RU2343946C2 - Proprioceptive/kinesthetic device and method - Google Patents

Abstract

FIELD: medicine; subjects of personal and house use.

SUBSTANCE: footwear for proprioceptive exercises contains basic element which has the top surface attached to foot, and two prominences which are established on the bottom surface of a basic element and one of which is located more close to a back part, than other prominence, the specified prominences are established on the specified surface with sliding and locating possibility and their fastenings for choice.

EFFECT: improvement of results proprioceptive and kinesthetic treatments.

9 cl, 10 dwg

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a device for training, developing and improving proprioceptive and kinesthetic skills, neuromuscular control and body stability.

BACKGROUND

Proprioception refers to the ability to determine where part of the body is located in space, and to recognize the movements of body parts (such as fingers and toes, feet and hands, legs and arms). Kinesthesia is a related term and refers to the sensation that perceives position, weight, muscle tension and movement. Sometimes in the medical literature proprioception refers to a conscious and unconscious sensation of the position of the joints, while kinesthesia refers to a sense of speed and acceleration of the joints. Proprioception is often used along with kinesthesia, and here the terms are also used based on interchangeability. (In the description and claims, the term "proprioception" is used to mean proprioception, kinesthesia, body stability, etc.)

The neuromuscular body control system combines peripheral sensations related to joint loads and converts these signals into coordinated motor reactions. This muscular activity serves to protect the joint structures from excessive stress.

In the soft tissues of the musculoskeletal system there are certain mechanoreceptors that interact with the central nervous system and coordinate body movements, posture and balance. Mechanoreceptors are located in the muscles, tendons, ligaments, joint capsules and skin. These nerve fibers transmit information to the brain related to the condition and functioning of the musculoskeletal system. Mechanoreceptors send electrical signals along the peripheral nerves to the spinal cord. Electrical signals pass through the spinal cord to the brain, where the signals are decrypted to recognize movements of body parts, muscle tension, movement, etc.

Some examples of mechanoreceptors for controlling the muscular system include the muscle spindle. The muscle spindle is scattered among the contracting fibers of the skeletal muscles, with the highest concentration in the central part of each muscle. Spindle-shaped muscle fibers are responsible for changes in muscle length. These nerve endings provide the central nervous system with the information used to maintain muscle tone and correct muscle tension on opposite sides of each joint.

The fibrous tissues that surround and protect most joints contain many sensitive nerve endings for proprioception and kinesthesia. The input from these sensitive nerve endings provides the central nervous system with information related to the position, extension, compression, tension, acceleration and rotation of the joint.

The foot is the anatomical region that contains the second largest number of proprioceptive or kinesthetic sensory receptors in the body (the largest number in the spinal cord).

Proprioceptive and kinesthetic exercises and exercise devices are well known for improving dexterity, balance and coordination, and for rehabilitating people whose proprioceptive ability has worsened after an accident or illness. One such class of exercise device includes orthostatic boards, where the patient is standing on a board or similar platform that has a ball mounted beneath it. Due to the presence of the ball, the board does not lie horizontally, and this requires the patient to be able to balance and perform maneuvers on the platform. Repeated exercises on the orthostatic board can be used to develop or rehabilitate the patient’s proprioception and neuromuscular control, as well as to strengthen the muscles, tendons and connective tissues in the foot area.

Other well-known proprioceptive and kinesthetic devices for exercises include a boot with a ball mounted under its sole. A shoe with a ball is used similarly to an orthostatic board. Another boot has a rod mounted under its sole, used to strengthen the flexor muscles.

