WO2020171772A1

WO2020171772A1 - Physiotherapy apparatus

Info

Publication number: WO2020171772A1
Application number: PCT/SG2019/050094
Authority: WO
Inventors: Ai Ni LAU
Original assignee: United Rehabilitation And Physiotherapy Centre Pte Ltd
Priority date: 2019-02-19
Filing date: 2019-02-19
Publication date: 2020-08-27

Abstract

A physiotherapy apparatus comprising: a first panel for at least partially supporting a user; a second panel for at least partially supporting the user; a structural support to support the first panel at a predetermined height from a floor on which the physiotherapy apparatus is placed and to support the second panel at a selectable angle relative to the first panel; a resistance generator to be connected via a cord to a limb of the user to allow physiotherapy to be performed on a selected body part of the user by the user appropriately moving the limb to pull the cord against a force provided by the resistance generator; and a number of attachment points provided at different locations on the physiotherapy apparatus, wherein each of the attachment points is configured for releasably attaching the resistance generator thereto.

Description

PHYSIOTHERAPY APPARATUS

FIELD

This invention relates to a physiotherapy apparatus.

BACKGROUND

Currently, when physiotherapy is performed at home, available furniture in the house is often used, but these are usually not of an ideal height or size, limiting the type, safety and effectiveness of exercises that can be performed by the patient, and also putting the physiotherapist at risk of back injury when assisting the patient. Alternatively, the physiotherapist may take suitable equipment to the patient’s home, but this requires much equipment to be transported when a patient needs to perform different exercises needing different pieces of equipment.

There is therefore a demand for a physiotherapy apparatus that allows a wide range of different exercises to be safely and effectively performed at home and that can be readily transported by the physiotherapist.

SUMMARY

According to a first aspect, there is provided a physiotherapy apparatus comprising: a first panel for at least partially supporting a user; a second panel for at least partially supporting the user; a structural support to support the first panel at a predetermined height from a floor on which the physiotherapy apparatus is placed and to support the second panel at a selectable angle relative to the first panel; a resistance generator to be connected via a cord to a limb of the user to allow physiotherapy to be performed on a selected body part of the user by the user appropriately moving the limb to pull the cord against a force provided by the resistance generator; and a number of attachment points provided at different locations on the physiotherapy apparatus, wherein each of the attachment points is configured for releasably attaching the resistance generator thereto.

In a first configuration when the angle is at least 90° and less than 180°, the first panel may serve as a seat and the second panel may serve as a backrest, and in a second configuration when the angle is 180°, the first panel and the second panel together may form a flat bed for a user to he on. At least one of the number of attachment points may be provided on the structural support below the first panel and the first panel may comprise at least one through opening to allow the cord connecting the resistance generator to the limb of the user to be passed through the at least one through opening and attached to the limb of the user.

The force may be a generally constant force.

The structural support may comprise: a frame configured to engage the first panel and the second panel, and a number of legs connected to the frame.

At least some of the number of legs may be adjustable to adjust the predetermined height.

The legs may be collapsible to allow the physiotherapy apparatus to be collapsed for ease of portability between different locations of use.

The frame may include a number of struts inclinable at selectable angles to support the second panel at a selectable angle relative to the first panel.

The first panel and the second panel may be detachable from the structural support to allow the physiotherapy apparatus to be collapsed for ease of portability between different locations of use.

The physiotherapy apparatus may further comprise rods erectable as parallel bars behind the second panel when the second panel is in an upright position.

The second panel may comprise a first part and a second part, the second part being detachable from the first part.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES

In order that the invention may be fully understood and readily put into practical effect there shall now be described by way of non-limitative example only exemplary embodiments of the present invention, the description being with reference to the accompanying illustrative drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of an exemplary embodiment of a physiotherapy apparatus in a first configuration.

FIG. 2 is a schematic illustration of the physiotherapy apparatus of FIG. 1 in a second

configuration.

FIG. 3 is a schematic illustration of a user performing a seated shoulder internal rotation

exercise.

FIG. 4 is a schematic illustration of a user performing a seated shoulder flexion exercise.

FIG. 5 is a schematic illustration of a user performing a seated knee extension exercise.

FIG. 6 is a schematic illustration of a user performing a shoulder abduction exercise.

FIG. 7 is a schematic illustration of a user performing a straight leg raise.

FIG. 8 is a schematic illustration of a user performing a hamstring curl.

FIG. 9 is a schematic illustration of the physiotherapy apparatus of FIG. 1 in a third

configuration comprising parallel bars.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Exemplary embodiments of a physiotherapy apparatus 100 will be described below with reference to FIGS. 1 to 9. The same reference numerals are used throughout the figures for the same or similar parts.

