WO2018065192A1

WO2018065192A1 - Treadmill with force sensor system integrated in the handrail

Info

Publication number: WO2018065192A1
Application number: PCT/EP2017/073418
Authority: WO
Inventors: Wolfgang Brunner
Original assignee: Zebris Medical Gmbh
Priority date: 2016-10-05
Filing date: 2017-09-18
Publication date: 2018-04-12

Abstract

Treadmill arrangement with a treadmill stand, and with an endless belt which runs over rollers mounted in the treadmill stand and is driven by a drive and of which one surface serves as a walking or running surface, wherein the treadmill stand has, on both sides, in each case at least one lateral rail part which has at least one grippable rail portion and/or carries a holding element for grasping by hand, wherein a force sensor component is integrated in each rail part for the purpose of registering the supporting and/or holding force introduced by a user into the grippable rail portion or the holding element during the use of the treadmill arrangement, in particular for obtaining a control signal for the drive or a display signal or for evaluating or monitoring the use of the treadmill arrangement.

Description

Treadmill with force sensors integrated into the railing

description

The invention relates to a treadmill assembly, with a treadmill frame and an over-held in the treadmill frame rollers and driven by a drive endless belt, one surface of which serves as walking or running surface.

Treadmill arrangements for athletic training purposes are in great

Product diversity has long been known. Their racks are usually in the front (i.e., in front of the user in the direction of use) part with a display and control panel for displaying and setting parameters and functions of the arrangement and often also for displaying

Body function parameters of the user equipped.

Also devices and methods for gait analysis, which allow a recording and analysis of the gait and use a treadmill, are known. For example, reference may be made to DE 40 27 317 C1 or US Pat. No. 6,010,465 A. In R. Kram and AJ. Powell: "A treadmill-mounted force platform" Appl. Physiol., 67 (4): 1692-1698 (1989) is a

Measuring device described as known, in which a treadmill is pulled over a measuring platform or measuring surface and thus a continuous Capture by the feet of a subject on the ground

exercised forces is possible.

DE 10 2010 004 504.7 describes a treadmill arrangement which is controlled according to the actual gait behavior of a user, especially a rehabilitation patient, and in which u. a. a shutdown can be triggered. The WO 2014/009046 A2, which is based on the applicant, describes a treadmill arrangement and a method for operating such, wherein on both sides of the treadmill handles are mounted and a force sensor for registration and evaluation of introduced by the user in the handles holding forces is provided. By evaluating those holding forces can be controlled about a safety shutdown of the treadmill; but it is also a more complex evaluation and the operation of certain functions of the treadmill arrangement hereby possible.

Treadmill arrangements which are especially suitable for use in rehabilitation and in older users with motor restrictions are also the subject of DE 20 2015 101 590 U 1, and DE 20 2015 102 320 U 1 of the Applicant.

The invention is based on the object of providing a further improved arrangement of the type mentioned, which is particularly suitable for

Rehabilitation purposes and for the independent use by older ones

User is suitable, if necessary, have certain motor limitations. One goal is to further develop the system into an even more widely usable therapy and exercise device while further increasing safety and user acceptance.

This object is achieved by an arrangement having the features of claim 1. Advantageous developments of the inventive concept are the subject of the dependent claims.

The invention includes in a first aspect the idea of a treadmill with a basically very simple and clear for the user constructed arrangement for lateral support, which is also equipped with a sensor that detects their use sufficiently differentiated by the user and can provide suitable control signals for the drive. It further includes the idea that the treadmill frame has on both sides at least one lateral railing part, which has at least one encompassable railing section and / or carries a holding element for gripping by hand. Finally, the invention comprises the

Thought that in each railing part a force sensor component for

Registration of a user when using the treadmill arrangement in the umgreifbaren railing section or the holding element initiated

Support and / or holding force is integrated.

