JPS631068B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a bicycle exercise training device that passively rotates pedals.

Conventional bicycle exercise machines have been widespread as the most common exercise equipment, and are often used for training by physically handicapped people. However, patients with hemiplegia as a result of a stroke, or patients with muscular dystrophy who are not paralyzed but have severely weakened muscle strength, may not be able to transfer.
Even if you ride, it is almost impossible to make a satisfactory rotational motion with the pedals because you are unable to maintain your upper body due to lack of left-right balance, lack of leg strength, or inability to maintain rotational motion. Currently, these patients are excluded from bicycle training. Most people have ridden a bicycle since childhood, and it is generally considered to be an easy form of exercise, but the action of stepping on the pedals improves the left-right balance of the whole body and the power exerted on the left and right legs. It is a combined movement that combines elements such as alternating in-and-out movements, relaxation of the upper limbs, bending and stretching of the legs, knees, and hips, and is an extremely difficult exercise for the physically disabled. However, cycling exercise includes the various elements mentioned above, and if you can do it consistently, it will have great effects.

If the paralyzed affected area is left untreated, the muscles will undergo disuse atrophy and the joints will contract, so passive exercise training is essential to prevent degenerative contractures and maintain joint range of motion. It is meaningless unless it is done continuously over a long period of time.

A considerable amount of force is required to move contracted joints, but conventionally there is no suitable method other than using the hands of physical therapists, and the burden on physical therapists who do this manually is extremely heavy. However, passive movement alone without the patient's autonomous will to move
Although it may be possible to prevent degenerative contractures and maintain joint range of motion, effective functional recovery cannot be expected. It goes without saying that active passive movements made by the patient's own conscious effort, even if weak, that is, matching the autonomous movement intention and the assistance movement, will lead to enhanced training effects, and are easy to implement. It's not a thing. In addition, for vehicles that are capable of autonomous driving, peripheral paralysis is only a quantitative change, so there is no particular problem, but central paralysis is a qualitative change, and the motor movements include abnormal patterns and trick movements. If the automatic movements are allowed to continue as they are, no matter how much quantitative training is repeated, undesirable phenomena such as abnormal patterns are likely to be reinforced by repetition are likely to occur. Therefore, when having a patient with central paralysis perform automatic motor training, the patient should return to basic training to correct the root cause of the abnormality and suppress muscle tone, which tends to increase pathologically. It is necessary to assist and re-educate the child to perform automatic movements so that they can perform independent and correct movements. This is an automatic assisted movement and is the most important training for patients with central paralysis. At present, there is no way to change these passive movements and automatic assisted movements other than manual training by physical therapists, and the reason is that physical therapists are in short supply and even manual training is insufficient. The reality is that things are not going anywhere. Although there are conventional exercise training devices for automatic exercise and automatic resistance exercise, there is nothing for the pre-stage passive exercise or automatic assisted exercise. However, in reality, there are a large number of patients who require preliminary training, placing an excessive burden on physical therapists. In view of the above points, the present invention aims to facilitate whole-body balance, passive movement of the lower limbs, and automatic assisted movement, and to reduce the burden on physical therapists, by passively rotating the pedals. Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to make bicycle exercise, which has been an insurmountable barrier as mentioned above, possible for physically disabled people, and to provide a bicycle exercise training device that can also be used as a regular bicycle training device. It is.

The present invention will be described below with reference to one embodiment.

This device consists of a pedal rotation mechanism, an electromagnetic coupling, and a motor, and the rotation of the motor is transmitted to the pedal via the electromagnetic coupling. It is a stable passive motion device with smooth rotation, and an automatic resistance that can provide arbitrary resistance. It has two elements: an exercise device, and in the case of passive motion, the electromagnetic joint becomes a safety device that idles when the set value is exceeded, and in the case of automatic resistance motion, the electromagnetic joint becomes a safety device. This is a load device that allows the load to be set arbitrarily.

FIG. 1 is an overall perspective view, FIG. 2 is a detailed view of the operation panel, and FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram of the internal mechanism.

The electromagnetic joint 4 has a constant torque property and transmits a constant torque according to the adjustment of the excitation current regardless of the relative rotation speed,
Moreover, it uses a known electromagnetic coupling which has the feature of being able to freely change the torque while maintaining constant torque by adjusting the excitation current, and by changing the excitation current, the input shaft 5 and the output shaft 6 can be The sliding rate can be adjusted freely.