Another proprioceptive and kinesthetic device for exercises is described in US patent 6283897, issued to Paton (Patton). This device consists of one or more pins protruding upward from the base panel. The pins have a rounded top and sit in concave recesses at the bottom of the sandal-shaped cover. In particular, the bottom of the sole of the shoe has three concave hemispherical recesses, one of which is located in the heel, one directly under the elevation of the arch of the foot and one is located in the center. The user's foot may be supported by elastic bands when he turns the foot and / or hips to develop strength, range of motion and proprioception of the ankles and hips.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The purpose of the present invention is to provide a new proprioceptive and kinesthetic device for exercises, which has significant advantages over devices of the prior art, such as orthostatic boards or boots with a single protrusion. As described in more detail below, in one embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a shoe that, instead of a single ball, like boards and shoes of the prior art, has two bulb-shaped protrusions protruding from its lower part. An additional protrusion can significantly increase walking ability and adaptability, as well as speed up and improve the results of proprioceptive and kinesthetic treatment plans. Other proprioceptive and kinesthetic exercise devices are also available, such as new treadmills, exercise surfaces, exercise bikes, walking simulators, ski machines or elliptical exercise machines, as described in more detail below.

The proposed device can be used in proprioceptive, neuromuscular control and coordination exercises, in the education of children and athletes, for the development and improvement of proprioceptive and kinesthetic ability. The invention can be used for exercises and training in order to prevent injury to athletes and non-athletes. The invention can be used to work on the stability of the body for the stability of the back and hips, to prevent, stop or reduce back pain. The invention can be used for exercises and training people who have had injuries of the ankle, knee, hips and back (or other injuries) in the past, in order to prevent the recurrence of such injuries in the future. The invention can be used to educate and train people with physical disabilities (for example, cerebral or neurological diseases or other disorders). The user of the proposed devices can move with six degrees of freedom (moving in three mutually orthogonal directions (x, y, z) and rotating around these axes (azimuth, elevation, roll)). All educational and training activities include creating instability for a person during movement, in particular, movement - walking, running or other movement.

An exercise device according to an embodiment of the present invention comprises a foot contact surface adapted to support the user's foot, a drive for moving the contact surface during exercise, and a push mechanism capable of upsetting the user's balance on the foot contact surface.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the pushing mechanism is intended to move the user with six degrees of freedom, including movement in three mutually orthogonal directions and rotation around these axes.

Also, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a method comprising performing a proprioceptive exercise comprising overcoming an unbalanced force when moving with translational movement.

Also, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a method comprising performing an exercise on a simulator, in which there are initially no forces disturbing the balance, and the intentional application of such force during an exercise on the simulator.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention can be understood and appreciated more fully from the following detailed description, together with the accompanying drawings, in which:

figure 1 is a simplified perspective view of a shoe designed and operating in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

figure 2 and 3 are schematic views, respectively, side and rear shoes in figure 1;

figure 4 is a schematic top view of the shoes of figure 1, showing further properties of other embodiments of the present invention;

5 is a schematic perspective view of a treadmill designed and operating in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

6 is a schematic perspective view of an exercise surface designed and operating in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

7 is a schematic perspective view of an exercise bike designed and operating in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

Fig is a schematic view in perspective of a simulator for walking on the spot, made and working in accordance with a variant implementation of the present invention;

Fig. 9 is a schematic perspective view of a ski machine designed and operating in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

10 is a schematic perspective view of an elliptical trainer designed and operating in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; and

11 is a schematic perspective view of a rowing machine designed and operating in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Turning to FIGS. 1-4, which show shoes 10 designed and operating in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. Shoes 10 may be supplied in the form of one or more pairs of devices resembling shoes or, alternatively, as only one of the devices similar to a shoe.

Shoes 10 preferably comprise a support element 12 having a contour in the form of a shoe sole with an upper surface 14. In the shown embodiment, the upper surface 14 is made with a peripheral edge 16, but it is understood that other configurations of the upper surface 14 can be used within the invention. Shoes 10 may be attached to the user's foot (not shown) by means of a boot 18 and / or fasteners 20, such as VELCRO, but not limited to this, buckles, laces, etc. Boot 18 can be made with or without fasteners 20 attached to the user's foot. Similarly, fasteners 20 can be used to attach shoes 10 to a user's foot without a shoe 18.