The sensors allow both the determination of the loading or unloading of the extremities and also the extraction of information about the movements and in particular any movement disorders of the user / patient to ultimately improve the safety features of the device further and / or to implement an adapted user interface. The detected holding force is used here in particular:

a. for obtaining a control signal for the drive;

b. for obtaining an optical, acoustic or haptic

Feedback signal to prevent the overload (vertical force) of a body side;

c. for obtaining a signal as an input medium to be able to solve the tasks possibly displayed on a screen in front of the treadmill.

As an example for option b. Attention is drawn to the following: After the very frequent endoprosthetic operations, it is often important not to burden the affected body side during gait training too much. For example, less than 30% of body weight may be required. After previous numerical input of the body weight, the system can now specify by a feedback signal when this discharge is undercut or document how often, how long and how intense the

Body relief was undercut. In embodiments of this aspect of the invention is at least one

Component of the force sensor arranged directly in the corresponding railing section. In particular, the arranged in the railing section component of the force sensor as a load cell or two pipe sections of the railing part connecting metal carrier with at least two on opposite

Surfaces of the metal carrier applied strain gauges formed.

The force sensor can, depending on the field of application and user group of

Treadmill arrangement, differentiated in different ways from low-cost versions to high-end versions be configured. In many expedient embodiments, the force sensor system will be assigned an output-side force evaluation device for numerical evaluation processing of the introduced support and / or holding force. In further

Versions, the force sensor can be a switching element with

Have threshold characteristic for outputting a switching signal when exceeding a preset force threshold. This represents a particularly simple and cost-effective implementation of the force sensor, which in particular manages without a separate force evaluation device and in which the occurrence of an impermissibly high force component in a predetermined direction immediately triggers a switching operation.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the force sensor is as

Multi-axis sensor designed for the spatial direction-dependent detection of Abstützoder holding forces of a user. Hereby, on the one hand, reactions of the user with regard to the treadmill, such as a detention reflex or supporting reflex in case of speed change or sudden malaise, or also reflexes to compensate for uncertainties of the aisle can be registered and fed to a diagnostic evaluation. It should be noted that the multi-axis sensor system on the one hand by force sensors detectable in several axes, on the other hand, but also by suitable spatial arrangement of "uniaxial" force sensors within the

Treadmill frame or more specifically the railing sections or holding elements can be realized. It is further noted that the term is used herein in a sense that includes, for example, the simultaneous detection of horizontal forces in one axis and vertical forces. Speer ler is the multi-axis sensor at least to r Dist distinction of in or against the treadmill Bewegu ngsrichtung or formed by downward or upward holding forces, preferably for distinguishing ning the direction of action of both supporting or holding force components. This

allows an evaluation of both the aforementioned knee-jerk reactions to changes in speed of the treadmill or a self-explanatory speed control, but also the T he

Acquisition of approaches to or from posterior / anterior

Body sway. For example, the speed of the treadmill may be increased by pushing a handle forward and reduced by pulling it backwards. Furthermore, the multi-axis sensor system is also preferably designed to distinguish between holding or actuating forces acting to the left or to the right, and thus also lateral

Body fluctuations are registered and evaluated.

In further expedient embodiments, the treadmill arrangement is provided with a user guidance unit for optically and / or acoustically outputting instruction-accompanying instructions, in particular via earphones or loudspeakers, and / or as text overlays by an image display device. In the context of the above-mentioned second aspect of the invention, it is expediently provided that the user guidance unit has an input connection connected to the force evaluation device for receiving output signals of the force evaluation device and is designed to generate and output action instructions that are generated by the

Output signals of the force evaluation device are dependent.

According to a further, relatively independent aspect, the invention includes the idea of the usability of a treadmill arrangement for

Rehabilitation patients and elderly users can improve on a suitably shaped attachment that allows lateral support or grip with their hands as soon as they enter or leave the treadmill without the user having to reach certain individual hand grips , It continues to include the thought, in addition to this

To provide railing parts that can be gripped or u mg reiffen in several different sections by the user. According to this aspect, the invention enables the construction of a low entry level treadmill, which is easy to climb even by older users, and gives the users a high degree of confidence that accidents during training or training

Rehabilitation with high security can be avoided.