In general, in the exemplary embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the physiotherapy apparatus 100 comprises a first panel 10 for at least partially supporting a user and a second panel 20 for at least partially supporting the user. The apparatus 100 also comprises a structural support 30 that supports the first panel 10 at a predetermined height from a floor on which the physiotherapy apparatus 100 is placed. The structural support 30 is further configured to support the second panel 20 at a selectable angle relative to the first panel 10.

In a first configuration (FIG. 1) when the angle is at least 90° and less than 180°, the first panel 10 serves as a seat for the user and the second panel 20 may serve as a backrest for the user. In a second configuration (FIG. 2) when the angle is 180°, the first panel 10 and the second panel 20 together form a flat bed on which the user may lie supine or prone. The first panel 10 and second panel 20 are preferably at least 60 cm wide in order to allow a user to safely change between the supine and the prone position when the apparatus 100 is in second configuration.

The first panel 10 and the second panel 20 are preferably detachable from the structural support 30 to allow the apparatus 100 to be collapsed for ease of portability between different locations of use. The second panel 20 may further be comprised of a first part 21 and a second part 22, the second part 22 being detachable from the first part 21 in order to allow the apparatus 100 to be collapsed into an even more compact form. Notably, when the apparatus 100 is in the first configuration where the second panel 20 serves as a backrest, the second part 22 of the second panel 20 need not be assembled with the other components of the apparatus 100 as there is no need for the backrest to have a height that is a combined length of the first part 21 and the second part 22 of the second panel 20.

In the exemplary embodiment, the structural support 30 comprises a frame 31 configured to engage the first panel 10 and the second panel 20, and a number of legs 32 connected to the frame 31. At least some of the number of legs 32, particularly those connected to the part of the frame 31 engaging the first panel 10, are adjustable to adjust the predetermined height of the first panel 10 from the floor. This allows the apparatus 100 to be set at a height that is safe and easy for the user to get on and off the apparatus 100, decreasing the risk of falls for the user as well as reducing the risk of back injury for a physiotherapist assisting to position the user on the apparatus 100.

The legs 32 are preferably collapsible to allow the apparatus 100 to be collapsed for ease of portability between different locations. The frame 31 preferably includes a number of struts 33 that can be inclined at selectable angles to support the second panel 20 at a selectable angle relative to the first panel 10.

The physiotherapy apparatus 100 further comprises a resistance generator 50 to be connected via a cord 51 to a limb L of the user U to allow physiotherapy to be performed on a selected body part of the user by the user appropriately moving the limb L (in a direction indicated by the arrow P) to pull the cord 51 against a force (indicated by the arrow F) provided by the resistance generator 50, as shown in FIG. 3. A number of attachment points 60 for releasably attaching the resistance generator 50 thereto are provided at different locations on the apparatus 100, such as on the structural support 30, the second panel 20 and / or the first panel 10 if so desired. Preferably, the attachment points 61, 62, 63 are respectively provided at both the side edges of the second panel 20, at a top edge of the second panel 20, and below the first panel 10 when the physiotherapy apparatus 100 is assembled for use.

For example, when the physiotherapy apparatus is in the first configuration, attaching the resistance generator 50 to one of the attachment points 61 at the side edges of the second panel 20 allows a user sitting on the first panel 10 to perform seated shoulder rotation exercises as seated shoulder internal rotation (FIG. 3) and seated shoulder external rotation (not shown). Attaching the resistance generator 50 to one of the attachment points 62 at the top edge of the second panel 20 allows a user sitting on the first panel 10 to perform a seated shoulder flexion (FIG. 4). Attaching the resistance generator 50 to one of the attachment points 63 below the first panel 10 allows a user sitting on the first panel 10 to perform exercises such as seated knee extension (FIG. 5) and seated hip flexion exercise (not shown). When the physiotherapy apparatus 100 is in the second configuration, attaching the resistance generator 50 to one of the attachment points 61 at the side edges of the second panel 20 allows a user lying on the flat bed of the first panel 10 and the second panel 20 to perform other shoulder exercises such as shoulder abduction (FIG. 6), side-lying shoulder internal and external rotations and prone shoulder extension (not shown). The first panel 10 preferably comprises at least one through opening 11 for passage therethrough of the cord 51 between a leg L of the user and the resistance generator 50 attached to one of the attachment points 63 provided below the first panel 10 when the physiotherapy apparatus 100 is provided in the second configuration, as shown in FIG. 7. In the exemplary embodiment, the at least one through opening 11 comprises two separate through openings 11a, l ib corresponding with positions of a right leg and a left leg of the user to allow each leg of the user to be comfortably connected via the cord 51 through the corresponding opening 11a or l ib to the resistance generator 50 attached to one of the attachment points 63 provided below the panel 10. This allows the user to perform exercises such as a straight leg raise (FIG. 7), hamstring curl (FIG. 8), as well as inner range quad training, hip extension and side-lying hip abduction and adduction (not shown).