Two bulb-shaped protrusions 22 may protrude from the lower surface 24 of the support member 12. Alternatively, the protrusions 22 may protrude from the upper surface 14 of the support member 12. Each protrusion 22 may have a curved outer contour 26. The cross section of the contour 26, that is, either a section taken with respect to the longitudinal axis 28 (FIG. 4) of the support member 12 (corresponding to the shape shown in FIG. 2), or a cross section taken with respect to the transverse axis 30 (FIG. 4) of the support member 12 (corresponding to the shape shown in figure 3), l bo any other cross-section may have any curved form. For example, the contours 26 may be in the form of a conical section, that is, the shape of a circle, ellipse, parabola or hyperbola. The various cross sections of the contours 26 of the protrusion 22 may have identical or different shapes.

As can be seen clearly in FIG. 2, the protrusion 22 can be arranged sequentially behind another protrusion 22. As can be seen from FIG. 4, the protrusions can be located on the common longitudinal axis of the support element 12, such as the center line 28 of the support element 12, and on the opposite the sides of the transverse midline 30. As can be seen from figure 2, the rear protrusion 22 can usually be located under the heel support part 23 of the support element 12, while the front protrusion 22 can usually be located under the metatarsal support part 25 and / or phalange support part 27 opo The leg member 12.

Alternatively, as shown by dashed lines 33 in FIG. 4, one of the protrusions 22 (e.g., the front) may be located on the longitudinal axis 34 offset from the center line 28, and the rear protrusion 22 may be offset from the axis 34, for example, along the central axis 28. It is understood that the above are only some examples of the location of the protrusions 22, and many other possibilities exist within the scope of the invention.

The protrusions 22 can be made of any suitable material, such as elastomers, or metal, or a combination of materials, although this is not limited to, and can have various properties. For example, the protrusions can have different elasticities or hardness, for example, have different elastic properties or Shore hardness. The protrusions 22 may protrude at various distances from the lower surface 24 of the support element 12.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, one or more of the protrusions 22 can be slidably mounted on the support member 12. For example, the protrusion 22 may be mounted on a track 36 (FIG. 2) formed on the lower surface 24 of the support member 12, and may be optionally located anywhere along the track and secured there. Track 36 may extend along a portion of the sole of the boot or along the entire length of the sole of the boot. Alternatively or additionally, the distance over which the protrusion 22 protrudes can be adjusted, for example, by mounting the protrusion 22 by means of a threaded fastener 38 (FIG. 3) to the support element 12 and tightening or releasing this fastening 38.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, in addition to the protrusions 22, one or more non-bulbous protrusions 39 shown in FIG. 3 can be made. The protrusions 39 may be formed in the form of a pin, pin, bolt, stud, spike, etc., although the invention is not limited to these forms. The protrusions 39 may be rigid or flexible. Like the protrusions 22, the protrusions 39 can have different elasticities or hardness, for example, they can have different elasticities or Shore hardness, and they can protrude at different distances from the lower surface 24 of the support element 12. As above, the distance by which the protrusions 39 can be adjusted. The protrusions 39 can be installed anywhere on the bottom surface 24 of the support element 12.

The features described above, such as protrusions 22 slidably mounted on the support member 12, may be alternatively implemented where the protrusions 22 extend from the upper surface 14 of the support member 12. For example, shoes 10 may have a normal outsole and have a mechanism the slip / displacement for the protrusions 22 inside the sole of the shoe 10. The slip / displacement mechanism may include, without limitation, a mechanism that floats in a viscous binder (for example, in a fluid in a cavity formed in the sole) or which suspended on a inner cable.