In this case, the arrangement in particular so that the treadmill frame has on both sides at least one lateral railing part, the one

retractable first horizontal railing portion having a first height and a second horizontal railing portion having a second height, smaller than the first height comprises, on which a post member is mounted, which carries a holding element for gripping by hand.

In one embodiment, a component of the force sensor is integrated in each first horizontal railing section near its two ends.

Here, the Geländertile not necessarily integrally connected to the main body of the treadmill frame, but can also be placed by this solvable or even relatively independently next to this. Furthermore, here with the formulations "horizontal" and "vertical" only

basically describes the location of the corresponding railing section; the corresponding sections may well be significantly inclined or curved with respect to the vertical or the horizontal.

Preferably, the holding element in the post element is height-adjustable and / or exchangeable held. The height adjustment can in this case be carried out in particular with known per se telescopic constructions in latching steps in order to preclude an unintentional and for the user if necessary. Dangerous vertical slippage of the holding elements.

Preferably, a set of different replaceable retaining elements is provided as an accessory to the arrangement, a first holding element in the manner of a rollator handle, a substantially L-shaped holding element, which in a position of use substantially horizontally extending forearm support and one of this substantially vertically upstanding Having handle, which can be brought preferably by turning or plugging in a horizontal position, and as the third holding element comprises a handle in the position of use substantially horizontally extending handle bar and / or a ring-shaped closed handle. As a result, the treadmill arrangement can be flexibly adapted to different user groups and application situations.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the treadmill frame has a front edge part placed near the front end of the treadmill and bridging the treadmill, which comprises a further horizontal handrail section, which can be grasped at least in sections. This front

Railing part provides additional safety for the user, especially against falling forward or even in case of physical disorders, the

Keeping up with the set speed of the treadmill makes it suddenly more difficult. An added benefit is achieved in that the front frame part for attaching a display and / or operating component of a

User guide unit is formed, in particular has a holder for removable attachment of that component.

The above-outlined essential function of the railing parts can be realized in a simple and cost-effective manner, characterized in that at least a part of the encompassable railing sections as pipe sections with a to the

human hand adapted diameter, in particular in the range between 2 cm and 4 cm, are formed. In a further simplified embodiment, each lateral railing part has a multi-bent or bent single metal pipe, and it is optionally also the front railing part formed by a multi-bent or beveled single metal pipe.

To further improve the safety equipment of the treadmill arrangement according to a further relatively independent aspect of the invention at least the first and optionally the third vertical railing section or, if provided, the front railing part associated with a light barrier arrangement for detecting the passage of a body part of the user, the or each Light barrier arrangement is connected in terms of control with the drive of the endless belt and / or the user guidance unit. Specifically, in this case, the or each light barrier arrangement at the corresponding Railing portion near the plane of the endless belt arranged such that it detects the passage of the lower leg of a user.

Advantages and expediencies of the invention will become apparent from the following description of preferred embodiments with reference to FIGS. From these show:

Fig. 1A to 1C show three views of a treadmill arrangement according to a first embodiment of the invention,

Fig. 2A to 2C show three views of the rail part of a treadmill arrangement according to a further embodiment of the invention,

Fig. 3A to 3C show three views of the railing part of a treadmill arrangement according to a further embodiment of the invention,

Fig. 4 is a sketch-like representation of an embodiment of a

Component of the force sensor,

Fig. 5 shows a block diagram of an embodiment of the evaluation of force sensor signals in a treadmill arrangement according to the invention,

Fig. 6A to 6C show three views of a treadmill arrangement according to yet another embodiment of the invention, and

Fig. 7 is a block diagram of a variant of the force sensor.

Fig. 1A to 1C show in a side view, top view and front view, respectively, a treadmill assembly 10 with a plate-shaped treadmill frame 11, inside which rollers and a drive of an endless belt 12 are housed (not shown), the upper surface 12a of which is a walking or walking platform Tread serves for a user. From the base plate 11 of the treadmill assembly or the base frame 10 projects on the left and right sides each have a side railing part 13 and 14, and close to the in

Use position front end of the top of the endless belt 12 this is bridged transversely by a front railing part 15. In front of this railing part 15, the base plate 11 has an upper cover I Ia, which in addition as a flat Serving projection or can wear an electro-optical image display screen.