Appreciably, multiple other exercises and therapies may be devised and performed using the physiotherapy apparatus 100 with the resistance generator 50 suitably attached to one of the attachment points 60 while the user is seated or lying on the apparatus 100 or standing on the floor.

Preferably, the force F provided by the resistance generator 50 is a generally constant force throughout the range of movement of the limb of the user so that there is no increase in force as the cord 51 extends and the limb joint reaches its end of range. Increasing resistance towards the end of joint range (which occurs when resistance is provided by resistance stretchable bands) is undesirable as it make the exercise more difficult and risks injury to the user. This is because biomechanically it is more likely that injury will occur near an end of range of motion of a joint as the muscles of the limb are not at an optimal length to produce enough force to protect the joint. Accordingly, the resistance generator 50 may comprise one or more constant force springs, or a suitably configured intelligent motor, that preferably generates a resistance of up to 40N.

As shown in FIG. 9, the physiotherapy apparatus 100 may further comprise an arrangement of rods erectable as parallel bars 70 behind the second panel 20 in a third configuration when the second panel 20 is in an upright position. The parallel bars 70 allow for balance and gait re training as well as high level standing exercises to be safely performed at home by supporting the user on both sides at a suitable height.

The above described physiotherapy apparatus 100 thus allows a wide range of exercise to be performed at home that previously may even have been prescribed only for performance at a physiotherapy centre and not at home (such as those requiring the parallel bars), due to the risk of falls and lack of suitable equipment in the house that cannot be substituted for by the available furniture at the patient’s home. The apparatus 100 allows the same exercises taught at a physiotherapy centre to be performed at home in the same way, encouraging a cross-over effect, familiar exercise effect, compliance, reduced technical issues and enhanced learning. The apparatus 100 will therefore help users to rehabilitate faster by allowing exercises to be safely, effectively and timely performed at home, while reducing the risk of injury for both the user and the physiotherapist.

Whilst there has been described in the foregoing description exemplary embodiments of the present invention, it will be understood by those skilled in the technology concerned that many variations and combination in details of design, construction and/or operation may be made without departing from the present invention. For example the apparatus can be configured to be used for only sitting exercises without being able to be converted to a flat bed, or the apparatus can be configured to be used for only lying-down exercises without being able to be convemted to a seat and backrest. While the apparatus has been described as being collapsible for ease of portability, a non-portable embodiment can also be provided to reduce the number of moving/movable parts and therefore reduce cost.

Claims

1. A physiotherapy apparatus comprising:

a first panel for at least partially supporting a user;

a second panel for at least partially supporting the user;

a structural support to support the first panel at a predetermined height from a floor on which the physiotherapy apparatus is placed and to support the second panel at a selectable angle relative to the first panel;

a resistance generator to be connected via a cord to a limb of the user to allow physiotherapy to be performed on a selected body part of the user by the user appropriately moving the limb to pull the cord against a force provided by the resistance generator; and a number of attachment points provided at different locations on the physiotherapy apparatus, wherein each of the attachment points is configured for releasably attaching the resistance generator thereto.

2. The physiotherapy apparatus of claim 1, wherein in a first configuration when the angle is at least 90° and less than 180°, the first panel serves as a seat and the second panel serves as a backrest, and wherein in a second configuration when the angle is 180°, the first panel and the second panel together form a flat bed for a user to he on.

3. The physiotherapy apparatus of any one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one of the number of attachment points is provided on the structural support below the first panel and wherein the first panel comprises at least one through opening to allow the cord connecting the resistance generator to the limb of the user to be passed through the at least one through opening and attached to the limb of the user.

4. The physiotherapy apparatus of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the force is a generally constant force.

5. The physiotherapy apparatus of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the structural support comprises: a frame configured to engage the first panel and the second panel, and a number of legs connected to the frame.

6. The physiotherapy apparatus of claim 5, wherein at least some of the number of legs are adjustable to adjust the predetermined height.

7. The physiotherapy apparatus of any one claims 5 and 6, wherein the legs are collapsible to allow the physiotherapy apparatus to be collapsed for ease of portability between different locations of use.

8. The physiotherapy apparatus of any one claims 5 to 7, wherein the frame includes a number of struts inclinable at selectable angles to support the second panel at a selectable angle relative to the first panel.

9. The physiotherapy apparatus of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first panel and the second panel are detachable from the structural support to allow the physiotherapy apparatus to be collapsed for ease of portability between different locations of use.

10. The physiotherapy apparatus of any one of the preceding claims, further comprising rods erectable as parallel bars behind the second panel when the second panel is in an upright position.

11. The physiotherapy apparatus of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the second panel comprises a first part and a second part, the second part being detachable from the first part.