Turning now to Fig. 4. According to an embodiment of the present invention, the shoe 10 may comprise a ridge 40 that extends outwardly from the periphery of the support member 12. In the present embodiment, the ridge 40 extends outwardly from the periphery of the support member 12, but it is understood that the ridge 40 may go forward or backward, or in any other direction. The comb 40 may be performed on one side of the shoe 10, as shown, or on both sides. Comb 40 can expand the range of proprioceptive exercises possible with shoes 10 by providing an additional supporting surface during tilting and maneuvering with shoes 10.

The crest 40 may be made of any suitable material, such as elastomers, or metal, or a combination of materials, but is not limited to this, and may have parts 42 with different properties. For example, parts 42 may have different elasticities or hardness, for example, have different elastic properties or Shore hardness. Parts 42 of ridge 40 may have differently curved contours. The ridge 40 may be adjustable mounted to the support member 12, so that the distance over which the ridge 40 protrudes from the support member 12 can be adjusted.

The user can attach the shoes 10 to his foot and perform all kinds of maneuvers in the proprioceptive and / or kinesthetic training plan for the lower part of the foot, upper leg, and even the upper body and other parts of the body and organs. For example, shoes 10 can be used to restore neuromuscular control during joint rehabilitation, restore the mechanical and functional stability of the neuromuscular system, improve or rehabilitate the advanced or retarded neuromuscular control mechanism, and restore and improve balance, posture, and stability.

Turning now to FIG. 5, a treadmill 50 constructed and operating in accordance with the present invention is shown.

The running track 50 may comprise a running surface 52 contacting the leg that rotates around a pair of spaced pulleys 54. The running surface 52 may have one or more protrusions 56 protruding upward from the running surface 52. The protrusions 56 may be of different or similar configurations (for example, as applied to to height, size, shape and / or slope). Variable size / shape can be achieved (a) by making the protrusion 56 of the inflatable element, which can be filled pneumatically with air or hydraulically with liquid (for example, water or oil). There may be a controller 58 that controls the filling of the protrusions 56 and the release of fluid from them. The protrusions 56 and / or the running surface 52 may have different or similar material properties. For example, they may have different or similar elasticities or viscosities (in the filled version) and can be made of various or similar materials.

The protrusions 56 may be movable. For example, one or more protrusions 56 may (may) move in track 57 (for example, forward, backward, sideways or diagonally) and / or rotate around its own or other axis or make a combination of such movements. A guard strip (not shown) can be used to keep the user upright and prevent accidental falls.

Turning now to FIG. 6, there is shown a training surface 60 constructed and operating in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. Training surface 60 may include one or more protrusions 62 protruding upward from its upper (leg contacting) side. The protrusions 62 may be of different or similar configurations (for example, in relation to height, size, shape and / or inclination). The protrusions 62 may have a fixed size / shape or, alternatively, may have a variable size / shape. Varying size / shape can be achieved by making the protrusion 62 of the inflatable element, which can be filled pneumatically with air or hydraulically with liquid (for example, water or oil). There may be a controller 64 that controls the filling of the protrusions 62 or the release of fluid from them. The protrusions 62 may have different or similar resilience or viscosity (in the inflatable version) and may be made of various or similar materials.

Protrusions 62 may be movable. For example, one or more protrusions 62 may move in track 66 (for example, forward, backward, sideways, radially or diagonally) and / or rotate around its own or other axis, or make a combination of such movements. The user of the training surface 60 can thus move with six degrees of freedom (moving in three mutually orthogonal directions (x, y, z) and rotating around these axes (azimuth, elevation, roll)).

We now turn to Fig. 7, which shows a stationary stationary bike 70 made and operating in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The exercise bike 70 may include a device with its own pedals, a wheel and sensors (for example, a speedometer, odometer, etc.) or may be an indoor exercise bike in which the user places the bicycle on a stand that allows you to pedal the bicycle, while the bike remains stationary. The exercise bike 70 may include a push mechanism 72 connected to the front axle 74 or rear support 75 of the exercise bike 70, and / or a push mechanism 76 attached to the seat 78 of the exercise bike 70. The push mechanisms may oscillate, swing, jerk and other types of imbalance of the user of the exercise bike 70 (as shown by arrows in FIG. 7). Pushing mechanisms can move a cyclist with six degrees of freedom (moving in three mutually orthogonal directions (x, y, z) and rotating around these axes (azimuth, elevation, and roll)). The push mechanisms in this embodiment, as in other embodiments of the invention, may comprise a platform on which the training bike is mounted, the platform providing a push action with six degrees of freedom.