The side railing parts 13, 14 are similarly shaped and each include a first perpendicular to the end of the endless belt 12 from the plane thereof (or the top of the base plate 11)

Railing section 13a, 14a, then a first horizontal railing section 13b, 14b, then one down

extending second vertical railing section 13c, 14c, then a second horizontal railing section 13d, 14d and finally a the railing part to the level of the endless belt 12 and the platform 11 down leading third vertical railing section 13e and 14e. As can be seen in the figure, the second runs horizontally

Railing portion 13d, 14d at a substantially lower height than the first horizontal railing portion 13b, 14b, and from an integrally mounted (for example welded) post member 13f, 14f projects vertically, in the upper end of an armrest 16 and 17 detachably and vertically adjustable fixed is. The front railing part 15 is formed approximately U-shaped and has a further horizontal, from the upstanding railing sections 15a, 15b from slightly pulled forward horizontal railing section 15c, here also as the third horizontal

Railing section is called.

The side railing parts 13, 14, as well as the front railing part 15 are here consistently made of a steel or aluminum tube, whose diameter is such that the respective railing part are easily gripped by a user and he can hold it well, and they In practice, they will normally have a protective and grip enhancing finish or powder coating.

On the side railing parts 13, 14, a force sensor 18A is provided on each side of the post elements 13f, 14f in the second horizontal railing section 13d, 14d. With these force sensors 18A holding or supporting forces of a user (vertical and optionally also horizontal forces) can be detected when using the treadmill; the evaluation of these signals will be described below. The arrangement of force sensors mentioned here is merely exemplary; The sensors can also be at other points of lateral Railing parts may be provided, or it may be additional sensors at other locations - possibly also the front rail section 15 - be mounted.

Furthermore, light barriers 18B are arranged in the lower region of the first vertical railing section 13a, 14a and in the transition region between the second horizontal and the third vertical railing section 13d / 13e or 14d / 14e. The light barriers 18b are intended to detect the entry and possibly also leaving the treadmill by the user on the rear access and accidental leaving the treadmill forward (such as a trip) Preferably, when the light barrier in the rear of the treadmill the tape automatically stops and can be restarted by activating the photocell in the front area. With the corresponding signals of the light barriers can thus, as described below by way of example sketch, a the

Safety of use increasing engagement in the drive of the

Treadmill arrangement done.

The arm supports 16, 17 on the side railing parts 13, 14 have at the front end upstanding (not separately designated) handles and a

Forearm support and provide particularly comfortable support options for the user. On the front part of the terrain 15, a display and control unit 19 of the assembly is removable and tilt adjustable. The user can therefore support or hold on the one hand there and on the other hand control the operation of the arrangement according to their own needs.

Not shown are the mounted on the forearm support in a horizontal position handles. This allows the user to hold on without using the armrests. By this advantageous adjustment, if necessary, can be completely dispensed with the front railing part 15.

Figs. 2A to 2C show in a side view, plan view and rear view, respectively, a modification of those shown in Figs. 1A to 1C and described above

Railing configuration, wherein the basic structure is the same as in the first embodiment and will not be described again here. The railing part 23 differs from the railing part 13 in that in the upstanding post part 23 f, a simple handle 26 is mounted in the manner of a rollator handle. 3A to 3C show again in a side view, top view and

Rear view, as a further modification of the arrangement shown in FIGS. 1A to 1C and described above, a railing member 33 in which an approximately T-shaped handle 36 is fixed in the upstanding post portion 33f, which provides the user with other grasping possibilities than the armrests of the first

Embodiment offers. The embodiment of the force sensor is the same as in the first and second embodiments.