The motor 1, electromagnetic brake 2, speed reducer 3, electromagnetic coupling 4, torque detector 7, and gearbox 8 are connected by shaft couplings 14, 15, 16, 17, and 18, respectively. The output shaft 10 of the gearbox 8 is connected to the chain 2 via sprocket wheels 19 and 20.
1 is connected to the crankshaft 11. Reference numeral 22 denotes a rotation speed detector which can detect the rotation speed of the crankshaft 11 via gears 23 and 24. Main body 25
The operation panel 26 includes a power switch 27, a motor start button 28, a motor stop button 29, a switch 30 for automatic exercise, passive exercise, and automatic assistance exercise using myoelectricity as a trigger signal, and a speed adjustment knob 31 for the motor 1. , a torque adjustment knob 32 of the electromagnetic coupling 4, and an indicator 3 of the shaft torque detected by the torque detector 7.
3. Trigger signal level adjustment knob 34 for cutting low frequencies to prevent the motor from starting at low-level myoelectric outputs depending on the exerciser's strength; When the pedal comes out, the motor starts and continues to rotate, the pedal rotates 2 to 3 times with one myoelectric charge and then stops, or the pedal only rotates once with each myoelectric charge. Electric operation switch 35, myoelectric level meter 3
6. A speedometer/cumulative distance meter 37, a pedal rotation speed indicator 38, and a myoelectric electrode terminal 36 are provided. The chair can be raised and lowered by a vertical adjustment pipe 41, and is fixed by a lever 42. Chair seat plate 43
is horizontally rotatable and fixed by a rotation stopper 44. A back plate 45 and a body fixing belt 46 are attached to the chair seat. The handle 47 is adjustable in height and fixed with a fixing screw 48. A motor stop button 49 is attached to the tip of the handle grip.
The exerciser can operate it while holding the handle.

The method of use and operation of this embodiment configured as described above will be explained.

The athlete sits on a chair, puts their feet on the pedals, and grips the handle with their hands. For those who cannot sit on their own, the caregiver first lowers the chair, fixes the seat plate 43 to the side, has the exerciser sit on it, fixes it with a fixing belt, and adjusts the height and direction of the chair. Have the child put his foot on the pedal 13 and grip the handle.

The height of the handle 47 is adjusted according to the user's physique. Passive exercise training is performed by rotating the lower limbs placed on the pedals 13 by the motor 1. When the switch 30 is turned to passive motion, the motor 1 becomes energized and the electromagnetic brake 2 is released. When the electromagnetic joint 4 is in a semi-sliding state and the start button 28 is pressed, the pedal rotates and the lower limb resting on the pedal is moved passively. The number of rotations of the pedals and the torque of the electromagnetic joint are adjusted according to the exerciser's condition. If a force greater than the adjustment torque of the electromagnetic coupling is applied to the pedal, the electromagnetic coupling will idle and the pedal will stop, making it safe even for patients with spasticity. If the stop button 49 attached to the handle is pushed from the stop button 29, the motor will stop.

By using myoelectricity detected from the affected area during passive exercise as a trigger, active passive exercise and automatically assisted movement can be performed.
A myoelectric electrode cord is connected to the terminal 39, and the electrode is attached to the affected area. Switch the switch 30 to automatic assistance movement. The motor rotates only when the exerciser applies force to rotate the pedals and myoelectricity is detected. With the myoelectric motion switch 35, in (1), if myoelectricity is detected even once during an effort to move the pedal, the pedal will continue to rotate until it is stopped by pressing the stop button. In (2), once myoelectricity is detected, the pedal stops after two or three rotations, and does not rotate unless further myoelectricity is detected. In (3), the training method can be selected depending on the athlete's disability level, such as applying force for each revolution and the pedal will not rotate unless myoelectricity is detected. Furthermore, the myoelectric level adjustment knob 34 cuts off the low range of myoelectric output, so that myoelectric voltages below this level will not work as a trigger signal, and the motor will not rotate unless a myoelectric voltage higher than that is detected with a lifetime of effort. Training methods are possible.

In general, the patterns of the lower limb joints are different when walking and when cycling. During walking, when the knee joint is extended, the ankle joint is dorsiflexed, and when the knee is flexed, the foot is plantarflexed. However, when pedaling a bicycle, the ankle plantarflexes when the knee extends, and the foot dorsiflexes when the knee flexes. Hemiplegic patients tend to plantar flex their ankle joints, so if they are allowed to perform normal pedal motions, this will encourage plantar flexion of their ankle joints, which is undesirable. A foot fixation plate 51 with a guide bar 50 is used to bend the ankle joint when the knee is extended when stepping on the pedal.The foot fixation plate 51 is attached to the pedal 13 by inserting the guide bar into the bar holder 52. Install. Bar holder 5
2 fits into the bar receiver slide 53 and can be adjusted up and down. When you exercise on a bicycle using the foot fixing plate 51, the toes are restricted, and when the knee joint is extended (when the pedal goes down), the ankle joint is dorsiflexed, and when the knee joint is flexed (when the pedal goes down), the ankle joint is dorsiflexed. When the foot is stiff, the ankle plantar flexes. Although this movement is unnatural for a healthy person, it is suitable for training paralyzed patients.