The exercise bike 70 can be used to train neuromuscular control in the back, hips, pelvis, ankle, knee and other parts of the body through jolts during riding, which can simulate riding on bumpy roads. To control the operation of the pushing mechanism 72, a controller 77 may be provided.

Turning now to FIG. 8, a walking simulator 80 is designed and operated in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The simulator 80 may include a controller 82, which changes the resistance force transmitted by the pedals 84 of the simulator 80. The controller 82 can also change the angle of the pedals 84, so as to create a turn in one direction or another, as shown by arrows in Fig. 8. Here, also, the controller 82 can move the pedals 84 with six degrees of freedom (moving in three mutually orthogonal directions (x, y, z) and rotating around these axes (azimuth, elevation and roll)).

Turning now to FIG. 9, a ski machine 90 is shown constructed and operating in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The ski machine 90 may include a controller 92, which changes the resistance force generated by its ski platforms 94. The controller 92 can also change the angle of the ski platforms 94 so as to create a turn in one direction or another, as shown by the arrows in Fig. 9. The controller 92 can move the ski platforms 94 with six degrees of freedom (moving in three mutually orthogonal directions (x, y, z) and rotating around these axes (azimuth, elevation, heel)).

Some trainers point out several disadvantages of the training equipment of the prior art. For example, stationary exercise bikes can only use a relatively small number of muscles with a rather limited range of motion. Ski cars can exercise more muscles than a stationary bike, however, the essentially smooth shuffling movement of the device can limit the range of motion of some muscles that need to be trained. Climbing ladder devices can exercise more muscle than stationary bicycles, but a limited range of up and down movement may not provide the leg muscles with a wide range of motion.

Given these shortcomings, elliptical training machines have been developed that simulate natural walking and running and exercise a large number of muscles in a wide range of motion. The machines provide a variable, flexibly coordinated elliptical movement of the leg muscles. An example of one of the many elliptical training machines in the prior art is described in US patent 5848954.

Turning now to FIG. 10, there is shown an elliptical training machine 100 constructed and operating in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. An elliptical training machine 100 is shown for convenience with some elements similar to those in US Pat. No. 5,848,954, but it is emphasized that the invention is not limited to this design. In any case, the proprioceptive properties of the invention are not found in US Pat. No. 5,848,954 or any prior art.

The elliptical training machine 100 may comprise a frame 102 and a link assembly 104 mounted to the frame 102 for movement. The lever assembly 104 can typically be moved relative to the frame 102 in a manner that couples the rotation of the flywheel 106 to the generally elliptical movement of the force-sensing member, or ridge, 108. The frame 102 may include a base 110, a front support 112 and a rear support 114.

Note that the term “elliptical motion” is used in a broad sense to describe a closed path of motion having a relatively longer one axis and a relatively shorter other axis (which is perpendicular to the first axis). Note, in addition, that in the described embodiment there is left - right symmetry with respect to the longitudinal axis, and the "right-handed" components differ in phase by 180 from the "left-handed" components. However, to designate both “right-handed” and “left-handed” parts on the elliptical training machine 100, the same reference numbers are used, and when reference is made to one or more parts on only one side of the machine, it should be understood that corresponding parts are located on the opposite side of the machine .

The front support 112 may extend perpendicular upward from the base 110 and support the extension tube or stand 116. A pair of handles 118 may be pivotally attached to the stand 116 on the axis 119. The handles 118 may have gripping parts 120. A display 122 may be provided on the stand 116.