Fig. 3D and 3E show the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 3A-3C, namely, the post parts 33f ^λ, each having a nearly annular, closed holding handle 36 (Fig. 3D) or 36 "(Fig. 3E), in place of the T-shaped retaining bar . the handles "have 36 ^λ or 36 a distance between the lower and upper grip portion which is at least so large that sufficient space for gripping around the upper handle portion is present. The "cranked" design as a holding element 36 "in Fig. 3E has an advantageously large connecting semicircle between the lower and upper handle portion, which allows the user on the one hand a comfortable gripping from the front or rear and at the same time not excessively limits the height adjustment in the post section 33f.

Fig. 4 shows a sketch of one of the railing constructions of

proposed treadmill arrangement adapted force sensor 48, which may be inserted between the tube ends of two adjacent tubular railing sections 43.1, 43.2. This force sensor has a massive

cuboid metal support 48.1, which is fixedly connected to the opposite ends of the railing sections 43.1, 43.2, for example by welding. On both surfaces of the metal support 48.1 in each one

Strain gauges 48.2, 48.3 conventional design applied, and with these strain gauges 48.2, 48.3 bends of the metal carrier as a result of a force in one of the railing sections are detected by a user, and via corresponding (not separately designated) terminals of the strain gauges, the force signals by a

Evaluation electronics tapped.

5 shows a schematic detail view in the manner of a functional block diagram of essential components or aspects of the evaluation and control component 50 of an embodiment of the treadmill arrangement. As a force sensor 51, a commercially available multi-axis force sensor can be used, which is connected with its force receiving surface in such a way with railing sections that the user initiated support or holding force direction and absolute value is introduced into the sensor. In the evaluation and control component 50, it is also possible to process output signals of the force sensors shown in FIGS. 1A-4. On the output side is the

Force sensor 51 is connected to a holding force preprocessing stage 52, at the output of the output frictional holding force components Fx, Fy and Fz. Subsequently, this preprocessed signal passes via a

Synchronization stage 53 to a gear characteristic evaluation stage 54. This provides a determined based on the measurement signals of the force sensor 51 gear characteristic of the user or essential parameters such on an evaluation computer 55 of the physician or physiotherapist available.

On the other hand, the preprocessing stage 52 is connected to a holding force comparing unit 56, in which the supporting force or holding force detected spatially and temporally resolved is continuously compared with comparison data or comparison patterns stored in a comparison value memory 56a. The comparative data / patterns represent supporting forces which in typical situations of use lead users into the armrest or the associated grab handle, in particular in the case of a risk of falling. The comparison process may in particular have a threshold characteristic, and as a result, at the output of the comparator unit 56, a first input signal of a processing and

Control unit 57 of the treadmill assembly provided, the output signal here reaches the drive 58.

Depending on the direction in which the user initiates a force in the armrest or the handle, as well as depending on their amount can thus

Speed changes of the treadmill, if necessary, to the shutdown (standstill) to be controlled. It can also be prevented that the tape starts, as long as it is not ensured that the user is supported or secured over the retaining elements. This control sequence is largely independent of the will of the user and takes into account mainly its movement using the railing sections, armrests or handles. In the embodiment shown, a signal emanating from a light barrier 18B (see also FIGS. 1A-1C) enters the processing and control unit and is processed there in addition to the force signal for obtaining a control signal for the treadmill operation. The light barrier and the signal emitted by it are only optional. The light barriers acting transversely to the running direction can be formed as reflection light barriers or each with a separate transmitting and receiving element.

FIGS. 6A to 6C show, as a further embodiment of the invention, a fundamentally similar embodiment to those described above and shown in FIGS. 1A to 3E, but greatly simplified in terms of the design of the side rail parts 63, 64. As far as its components and sections are concerned with those of the previously described embodiments or functionally identical, they have been referred to with reference to Figures 1A to 3E reference numerals, and the description will not be repeated here.

The lateral rail parts 63, 64 are here simply U-shaped, thus having a single continuous horizontal railing section 63b, 64b between a rear and front upstanding railing section 63a, 64a and 63c, 64c. There are no separate handles or armrests here. Here, depending on whether only the vertical force or the horizontal forces are to be measured, the force sensors 68A may be respectively provided in the front and rear end portions of the horizontal railing portions 63b, 64b and below the transition between the horizontal and upstanding railing portions.

