bear weight on their lower limbs after fracture surgery, for example.

This invention enables disabled people without specialized medical knowledge to maintain a healthy body by placing and holding both feet on a single footrest from the time they are able to sit in a chair with little weight bearing. By moving the footrest in the front-rear and left-right directions while assisting the disabled foot, instead of a constant fixed movement, the plantar flexion and dorsiflexion movements of the foot can be adjusted to the degree of the disability. Depending on the situation, range of motion of the ankle or knee joint can be performed voluntarily without pain and without strain to treat muscle weakness such as hemiplegia, paralysis of the lower limb nerves, or rupture of the Achilles tendon. It can perform recovery exercises and training for disabled people, prevent and eliminate chronic joint contractures of ankle or knee joints, and is simple in structure, compact, lightweight, and easy to transport and handle. Furthermore, the aim is to widen the range of training targets, including people with low physical strength who are able to sit in a chair, children, and the elderly.

[Means to try to solve the problem]

Therefore, this idea was made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and it is a platform on which the legs of one disabled person sitting on a chair and the healthy legs of the non-disabled person providing assistance are placed. A caster is provided on the lower surface of the single footrest plate so as to be movable in the front-rear direction and left-right direction, and the upper surface of the footrest plate is provided with a holding means for removably fixing the toes and heels of both feet. establish.

[Effect]

To perform exercises and training to restore joint range of motion for hemiplegia after a stroke, functional decline in lower limb muscle strength due to Achilles tendon rupture, lower limb fractures, etc., it is necessary to perform exercises and training while sitting on a chair, for example. Place one foot with the required disability and the other healthy foot together on a single footrest, and place the heels of both feet against the heel support component and tighten the toes of both feet with a tightening band. Tighten and secure it to the footrest.

Then, while assisting the other disabled leg with one healthy leg, the patient stretches and contracts both legs placed on the footrest and slides the footrest horizontally in the forward and backward direction. strengthen the muscle strength of the legs, remove stress on the lower limb nerves, and perform plantar flexion and dorsiflexion exercises and dorsiflexion exercises and training of the foot or knee joints.

〔Example〕

An embodiment of this invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

Reference numeral 1 denotes a footrest plate 1 made of wood or, if necessary, plastic and formed into a substantially rectangular planar shape.This footrest plate 1 can be used when a person with a disability is sitting, for example, for hemiplegia of the lower limb nerves or for Achilles tendon K. Both legs 2a and 2b, one leg 2a with a decrease in lower limb muscle strength due to rupture, or a disability such as a fracture in the range of motion of the ankle joint or knee joint A, and the other healthy leg 2b without any disability.
It has an area S that is large enough to place the items, and is formed to have a length of, for example, about 25 cm in height and 20 cm in width.

Reference numeral 3 denotes a non-slip part provided on the upper surface of the footrest 1 as required. For example, a rubber sheet having unevenness is adhered to this anti-slip part 3, but if the footrest 1 is made of plastic. If you are
It may be formed integrally on the upper surface of the footrest 1.

Reference numeral 4 denotes four casters which are freely movably mounted at four positions on the front, rear, left and right sides of the lower surface of the footrest 1, and these casters 4 slide the footrest 1 approximately horizontally in the front and back direction or in the left and right direction. To stably support a footrest 1 when the footrest is placed.

Reference numeral 5 denotes a holding means for holding both feet 2a and 2b when the feet 2a and 2b are placed on the top surface of the footrest plate 1. , a substantially C-shaped heel support part 6 formed on the rear part by suitable fixing means such as riveting or nailing, and to which the heel _A1 is removably locked;
This heel support part 6 is attached so that A ₂ can be freely engaged and detached.
It is formed from a tightening band 7 whose left and right ends are fixed at approximately the center position in the longitudinal direction of the footrest 1 with a space therebetween.

Of these, the heel support component 6 is formed of a band-like material such as plastic, leather, cloth, etc., but if plastic is used, it may be formed integrally with the footrest 1. The tightening band 7 has one end secured to the footrest plate 1 using a planar U-shaped mounting bracket 8, and the other ends (abutting ends) of the bands 7a and 7b are overlapped to attach a velvet fastener, snap, or hook. It is removably locked by an appropriate locking means such as the like.