Skates 108 can slide on rails 124. A user can place a foot on the contact surface 126 of the skate 108.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the machine 100 may comprise one or more push mechanisms 130 attached to the front support 132 and / or the rear support 134 of the rails 124. The push mechanisms 130 may oscillate, swing, jerk, and other types of imbalance to the user of the machine 100 Pusher mechanisms 130 can move the user with six degrees of freedom (moving in three mutually orthogonal directions (x, y, z) and rotating around these axes (azimuth, elevation, and roll)). To control the pushing mechanism 130, a controller 136 may be provided.

Turning now to FIG. 11, a rowing machine 150 is shown configured and operating in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. Rowing machine 150 may include a rail 152 on which a seat 154 is mounted for sliding. Rail 152 may have a rear support 155. Rail 152 may extend from a front-mounted tension drum 156, which may be mounted on the front support 157. Around the tension drum 156 may a cable 158. a cable 158 may be provided with a handle 159. A leg support 160 may be mounted on the rail 152.

A user (not shown) can sit on the seat 154, put his feet on the legs 160, grab the handle 159 and pull the cable 158 towards the rear of the rowing machine 150, outward from the idler drum 156. This movement simulates rowing with oars in a boat. The seat 154 can slide back and forth along the rail 152 during rowing movements. The tension drum 156 resists traction on the cable 158, thereby exercising the muscles used in rowing. The tension in the tension drum 156 can be adjusted to obtain the desired level of exercise. There may be a controller 162 that changes the resistance created by the tension drum 156.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the rowing machine 150 may comprise one or more push mechanisms 164 connected to the front support 157 and / or the rear support 155 of the rail 152 or to the seat 154. The push mechanisms 164 may oscillate, swing, push and other kinds imbalance of the user of the rowing machine 150. Pusher mechanisms 164 can move the user with six degrees of freedom (moving in three mutually orthogonal directions (x, y, z) and rotating around these axes (azimuth, elevation, roll)). The controller 162 can control the operation of the pushing mechanisms 164.

Specialists in this field of technology will be clear that the present invention is not limited to what, in particular, shown and described above. The present invention includes both combinations and subcombinations of the features described above, as well as their modifications and changes that can be made by a person skilled in the art after reading this description and which are absent in the prior art.

Claims (9)

1. Shoes (10) for proprioceptive exercises, comprising a support element (12) having an upper surface (14) attached to the foot, and two protrusions (22) that are mounted on the lower surface of the support element (12) and one of which is located closer to the rear than another protrusion (22), characterized in that said protrusions are mounted on said surface with the possibility of sliding and positioning and fixing them by choice. 2. Shoes (10) according to claim 1, wherein said protrusions (22) are attached to said support element (12) along a longitudinal axis (28) extending from the heel support part (23) of said support element (12) at least to one of the parts of the support element (12), the metatarsal support part (25) and the phalange support part (27). 3. Shoes (10) according to claim 1, wherein said projections (22) are attached to said support element (12) on opposite sides of the transverse midline of said support element (12). 4. Shoes (10) according to claim 1, in which one of these protrusions (22) is attached to the specified support element (12) under its heel support part (23). 5. Shoes (10) according to claim 1, in which one of these protrusions (22) is attached to the specified supporting element (12) under its metatarsal supporting part (25). 6. Shoes (10) according to claim 1, in which one of these protrusions (22) is attached to the specified supporting element (12) under its phalanx supporting part (27). 7. Shoes (10) according to claim 1, in which the cross section of one of these protrusions (22) has the shape of a conical section having at least one of the forms: a circle, an ellipse, a parabola and a hyperbola. 8. Shoes (10) according to claim 1, in which the outer contour of one of these protrusions (22) has a shape different from the outer contour of the other protrusion (22). 9. Shoes (10) according to claim 1, in which one of these protrusions (22) is more elastic than the other protrusion (22).

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