Photocells or similar sensors for monitoring the entry or exit of the treadmill by a user are not shown in Figures 6A to 6C, but may be provided there in a manner similar to the arrangements described above. The control and user guidance is basically comparable to the above arrangements; however, because of its simpler structure, the treadmill assembly last described is more suitable for users with little or no disability, and their more advanced skills will usually be tailored to user guidance. FIG. 7 shows by way of example a measuring circuit for detecting the measuring signals of force sensors of the type shown in FIG. 4. The FIGURE shows that

Strain gauges 48.2, 48.3 and 78.2, 78.3, according to the manner shown in Fig. 4 between the pipe ends of adjacent

Railing sections 43.1, 43.2 and 73.1, 73.2 of a railing part 73rd

are introduced, are connected to measuring amplifiers 72a and 72b. The

Measuring amplifiers 72a, 72b are coupled together in the manner of a bridge circuit and allow the determination of both horizontal components Fh and of vertical components F _v by a user of

Treadmill arrangement spent holding forces. The concrete design and dimensioning of the components of such an evaluation circuit is within the scope of professional action and we therefore not further explained here.

Incidentally, the embodiment of the invention is also in a variety of

Variations of the examples shown here and aspects of the invention highlighted above possible.

Claims

claims

1. treadmill arrangement, with a treadmill frame and an over in

Treadmill frame mounted rollers running and driven by a drive

driven endless belt, one surface of which serves as walking or running surface,

wherein the treadmill frame has on both sides at least one lateral railing part, which has at least one encompassable railing section and / or carries a holding element for gripping by hand,

wherein in each railing part, a force sensor component for registration of a user in the use of the treadmill assembly in the

encompassable railing section or the holding element introduced support and / or holding force, in particular for obtaining a control signal for the drive or a display signal or for Auswertu ng or monitoring the use of the treadmill assembly is integrated.

2. Treadmill arrangement according to claim 1, wherein arranged in the railing portion of the component of the force sensor as two pipe sections of

Gelatrix connected connecting load cell or metal carrier with at least two applied to opposite surfaces of the metal support

Strain gauge is formed.

3. treadmill arrangement according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the force sensor is associated with an output-side force evaluation device for numerical evaluation processing of the initiated supporting and / or holding force.

4. Treadmill arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the force sensor has a switching element with threshold characteristic for outputting a switching signal when exceeding a preset force threshold.

5. Treadmill arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the force sensor is designed as a multi-axis sensor for the spatial direction-dependent detection of supporting and / or holding forces of the user.

6. Treadmill assembly according to claim 5, wherein the multi-axis force sensor is formed at least to distinguish from in or against the treadmill movement direction or by downward or upward acting support and / or holding forces, preferably for distinguishing

Direction of action of both supporting or holding force components.

7. Treadmill assembly according to claim 6, wherein the multi-axis force sensor is also designed to distinguish from left or right acting support and / or holding forces.

8. treadmill arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, with a user guidance unit for the optical and / or acoustic output of display-accompanying instructions, in particular via earphones or speakers and / or as text overlays by an image display device, wherein the user guide unit connected to the force evaluation device input terminal for receiving of output signals of the force evaluation device and for the generation and output of

Handling instructions is formed, which are dependent on the output signals of the force evaluation device.

A treadmill assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein each lateral railing member has a first horizontal railing portion having a first height and a second horizontal railing portion having a second height, less than the first height, on which a post member is mounted is, which carries a holding element for gripping by hand, and at least in the second horizontal railing portion on both sides of the post member each a component of the force sensor is integrated.

10. Treadmill arrangement according to claim 9, wherein the retaining element in

Post element height adjustable and / or exchangeable is supported.

11. Treadmill assembly according to claim 9 or 10, wherein in each first horizontal railing section near its two ends each a component of the force sensor is integrated.

12. Treadmill assembly according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the treadmill frame has a near the front end of the treadmill placed, the treadmill bridging front railing part, which comprises a third at least partially encompassable railing section.