Automatic assisted exercise is a passive exercise training in which the pedals are rotated only when the myoelectric potential detected from the attached electrode becomes a trigger signal.

As mentioned above, paralyzed lower limbs move in an abnormal pattern, so simply training them as they are will only exacerbate the abnormal pattern, which is undesirable. By attaching the electrodes in the correct position, using the myoelectricity from there as a trigger signal, and assisting the movement direction and muscle strength with passive movement set at low torque, we can learn how to apply the correct force when performing automatic movements. For the first time, you can understand how it works.

Automatic resistance exercises are performed by pedaling. When the switch 30 is turned to automatic, the electromagnetic brake 2 is activated and the input shaft 5 of the electromagnetic joint 4 is fixed. When the reducer 3 is a worm reducer, the output shaft is self-locked from the input shaft, so the electromagnetic brake 2 can be omitted. In this case, an electromagnetic joint is used as a load setting device, in which case the slip torque becomes the load resistance. If you press the pedals, you can use it as a regular bicycle training device. The load resistance can be adjusted steplessly, and the torque applied to the pedal and the number of revolutions can be measured by the torque detector 7-tachometer 22, so it can also be used as an ergometer. Furthermore, as shown in Figure 4, it is also possible to remove the chair part from the main body and rotate the pedals while riding on a separate chair or wheelchair. In FIG. 4, 55 is a separate chair device, 56
57 is a frame cover, 57 is an elevating seat plate, 59 is an elevating back plate, 60 is a handrail, and 62 is a crank cover.

As mentioned above, the device of the present invention (1) utilizes the constant torque properties of electromagnetic couplings to achieve ● safe "passive bicycle exercise" and ● "automatic" load adjustment that is stepless. You can do resistance cycling exercise.

(2) By switching on the motor using the myoelectric potential detected from the working muscles of the affected area as a trigger signal.For those who cannot move automatically, by the autonomous will of the person who will work hard to move the affected area for the rest of his life. ``Active passive bicycle movement'', in which the pedals rotate as if you were stepping on them, is used for things that require automatic assistance, trick movement will not start the correct movement. The system assists rotational direction and muscle strength with passive movement set at low torque only when myoelectricity is applied, suppresses abnormal patterns, and helps you understand the correct way to apply force and movement when performing automatic movement. Automated assisted vehicle driving can be performed easily.

Passive bicycle exercise with a single device, with features such as
Not only can automatic resistance bicycle exercise be performed, but even in patients with central paralysis, muscular dystrophy, cerebral palsy, etc. who require passive exercise prior to automatic exercise, motor vehicle exercise is not possible and can only be handled manually by a physical therapist. By using the myoelectric potential as a trigger signal, it is possible to achieve smooth passive bicycle motion even for subjects who are unable to move, and by using myoelectric potential as a trigger signal, it is possible to achieve a proactive and active passive bicycle motion based on autonomous will that is far more meaningful than mere passive bicycle motion. For the first time, it has become possible to use an automatic assistance bicycle to help people understand the correct way to exert force and move when driving automatically. Furthermore, it can be used not only as a regular bicycle training device but also as an ergometer, so it can be used in a wide range of applications, from physically disabled people with spastic muscles to healthy people, from medical rehabilitation to sports training. It will make a major contribution.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the entire bicycle exercise training device of the present invention, Fig. 2 is a detailed view of the operation panel, Fig. 3 is a configuration diagram of the internal mechanism of the device of the present invention, and Fig. 4 is a section from the main body to the chair. Another example is shown in which the seat is removed and a separate chair is used. 1... Motor, 2... Electromagnetic brake, 3... Reduction gear, 4... Electromagnetic coupling, 7... Torque detector, 8
...Gearbox, 11...Crankshaft, 14,
15, 16, 17, 18...shaft coupling, 13...pedal, 26...operation panel.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. A pedal crank that is moved by an input or a drive source, a drive source for moving the pedal crank, a speed adjustment means for the drive source, and a connection between the pedal crank and the drive source. It consists of an electromagnetic joint, a torque adjustment means for the electromagnetic joint, and an amplification control means for using myoelectricity detected from the exerciser as a trigger signal to start the drive source, and the electromagnetic joint is operated manually from the output shaft side. When the electromagnetic coupling is moved by a drive source from the input shaft side, it acts as a clutch (sliding device) that slips when the set value is exceeded. A bicycle exercise training device characterized in that the torque of the electromagnetic joint is used. 2. The bicycle exercise training device according to claim 1, further comprising a mechanism for measuring the force applied to the pedal crank and the rotational speed of the pedal crank.