One embodiment of this device has the above-mentioned configuration, so that, for example, hemiplegia of the lower limb nerves, muscle weakness due to rupture of the Killes tendon K, or impairment of the range of motion of the ankle joint due to fractures of the lower limb, can be prevented on one side. In the case of foot 2a, sit on a chair, align both feet 2a and 2b of the foot 2a with the problem and the other healthy foot 2b without the problem, and place the heel A ₁ on the heel support component 6. Place both feet 2 on the foot rest plate 1 so that they touch each other and tighten the toes A ₂ with the tightening band 7 so that the shoes are worn on both feet 2a and 2b.
Align and fix a and 2b (see solid and broken lines in FIG. 2). In this way, both legs 2a and 2b
In order to set and fix the foot to the footrest 1, it is sufficient to lock the heel _A1 to the heel support component 6 and the toe _A2 to the tightening band 7. Correspondingly, both feet 2a and 2b can be aligned and fixed easily on the upper surface of the footrest 1.

From the solid and broken lines in Figure 2, it is clear that the healthy leg 2b should assist the disabled leg 2b and move according to the degree of the disability, so as not to put an excessive burden on the disabled leg 2b. The heel plate 1 is moved horizontally in the front and back direction by rotating the four casters 4 by gradually applying force while controlling the Exercises are performed to widen the range of motion of B, plantar dorsiflexion of the ankle joint B, and flexion and extension of the knee joint A, as well as training.
That is, when the footrest 1 on which both feet 2a and 2b are set and fixed is moved forward as shown in FIG. 3, the knee joint A opens and extends from approximately 90 degrees.
As lower limb muscles, the quadriceps L contracts, the tibialis anterior muscle M lengthens, the gastrocnemius muscle N and Achilles tendon K contract, and the ankle joint L plantsarflexes. On the other hand, as shown in the imaginary line in Figure 2, when the footrest 1 is moved backward, the knee joint A is bent from approximately 90 degrees to an even more acute angle, and the quadriceps L and gastrocnemius muscles N is lengthened, the tibialis anterior muscle M is shortened, the Achilles tendon K is lengthened, and the ankle joint B is dorsiflexed.

In this way, when the footrest 1 moves in the front-rear direction due to the expansion and contraction of the knee joint A and the ankle joint B, the footrest 1 is kept horizontally in the front and back and left and right by the four casters 4 provided on its lower surface. Because it is supported, there is no sideways movement, and both legs 2a, 2 can be moved stably.
b is held on the footrest plate 1 by being tightened by the heel support part 6 and the tightening band 7 as holding means, and the anti-slip part 3 is formed on the footrest plate 1. , both feet 2 for footrest 1
a, 2b move integrally with the footrest 1 without sliding, and the burden on both feet 2a, 2b is reduced.

[Effect of idea]

As mentioned above, this idea was developed by people with disabilities who do not have specialized medical knowledge to place and hold both feet on a single footrest from the time they are able to sit in a chair with less weight bearing. By moving the footrest back and forth and from side to side, the affected foot is assisted by the healthy foot, and the footrest is moved back and forth and from side to side, allowing for plantar flexion and movement of the foot. Depending on the degree of disability, dorsiflexion movements can be performed voluntarily without pain and without strain, and can be used to treat muscle weakness such as hemiplegia, paralysis of lower limb nerves, and rupture of the Achilles tendon. It is possible to perform recovery exercises and training for people with disabilities in the range of motion of joints or knee joints, and to prevent and eliminate chronic joint contractures of ankle joints or knee joints.

In addition, the present invention has a simple structure, is compact, and is lightweight, so it can be used in any narrow space, and even people with low physical strength who can sit in a chair, children, and the elderly can freely carry it and handle it easily. Easy to do.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of this invention, Fig. 2 is a side view of the device in use with both feet set and fixed on a footrest while sitting on a chair, and Fig. 3 is in use while performing plantar flexion movements. FIG. 4 is a side view showing a conventional plantar flexor dorsiflexor exerciser. 1... Footrest plate, 2a, 2b... Feet, 3... Anti-slip part, 4... Caster, 5... Holding means, 6
... Heel support parts, 7 ... Tightening band, 8 ... Mounting metal fittings.

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] Move forward and backward and laterally onto the underside of a single footrest that is large enough to support both the disabled leg while sitting on a chair and the other healthy leg that is being assisted. 1. A plantar flexion dorsiflexion exerciser for an ankle joint, characterized in that a caster is provided on the upper surface of the footrest, and holding means for removably fixing the toes and heels of both feet is provided on the upper surface of the footrest.