13. The treadmill assembly according to claim 12, wherein in the third horizontal railing section near its two ends depending on a component of

Force sensor is integrated.

14. Treadmill arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, wherein each lateral railing part has a multi-bent or bent single metal pipe and in particular also the front railing part is formed by a multi-bent or bent single metal pipe.

15. Treadmill assembly according to claim 12 or 13, wherein the front

Railing part for mounting a display and / or operating component of the user guide unit is formed, in particular a holder for detachable attachment of the display and / or operating component has.

16. A treadmill assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein at least the first vertical railing section and optionally also the third vertical railing section or, if provided, the front frame part is associated with a light barrier arrangement for detecting the passage of a body part of the user, the or each

Light barrier arrangement is connected in terms of control with the drive of the endless belt and / or the user guidance unit.

17. The treadmill assembly of claim 16, wherein the or each light barrier assembly is disposed on the respective railing portion near the plane of the endless belt so as to block the passage of the belt

Lower leg of a user recorded.

18th treadmill arrangement, with a treadmill frame and an over in

Treadmill frame mounted rollers running and driven by a drive

driven endless belt, one surface of which serves as walking or running surface,

wherein the treadmill frame has on both sides at least one lateral railing part, which has a gripping first horizontal railing section, with a first height and a second horizontal railing section with a second height, smaller than the first height, on which a post element is mounted, which is a holding element for gripping carrying by hand, embraces.

19. Treadmill assembly according to claim 18, wherein the retaining element in

Post element height adjustable and / or exchangeable is supported.

20. A treadmill assembly according to claim 19, comprising a set of different replaceable holding elements, a first holding element in the manner of a Rollator- handle, a substantially L-shaped holding member having a in the use position substantially horizontally extending forearm support and one of this substantially vertically comprises upstanding handle, and as the third holding element comprises a handle in the position of use substantially horizontally extending handle and / or an annularly closed handle.

21. Treadmill assembly according to claim 20, wherein the vertically upstanding handle in the position variable, in particular in a horizontal position pluggable or rotatable.

22. A treadmill assembly according to any one of claims 18 - 21, wherein each side railing part near its entry end a at least

Partially encompassable first vertical railing section, between the first and second horizontal railing section a second vertical railing section and at the front in the direction of use of the second horizontal railing section comprises a third vertical railing section.

23. A treadmill assembly according to any one of claims 18 - 22, wherein the

Treadmill frame has a near the front end of the treadmill placed, the treadmill bridging front railing part comprising at least partially encompassable third horizontal railing section.

24. Treadmill arrangement according to one of claims 18 - 23, wherein at least a part of the encompassable railing sections are designed as pipe sections with a diameter adapted to the human hand, in particular in the range between 2 cm and 4 cm.

25. Treadmill arrangement according to one of claims 18 - 24, wherein each lateral railing part has a multi-bent or bent single metal pipe and in particular also the front railing part is formed by a multi-bent or bent single metal pipe.

26. Treadmill assembly according to any one of claims 18 - 25, wherein at least the first vertical railing section and optionally also the third vertical railing section or, if provided, the front frame part is associated with a light barrier arrangement for detecting the passage of a body part of the user, wherein the or each light barrier arrangement in particular is connected in terms of control with the drive of the endless belt and / or the user guidance unit.

The treadmill assembly of claim 26, wherein the or each

Light barrier arrangement is arranged on the corresponding railing portion near the plane of the endless belt such that it passes through the

Lower leg of a user recorded.

A treadmill arrangement according to any one of claims 18 to 27, wherein the second railing section or the post element or the retaining element in

Post element contains short elastic railing sections.

29. The treadmill arrangement according to claim 26, wherein the light barrier arrangement provided on the first vertical railing section at least two horizontally spaced apart

Has light barrier devices and it is associated with an evaluation device that evaluates the fact and possibly temporal sequence of the passage of a body part of the user, in particular his lower leg, by more than one of the light barrier devices and outputs a corresponding signal.